Not Urgent: Need Presta tubes with black valves
02-28-23, 02:15 PM
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Not Urgent: Need Presta tubes with black valves
So forever and ever I rolled a set of Campagnolo wheels from the 90s and they're silver (polished alloy.)
This matched up with everything Campagnolo: Brakes, brake levers, shifters, derailleurs, handlebar, seatpost etc.
Everything was "silver." All of my wheels from this era of course are that color.
Now with this new ride and its Shimano 105 gruppo, everything is black. Everything mentioned before, but all black, even the presta valves. How dare they give me a taste of this fashion? I cannot bear to go back to Continental tubes with their gauche silver valves. What do I do? Only definitively black valve I can find is Pirelli, but while I'm vain, I am also cheap, and won't pay $15+ for when $7 works fine.
Any suggestions welcome, whether you know of some regular old tubes with that look; whether I should definitely get over this; maybe paint the valves; do you suffer from this level of fashionista; etc.
This matched up with everything Campagnolo: Brakes, brake levers, shifters, derailleurs, handlebar, seatpost etc.
Everything was "silver." All of my wheels from this era of course are that color.
Now with this new ride and its Shimano 105 gruppo, everything is black. Everything mentioned before, but all black, even the presta valves. How dare they give me a taste of this fashion? I cannot bear to go back to Continental tubes with their gauche silver valves. What do I do? Only definitively black valve I can find is Pirelli, but while I'm vain, I am also cheap, and won't pay $15+ for when $7 works fine.
Any suggestions welcome, whether you know of some regular old tubes with that look; whether I should definitely get over this; maybe paint the valves; do you suffer from this level of fashionista; etc.
02-28-23, 02:59 PM
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1. Drill the holes larger and use Shrader valves.
2. Switch to tubeless.
2. Switch to tubeless.
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02-28-23, 03:19 PM
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1) Paint them. Thread closed.
I won't recommend switching to tubeless since you said you were cheap. Paint is you best option.
I won't recommend switching to tubeless since you said you were cheap. Paint is you best option.
02-28-23, 03:38 PM
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That aside, what brand are your tubes with black valves? Just buy those.
...or paint em. Heck, sharpie them- they are valves with like 20mm exposed and once you add a black cap, its even less. Nobody will be able to tell or care.
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02-28-23, 03:42 PM
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02-28-23, 03:58 PM
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02-28-23, 06:43 PM
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Vittoria Competition latex tubes have black valve stems. And a nice removable plastic sleeve to keep it looking pretty.
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Ride, Rest, Repeat. ROUVY: terrymorse
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02-28-23, 09:34 PM
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Schwalbe Aerothan tubes also have black stems on the valves.
02-28-23, 11:06 PM
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03-01-23, 02:53 AM
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How deep are your rims?
Perhaps buy 50mm to 88mm deep rims.
Then buy tubes with 32mm stems and removable cores and add a valve extender of your desired color. I'd encourage some psychedelic color.
The concept of a sleeve isn't bad. Could one find super thin wall black tubing that would fit over a stock brass/chrome valve stem?
You might try electronics heat shrink tubing. And if it doesn't work, simply cut it off and try something else.
Perhaps buy 50mm to 88mm deep rims.
Then buy tubes with 32mm stems and removable cores and add a valve extender of your desired color. I'd encourage some psychedelic color.
You might try electronics heat shrink tubing. And if it doesn't work, simply cut it off and try something else.
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03-01-23, 09:51 AM
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You could try Tannus Airless Tires.
No need for a valve stem.
No need for a valve stem.
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03-02-23, 05:53 PM
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03-04-23, 10:58 PM
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So? Just don't get a flat?
Look if you are so focused that you cannot stand having a little bit of silver showing on a valve stem, which people aren't really going to notice or care about, because everything else is black, you are willing to sacrifice ease of changing a tube if you get a flat. Vanity above function!
These threads are always so much fun. I mean so hyper focused on a such a small part matching everything else on a part you won't even be able to notice while riding is just silly. At that point who cares about things being harder. You have already made it so much harder with that focus.
A little contrast is nice ATMO.
Look if you are so focused that you cannot stand having a little bit of silver showing on a valve stem, which people aren't really going to notice or care about, because everything else is black, you are willing to sacrifice ease of changing a tube if you get a flat. Vanity above function!These threads are always so much fun. I mean so hyper focused on a such a small part matching everything else on a part you won't even be able to notice while riding is just silly. At that point who cares about things being harder. You have already made it so much harder with that focus.
A little contrast is nice ATMO.
03-05-23, 07:26 PM
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1. But isn't a 105 chain grey?
2. I wonder what the OP would do when his currently new 105 chain rings wear a little and start to show the metal underneath?
2. I wonder what the OP would do when his currently new 105 chain rings wear a little and start to show the metal underneath?
03-13-23, 08:20 PM
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03-14-23, 08:57 AM
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Maybe take the guts out of an ink pen with a black outer tube. Cut to length and slide it over the stem.
Dan
Dan
03-14-23, 09:25 AM
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No one has mentioned the obvious solution. Not painting the stems.
Rattlecan the whole 105 group with a nice chrome paint.
Problem solved and you can go back to using shiny stem tubes.
Rattlecan the whole 105 group with a nice chrome paint.
Problem solved and you can go back to using shiny stem tubes.
03-14-23, 12:44 PM
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Buy Vittoria's better tubulars and just cut off that casing you don't need. The tubs I bought from that outfit in England last year all came with black valve stems. So - perfect tubes that have been kept in protective sleeves for just $60 or so each. (And perfect until you slip with that knife cutting them out.) A little expensive but they are nice latex. 
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