Inflating road tire, on the road - how??

[Jeff Starr]

On Tue, 06 Jun 2006 13:25:35 GMT, [email protected] (BigBen)
wrote:


>Bought another adapter yesterday.
>
>In one of my tubes, it stars to leak through the bottom of the
>adapter, as soon as I start pumping; on the other tube, it immediatlly
>starts to leak, through the same place, as soon as I lock the pump
>conector on the adapter, and a pin pushes the top of the Presta valve.
>
>I'm going back to the shop, even because I did not even pay for the
>adapter yet, as I did not have a 1 euro coin, and the man did not have
>change for a 5 euros bill, and tell him the story, and see if he can
>make a real life demonstration of the thing working.
>
>I really love this adapters!
>
>jbr

Which way are you installing it? Outside threaded end towards rim or
away from the rim?


Life is Good!
Jeff

 

[Mike Krueger]

BigBen wrote:
> On 3 Jun 2006 19:18:22 -0700, "Mike Krueger" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >1) A 16g CO2 cartridge will inflate a road tire to 120 psi in seconds.
> >These days, many riders carry one or two CO2 cartridges and a small
> >valve adaptor in place of a bulky frame pump.
>
> I had thought about that before, too, but I have yet to meet an valve
> adaptor that actually works as expected
>
> >2) Switch to standard butyl tubes from ultralight or latex tubes which
> >have to be topped off every day. A standard butyl tube loses a
> >negligible amount of air pressure even over several days.
>
> I use standard tubes, not ultralight ones. If it goes a week between 2
> rides, when I check the pressure with a garage pump, I do have to put
> back in some 10 or 20 psi ...

I use the Innovations MicroFlate valve adapter. It costs less than $10,
is very small, and weighs less than 20 grams. It works perfectly. I
have never had a misfire or other problem using it to inflate a tire
with a presta valve.
Having to pump up your tires once a week is just the cost of doing
business if you ride a bike. I ride tubulars, and have to top them up
every time I ride.
One option would be for you to use fatter tires and carry a good frame
pump like a Zefal HPX to inflate them as needed. The logic here is that
you can run lower pressures which would be easier to reach with a frame
pump.

 

[BigBen]

On 6 Jun 2006 10:00:37 -0700, "Mike Krueger" <[email protected]> wrote:

>One option would be for you to use fatter tires and carry a good frame
>pump like a Zefal HPX to inflate them as needed. The logic here is that
>you can run lower pressures which would be easier to reach with a frame
>pump.

Yes, indeed, besides the added confort - although it also adds some
extra pedaling eford - but it might be an option for touring, rather
than the shorter training rides.

I'll try fatter tyres, once I reach a better fitness level, to see if
the added confort is worth the added effort.

regards,
jbr

 

[BigBen]

On Tue, 06 Jun 2006 15:48:09 GMT, Jeff Starr <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Which way are you installing it? Outside threaded end towards rim or
>away from the rim?

Outside threaded end away from the rim, with inside thread screwing on
the Presta valve.

Went back to the store. The guy told that was because the adapter had
no O-ring, but that didn't really matter much, it just meant I had to
pump a litle longer ...

Visited another shop, this time asked for an adapter with an O-ring.
Bought it: haven't tried it yet, but feel a lot more confident about
it.

Still at the second shop, I got a Zefal CO2 cartridge to valve (both
Schrader and Presta) adapter, and a couple of CO2 cartridges. Will
have to try these while I can but don't need it, before I really need
it and find out I'm not quite sure how to do it ...

Life's god - it would be even beter if we had only type of tube
valves!

C ya,
jbr

 

[Jeff Starr]

On Tue, 06 Jun 2006 17:38:17 GMT, [email protected] (BigBen)
wrote:

>On Tue, 06 Jun 2006 15:48:09 GMT, Jeff Starr <[email protected]>
>wrote:
>
>>Which way are you installing it? Outside threaded end towards rim or
>>away from the rim?
>
>Outside threaded end away from the rim, with inside thread screwing on
>the Presta valve.
>
>Went back to the store. The guy told that was because the adapter had
>no O-ring, but that didn't really matter much, it just meant I had to
>pump a litle longer ...
>
>Visited another shop, this time asked for an adapter with an O-ring.
>Bought it: haven't tried it yet, but feel a lot more confident about
>it.
>
>Still at the second shop, I got a Zefal CO2 cartridge to valve (both
>Schrader and Presta) adapter, and a couple of CO2 cartridges. Will
>have to try these while I can but don't need it, before I really need
>it and find out I'm not quite sure how to do it ...
>
>Life's god - it would be even beter if we had only type of tube
>valves!
>
>C ya,
>jbr

Well, no O-ring would explain a lot. I think you will find that the
O-ring makes a worthwhile difference.


