Can you get a Presta-to-Schrader valve converter that works?

[Chris71]

Can you get a converter that allows you to pump up Presta valve tubes with a normal car pump which actually works? I've used the little brass ones which are threaded on both sides on my mountain bike before and never got them to seal properly.

My road (hybrid) bike has got a regular Schrader valve and it's so much more convenient. I just plug a (far more powerful) foot pump straight in and even have a pressure gauge. The mtb hand pump takes some serious effort to get to any sort of pressure and you only have the 'squidge test' to determine the correct pressure.

[Chris71]

Interesting, are the upright track pumps thought to be better than the car-type foot pumps?

[Chris71]

Thanks. Think I'm going to go for a Topeak Joe Blow Max II:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Topeak_Joe_Blow_...

...And not just because it has a mildly amusing name. Seems to be thought of as the best of the budget models?

[Chris71]

Doh! Just had a spending accident on Wiggle. Ah well.

On an O/T note... Camelbacks. I've just noticed how unbelievably scummy the drinking tube on my resevoir is. There's some sort of black moldy ick encrusted on the inside which I've been blissfully unaware of until now. I take it my newly-acquired (soon to be delivered!) Camelback cleaning kit will return it to a more palatable state and I don't need to throw it away or anything? To be fair it still tastes okay and it's yet to poison me, but given the state I've just noticed it's in I'm quite surprised.

[Chris71]

m_cozzy said:

I keep mine in the freezer now, stops it getting nasty.

That's a neat solution. Doesn't it cause the plastic to go brittle over time.

Speaking of the cold, I might need to invest in some thermal insulation! I take my Camelbak skiing (with fairly predictable results) but more surprisingly I also found the water in the tube (cooled by the airflow...) freezing up while riding to work last winter.

[Chris71]

dubbs said:

Chris71 said:

m_cozzy said:

I keep mine in the freezer now, stops it getting nasty.

.... I also found the water in the tube (cooled by the airflow...) freezing up while riding to work last winter.

Impressive commitment

That's the strange thing though. It was cold but it wasn't that cold, it was just the cooling effect of being exposed to the airflow - tubes have quite a large surface area for their volume I guess. Plus I'd suddenly realised it was two weeks away from my first ski trip in a few years and I resembled Jabba the Hut so I had to get out whatever the weather...

Erm, on a different (but valve-related) note, I suceeded in buying a job-lot of tyres with Presta valves for my road bike some time ago, only to rememver its rims are drilled for Schrader valves. I haven't tried, but I'm guessing the nut you get with Presta valves will be wide enough to hold them in place - is there any reason not to swap to Presta valve tubes? (Now my nice shiny track pump has arrived!)

[Chris71]

john_p said:

I always thought mine stayed clean, then I pulled the rubber mouthpiece off and looked inside

"Hmm what's that black plastic in there.. seems a bit shiny.. (pokes, squidge) OH GOD NO"

I did think about just buying a new resevoir (or bladder or whatever you call it...) because of the psychological trauma involved in cleaning the current one.