Originally Posted by
Helderberg
And now the depth of my ignorance has resurfaced. What is the reason for this valve and is it better or worse than the conventional Schrader valve?
It's just another standard. The main advantage of schrader valves is that the valve is less delicate and is better-protected by the stem. But for the most part, for bicycles, I prefer presta:
-They're lighter.
-The narrower stem makes them less intrusive on rim design.
-They take up less space in something like a saddle bag.
-You can let air out without tools.
I don't think it really matters much either way. As long as you know how to use either, they both work. Higher-end bicycle stuff generally comes with presta, though.
Makes me wonder how lost I would be if I had bought a high end road bike.
Probably no more lost than you are now. A road bike being high-end doesn't necessarily mean that it's a complex machine.