Life is Good!
Jeff

 

[BigBen]

On Wed, 07 Jun 2006 03:44:45 GMT, Jeff Starr <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Well, no O-ring would explain a lot. I think you will find that the
>O-ring makes a worthwhile difference.

YES! O-ring makes ALL the diference! I now, finally, have an adapter
that works " as advertised"!

Why on earth would anybody want an adapter with no O-ring???

I noticed that one of my Presta valves has a larger thread closer to
the rim, where a small round nut is screwed against the rim, while the
other valve has this lower area with no thread, and no nut o course.

Why would I need the round nut on the valve?

I find the non threaded, non nut valve, much safer for the pump rubber
that has to slide down the valve, and then compress against it. Am I
missing sometghing here??

TIA
jbr

 

[[email protected]]

On Wed, 07 Jun 2006 15:59:05 GMT, [email protected] (BigBen)
wrote:

>On Wed, 07 Jun 2006 03:44:45 GMT, Jeff Starr <[email protected]>
>wrote:
>
>>Well, no O-ring would explain a lot. I think you will find that the
>>O-ring makes a worthwhile difference.
>
>YES! O-ring makes ALL the diference! I now, finally, have an adapter
>that works " as advertised"!
>
>Why on earth would anybody want an adapter with no O-ring???
>
>I noticed that one of my Presta valves has a larger thread closer to
>the rim, where a small round nut is screwed against the rim, while the
>other valve has this lower area with no thread, and no nut o course.
>
>Why would I need the round nut on the valve?
>
>I find the non threaded, non nut valve, much safer for the pump rubber
>that has to slide down the valve, and then compress against it. Am I
>missing sometghing here??
>
>TIA
>jbr

Dear JBR,

The nut that threads down a typical Presta valve can hold the valve in
place when you first start pumping the tire up. Its threads can also
help the O-ring stay in place.

When the tire has been pumped up, the nut becomes useless.

You can hold a bicycle valve in place by pressing on the other side of
the flimsy, small-diameter bicycle tire, so many riders never bother
with the valve nut. This habit is so widespread that some Presta valve
tubes are smooth and lack retaining nuts--Michelin, for example.

You'll see similar valve threading on motorycle-tube Schrader valves.

On a motorcycle, the nut is damned useful because it prevents the
whole valve from vanishing into the elephantine bowels of a 4x18
motorcycle tire that you just levered into place over the rim.

(The tube is supposed to be very slightly inflated and should prevent
this, but obscene shrieks occasionally indicate that someone wishes
that he had put the valve nut on. You can accidentally push the stupid
valve into the tire against the tiny pressure--good luck fishing it
back out without removing the tire.)

Tire removal reminds me of the complaints occasionally seen here from
riders who bend or break bicycle tire levers while trying to mount
stubborn bicycle tires.

It's hard for motorcyclists to work up a lot of sympathy.

Even small motorcycle tire irons--they're made of steel, not
aluminum--contain enough material to make approximately twenty bicycle
tire levers. Here's a picture of four motorcycle tire irons and a
lonely little bike lever:

http://www.filelodge.com/files/room19/497501/tire_irons.jpg

The aluminum bicycle lever is 5 inches long and bends an inch high.

The stubby steel tire iron next to it is 5 & 1/2 and bends 2 & 1/2
inches high--it flat section is as thick as the bicycle lever.

The longer thin black Hozan tire iron is 9 inches long.

The even longer black tire iron that just fits in the picture is 13
inches long.

It's sitting on a 22-inch tire iron that's too big for the picture and
was made from a small leaf spring.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

 

[BigBen]

Hi Carl,

On Wed, 07 Jun 2006 12:54:40 -0600, [email protected] wrote:

>The nut that threads down a typical Presta valve can hold the valve in
>place when you first start pumping the tire up.

