Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Presta Tubes

Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Presta Tubes

Old 02-22-10, 01:08 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Alberta,Canada.
Posts: 800
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Presta Tubes

Its not like i havnt been around cycling alot,but ive never seen this practice before. I was talking to a bike shop mech who tells me its common to not put plastic cap or the little knurled nut on presta tubes on bike. Ive never had troubles with using them although they can be a bit of a pain not to lose in dark with flat.
Is this a common practice to leave them off?
Is it ok. to not use them?
ddez is offline  
Old 02-22-10, 01:11 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 585
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 93 Post(s)
Liked 151 Times in 105 Posts
I use dust caps on schrader valves and presta valves and I always use the little knurled nut on presta stems (when threads are present).
ARider2 is offline  
Old 02-22-10, 01:14 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Nichole's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: West Jordan, UT
Posts: 61

Bikes: 2009 Giant Defy 1

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
All the little plastic cap does is act as a dust cap. You won't lose any air without it since the little nut on the stem itself is what keeps the air from escaping when tightened. If your ride is significantly muddy/gritty, then you would simply have to clean the valve before inflating. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry about not having one.
Nichole is offline  
Old 02-22-10, 01:15 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Sioux Falls
Posts: 223

Bikes: Bianchi Road bike, Nashbar Ultegra triple cyclocross, Raleigh full XT hybrid, lugged steel Schwinn, Full rigid Diamondback MTB

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
The dust caps are optional especially if you aren't riding in sloppy conditions. (I leave mine on but also ride through snow, mud etc) I've heard the threaded ring helps keep the tube in place and your more likely to suffer flats without it. I've been too chicken to try the experiment of leaving the ring off so I can't tell you if that's true.
labrat is offline  
Old 02-22-10, 01:17 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Belgium
Posts: 1,032
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
The plastic cap on schrader valves is important to keep debris out of the valve stem opening that could interfere with the spring. Schrader valves keep air in by means of a spring actuated valve. Presta valves keep air in by means of the air pressure pushing the valve closed, then the knurled stem of the valve is screwed down as extra insurance. Given the difference in design there is little chance for debris affecting the presta valve. Some cyclists/mechanics omit the cap on presta as taking it off is just one more step that they have to perform before a punctured tube can be replaced. Some might consider using the cap as additional assurance that the stem of the presta valve won't unscrew or to give the wheel that extra "finished look". To answer your question directly, it is perfectly fine to leave them off if you so choose.

-j
Greenfieldja is offline  
Old 02-22-10, 01:32 PM
  #6  
cowboy, steel horse, etc
 
LesterOfPuppets's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,704

Bikes: everywhere

Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12572 Post(s)
Liked 7,462 Times in 3,950 Posts
I used to put the nut on the tubes of my 28-38 mm tires on my old road bike, since I had to deflate the tires every time I removed the wheels, and I did a lot of drive+bike+drive trips in a Toyota Corolla back then. The nut makes inflating a completely deflated tube a little easier.

Now that I hardly ever deflate tires, I don't put the nut or the cap on.
LesterOfPuppets is online now  
Old 02-22-10, 01:32 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Alberta,Canada.
Posts: 800
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Thanks for answers,i thought possibly the mech was pulling my leg as hes prone to do.

Last edited by ddez; 02-22-10 at 01:36 PM.
ddez is offline  
Old 02-22-10, 01:34 PM
  #8  
cowboy, steel horse, etc
 
LesterOfPuppets's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,704

Bikes: everywhere

Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12572 Post(s)
Liked 7,462 Times in 3,950 Posts
The tube should only move around if you run fairly low pressures.
LesterOfPuppets is online now  
Old 02-22-10, 01:41 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
jack002's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Southwest MO
Posts: 785

Bikes: (2) 1994 Cannondale R900, red, Silver Trek hybrid

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 69 Post(s)
Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Originally Posted by ddez
Its not like i havnt been around cycling alot,but ive never seen this practice before. I was talking to a bike shop mech who tells me its common to not put plastic cap or the little knurled nut on presta tubes on bike. Ive never had troubles with using them although they can be a bit of a pain not to lose in dark with flat.
Is this a common practice to leave them off?
Is it ok. to not use them?
Yeah, I don't use either one. The Cap, just because the valve screws down and theres no place for dirt to get into them, and the ring, if you tighten them too much the valve comes out of the tube, I had it happen like 3x this last summer, the LBS mech said you don't even need them, so I don't use them to try to keep the tubes intact.
jack002 is offline  
Old 02-22-10, 01:51 PM
  #10  
Spinning @ 33 RPM
 
