Originally Posted by
downtube42
I was sure Sheldon Brown argued they were useless once the tube was unfurled, but I can no longer find that quote. Lacking Sheldon's backing, I may have to reconsider my position as a Presta valve cap denier.
With a sharp instrument you can modify a (plastic) Presta cap to be a functional Schrader adapter, thus fill your fancy bike tire at a gas station. So I guess that's an argument to carry a sharp knife and mount your Presta caps.
You're not crazy; I remember reading Sheldon (or maybe Jobst Brandt) saying that the only purpose of the cap was to keep from poking a hole in the tube while it was rolled up.
I no longer throw away valve caps, though -- I patched up a bunch of old tubes a year or two ago and wasn't able to roll them up properly since I was short on caps.
