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Presta? Shrader?

Old 06-08-05, 09:11 AM
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Presta? Shrader?

Hello,
I recently purchased 2005 fatboy slicks and with that i ordered tubes from nashbar.com .. Later after viewing different online stores such as the specialized estore i noticed they have different kinds of tubes like shrader or presta? Do these make a difference? Are they just small things that i shouldnt worry about ? Or did i just buy the wrong type of tube for my tire?



Thanks
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Old 06-08-05, 09:17 AM
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Yes, there's a difference. You can use a presta tube in a shrader-drilled rim but not vice-versa. As usual, Sheldon Brown's site has some informative, er, info.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/presta-schrader.html
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Old 06-08-05, 09:18 AM
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The presta valves are the smaller ones, the shraeders are the larger ones, same size as a car valve. You need the right size tube for your tire, and the right valve to fit your rims. Most mountain bikes use shraeder valves, and road bikes use presta valves.
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Old 06-08-05, 11:54 AM
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Originally Posted by twahl
The presta valves are the smaller ones, the shraeders are the larger ones, same size as a car valve. You need the right size tube for your tire, and the right valve to fit your rims. Most mountain bikes use shraeder valves, and road bikes use presta valves.

I'm sorry, I may be wrong, as I haven't bought a new mtn bike or mtn bike wheel in a while, but in my experience,some less expensive mtn bikes use Schrader- Mid to higher end mtn bikes use Presta.

I wish all my bikes were one or the other- having both is a pain.
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Old 06-08-05, 12:44 PM
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You may very well be right on that. High end mountain bikes have never been my thing, so I may have been totally mistaken. I figured since the Mountain Morph pump I bought for my wife's 'bent was fit for Shrader, that most mountain bikes ran them.
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Old 06-08-05, 04:33 PM
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Presta
Shrader
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Old 06-08-05, 05:04 PM
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I seriously hate Presta valves with a passion. They are a super pain in the butt to put air in.
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Old 06-08-05, 05:39 PM
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Originally Posted by RockinAR
I seriously hate Presta valves with a passion. They are a super pain in the butt to put air in.
Are you opening the valve first?

I just heard the same complaint from this lady down the street... she understood you had to unscrew the screw on top. But then she did not tap it like the finger in this pic shows... to open the seal.


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Old 06-08-05, 06:16 PM
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I am a big fan of presta valves. THey are easier to pump anyways. But i drilled my rear rim out for a schrader anyways because i had a flat and didnt have any presta tubes left. Most mid ot high end rims i have laced are for presta. Most can be drilled out for schrader except for a few like the Deep V which cannot
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Old 06-08-05, 06:28 PM
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Presta is easier in my experience.
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Old 06-08-05, 07:58 PM
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I have no preference though being able to stop at a gas station and fill up has it's advanatages...and YES I know they make freaking adapters
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Old 06-08-05, 08:39 PM
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Originally Posted by phantomcow2
I am a big fan of presta valves. THey are easier to pump anyways.
That's an argument that I've frequently heard, but it doesn't make any sense to me at all. I usually get a serious case of the giggles when people start extolling why Presta valves are supposed to be superior to Schrader. Anybody got any theories that I haven't heard yet?
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Old 06-09-05, 08:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
That's an argument that I've frequently heard, but it doesn't make any sense to me at all. I usually get a serious case of the giggles when people start extolling why Presta valves are supposed to be superior to Schrader. Anybody got any theories that I haven't heard yet?
I don't have a strong preference, and think that they are about the same, however, I seem to have a slightly easier time getting the pump head seated on a presta valve. Using Schrader valves is not a major hardship or anything. My only theory, which could be completely off, is that the narrower width of the presta valves requires a smaller holed drilled, which affects the strength of the rim less, which is beneficial to lightweight racing rims.
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Old 06-09-05, 08:13 AM
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I've always found presta to be much easier to pump. But I do carry an adapter just in case my frame pump malfunctions and I have to make an emergency fill at a gas station.
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Old 06-09-05, 09:50 AM
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Originally Posted by PWRDbyTRD
I have no preference though being able to stop at a gas station and fill up has it's advanatages...and YES I know they make freaking adapters
You don't have this problem withi adapters...
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Old 06-09-05, 09:57 AM
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Presta valves use the air pressure on the inside of the tube to "close" the valve. Shraders have a built in spring to assist. When you pump Shrader's up you have to overcome the spring plus the air pressure. That's why it's "easier" to pump up a Presta valve.
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Old 06-09-05, 10:32 AM
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I think presta is a more elegant design, since it uses air pressure to keep the valve closed, instead of a spring mechanism. It also looks better

I use presta valves but keep a $4 adaptor in my seat bag just in case. Actually, i _used_ to carry an adaptor, but i think my cat swallowed it or something as i haven't' seen it in a while.
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Old 06-09-05, 10:38 AM
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Originally Posted by MisterJ
Presta valves use the air pressure on the inside of the tube to "close" the valve. Shraders have a built in spring to assist. When you pump Shrader's up you have to overcome the spring plus the air pressure. That's why it's "easier" to pump up a Presta valve.
I'll bet that you're easy to sell stuff to. Two things.

First of all, have you ever felt how little tension that spring has? It's not enough to fuss about.

Secondly, when you put your Schrader chuck onto the valve, a finger depresses the spring so you still don't have to overcome what little resistance there might be when you pump.

You say that it's easier to pump a Presta tube. I'm betting that you've never measured if it's easier or not. I know I haven't but then my thesis is that there's no noticeable difference so I don't care.
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Old 06-09-05, 10:46 AM
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Originally Posted by robo
I think presta is a more elegant design, since it uses air pressure to keep the valve closed, instead of a spring mechanism. It also looks better
Agreed. I like the slimmer look of Presta stems too.

On the other hand, there's this. When you inflate a Schrader valve tube it's not always necessary to actually clamp onto the valve stem. If you have an air compressor, you can simply push the chuck against the valve stem. How many Presta valve tubes do you suppose have been ruined by side forces on the valve stem tearing the rubber at the base?
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Old 06-09-05, 03:16 PM
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well i have a cannondale hand pump that will take both.. problem solved
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Old 06-09-05, 03:21 PM
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Originally Posted by operator
You don't have this problem withi adapters...
you're going to be dialing 911 here in a few
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Old 06-09-05, 03:36 PM
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Well, I use White Lightning.



Wait, disregard. Sorry.
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Old 06-09-05, 05:11 PM
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i like presta, haven't had any probs with it yet
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Old 06-09-05, 05:48 PM
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Originally Posted by madman91
well i have a cannondale hand pump that will take both.. problem solved
WooHoo go pumps which can pump both!
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Old 06-09-05, 07:14 PM
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my bike has presta
im scared of them
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