Presta Valve issue

[Rags]

Morning,

I have a PRESTA Valve on my Canondale Badboy as below:



What is the common method to actually pumping the tyres up successfully.

I worry that the valve appears so fragile that it might break.

I obviously have the correct pump adapter but I am finding getting them 'fully inflated' to the correct PSE a complete chore. They always seem to be slightly underinflated regardless of what I try!

I am doing all the obvious things such as unscrewing the screw, giving it a tap to release the air seal in the valve and then locking the pump head on and pumping.

What am i doing wrong and any tips?

Edited by Rags on Wednesday 3rd December 09:55

[Stu247]

Should be just a matter of unscrewing the top bit, pop the pump on and away you go !!
I would however suggest using a track pump and not a micro pump as its much easier to bend and beak the valve with the latter.

[snotrag]

You'll never get them upto pressure with a micro pump. they are for emergencies only.

You need a track pump.

Unscrew the valve fully, give it a little press to break any seal. Make sure lockring is screwed right down to hold valve stable - fix to pump, pump away, then flick pump off and screw valve right down tight.

Even with a track pump the last few strokes uptr 120odd PSI will be pretty tough.

[Rags]

Ok, will only use the footpump then.

What PSI should I aim for?

[snotrag]

Is it a Badboy 26 or 700?

Either way, it will say on the side of the tires. Aim for the middle of the range.

[mchammer89]

You can see 100psi on the pic, but 120 should do pretty well, they won't pop until they're at about 200 if your worried about it, depends on the weight of the rider too.

[littleandy0410]

I don't think the photo is of his wheel. Probably a google images job.

[Rags]

littleandy0410 said:

I don't think the photo is of his wheel. Probably a google images job.

Correct, just a google images job!

[edward1]

Personally I always use a little brass adapter that makes a presta valve into a schrader (probably spelt wrong). That way it becomes alot more robust and you don't risk bending the pin on the valve (especially when out and about and forced to use a hand pump).

[JuniorD]

Only a track pump will give you the required pressure (~100-110psi) without goving you a hernia and/or damaging the valve. Personally, I find unscrewing the little stopper half way down the threaded part works better than unscrewing it to the end which seems to cause the pump to pop off or to bend the threaded part.