Makes sense, althought I can also do that pressing the bicycle tyre
and tube where the valve is, against the pump head. Of course, with a
motorcycle tyre still using a tuibe, that's a lot more dificult.


> Its threads can also
>help the O-ring stay in place.

As I explained, one of the tubes I have in my bike, with Presta valve,
does not have the "lower" threading; yet, I had no trouble at all
using the adapter to inflate that tube using a Schrader pump head.


>tubes are smooth and lack retaining nuts--Michelin, for example.

As you probably deduct from my previous explanation and corcern, I
like those best.


>You'll see similar valve threading on motorycle-tube Schrader valves.

My motorcycle uses tubless tyres ...


>Tire removal reminds me of the complaints occasionally seen here from
>riders who bend or break bicycle tire levers while trying to mount
>stubborn bicycle tires.

Been there, done that. Not sure if it's a problem with me, the rim, or
the tyre. Mounted a (wired) Hutchinson on the from wheel with some
dificulty, but didn't break any levers.

Mounted a Maxis on the rear wheel, and lost 3 (zefal) levers ...

Then, when the Hutchinson (in the front) started to crack on the
sides, replaced it with a foldable Michelin (Lithium), rather easily.
Go figure...


>It's hard for motorcyclists to work up a lot of sympathy.

Not sure I understand what you're meaning here...


>http://www.filelodge.com/files/room19/497501/tire_irons.jpg
>
>The aluminum bicycle lever is 5 inches long and bends an inch high.

Well, well, I wasn't aware such things existed ... Anyway, I'm more
confident with my new Michelin levers - they seem a lot more robust,
although they lack the hook that makes it a lot easier when
dismounting tyres.

Happy riddings, pedaling or twisting the throtle!

jbr

 

[MykalCrooks]

I carry a Barbieri CarbOne Mini Pump -- very light and compact and can
attain higher pressures -- and also CO2 inflator that will accept threadless
12 gram cartridges. Threadless costs a lot less, and I by 'em by the box
online to get 'em cheap. I carry two or three cartridges in my repair kit
along with patches and a couple tubes.

To do a quick fix of a flat on the road, I replace the tube, install the
tire, and pump it to medium pressure with the hand pump. Then I use the
inflator to top it off to higher pressure. If I run out of cartridges, then
I just use the hand pump. If I run out of tubes, then I use the patches. The
weight I save by carrying the super-light Barbieri pump makes up for the
extra stuff.

It works. Always.

mC

 

[RonSonic]

On Sun, 04 Jun 2006 10:53:33 GMT, [email protected] (BigBen) wrote:

>On Sat, 03 Jun 2006 20:15:38 -0600, [email protected] wrote:
>
>>Among the various arguments for Presta instead of Schrader is that the
>>Schrader needs a bigger hole, which some consider a bad thing in
>>narrow, flimsy racing rims.
>
>OK, but my rims are not "boutique" ones. Thanks for the point, anyway.

You're already whining about the work required to pump up a presta. To pump up a
schraeder you must overcome the pressure in the tire, plus the spring in the
valve. With presta you only need to generate more pressure than is in the tube.

Oh, and unless "bigben" is entirely ironic, you shouldn't have any trouble
pumping up a high pressure tire with a frame pump. Or, even a compact for that
matter.

Ron

 

[RonSonic]

On Sun, 04 Jun 2006 11:04:39 GMT, [email protected] (BigBen) wrote:

>On Sat, 03 Jun 2006 19:15:14 -0700, Mark Janeba
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Zefal HP, good for 120 PSI (I do this routinely). If you are willing to
>
>Thank you for the suggestion! Is it my impression, or this model does
>not have a pressure gauge? I don't need one to get back home, but I'd
>like one for touring for a few days.

Just learn what a tire's supposed to feel like. It's lighter, faster, easier
and you'll want to adjust for prevailing conditions anyway.

