Reflector Guy

I wonder if they make a camouflage mud-encrusted version, or is that still a do-it-yourself proposition?

79pmooney

I "could" put the washers on and save the occasional carelessly pumped tube that dies of valve failure/ But I suspect a time/dollar study would suggest it is pretty close to a toss if my time has any money value. The caps? I've kept them figuring the use for them will show up. We will see. I might die first.

Oh the caps. I might start observing if I get more flats exactly the valve length from the valve base. Never paid attention before. It certainly isn't a widespread problem for me. My 7 patch tubes don't have several around the valve. Even if I do get a flat or two. I suspect the rational for skipping with washers I stated above applies. At least I will continue reasoning that way until I see a pattern.

The other very trivial reason not to use the washers and caps is that they will get lost around the road edge. A given. And what happens to them? Shiny, black, or for others here, bright colors? Don't they end up in the stomachs of birds and animals?

BCDrums

I have blue aluminum valve caps that match my bike. I never used the black plastic caps, but these are decorative, and it looks good to me. The few seconds they cost me when airing the tires? I guess I am not as busy as some.

indyfabz

Or as cheap or as perturbed about how others spend their money.

ARider2

This is a valid point and reminds me of the time I had to cut the valve off both tires on a bike because the aluminum caps had fused themselves to the valve stem.

UCantTouchThis

You rode in bad winter weather over a period of time and never had to put air in either tire?

GlennR

I learned my lesson the last time I got beat up here.

So as long as no one tells me what to do I say GO FOR IT.

metz1295

Too funny, I just ordered some orange ones for my new mountain bike. I like that they have a valve core wrench built in. However, don't really see the need on a road bike and the roadies I know say 'NO' to valve caps anyway.

Amazon.com : Granite Juicy Nipple Valve Cap with Valve Core Removing Function, Bike Tire Caps Dust Covers (Orange) : Sports & Outdoors

Hoping for a good match to the bike...

Wanderer

Now, that's nice! But, why the blue nuts?

chaadster

The blue nuts are part of the theme!

UCantTouchThis

Looks sharp! But I've never been a fan of blue nuts!

indyfabz

Don’t go here:



However, you can go from there through Intercourse to reach Paradise:

UCantTouchThis

bOsscO

For those who choose to leave the original black plastic dust caps off their Presta valves, you could get creative with some leather, some silver nail polish, and a glue-gun.

GlennR

Not all triathletes feel they will slow them down.

Saw this at the LBS today.

Milton Keynes

I've heard that it can be frustrating for a guy looking for female companionship there.

phughes

metz1295

Made these custom for my Lego kid's BMX bike.

msu2001la

I always throw the plastic caps away as soon as the tube goes into the tire.

I was a bit puzzled by the tubeless valve stems that I recently purchased that came with fancy metal caps. I put them on, but then later noticed one was missing so I just removed the other one. I now suspect that my LBS removed it and tossed it in the trash while mocking my decision behind my back. This is the kind of helpful service you can't get on the internet.

UCantTouchThis

Ha! My wife bought new chrome caps for her car then took her car in for an oil change. Bass turds finished the car and when she got home, 3 caps missing and one black plastic cap. I went back and gave them a piece of my mind. They ended up buying her a new set of chrome caps on the spot for Pep Boys across the street.

I hate that stuff! I rarely take my bike to the shop doing all my own wrenching and wheel building but if I do, I strip the bike first.

GlennR

Does you car store the engine oil in the tires?

Changing the oil and filter on a car is simpler than building a wheel.

UCantTouchThis

No, the car does not store oil in the tires. Do you not know the oil change outfits service the car such as replacing air filters, cabin filters, air up the tires, vacuum the interior and clean the windows? Jiffy Lube and other like outfits.

Yes, changing the oil is easier than building a wheel but no fun. Also when you're getting ready for a short notice road trip in a few hours, the last thing you want to hassle with is doing the oil yourself.

GlennR

My friend owns a shop and fixes all the screwups done by the local Jiffy Lube.

1) crushed and burst oil filter on a 2017 Shelby GT350
2) overfilled Porsche by only draining the engine and not the remote oil tank and then putting in 11 quarts. (9 too much). It needed the turbos rebuild, a $7200 stainless steel muffler with dual cats
3) drain the transmission by mistake instead of the engine oil and then fill it with the wrong ATF. IT was a Porsche 911 with a tiptronic and it had to be replaced.

There are many others.

You don't trust the LBS mechanic but you do the grease monkeys at Jiffy Lube.

Cougrrcj 

I wouldn't mind aluminum Presta caps at all. I keep putting the cracked plastic caps on every time I ride. The plastic caps are black, but as long as they are black or silver, I wouldn't care at all.. I've already 'made my statement[' in 'accessorizing' my bike with my choice of brake/shift housing color... Two tiny valve stem caps? Pffft...

UCantTouchThis

I have had a ton of mishaps with bike shop mechanics. The reason I do all my own now.

1) Crunched my alum os tube frame in a bike stand as it was set for a cromo tube frame. I can name the stores but some people here who are locals might not like it and maybe employees for this shop.
2) Built a wheel that didn't make it through the first 20 miles of a 40 mile ride. Took it back, dude said to put 200 miles on it and he would true it. Major fool. It needed proper tension, not just a true. This is the time I started building my own 15 years ago. Again, some of the employees may be members here and/or friends. Sadly the next time I saw this guy, he was working at Sport Chalet filling air tanks for divers!
3) Took a Bianchi in to a store for the free tune up. It didn't need anything but they insisted at time of purchase that I bring it back for "PROFESSIONAL SERVICE". I did then as the guy rolled the bike out, actually slid it out, he handed it to me and I noticed the rear caliper was crooked and the wheel was dragging across the floor. I pointed it out to him and he shouted, WHAT DID YOU DO TO IT??" WTH, I had the bike 2 seconds, it wasn't me, fool! This store no longer exists. It was called Bud's. Long time high end shop and tandem specialty shop. Actually owned by the guy who makes Santana tandems.
4) Bought a new bike, the chain kept falling off the front derailleur while switching to the small ring. I had several other bikes and had been riding for 10 years. After a week and 4 trips, the bike shop manager said it was me, that I did not know how to switch gears properly. Uhh ok! I took it to a guy I knew who did back yard fixes. He spotted the problem within 10 seconds. They had the front derailleur chain line out of position. He said the shop had set it up like a mtb and not a road bike. Never had the problem again.
5). I was already building wheels for my bikes. Had built about 10 at the time. But I needed a tandem wheel built and took it to a shop where a past employee at Bud's worked and was a wheel builder specialty guy. I ordered a Deep V rim and all DT spokes. The wheel was built, rode it 40 miles the next week and a spoke broke. I took it back to the shop and dang it, the shop was gone! I bought a replacement and replaced the spoke. Another 40 mile ride the next week and a second spoke broke. WTH! I inspected the wheel and found 4 strange emblem spokes mixed in with the DT Swiss spokes. The broken spokes were 2 of them. I ordered a few replacement DT spokes from wheelbuilder dot com and replaced the funky spokes. I removed the tension of the entire wheel then adjusted from scratch myself. NEVER ever a single problem again and that was about 6 years ago.

I can name a few more that have to do with product service, wheel service, and some others. So no, I do not trust the people at bike shops. I build my own bikes and wheels now for a reason.

BTW, I do many of my own car repairs as well. Not rocket science either. But simple stuff like tuneups, brakes, replace radiators, water pumps, starters, sensors and other easy stuff as it is much cheaper to do them vs garage prices. But changing the oil is just a nuisance and easy enough to have the dudes at Jiffy Lube do it when I'm in a rush.