Expanding stem lengths?
12-13-19, 07:13 PM
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Expanding stem lengths?
Ok admittedly I’m a Retrogrouch, but what’s with inner tube stem lengths? 30mmish looks aesthetically good on a classic 1980s 700 rim. Last time I bought tubes several years ago at a LBS the stems were 40mm. Today at my local REI I noticed that the standard 700 tube stems were 48mm. Is the end goal that the stem reach all the way to the hub? Guess it’s time to patch all the old ‘classic’ tubes piled up in my workshop 😯
12-13-19, 07:38 PM
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They're just excited to see you.
Recently bought a set of wheels that came with tires and tubes and just had to replace the almost new tubes to get rid of the absurdly long stems.
Lot of deep wheels out there and a lot of retailers don't want more SKUs. They'll just sell you the longer one and be done with it.
Recently bought a set of wheels that came with tires and tubes and just had to replace the almost new tubes to get rid of the absurdly long stems.
Lot of deep wheels out there and a lot of retailers don't want more SKUs. They'll just sell you the longer one and be done with it.
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12-13-19, 07:41 PM
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Retailers now days can't afford to be bothered with aesthetics. 
12-13-19, 07:42 PM
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I'm with the op. The 32mm length is long enough. Search ebay.
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12-13-19, 09:07 PM
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Is that a banana in your pocket???
Last year I bought this 1971 Raleigh International on eBay. I was really excited when it arrived. The "Magnum" length stems however were about 65mm long and made it hard to get the rubber grommet on my Silca pump over them especially when the tires were de-tumescent...
The solution was some nice 40mm stem Michelin tubes.
verktyg
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12-13-19, 09:22 PM
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Long stems are needed for the aero profile rims. I never really thought about it until I got a set of Zipp 303’s (a hush falls over the room). I got a flat on those one day, only to realize my spare tube’s stem was too short. That sucked. My tool pack now has a spare tube with a long stem for all my rides.
Ive always found the 32 mm stems too short, even for lower profile rims like G40’s.
Ive always found the 32 mm stems too short, even for lower profile rims like G40’s.
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12-14-19, 08:20 AM
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And What's With the Smooth stems?
I finally settled on the shorter 50mm stems but had a hard time finding a stem with full length threads that will grab my chuck.
One shop suggested I get a new pump.
One shop suggested I get a new pump.
12-14-19, 10:07 AM
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+1, they're for the deeper profile aero rims that have become increasingly popular over the last couple of decades. You can still buy inner tubes with valve lengths in the mid-30mm range but a lot of LBS don't stock them. Stocking multiple length valves means investing more money in more stock, when the shorter lengths have less demand. It's financially prudent for a smaller shop to stock a longer, one size fits all, valve length. If you really want shorter valves, you can order them from one of the may online suppliers.
12-14-19, 03:02 PM
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Yeah I guess while we’re griping, removable valve cores are annoying too. I’ve had them unscrew while unthreading my mini pump out on the road.
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12-16-19, 01:30 AM
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New/fresh Presta valve chucks are made to grip in the narrower threaded part of the stem, even on stems with wrench flats there.
Only after the grommet gets stretched out would the pump head need to be forced onto the thicker threaded (or un-threaded) part of the stem for a better grip.
A smaller diameter always provides a better grip since the cross-section area of the gripping diameter times the air pressure is what is trying to force the chuck off of the stem.
So the ratio of gripping diameter to the air pressure area is better with a smaller gripping diameter, since the area is a squared function of the diameter.
Only when worn out would it grip the larger threads better.
This is the reason why I don't let others use my pumps on a Presta valve, since once the chuck is forced on to the larger threads (and especially after the lever is locked), the grommet will become stretched more like an old, worn-out one, and from there the grommet tends to wear out faster.
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12-16-19, 10:36 AM
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There are two bicycle shops in my area. Both sell ONLY the really long stem inner tubes. they say it's because most wheels their customers have are aero or semi-aero ones needing a longer stem. they also say they just want to have to stock one stem length and thus they stock the longer length ones as they'll fit any rim.
Cheers
Cheers
12-16-19, 10:38 AM
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12-16-19, 11:27 AM
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There are two bicycle shops in my area. Both sell ONLY the really long stem inner tubes. they say it's because most wheels their customers have are aero or semi-aero ones needing a longer stem. they also say they just want to have to stock one stem length and thus they stock the longer length ones as they'll fit any rim.
Cheers
Cheers
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12-16-19, 11:37 AM
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Does that wheel have 32 or 33 spokes?!
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12-16-19, 11:46 AM
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I never gave it a thought. I have some 55mm carbon rims that like 80mm stems. I also have vintage rims that require much shorter, and a couple that are in between, requiring 48mm stems. I use whatever I have on each bike, if the tall rims don't have a proper long stem, I use a valve extender, and if the vintage bikes stems end up a little long, no big deal. I agree that smooth, unthreaded stems are a pain to get "chucked", even with a new pump. If the local shop doesn't stock what you want, buy online. A local shop that doesn't, or won't stock what you want doesn't deserve your business, pretty simple.
12-16-19, 12:40 PM
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I don't use these (I use double-barrel instead), but the one-holers have become popular.
I'll add that I have restored many a pump head by adding a washer as a "compression shim" inside of the grommet cavity, so that the lever will further compress an older, worn grommet down to a smaller (tighter-fitting) ID. Literally added years of service to some of them!
Note that only a very thin washer seems to be needed here.
