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.

[alfa145uk]

I got one from Chain Reaction Cycles - it was brass and worked really well (could pump up to about 70psi with it). A friend got one and he said it didn't work at all - the difference was that mine had an o-ring in it which seals really well.

[TedMaul]

Chris71 said:

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.

I couldn't say, but I had same issue years ago and splashed out about £20 on a big barrel track pump that fits both types of valves and never looked back. Well worth the dough imo.

[porka944s]

Agreed with the above.

i used to use an electric 12v Schrader valve pump with a gauge. Then my new bike arrived with presta valves, all i had was a mini pump and the 'squidge test'. I started to feel the squidgy tyres were impeding my movement so thought sod it ill buy a track pump. £25 quid down, i found my tyres to be less then 20PSI, eight pumps later 55PSI. and now i got a useful bit of kit i can use time and time again.

[john_p]

+1 for a track pump, much quicker than a compressor (..find car keys, move bike to car, untangle wire..) literally 8-10 pumps and 90psi - and that's just a no-brand Halfords jobbie, £20

[Chris71]

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

[ewenm]

Chris71 said:

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

Absolutely. Really easy to use and gets the tyres to a high pressure in no time at all.

[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?

[Kuroblack350]

Chris71 said:

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?

Have a look on Evans Cycles, I think there's a slightly cheaper (free delivery too) Specialized branded, or Bontrager one. (I have it but can't remember it!!!) Gets amazing reviews as well.

[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.

[m_cozzy]

Get a gear change cable, wrap a wet kitchen towel around the nipple end & pull this through the camelbak tube. Try not to throw up when the towel comes out covered in what looks like seaweed.
I keep mine in the freezer now, stops it getting nasty.

[was8v]

Track pump miles better than footpump and you'll never have valve annoyances again.




I use sterilising tablets (for babies bottles) to clean my camelback out occasionally.

Fill camelback with hot water, wang 4 or 5 tablets in, shake it up and let some flow through the valve and leave for a while.


Never put it away full of water - when you get back rinse it out and I stick a (clean) empty glass milk bottle in it to keep it open and allow the inside to dry.

[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.

[snotrag]

Camelbaks bladder lives in the freezer.

Doesnt cause any issue with the plastic either.

[Rich_W]

was8v said:

Track pump miles better than footpump and you'll never have valve annoyances again.

Not entirely though. The Joe Blow dual headed end. Does have a habit of bending the "middle-bit-you-wind-out" on presta valves. Mine finaly snapped off on sunday 1 hour before getting in the water. Was OK as it snapped off cleanly, so I can still inflate it for now.

[dubbs]

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

[shalmaneser]

Buy a Bontranger track pump from Evans, £19.99 you can't go wrong.

[pdV6]

Chris71 said:

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.

Camelback do (or at least did) sell a thermal tube cover for this.

[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!)

[john_p]

m_cozzy said:

Get a gear change cable, wrap a wet kitchen towel around the nipple end & pull this through the camelbak tube. Try not to throw up when the towel comes out covered in what looks like seaweed.
I keep mine in the freezer now, stops it getting nasty.

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"