Schrader or Presta Valve for Commuting?
#101
Senior Member

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From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
I'll post it here if I find myself in such a situation and need to pay penance, but my point earlier was that gas stations shouldn't be a substitute for being prepared.
#102
I don't know. It seems to be a lot simpler just to make sure you're carrying a working pump rather than hoping a gas station with a working compressor is somewhere close by.
Most cyclists that use gas station pumps seem to use them in place of having a good floor pump at home rather than as a way to deal with flats. That's fine but if you have a good floor pump and a pump to carry with you that would seem to eliminate the need to fill at a gas station in most circumstances. Plus, like many have said, if you want to fill at a gas station, there are cheap and small adaptors that will let you do it.
#103
aka Tom Reingold




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Those things are a bear to change: Fitting Penny Farthing tyre - YouTube
And then there is the perennial argument about whether black or red rubber is more fitting for the enthusiast.
And then there is the perennial argument about whether black or red rubber is more fitting for the enthusiast.
What is the black/red debate? Is this something that occurred in the days of the Ordinary?
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
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Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
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#104
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From: Omaha, Ne
Bikes: Trek Belleville, Workcycles opa, Schwinn
Outside of a racing bicycle, there is no need for presta valves. They were designed for skinny racing wheels. Your average commuter style bike will have a 700cx35 tire which can accommodate a schrader valve. I simply see no benefit to presta whatsoever on a sufficiently wide rim.
That and if your pump breaks, you can stop at any gas station and use their pump. You may not get to full pressure, but you don't need to. You just need to get home where you can use your floor pump.
That and if your pump breaks, you can stop at any gas station and use their pump. You may not get to full pressure, but you don't need to. You just need to get home where you can use your floor pump.
#105
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
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Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Outside of a racing bicycle, there is no need for presta valves. They were designed for skinny racing wheels. Your average commuter style bike will have a 700cx35 tire which can accommodate a schrader valve. I simply see no benefit to presta whatsoever on a sufficiently wide rim.
That and if your pump breaks, you can stop at any gas station and use their pump. You may not get to full pressure, but you don't need to. You just need to get home where you can use your floor pump.
That and if your pump breaks, you can stop at any gas station and use their pump. You may not get to full pressure, but you don't need to. You just need to get home where you can use your floor pump.
None of the reasons in favor of presta or schrader is terribly compelling. It doesn't matter. The reason we ask and debate it is because we can, not because we need to.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#106
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From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
I carry pump, co2, tubes, patches & quarters. I like options ...
That video is insane. I had no idea what was going on until the end & then I was amazed the "tire" stretched & stuck together!
That video is insane. I had no idea what was going on until the end & then I was amazed the "tire" stretched & stuck together!
#107
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From: Omaha, Ne
Bikes: Trek Belleville, Workcycles opa, Schwinn
All of this is true, but having presta valves isn't a big liability, either. Most of my bikes have them, due to my inertia. I don't plan to convert, as I have no reason to do so.
None of the reasons in favor of presta or schrader is terribly compelling. It doesn't matter. The reason we ask and debate it is because we can, not because we need to.
None of the reasons in favor of presta or schrader is terribly compelling. It doesn't matter. The reason we ask and debate it is because we can, not because we need to.
#108
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From: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
No problem... If my pump failed then I have an presta/schrader adapter in my tool bag and some spare change, I could air my tires at a gas station.
#109
aka Tom Reingold




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Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Again, that's all true, but it's also not very compelling. We are grasping at straws to think of really bad situations that are (1) unlikely and (2) not that bad.
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New York City and High Falls, NY
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“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#110
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Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
#111
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Pardon my presumption if you've already tried this but if you flip the lever to the lock position after unscrewing the retaining cap on the head of your pump it should push the internals out far enough to get a hold of them.
#112
aka Tom Reingold




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Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Or carry a small prying tool such as a small screwdriver. Pliers might get the parts out, too.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#113
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From: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
#114
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,172
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From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Those are good, too. Or if you know you always carry your keys and it would do the job, there you are.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#115
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I configure the pump for the particular style of valve before leaving the house.
#116
Hey I-Like-To-Bike,question. What do you suggest for people running skinny,high pressure tires? Many gas stations limit their compressors to around 40psi or so,since most car tires max out around there and they don't want people blowing their tires off the rims. 40psi in a 100+ psi tire is asking for a pinch flat. Or are they just riding the wrong kind of bike?
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#117
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Hey I-Like-To-Bike,question. What do you suggest for people running skinny,high pressure tires? Many gas stations limit their compressors to around 40psi or so,since most car tires max out around there and they don't want people blowing their tires off the rims. 40psi in a 100+ psi tire is asking for a pinch flat. Or are they just riding the wrong kind of bike? 

I'm not so sure that gas stations compressors "limited" to around 40psi for car tires aren't capable of bursting any bicycle tube with overinflation if the cyclist doesn't take care. With care, I've never had a problem inflating 27 x 1 1/4" tubes to 75PSI at a gas station.
#118
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
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From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Some of them have pressure limiters, but I'm too scared to test their effectiveness.
When I was in high school, I went to the local gas station to fill up my bike tires. This was Manhattan, and gas stations are rare. This one is indoors, like a cave. I blew my tire, and the explosion in the cave-like space was louder than usual. The owner told me never to come back. This was before coin-operated pressure-limiting compressors.
When I was in high school, I went to the local gas station to fill up my bike tires. This was Manhattan, and gas stations are rare. This one is indoors, like a cave. I blew my tire, and the explosion in the cave-like space was louder than usual. The owner told me never to come back. This was before coin-operated pressure-limiting compressors.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#119
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From: Monkey Bottom, NC
Bikes: A bunch of old steel bikes + an ICE trike
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