Schrader v Presta

Fantasia
Fantasia Posts: 43
edited March 2009 in The bottom bracket
Hi

My new bike has Presta valves - I hate them, they are an absolute menace. :roll:

Would I cause probs If I had the valve holes in the wheels drilled out to accept Schrader??

It's a hybrid bike.

Bi

L

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    it does depend on the rims, some will happily take the larger valve but some will not with out potentially weakening the rim.

    you can get presta to Schrader adaptors that you could just leave on? or use instead.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • DavidBelcher
    DavidBelcher Posts: 2,684
    Well, Presta valves have their merits, and so do Schrader. But which is better? There's only one way to find out...... :wink:

    David
    "It is not enough merely to win; others must lose." - Gore Vidal
  • singlespeedexplosif
    singlespeedexplosif Posts: 1,564
    they are an absolute menace
    explain??
  • schlepcycling
    schlepcycling Posts: 1,614
    DavidBelcher wrote:
    Well, Presta valves have their merits, and so do Schrader. But which is better? There's only one way to find out...... :wink:

    David

    Figgggggggggghhhhhhhhtttttt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. :D
    'Hello to Jason Isaacs'
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I much prefer presta - I even use them on my MTB that has schrader valved rims.

    Menace ? Never had any problems.
  • 1892
    1892 Posts: 1,690
    cougie wrote:
    I much prefer presta - I even use them on my MTB that has schrader valved rims.


    Menace ? Never had any problems.

    I'm with you cougie, have presta on all my bikes.
    Justice for the 96
  • Fantasia
    Fantasia Posts: 43
    Hi

    Well I'll explain - wee fiddly things that you need to watch you don't bend. Meanwhile you're out in the middle of nowhere with a tyre that's slowly sinking into oblivion.

    Messing about with twiddly bits - were in the 21st century for heavens sake - where's the technology.

    I've taken the advise given earlier of putting brass adaptors over the presta - they'll be staying there.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Never bent one in all my years with them.

    And if you only take one tube out - take a Presta - a schrader wont fit thru the presta hole, but vice versa is fine. Handy if you have a few bikes.
  • singlespeedexplosif
    singlespeedexplosif Posts: 1,564
    Well I'll explain - wee fiddly things that you need to watch you don't bend

    you're supposed to use your fingers to undo them, then a pump to pump them up. Not a sledgehammer.

    messing about with twiddly bits
    why is it any different to having to unscrew the dust cap on a Schrader?
  • cee
    cee Posts: 4,553
    mans valves for me.......both of my bikes wheels have shraeder valve slots.....
    Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.

    H.G. Wells.
  • fnb1
    fnb1 Posts: 591
    mans valve? young Man!!

    whatever happened to Woods?
    fay ce que voudres
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Only n00bs bend the presta valve nuts.....
    I like bikes...

    Twitter
    Flickr
  • synchronicity
    synchronicity Posts: 1,415
    cougie wrote:
    And if you only take one tube out - take a Presta - a schrader wont fit thru the presta hole, but vice versa is fine. Handy if you have a few bikes.

    Yes but always carry the tiny plastic sleeve adapters... I forgot these once, promptly got a few punctures around the presta valve stem. Impossible to fix. When inserted into a schraeder hole, they move around too much and puncture easily up against the sharp valve hole in the rim. I was nearly stranded despite having heaps of spare patches.... :oops:
    vertebr.ae | precision braking & shifting
  • soy_sauce
    soy_sauce Posts: 987
    redddraggon wrote:
    Only n00bs bend the presta valve nuts.....

    :oops: i bent mine slightly but that was the first time i even pump a tyre.
    "It is not impossible, its just improbable"

    Specialized Rockhopper Pro Disc 08
  • Hudster
    Hudster Posts: 142
    I used to break these and can still sometimes bend them when I'm not taking care. But they more than make up for it with the ease at which you can pump the tube up compared to a Schrader valve. Plus letting the air out of a tube is so much easier. Why would you do that? When you have a flat and swapped tubes - there is always some air left in the old tube unless it's a bit flat.
  • Chaz.Harding
    Chaz.Harding Posts: 3,144
    Presta all the way. Dunno why, but I like them more. No rational reason, or explanation as to why, just do.
    Boo-yah mofo
    Sick to the power of rad
    Fix it 'till it's broke
  • STEFANOS4784
    STEFANOS4784 Posts: 4,109
    redddraggon wrote:
    Only n00bs bend the presta valve nuts.....

