50PlusCycling

Ha, you hate Presta valves? You think they are hard to deal with? Come here to Japan were most bikes come with Woods valves (also called Dunlop valves). The Woods valve is an antiquated pain-in-the-backside which was abandoned in much of the world before the color television was invented. You have to unscrew the top of the valve a little before you attach the pump, but not too much or air pressure may blow it across the room. A small stem inside is fitted with a small piece of rubber tube, which tends to rot and must be occasionally replaced. If you have a kids bike where the wheel diameter is small, you can have trouble finding a pump head which will fit. I can't tell you how many times a Woods valve has gotten me ranting.

79pmooney

We went through all of this 6 weeks ago. Edit: Well not the Woods valves.

https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-m...er-valves.html

Ben

southpier

now I really want one of these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003EIIXSG...osi&th=1&psc=1

skidder

Never really had any major problem with either presta or Schrader valves; all my bicycles except one are presta

I've got a Serfas floor pump I bought (maybe) 10 years ago from REI with a discount card that'll work on both schrader and presta valves. I know it cost <$30. Here's a link to their website for the current model that's similar to mine. They also sell a $25 model with plastic parts:

https://www.serfas.com/shop/products...wo-floor-pump/

ted_major

I also use a Lezyne pump and have been happy with it. I don't know if I have the updated head (but I've had it for about 10 years), and the screw-on head works fine for me. Although it has a reputation for sometimes unscrewing presta valve cores, I haven't had that issue. It also has a pressure release valve that allows you to release the pressure in the hose before unscrewing to prevent the valve core from coming loose.

In that past year or two I've also picked up a Silca presta valve chuck that works well for me. It's a slip-on chuck, but it has just enough friction to stay in place without being too difficult to push on or remove:

It has the added advantage of having schrader threads on the end, so you can install it on your existing head rather than replacing it. I picked it up for about $35 online.

tntyz

90% of the tubes I've replaced are due to breaking off that little head inside the Presta valve as I'm airing up before a ride. I have an okay Planet Bike pump that's probably 15 years old now, though I've replaced the head a few times. Lessons I have learned:

1. When airing up, put the valve at the top point down. So much easier to remove the pump head without accidently bending or twisting. Try it - you'll like it!
2. You don't have to jam the head onto the valve. I have better luck just catching the thin part of the valve and then closing the pump head, In fact, pushing the pump head on too far only wears it out so it works worse the next time.
3. There is nothing new ever posted on this forum. These suggestions are no exception .

veganbikes

That was a terrible post. Not sure why people have so many supposed issues with presta valves. They are a standard bike valve and have been for the longest of times. They are pretty easy to use unless you are intentionally rough with things.

Topeak, Lezyne, Blackburn, Specialized...All make fine pumps that work well and those standard valves, if you want the best Silca is the way to go.

BCDrums

Agree. I bought this and the Silca knockoff/homage, I prefer the Hirame. Wish I had bought it 30 years ago.

I had the brass Silca chuck for decades. It was difficult to "slip on" with threaded presta stems, but for a long time I used Michelin tubes with threadless stems, and it was much easier.

I have the Planet Bike two-way chuck on one pump, it's inexpensive and works well.
Blakcloud thinks you're kidding. He is generous.

ThermionicScott 

Threads like this make me feel like I must have exceptional dexterity. Love my "European valves".

indyfabz

Then can I have the bike? I do a good deal of touring.

MRT2

OP makes it seem as if the Presta valve is some new innovation. Hasn't it pretty much been standard for 25 or 30 years on better quality bikes? Anyhow, I have been using Presta on my bike for 8 years now and I thought I was late to the party. Never had a problem with one, either. I have been using a Bontrager Charger floor pump these last 8 years. Cost me about $40. Maybe less, but I think that is what they retail for now. Works well enough, in that it pumps air into the tires and has a decent gauge. Easy to use. Works on both Presta and Schrader valves, in case you have an old school bike you want to use. I am sure the other brands work just as well, but the advantage of the Bontrager is, you can get one at any Trek dealer, and if a part fails, you can get those there as well..

greatscott

You hate Presta valves? LOL LOL LOL LMAO!! that's the most absurd thing I've heard since yesterday.

Dude, they're easy to use and very reliable, just get use to it.

Must be the coronavirus has brought out the weird in people.

79pmooney

They were far from new when I started getting serious 50 years ago. (I didn't have them yet but lusted after my best friend's dad's bike, a 1965 Allegro with sewups.)

79pmooney

Nice! I love the Zephal heads on their frame pumps. That looks like the Zephal in metal that will last forever for hoses. Sweet! And thanks!

Ben

travbikeman

What you just described was the difficulty I had with the Presta valves on my ex's Fuji hybrid bike she had. I literally had to hold the pump onto the valve with one hand and pump with the other. IF I didn't hold it air would seep out or the pump would pop off it.

I had tried two different good pumps that worked with other presta valves with no problems at the bike shop. It was a huge issue on this bike. I too remember hurting my knuckles while doing this and it was also my first experience with Presta valves. Which of course made me want to stick with Schraeder valves.

UNTIL, I replaced the lousy tubes. Wasn't the pump, it was the complete and utter cheap tubes that Fuji had installed. The valves on that bike for some reason were far too short or possibly too thin to get a good connection. Once I replaced them with a slightly higher quality tube, I never had an issue again. Strange as well, she never had a flat again afterwards. Cheap tubes!

I now own 3 bikes and soon to be a 4th (hopefully) that have presta valves and I have no issues and find them very easy to use. It was just that one bike with the cheap tubes.