Glynis27's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 747

Bikes: '89 Fuji Saratoga, '97 Schwinn Mesa SS, '07 Felt F1X, '10 Transition TransAM, '11 Soma Analog SS

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
I don't use the caps, but I do use the knurled nut. It makes it easier to inflate, especially with a mini pump. I left it off once, and the valve would move around and make a ticking noise with every rotation. Put the nut back on, no more problems.
Glynis27 is offline  
Old 02-22-10, 03:22 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
CliftonGK1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 11,375

Bikes: '08 Surly Cross-Check, 2011 Redline Conquest Pro, 2012 Spesh FSR Comp EVO, 2015 Trek Domane 6.2 disc

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts
Originally Posted by Glynis27
I don't use the caps, but I do use the knurled nut. It makes it easier to inflate, especially with a mini pump.
+1
I keep a knurled nut on the tube in my flat repair gear for just this reason. It's easier with the tight fitting heads on most mini pumps to just use the nut when doing a roadside repair.
__________________
"I feel like my world was classier before I found cyclocross."
- Mandi M.
CliftonGK1 is offline  
Old 02-22-10, 03:24 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Oxnard, CA
Posts: 4,571

Bikes: 2009 Fuji Roubaix RC; 2011 Fuji Cross 2.0; '92 Diamond Back Ascent EX

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 16 Times in 12 Posts
I've never used the rings (and never had a problem because of it) but always use the caps (although I can't see why leaving them off would hurt).
CACycling is offline  
Old 02-23-10, 07:09 PM
  #13  
Hello
 
zebede's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Suncoast, Florida
Posts: 936

Bikes: n+1

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 110 Post(s)
Liked 29 Times in 25 Posts
The bike would be NAKED without the little knurled nut and a valve cap.

I wouldn't let a bike go outside.
zebede is offline  
Old 02-23-10, 08:15 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
mkane77g's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 712
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
My stems are smooth so no nut, and no cap. While using a pump, wrap thumb over the top of the tire to stabilize and have at it.
mkane77g is offline  
Old 02-23-10, 09:23 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
BCRider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: The 'Wack, BC, Canada
Posts: 5,556

Bikes: Norco (2), Miyata, Canondale, Soma, Redline

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 44 Post(s)
Liked 45 Times in 35 Posts
You've hit on a topic that is almost as religious in nature as what to lube the chain with

I use them semi fanatically because I don't want a bit of grit sitting on the stem thimble to get blown into the valve and possibly cause a slow leak through the valve. Granted the end of the valve is no where near as exposed as the open cup of a schreader stem but I figure why take chances. On the other hand if I lose the cap during a trialside flat repair it's hardly the end of the world and I don't keep a half dozen spares in my repair kit.

But during a thread we had about this exact same topic roughly a year back a lot of folks said that they served NO purpose at all other than protecting the tube while in the box, that anyone using them likely has dork discs as well and that generally their IQ was lower than a snake's belly in a wagon rut for figuring they were worthwhile.

Oddly enough having had a chain eat an entire back wheel on one occasion when it slipped down between the big cog and the spokes I proudly run dork discs on all my bikes. I guess that pretty much answers those folk's opinion of me..... Geez, the sides of this rut sure are high....

Last edited by BCRider; 02-23-10 at 09:26 PM.
BCRider is offline  
Old 02-23-10, 09:37 PM
  #16  
STFD
 
mcgreivey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: North Bergen, NJ
Posts: 778

Bikes: '80 Windsor Carrera Sport, '02 Specialized Sirrus A1, '10 Giant Escape 2

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I use the cap because I see no reason not to, and because more than once it's happened that when I've left it off, I've cut my finger on the metal flashing that's on the tip of the stem. But perhaps I'm more of an absent-minded clod than most.
mcgreivey is offline  
Old 02-23-10, 09:49 PM
  #17  
Old fart
 
JohnDThompson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,911

Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.

Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3556 Post(s)
Liked 3,332 Times in 1,899 Posts
If the couple extra grams using the caps is an insufferable burden for you, by all means leave them off. I leave them on because the extra mass means I'm training that much harder than the next guy.