    I'm noob, i started enjoying cycling about the same time as i joined here. However i still had to change innertubes on the 'dale and never benrt a valve :?

    And i thought that I was sh1t :roll:
    winter beast: http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr34 ... uff016.jpg
    Summer beast; http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr34 ... uff015.jpg
  • nwallace
    nwallace Posts: 1,465
    Just remember that with Schrader valves the job of the nut on the Presta is done by a spring.

    Presta all the way here, I bought a couple of Presta sized plugs for the Schrader holes on my MTB rims but realised they are clearly as consumable as the tubes, so need a few more.

    Also anyone suggesting that Schrader valves are Male or Manly should take a 2nd look at them, quite clearly the pump is the one pressing buttons.
    Do Nellyphants count?

    Commuter: FCN 9
    Cheapo Roadie: FCN 5
    Off Road: FCN 11

    +1 when I don't get round to shaving for x days
  • Fantasia
    Fantasia Posts: 43
    Hi Guys

    You can all wind yur necks in. The problem has been resolved.

    I've got my wee new brass convertors on my presta valves complete with dust caps.

    And yes today I got my 3rd puncture on a back wheel while out in the middle of no where.

    So armed with my new brass nobs - and a tin of skooshy stuff from Halfords (which I carry at all times) I zapped the problem wheel in double quick time. It seals and inflates at the same time.

    The guy I had met was soooo impressed that here was this wee female person who could actually fix her own puncture - without wrastling with a tyre n tube n levers n patches n all that old fashioned stuff that knocks lumps out yur nail polish :lol::lol:

    So many thanks to the person who suggested brass convertors - they work brilliantly, I'll not need to take a drill to my wheel rims after all :D
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    redddraggon wrote:
    Only n00bs bend the presta valve nuts.....

    I bent one beyond use a couple weeks back, I'm not a n00b.
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    willhub wrote:
    redddraggon wrote:
    Only n00bs bend the presta valve nuts.....

    I bent one beyond use a couple weeks back, I'm not a n00b.

    Lol, I thought your full name was Willhub "The n00b" Thompson?

    :wink:
    I like bikes...

    Twitter
    Flickr
  • torrens
    torrens Posts: 32
    I just couldn't bring myself to leave a brass Presta to Schraeder adaptor in situ - just so inelegant!

    And as another poster states, the nut on a Presta valve does the job of the spring in the Shraeder. So I should think that therefore there is a theoretical weakness in the Shraeder valve - to boot, above a certain angular velocity the Schraeder valve will open and one would suffer an uncommanded tyre deflation, albeit at perhaps only a low rate if the plastic valve cap is firmly screwed on! What this speed is I have no idea. I freely admit that I've never heard of this happening, although whilst "enjoying" my high powered sporting motorcycle the thought has fleetingly crossed my mind...

    Can you tell I'm bored today?
  • torrens
    torrens Posts: 32
    But then again, what would I know as I can't even spell Schrader correctly - whoops!
  • david 142
    david 142 Posts: 227
    Fantasia wrote:
    The guy I had met was soooo impressed that here was this wee female person who could actually fix her own puncture - without wrastling with a tyre n tube n levers n patches n all that old fashioned stuff that knocks lumps out yur nail polish :lol::lol:

    And to think that I thought you were just miffed because you couldnt use garage airlines... :lol:
  • W5454
    W5454 Posts: 133
    edited March 2009
    willhub wrote:
    redddraggon wrote:
    Only n00bs bend the presta valve nuts.....

    I bent one beyond use a couple weeks back, I'm a n0b .

    That's more like it : :twisted:
  • jc4lab
    jc4lab Posts: 554
    Car Value type cos Iike to blow up my Brompton tyres at a garage to make them hard as possible..It then flies..
    jc

Categories