Originally Posted by
harshbarj
Outside of a racing bicycle, there is no need for presta valves. They were designed for skinny racing wheels. Your average commuter style bike will have a 700cx35 tire which can accommodate a schrader valve. I simply see no benefit to presta whatsoever on a sufficiently wide rim.
That and if your pump breaks, you can stop at any gas station and use their pump. You may not get to full pressure, but you don't need to. You just need to get home where you can use your floor pump.
All of this is true, but having presta valves isn't a big liability, either. Most of my bikes have them, due to my inertia. I don't plan to convert, as I have no reason to do so.
None of the reasons in favor of presta or schrader is terribly compelling. It doesn't matter. The reason we ask and debate it is because we can, not because we need to.