babysaph38

I know this is a dumb question but I got a new bike with the newfangled skinny air valves in the tires. What is the secret for getting air in the tires. I am used to old school air valves that always worked. But what do I know? Lol

babysaph38

Do I need some kind of special adaptor on my air compresser to fill the tire. What a piece of junk.

valygrl

Not dumb, just new. It's called "Presta" the big one with the pin in the middle is called "Schrader"

Take off the plastic cap, if there is one (and throw it away, it's a useless dust cover). There's a little threaded stem at the top of the valve, and a little knurled ring around it (near the end of the stem, not down at the bottom right next to the rim). That piece unscrews, but does not come off, it just unscrews out to the end of the stem. When unscrewed, you can push the stem in to let air out and in. If it's screwed down (as it normally is) it blocks the air flow, both in and out, so you can't pump it up.

You need a Presta pump, or an adaptor to go on your Schrader pump. Some pumps have two sides, other's have an internal adaptor, some work for only one kind. Most presta pumps will have a lever of some kind to lock the pump onto the valve stem, so you'll have to press the pump head onto the stem, then flip the lever.

Don't forget to screw the little ring back down when you're done inflating, or the air will leak out.

Aside:
There MAY be a little ring at the bottom of the stem by the rim, that just holds the tube in place, I never use it, some tubes come with it, others don't. If you have one, you have to take it off to replace the tube.

valygrl

it's not junk, it's just different, all high end road bikes use presta.

peace.

IntoThickAir

It's called a presta valve, and you need to have the correct pump or an adapter. The latter includes adapters for your pump head - the part you attach to your valve - as well as adapters you can screw on your skinny presta valve so you can inflate the tire at a gas station. You'll know you've got it right, because the larger valve stem won't fit correctly - it would be too loose. In any case, you'll need to loosen the screw-down valve in the center of your presta valve to inflate, and tighten it back down once you're done.

babysaph38

You guys are right. I can get air into the presta with my morph roadie pump. I just can't get air into it using my compresser. YOu say there is an adaptor I can get to put on the tube so it will take air at a gas station? That would be sweet for riding. thanks guys. LIve and learn. I am still old school and say if it aint broke don't fix it. I guess having presta's on a bike makes them high end. go figure.

staehpj1

BTW: There is nothing new about presta valves. They have been on most performance oriented road or track bikes since the days of wooden rims. As far as I know all tubular tires have always had presta valves and almost all high performance clinchers do as well. Even high end MTBs are likely to have presta.

babysaph38

Like I say, I am used to low end bikes. Not sure why they are on high end bikes. When I was a kid my bike and car both had the bigger valves. But both were low end. I am not sure if they use them on high end cars or not. I need to check. LOL.

mwl6464

I had never seen them either. I broke the tit off one just airing up, not very impressed yet on them.

babysaph38

I want a long haul trucker and want to buy a new one. I don't want to build one and I don't want to wait on it. Is that possible. I hear they are hard to find and can't be had unless you build one.

Lou627

just look at surlys site to see dealers, find one close to you, call them up and see what they have. I got mine and rode out the door of the lbs in manhattan.

A lbs by my house has an adapter for his compressor you put over your presta valve and you hook up the standard schrader head on the compressor to it. I want to find one for gas stations too. I ask him and post where theyre at.

vik 

Every LBS I've been to sells these for a couple bucks. I used to carry one, but in years of riding I never used it so I stopped. I always have a pump with me and I just use that.