Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Did I miss another one?

I just got my bike back from the shop today (car+bike=wheel taco) and the wheel that was replaced came back without a cap on the valve stem. Do you guys think it's just an oversight, or is having a cap the valve-related equivalent of leaving all the reflectors on the bike and getting a novelty license plate for your seat post?

I guess what I'm trying to say is, are the caps really necessary? I can find one lying around here somewhere if I need to.

they aren't necessary, but i typically keep caps on my valves, mainly because they come with the tubes.

I never put them on out of laziness.

They are just there to cover exposed valve core pins. They really don't serve much of a practical purpose.

i heard a valid excuse for schrader valves, but i can't think of anything but keeping dirt off the valves for prestas

Presta right? it's fine

I am bound to lose mine within 3 days of putting in a new tube. Somewhere in my house is a massive stash of valve caps and guitar picks that will never be seen again.:(

Okay. I just wanted to make sure they weren't there to prevent pressure loss of some kind.

Presta right? it's fine

I am bound to lose mine within 3 days of putting in a new tube. Somewhere in my house is a massive stash of valve caps and guitar picks that will never be seen again.:(

until you move out. I found tons of stuff like that last time I moved.

Presta right? it's fine

I am bound to lose mine within 3 days of putting in a new tube. Somewhere in my house is a massive stash of valve caps and guitar picks that will never be seen again.:(
HAHA. i know exactly what your talking about...

is having a cap the valve-related equivalent of leaving all the reflectors on the bike and getting a novelty license plate for your seat post?

The head mechanic at my shop never puts them on and would call you a Fred.

I, however, always put 'em on.. just cause. I don't know why, I just always use them and the valve nuts as well. Guess I'm a little bit of a Fred myself. I do occasionally have a chain tattoo on my drive-side leg after all.

Whats wrong with the valve nuts? I'm sorta ocd and have to have everything tight and secure though.

^^ don't use valve nuts, it can cause the stem to rip if they are too tight.

correct. that's why i never tighten them any more than lightly finger-tight.

there's no need for more than finger tight but I have to have mine on. Once I lost my valve nut and it took me 20+ miles to figure out what the occasional rattling noise was

Yeah he didn't put the valve nut on, either. I always left mine on because I figured it helped keep at some water out of the wheel when I rode in the rain. Maybe that's unnecessary...

They are just there to cover exposed valve core pins. They really don't serve much of a practical purpose.

They're great at protecting the tube from scratches when it's all folded up in a box, but that's about it.

Valve stem nuts are great for inflating completely empty tubes on deep rims where the entire stem would push in otherwise. Mechanics often don't use them because they tend to loosen and then make horrible rattling noises that bring the customer back 2 days later thinking their bike is ruined. But if you understand where that noise comes from, they can be helpful.

^ Exactly. Well said.

Presta caps are for keeping the tip of the valve from puncturing the tube while its in the box. There is no purpose for using them on your bike.

Right now I've got aero-length valve stems. They don't even have threading for the stem collars. I don't use caps either, they're kind of an eyesore.

Valve stem nuts are great for inflating completely empty tubes on deep rims where the entire stem would push in otherwise. ...if you understand where that noise comes from, they can be helpful.

I actually had that problem this morning after posting here last night. I was trying to get my pump hooked up and I couldn't figure out why the valve was getting pushed into the wheel instead of the pump attachment (I had to get up really early today--way earlier than I start problem solving) for about three or four minutes. I don't have deep rims, but my pump is a bit of a *****.

Finally I took one off the other wheel fixed it. I'll definitely be leaving the valve nuts on in the future.
:)

Is there any problem with salt junking up the valve stem making it harder to open in the winter? This is only thing i can think of.

Yeah, stem nuts are great when you have a flat.
I always keep the caps on as well to prevent gunk getting in the valve. They do serve a purpose in my opinion.