Ron

 

[Tom The Great]

On Sun, 04 Jun 2006 01:51:38 GMT, [email protected] (BigBen)
wrote:

>Hi All,
>
>Before I leave for a ride, it's pretty easy to use a track pump to get
>all the p.s.i.s I want in my tyres' air chambers.
>
>Now, suppose one of 2 situations:
>
>1) I have a flat, fix it, and then, how do I get back to pressures of
>at least 100 psi?? Naturally, a small pump can get me going, but I
>doubt it goes anywhere near the 110/120 psi I normally use. Anyway, it
>would just mean I take longer to get back home.
>
>2) Suppose, however, I'm on a longish jorney, of a few days, heading
>to a meeting point with my family (whose travelling by car). Even if I
>don't have a puncture, what's the alternative to taking the track pump
>along for the ride, and use it every morning to set the pressures
>right??
>
>Are fat, non Presta valve chambers the answer?
>
>I don know, there are several Presta to Schrader adaptors, so
>teoretically I could pump up the tyres at a gas/petrol station.
>
>However, I have yet to experiment one such adaptor that works as
>avertised - all I've tried so far let all the air leak, and I end up
>with less pressure rather than more - and, how much can I expect a gas
>station pump to inflate a tyre? The biggest pressure I've ever put in
>a car tyre is 55 psi, which is rather low for bicycle road tyre ...
>
>Sugestions, please?
>
>TIA,
>jbr


I picked up the Blackburn AIRFIX CO2 inflator, it has a
Presta/Schrader head.

I've heard people getting too excited pumping up a tire with a presta
valve and damaging it. So if I had a presta valve I would want to use
a floor pump, or CO2.

later,

tom

 

[Robin Hubert]

Tom The Great wrote:
> On Sun, 04 Jun 2006 01:51:38 GMT, [email protected] (BigBen)
> wrote:
>
>> Hi All,
>>
>> Before I leave for a ride, it's pretty easy to use a track pump to get
>> all the p.s.i.s I want in my tyres' air chambers.
>>
>> Now, suppose one of 2 situations:
>>
>> 1) I have a flat, fix it, and then, how do I get back to pressures of
>> at least 100 psi?? Naturally, a small pump can get me going, but I
>> doubt it goes anywhere near the 110/120 psi I normally use. Anyway, it
>> would just mean I take longer to get back home.
>>
>> 2) Suppose, however, I'm on a longish jorney, of a few days, heading
>> to a meeting point with my family (whose travelling by car). Even if I
>> don't have a puncture, what's the alternative to taking the track pump
>> along for the ride, and use it every morning to set the pressures
>> right??
>>
>> Are fat, non Presta valve chambers the answer?
>>
>> I don know, there are several Presta to Schrader adaptors, so
>> teoretically I could pump up the tyres at a gas/petrol station.
>>
>> However, I have yet to experiment one such adaptor that works as
>> avertised - all I've tried so far let all the air leak, and I end up
>> with less pressure rather than more - and, how much can I expect a gas
>> station pump to inflate a tyre? The biggest pressure I've ever put in
>> a car tyre is 55 psi, which is rather low for bicycle road tyre ...
>>
>> Sugestions, please?
>>
>> TIA,
>> jbr
>
>
> I picked up the Blackburn AIRFIX CO2 inflator, it has a
> Presta/Schrader head.
>
> I've heard people getting too excited pumping up a tire with a presta
> valve and damaging it. So if I had a presta valve I would want to use
> a floor pump, or CO2.
>
> later,
>
> tom

It's not a matter of getting too excited or not, but technique and
modest upper body strength.


Robin Hubert

 

[RonSonic]

On Sat, 10 Jun 2006 10:33:38 -0400, Tom The Great <[email protected]> wrote:

>On Sun, 04 Jun 2006 01:51:38 GMT, [email protected] (BigBen)
>wrote:
>
>>Hi All,
>>
>>Before I leave for a ride, it's pretty easy to use a track pump to get
>>all the p.s.i.s I want in my tyres' air chambers.
>>
>>Now, suppose one of 2 situations:
>>
>>1) I have a flat, fix it, and then, how do I get back to pressures of
>>at least 100 psi?? Naturally, a small pump can get me going, but I
>>doubt it goes anywhere near the 110/120 psi I normally use. Anyway, it
>>would just mean I take longer to get back home.
>>
>>2) Suppose, however, I'm on a longish jorney, of a few days, heading
>>to a meeting point with my family (whose travelling by car). Even if I
>>don't have a puncture, what's the alternative to taking the track pump
>>along for the ride, and use it every morning to set the pressures
>>right??
>>
>>Are fat, non Presta valve chambers the answer?
>>
>>I don know, there are several Presta to Schrader adaptors, so
>>teoretically I could pump up the tyres at a gas/petrol station.
>>
>>However, I have yet to experiment one such adaptor that works as
>>avertised - all I've tried so far let all the air leak, and I end up
>>with less pressure rather than more - and, how much can I expect a gas
>>station pump to inflate a tyre? The biggest pressure I've ever put in
>>a car tyre is 55 psi, which is rather low for bicycle road tyre ...
>>
>>Sugestions, please?
>>
>>TIA,
>>jbr
>
>
>I picked up the Blackburn AIRFIX CO2 inflator, it has a
>Presta/Schrader head.
>
>I've heard people getting too excited pumping up a tire with a presta
>valve and damaging it. So if I had a presta valve I would want to use
>a floor pump, or CO2.

