SquidPuppet

Riding a bike without lock nuts and caps on the valves is like walking around with untied shoelaces. Sure, it can be done. But it's a display of sloppy workmanship and lack of attention to detail.

Yes, I said that.

jamesdak 

jamesdak 

?? Not to argue but I've never, ever had this happen. That's in over 30,000 miles this decade will carrying two spares.

SquidPuppet

And don't get me started on the ridiculous anti-aerodynamic claims made by cap haters. The threads on the valve catch a LOT of air, and therefore create massive wheel turbulence and imbalance. Covering as much of the threading as possible with a long smooth valve cap pays huge dividends towards improved handling. Also, valve caps are shaped like a bullet. A BULLET for crying out loud. Helloooooooooo?

Riding without caps is for bicyclist with limited or poor bike handling skills. They are not sensitive enough to notice the dramatic improvements in handling that caps provide.

jamesdak 

Are you for real??? Heck I gain 2 mph just by leaving that added weight behind. I mean jeesh it's on the part of the wheel where you don't want weight and must add at least 10 lbs of rotational resistance when you're running at 30 mph like I normally do on my uphill climbs into a 50 mph headwind.

JanMM

Off-topic, but I am perplexed seeing 27 x 1.1/8 on that tire sidewall. Some kind of fusion of decimal and fractional systems??

fietsbob

What?



...

caloso

Totally unnecessary.

SquidPuppet

Again, riding at such a low performance threshold and under such mild conditions, it's completely understandable that you would not notice the benefits.

You wanna talk weight and aero? OK, let's go there.

The big wrench flats on the outside of spoke nipples are square (non-aero) and add a ton of unnecessary weight. That's why before I build my wheels, I put dozens of nipples in a lathe and machine them down to a smooth cylinder shape. Then I weigh them and only use the ones that fall within a weight tolerance of .000000003 grams. Balance matters. A LOT! Then I use the screwdriver slot in the head of the nipples to true my wheels.

Also, I make my own carbon fiber valve caps and titanium lock nuts. The lock nuts are not knurled. Drag and turbulence reduction, again.

Riding at the level that I do, it's easy for me to understand why the average rider wouldn't notice these things.

jamesdak 

SquidPuppet

That's right buddy. Get the hell out of my way. Me and my coaster brake Schwinn need room to fly.

Maelochs

Asking what is "cool" is unimaginably uncool. You are toast, socially.

John_V 

If you like your valve caps, you can use your valve caps.

Scarbo

That is sensible and non-judgemental. And, therefore, not in keeping with BF conventions.

Scarbo

I keep them on my heavy steel bike just to piss the "serious" cyclists off. It works.

However, when I'm out on my "serious" CF bikes, I won't stand for them.

AlmostTrick

Thread does not disappoint!

Right. I always wonder what other "shortcuts" the valve cap deniers are taking on the rest of their bike.

Some say that caps are just too much trouble when they get a flat. I had a friend like this. After showing him how to remove and reinstall the cap he agreed that it wasn't difficult at all! Now he's as cool as me.

So why do all new tube and bike manufactures supply them? Surely they could save $$$ and just delete 'em.

wipekitty

Someday, I'll get around to cleaning and vacuuming the mudroom where I keep in-rotation bicycles. I anticipate filling up a whole vacuum canister with Presta valve caps. I tell myself that they're not cool, but the real reason they get left off is because they seem to disappear.

If only we could get those springs on QR axles to stop being cool...

TimothyH

Ya'll fumble with your jam nuts and caps when changing a tube at 17°F.

I'll save a seat for you at the coffee shop.

Cougrrcj

That style of valve cap does double duty as a valve core removal tool, it needed.

/

bargeon

This. Celebrate your valve caps.

I think I’ll get some of my grand daughter's sparkly nail polish and paint mine purple. Set 'em off just nice on my black bike

canklecat

I do have jorts. But I wear those only when riding my big red comfort hybrid.

Reminds me, I need to iron my guayabera Mexican wedding shirt to go with that combo. Spring is coming. I need to be ready.

bikemig 

These are the kinds of threads that makes Bike Forums worth reading. I'll be disappointed if it doesn't go over 10 pages though.

canklecat

Yes! This is why I'm considering dipping my Presta valve stems in molten lead. It will improve the aerodynamics by covering the friction-inducing threads and be more aero because it's lead. Like a bullet. 'nuff said.

canklecat

Oh, great. I just got a bill saying the price of valve caps skyrocketed since that announcement. And it'll only cover one of my valve stems until it reaches 25 miles.

Gyro

How many forget to take crap before cycling? Think of all the useless weight your hauling around! THE HORROR!