I currently have this Specialized pump:

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/ai...QaAhiIEALw_wcB

Gresp15C

Use a presta to schrader adapter. Bike shops usually have a bowl of them somewhere. Just leave it on. I rarely have to "burp" a presta, unless I've neglected inflating it for a long time. Most of us live with whatever the bike came with.

branko_76 

I bought my SILCA floor pump in 1985 and still use it. The only thing it needed was to lube the leather plunger about 2 or 3 years ago.

They still make them...

https://silca.cc/collections/floor-pumps

80sTourist

OK, so I've been looking into ways to cure this particular case of race cancer, and the prognosis is promising.


To begin with, on the advice of a friend, and as someone suggested here, I got the Slime valve adapters. And they work, mostly. That is, they re-enable my floor pump to force air into the tire. Unfortunately, the pressure gauge in said pump does not work with them, so I'm limited to a squeeze test afterward, but they buy me time to come up with a permanent solution. Besides, I've been due to get a new tire gauge for years now, so this is the motivation I need.


In terms of a permanent fix, I've been assured by several people who've had to retro-(no pun intended)-fit bikes with this disability that the myth that tapping out a Presta hole to accept actual valves weakens the rim, is a myth. Word has it that's only operant on skinny little carbon fibre rims. Meanwhile I have alloy 700 X 40s. And I'm overdue for new tires. So... score, I guess.


Thanks for the advice and gear suggestions offered here. I've saved all of them to my desktop. I confess it never occurred to me to let air out of my tires to put air into my tires. While ridiculous, I'm glad you folks clued me in to that. Ditto the cheap-tube thing. All useful information.


So I hope once again to have tubes that the pumps we have here in the uncool Western Hemisphere can pump up. In the meantime I'll take advantage of the info I've gleaned here, mess around some more with those cute little trendy things - that I've been messing around with for three years, and just got sick of their constant, pointless grief before every ride - and see if I can't raise my quotient with them. You never know when someone else will need help.


Finally, to those who tried to pose their way around the question, this observation: my brother-in-law is a bigtime hi-perf bike freak who maintains a fleet of about 10 of them, at last count. His fanciest cycles cost four to five times as much as mine. And he has nary a Presta among them. For obvious reasons he's my first stop when I have gear questions, but on this one he just shrugged and and said, "Never use 'em. Sorry."

Ross520

I mean, you're trolling, I get it....

However, in admitting that you are defeated by a valve so easy a small child could operate it, who is the joke really on?
​​​​​

Le Mechanic

A pump with a universal or smart valve is the way to go IMO. This style pump head is available on most current quality floor pumps, but can be upgraded to any existing pump for about $15. If you only have bikes with Presta valve, the Silca type valves are the way to go, but if you have many bikes with Presta and Schrader valves, the smart valve type is the best I've used.

tonymarch

I've been riding bikes with Presta valves for 30+ years. I've had minimal problems with them, so I'm not sure if you're doing something wrong or why you're having so many issues. As for pumps, I had a Zefal Husky for 25+ years that worked great on Presta and Schraeder valves. I recently got a Bontrager Dual Charger pump (my son misplaced the Zefal, which we later found). Works great on either valve type and has different setting for low pressure/high volume and high pressure/low volume tubes.

Snowflake6

I've got a floor pump with two openings in the head, one for Presta and one for Schraeder. My road bike came with smooth-shaft Presta valves and the pump works beautifully on that. It's a pain to slide on and off the Schraeder valves, the rubber ring doesn't like sliding on the threads. This was driven home when I bought a replacement tube for my road bike and found it had a threaded shaft. The Presta side of my pump head is an absolute beyotch to slide on to a threaded shaft.

Solution: Buy a tube with a smooth Presta shaft. Looks cleaner, too. Not sure where you'd find a long-stem Schraeder to run through a deep rim.

Steeler_fanatic

I have both Presta and Schrader valves among my family of bikes. Originally didn't like Presta valves but have come to feel they are superior. I went ahead and bought a Lezyne Sport Digital Floor Drive Pump. It has a screwed in head that can be easily turned around to deal with either valve type. The pump is a bit pricey but is is very easy and fast to use and built extremely well.

JustinOldPhart

Presta valves are neither better nor worse than Schrader valves. They are much better. A bit of difficulty with tire inflation is far offset by the long-term benefits of using them.

It is all in the technique. Pay no attention to the various pumps mentioned, for that way lies ruin. The only pump that is acceptable is the Silca Pista, and not that one with the plastic handle. It must have a wooden handle. The Silca head is preferred, but if you have a mild handicap (you said something about delicate hands vis-s-vis difficulty with flexion after rapping your knuckles), you may use the Japanese head. Do not connect it directly to the Italian part, though. You will have to insulate East from West by replacing the hose with a French hose. You want to find the more supple variety of red hose, not the stiff black one. This is stuff a good cyclist should have on hand as NOS but, if you don't, you can order some re-pop from L’Aventure Michelin in Clermont-Ferrand. Just drop them a line.

All this done, approach the Presta valve and unscrew the valve fully, then completely depress the valve stem for just a second. Fully close the valve, then open it 4 turns and a quarter.

Spit into the pump head and work it in with the tip of your tongue. If you can raise a bit of phlegm from the back of your throat to introduce into the pump head, so much the better.

Now, with the Silca head, slip the head onto the valve and give it four turns and a slight push. Pump away. With the Japanese head, slip it over the valve stem, rock it twice, push once again, and close the lever. Pump away.

Honestly, this whole procedure sounds like rigamarole, and it is, but it is worth the performance gain. It sure beats the old days when we scrounged for the Shrader long-valves with external springs so that we could clip the spring post off to make it perform like a Presta valve. You don't know how good you've got things.

Don't drill your rims for Shraders. If you must have Shraders, get a Huffy.

livedarklions

German-American

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_Schrader