How hard can this be. Granted, I am a little wider across the shoulders than
most cyclists, but this isn't olympic power lifting.

Ya rotate the tire so the stem is convenient, unscrew the tip, tap it with a
finger to loosen it, put the pump head on and lock with the lever, back it up
with the heal of your gloved hand (the gloves you're already wearing), wrap some
fingers around spokes and rim for support and pump it up.

The only presta stem I've seen damaged by misadventure was in the woods and
taken out by a stick through the spokes that would likely have sheered off a
schraeder.

Ron

 

[BigBen]

On Fri, 09 Jun 2006 15:15:36 GMT, RonSonic <[email protected]>
wrote:

>You're already whining about the work required to pump up a presta. To pump up a

I'm not whining about the effort required to pump up a road tyre, as
long as the pump is prepared for such pressures.

My experience, is that most frame or compact pumps won't go anywhere
near 120 psi, as I normally inflate my rear tyre with a floor pump.
That, and how finicky Presta I used to find Presta valves is what I
complaining about.


>Oh, and unless "bigben" is entirely ironic, you shouldn't have any trouble
>pumping up a high pressure tire with a frame pump. Or, even a compact for that

How sonic are you really, Ron? Snail sonic??

 

[BigBen]

On Thu, 08 Jun 2006 19:21:07 GMT, "MykalCrooks" <[email protected]> wrote:

>I carry a Barbieri CarbOne Mini Pump -- very light and compact and can
>attain higher pressures -- and also CO2 inflator that will accept threadless
>12 gram cartridges. Threadless costs a lot less, and I by 'em by the box

Never seen either one - the CO2 cartridges I got are threaded, and 16
grames

Thank you for the sugestions about the cartridges and pump!

jbr

 

[BigBen]

On Sat, 10 Jun 2006 10:33:38 -0400, Tom The Great <[email protected]>
wrote:

>I picked up the Blackburn AIRFIX CO2 inflator, it has a
>Presta/Schrader head.

My Zefal air control co2 inflator
http://www.zefal.com/AAA/page.php?nom=produits&sousFamille=gonfleurRegulateur&langue=an
has a larger thread for Schrader valves, and thinner one for Presta,
exactly on the same end of the part, the Presta thread deeper into the
inflator. Seems realy very simple to use, for either type of valves.

jbr

 

[RonSonic]

On Wed, 14 Jun 2006 12:33:16 GMT, [email protected] (BigBen) wrote:

>On Fri, 09 Jun 2006 15:15:36 GMT, RonSonic <[email protected]>
>wrote:
>
>>You're already whining about the work required to pump up a presta. To pump up a
>
>I'm not whining about the effort required to pump up a road tyre, as
>long as the pump is prepared for such pressures.
>
>My experience, is that most frame or compact pumps won't go anywhere
>near 120 psi, as I normally inflate my rear tyre with a floor pump.
>That, and how finicky Presta I used to find Presta valves is what I
>complaining about.
>
>
>>Oh, and unless "bigben" is entirely ironic, you shouldn't have any trouble
>>pumping up a high pressure tire with a frame pump. Or, even a compact for that
>
>How sonic are you really, Ron? Snail sonic??

Okay, so I'm slow, but I am loud. I do music electronics and play electric
guitar so I am actually more sonic than most guys. I guess I'm lucky too,
because I've never had trouble getting up to any needed pressure with either
Zefal or Blackburn pumps.

Ron