JohnDThompson is offline  
Old 02-23-10, 10:09 PM
  #18  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,504

Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter

Mentioned: 139 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5680 Post(s)
Liked 2,386 Times in 1,320 Posts
Possibly the practice of not using the cap or rim nut goes back to the days of tubular tires. With tubulars, I never want anything that could trap the valve in the rim if I were to roll a tire. It could be the difference between riding a rim (and probably destroying it) and a locked wheel causing a more serious crash.

It's a habit that sticks with you, so today, even on my PV mtn bike tires, where it doesn't matter either way, I still don't use the cap or ring. As far as I'm concerned the only purpose of the valve cap on PV tubes is to protect the tube from puncture while it's still a rolled up spare.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site

An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.

Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.

“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN

WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FBinNY is offline  
Old 02-23-10, 10:22 PM
  #19  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 437

Bikes: late 80's bianchi campion d'italia, early 90's trek 2100, early 90's shogun selectra, mid 90's aluminum marin xcMTB, dept. store grade but upgraded columbia double eagle tandem

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
My Old Bianchi came with mismatched valve stems (one for a deep V wheel one not), but both with Red valve caps. I continue this tradition and transfer them from tube to tube because they look bada$$.
kludgefudge is offline  
Old 02-23-10, 10:26 PM
  #20  
Old Fogy
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Murray, Utah
Posts: 1,225
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
It's a difficult decision, leave off the caps and save all that weight, or put them on for the streamlining effect, by covering up the drag-inducing pin and nut.
waldowales is offline  
Old 02-24-10, 12:13 AM
  #21  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 589
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
If the couple extra grams using the caps is an insufferable burden for you, by all means leave them off. I leave them on because the extra mass means I'm training that much harder than the next guy.

then you can take them off and drop everybody

for some reason, my bike has the knurled nut on one tire and it doesn't have it on the other. I haven't had to change the tubes or tires yet, so I couldn't have lost it, the LBS must have only put on one as some kind of sick joke.

But I haven't had any problems with either wheel, I'd say the nut doesn't do anything. But I can see how it could be useful when using a pump.
awesomejack is offline  
Old 02-24-10, 12:16 AM
  #22  
Senior Member
 
vredstein's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Posts: 704

Bikes: '02 Lemond Buenos Aires, '98 Fuji Touring w/ Shimano Nexus premium, '06 Jamis Nova 853 cross frame set up as commuter, '03 Fuji Roubaix Pro 853 back up training bike

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by BCRider
a lot of folks said that they served NO purpose at all other than protecting the tube while in the box,
It also protects the small valve which is prone to getting bent if anything hits it.
vredstein is offline  
Old 02-24-10, 12:19 AM
  #23  
cowboy, steel horse, etc
 
LesterOfPuppets's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,704

Bikes: everywhere

Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12572 Post(s)
Liked 7,462 Times in 3,950 Posts
Once I had a dude on the train point out that my nut was loose. That might have been the impetus for me no longer using the nuts.
LesterOfPuppets is online now  
Old 02-24-10, 12:33 AM
  #24  
bike whisperer
 
Kimmo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Melbourne, Oz
Posts: 9,533

Bikes: https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=152015&p=1404231

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1520 Post(s)
Liked 716 Times in 508 Posts
Originally Posted by BCRider
But during a thread we had about this exact same topic roughly a year back a lot of folks said that they served NO purpose at all other than protecting the tube while in the box, that anyone using them likely has dork discs as well and that generally their IQ was lower than a snake's belly in a wagon rut for figuring they were worthwhile.
LOL... I'd be in that camp.

If it's not necessary, it doesn't go on my bike.

Mind you, I did use the nuts on my old early 70s classic to hide the fact some dickhead had drilled out one of the rims to fit a shrader valve... they kind of added to period look, too.
Kimmo is offline  
Old 02-24-10, 12:36 AM
  #25  
cowboy, steel horse, etc
 
LesterOfPuppets's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,704

Bikes: everywhere

Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12572 Post(s)
Liked 7,462 Times in 3,950 Posts
Hehehe! I drilled out a couple of my rims back in the day in preparation for a tour. Figured I had to be ready for anything.
LesterOfPuppets is online now  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.