Alan
04-07-2011, 07:18 PM
So I've had a few flat tires recently. I'm to add a needle to my seat bag so I can pick out deep shards of glass/rock.
I do have a question for some of you inner-tube changing pros. I sometimes struggle with holding the valve stem out away from the rim as i'm trying to get a good "bite" on the valve stem with my frame pump. I know needle nose pliers will do the job. Do you guys have any tricks to hold that stem firm without using a tool? I was trying to push sideways on the stem so It would grip the side housing of the hole and hold in place while I pushed the air pump housing onto it.
A few thoughts from a slightly seasoned amateur...
Presta valves have a threaded lockring to hold them to the rim, keeping them from pushing in, making it easier to apply the pump.
Presta valves don't have a spring closure like Schraders, so you don't have to push the pump down so hard against the valve.
Schrader-to-Presta rim adapters are about a buck. You'd also need either a Presta pump or a Presta-to-Schrader valve adapter, another buck. So for under $10 (adapters+tube) you could try out a Presta tube on your Schrader rim.
Both my floor pump and my mini-pump have gizmos that clamp onto the valve stem. I sorta figured all pumps had those...different thingies on different pumps. Maybe not all, huh?
Even with the clamp, sometimes I hold the valve stem and pump base with one hand while I get enough pressure into the tire to hold the valve solid enough that the clamp doesn't slip off. It's a bit awkward but it works.
CO2 cartridge inflators leave one hand free to hold the valve.
(Quote added from dmc's post (http://bikeportland.org/forum/showpost.php?p=26127&postcount=738) in the Daily Commute Thread (http://bikeportland.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1490). No objection if K'Tesh were to move these posts into a new thread in Tips & Advice.)
I do have a question for some of you inner-tube changing pros. I sometimes struggle with holding the valve stem out away from the rim as i'm trying to get a good "bite" on the valve stem with my frame pump. I know needle nose pliers will do the job. Do you guys have any tricks to hold that stem firm without using a tool? I was trying to push sideways on the stem so It would grip the side housing of the hole and hold in place while I pushed the air pump housing onto it.
A few thoughts from a slightly seasoned amateur...
Presta valves have a threaded lockring to hold them to the rim, keeping them from pushing in, making it easier to apply the pump.
Presta valves don't have a spring closure like Schraders, so you don't have to push the pump down so hard against the valve.
Schrader-to-Presta rim adapters are about a buck. You'd also need either a Presta pump or a Presta-to-Schrader valve adapter, another buck. So for under $10 (adapters+tube) you could try out a Presta tube on your Schrader rim.
Both my floor pump and my mini-pump have gizmos that clamp onto the valve stem. I sorta figured all pumps had those...different thingies on different pumps. Maybe not all, huh?
Even with the clamp, sometimes I hold the valve stem and pump base with one hand while I get enough pressure into the tire to hold the valve solid enough that the clamp doesn't slip off. It's a bit awkward but it works.
CO2 cartridge inflators leave one hand free to hold the valve.
(Quote added from dmc's post (http://bikeportland.org/forum/showpost.php?p=26127&postcount=738) in the Daily Commute Thread (http://bikeportland.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1490). No objection if K'Tesh were to move these posts into a new thread in Tips & Advice.)