Originally posted by D*Alex
to the best of my knowlege, nearly every bike pump sold in the US is presta-compatible. All you need to do is unscrew the head, pull the little 'finger' out, and put the plasic 'donut' in backwards.
One exception, Alex -- the Schwinn dual-function CO2 cartridge/minipump thingie speaks only Schraeder.
Thirty years ago, when I asked Charlie Harding (C Harding's For Bikes, West Los Angeles CA) why Schraeders were so popular on bicycles, even though Prestas are easier to inflate, he replied, "Because John Q. Public inflates his bike tyres at a gas station instead of by hand."
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069