Originally Posted by
cale
Haha, leaving off this part that is obviously specified with the tube (tube, nut, and cap) is as old as the hills. The valve nut and cap were not thought to be "essential" enough to warrant the extra "weight". And so started the trend of leaving lock nuts and caps off racing bikes. It was the same sort of ridiculous nonsense that led to decades of 39/53 chainrings (great for racers but the rest of us?) and a complete disregard for helmet safety within the peloton (at least until they were forced to wear their helmets).
Edited to add: there is ample evidence that mini pumps do little damage to valves that are secured with lock rings. If the bike can't withstand the social pressure to forgo using a lock ring, you could carry one in your saddle bag. Haha
Nonsense in racing vs everyday people? You mean the same nonsense that Carbon Fiber bikes are now all the rage when everyday people really don't need them? you mean that kind of nonsense?
Funny think about valve stems is when someone fixes a flat and replaces the tube they rarely put on the locking nut until AFTER the tire is at full pressure, this is when the damage is caused, and because the damage is on the upswing due to the grommets on the inside of the tube's valve stem are now gone to save 1/2 a cent a tube, pump manufactures are beginning to see the benefit of a hose on the pump. Of course even a hose on a pump could be pulled and stress the stem, but the likelihood is less.
But there are other reasons for not using the nut and weight isn't one of them, so instead of me typing endlessly just read this:
Use a lock nut on a presta valve? - Bicycles Stack Exchange