avidone1

It's no huge pain in the ass, but inflating tires with schrader valves is such a simple process.
Remove the stem cap. Place pump nozzle on stem. Lock it. Pump
The presta valve adds the step of loosing the stem lock nut and freeing the stem before locking the pump nozzle in place.
Like I said, it's no big deal, but in the spirit of "keep it simple", is there some advantage to the presta valve that I'm not aware of?
Or is it just another unnecessary complication ?

NormanF

If you find inflating a presta valve hard, screw on an adapter, attach the pump chuck and pump it. Its not that hard.

Wheever

One of the advantages of the presta valve is no air loss while pump attach/detach. Schrader valves always burp a little bit of air when you attach and detach the air hose, because you are opening and closing a mechanical pin on the valve. Presta valves are entirely controlled by air pressure, and when you attach and detach the air hose, you don't lose anything because as you remove the pump the air pressure drops below tire pressure and the valve closes.

It doesn't sound like a big deal--and it's not for a car tire--but the volume of air in a bicycle tire is so small that you can lose a non-trivial amount of air just in pulling the pump off a Schrader valve. (And by non trivial I mean if you fumble it badly, for whatever reason, you could lose anything from 1-5 lbs of air. We've all done that on a car tire.)

catgita

Presta is easier for attaching and using a hand pump. Shader is best for air compressors.
Presta is lighter, more compact (as a spare tube), and requires a smaller hole in your rim.
Presta is a little better at higher pressures.
Nothing that is decisive either way. Picking fly poop out of pepper if you ask me.

Shraders are very handy, if you have a compressor. If you like it, use it.

CliffordK

With the old sewups, it was recommended to deflate the tires when storing them. The Presta is very easy to use with that.

As far as a modern need? I don't know. With the narrow 19mm, or so, rims, the small holes is nice.

There are some people that I wouldn't give Presta too... just another complication for them.

Darth Lefty 

Sometimes a standard is a standard because it would be too hard to change. I'm sure that in 2015 something better could be invented from scratch.Presta has the advantage of being a check valve but it bends and requires unscrewing.

CliffordK

Perhaps the better question is why not Dunlop valves?

I-Like-To-Bike

All my German bikes had them, and they never seem to lose air, which was good because they require an adapter to use with an air compressor or Schrader compatible pump.

StanSeven

Road tires in the 19-25 width couldn't take a Schrader valve. Both the tube and many rims (all except some box) are too narrow. It would out of question for aero rims.

Once you get used to presta, they are easy and no air is lost.

spdracr39

You must be a corporate sales manager. That's just what we need a new design that requires everyone to buy new pumps and wheels to use. No offense but NO. Why fix something that ain't broke?

obed7

does anybody actually use an air compressor with bicycle tires?

spdracr39

Because a larger hole could potentially weaken the integrity of narrow rims.

Tundra_Man 

My floor pumps seem to be finicky about how far down on the Schrader valve I push it before I lock the head. Too shallow or too far and I pressurize the pump hose but not the tire. I never have that problem with Prestas.

Unscrewing a Schrader valve cap or unscrewing a Presta valve lock, either way I'm unscrewing something so that's a wash.

Takes much less than a second to quick "burp" the Presta valve, so that doesn't really cost me any noticeable time.

I have bikes with both. I prefer Presta valves.

melloveloyellow

I do! I don't own a "bicycle pump" per se. Compressor in the shop, CO2 on the ride.

"One of the advantages of the presta valve is no air loss while pump attach/detach. Schrader valves always burp a little bit of air when you attach and detach the air hose, because you are opening and closing a mechanical pin on the valve. Presta valves are entirely controlled by air pressure, and when you attach and detach the air hose, you don't lose anything because as you remove the pump the air pressure drops below tire pressure and the valve closes."

That's a good point that I hadn't thought of.

tjkoko

I looooove the Dunlop valves on my Dutch Azor Oma. No air loss there!!!!!!!!!!

Methinks that spdracr39 has a real problem with them.

fietsbob

LBS does , has one of these on the end of the hose EVT | Idiot-Proof Inflator

09box

I've had no issues with presta valves. Learn to work with them and its no issue.

Daniel4

Presta valves take getting used to and then they are not so bad. Make sure your hand pump uses a flexible tube. I've broken too many presta valves with using a hand pump with a direct connection.

bikepro

Or, pole vaulting over fly poop.

rumrunn6

my approach is not for everyone :/

rumrunn6

I have one at home, and when out in the field and needing a fill up it's nice to know I can use any cheap gas station coin-op

fietsbob

Possible "Why" BITD the pro bikes were (and still are) Sewups which all were Presta valve . ,

Wire bead 700c is almost the same size as the race sewups but easier to mend a Puncture . [whip out your spare tube]

so they tend to also use the same stem to be equally Cool.

ltxi

Absolutely. Why not?

IcySmooth52

Exactly why presta is more common. Putting a hole on many current rims big enough for schrader would compromise the structure. Presta values are smaller and they can make lighter wheels with it.

Put on the adapter and leave it if they annoy you too much.

TheManShow

In the ols days Presta valves when on high end bikes. the other valves were for stop pipe bikes.