Old 09-26-17 | 11:23 AM
  #514  
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Skipjacks
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Joined: Aug 2017
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From: Mid Atlantic / USA

Bikes: 2017 Specialized Crosstrail / 2013 Trek Crossrip Elite

Originally Posted by DougG
It also depends on your rims. The deep-profile rims on my CrossTrail are too narrow where the valve stem comes through to be able to be drilled out much and I also have not seen any bike tubes with Schraeder valve stems that are 3+ inches long, which are required in this case.

Not trying to prolong an argument, but Presta is basically a road-bike standard that is meant for narrow rims and/or rims with deep profiles. Some 700c rims for hybrids come with Schraeder valves, such as my wife's Trek, while others like mine pretty much require Prestas.
I know they are the road bike standard. I just think (and have always thought) that the standard is weird. The schraeder valve is simpler and practically bomb proof. And its compatible with every tire inflation/pressure measuring device that's been sold in the USA since the Ford Model T. The presta valve is more delicate and harder to use (not much harder...but harder) and isn't compatible with most inflation stuff in the USA.

So I don't see the advantages of it other than being 2mm thinner. I know road bikes go for aerodynamics...but 2mm extra width inside the spinning wheel isn't slowing anyone down.

Specialized makes a tube with a long fully threaded schraeder valve that comes stock on the Crosstrails. I can't find a picture of it out of the box....but it basically looks like this when installed



Sticks way out like a presta valve does. That's what it looks like on the deep profile rims on the 2017 and newer Crosstrails that came with the schraeder valves. (I think the 2016's and a few years before that had a lower profile rim that was subject to a lot of bending so it was replaced for 2017 and newer. Feel free to fact check me on that. I'm not positive.)

I didn't ride today so I can't measure it right now. But it's about 2.5 inches.

So it fits these wheels that came stock on the 2017 crosstrails.



I know the higher end Crosstrails come with presta tubes, but I'm pretty sure (not positive) that the wheel dimensions were the same or similar on all models. The wheels on my Crosstrail are about an inch and a quarter tall (from where the rubber meets them to where the spokes mount. Again, I'm not near the bike so that's a guess...but it's about right)

In other words...if you did ever want to switch and have wheels of similar dimensions, you can. The tubes are out there to fit deeper profile wheels. Not racing profile wheels that are 4 inches deep from the tire, but I can't picture those on a hybrid anyway.

Last edited by Skipjacks; 09-26-17 at 12:05 PM.
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