Inceribly Stupid question

[petembike]

Borrowed a friend hardtail while mine is being repaired. I keep presta tubes in my Camelback, and it turns out the rear tire of the bike I am riding has a schrader tube. Of course I got a flat while riding. I changed the tubes and actually rode the rest of the ride with the tube with no problems. Today, I flatted out three times. My assumption(always a bad thing) is that the tubes are not compatible with the wheel. Am I right in this assumption? I know this seems trivial, but I want to know the answer. Thanks in advance for any replies.

[AA]

OK Pete here is my inceribly simple answer. It shouldnt matter. If you use a presta tube in a schrader rim it should be fine as long as you use the nut that comes with the tube. I have had a set of wheels on my wife's bike (schrader rims, presta tubes) for 3+ years without a problem. Anyone else?

AA

[Phresh]

As far as I know it does not make any difference which you use. The only difference is the valve stem. I switch back and forth all the time. Were the three subsequent flats all on the same wheel? My guess would be you never checked the inside of the tire when you got the original flat and in there remained something evil like a thorn causing subsequent flats.

[huff'npuff]

Possible "snake bite"? ...from pinching the tube when putting it back in the tire?...just hazarding a guess......

[gungywump]

I'd guess it's either something in the inside of the tiire. Thorn? Or, possibly the tire may have a hole in it check the outside of the tire when you inflate it next time and see if there is any tube pushing through the sidewalls or tread.

As for presta or scraeder tubes I prefer presta with the aforementioned nut.
For rims I like to use the scraeder rims because if you ever get a flat and don't have a tube, or get multiple flats you can borrow any type of tube. ::)

[nhiker]

Gungywomp said...
For rims I like to use the scraeder rims because if you ever get a flat and don't have a tube, or get multiple flats you can borrow any type of tube.

That is a great point....a really good point. But is it my imagination or are schrader rims getting harder to find?
Thanks
hiker

[petembike]

Thanks all for the responses. I will check on the tire in my garage for holes, thorns, dirt et al to see what is up.

[Jisch]

Gungywomp said...
For rims I like to use the scraeder rims because if you ever get a flat and don't have a tube, or get multiple flats you can borrow any type of tube.

That is a great point....a really good point. But is it my imgagination or are schrader rims getting harder to find?
Thanks
hiker



Its easy to drill out a presta rim to make it so a shrader will fit.

John

[nhiker]

Thanks John, I guess that should be obvious......to me but nope! :-[

[sizlinseagulsoup]

That nut unfortunately makes it easier to brake the value stem. I'm just stick with Presta, I rarely see anyone with scraeder tubes, unless they are on an inexpensive bike ofcourse...

I recommend a schrader tube with a rim drilled for schrader...And presta tube for rims drilled for presta. Tubes can roll around inside your tire from rotational force. A presta valve tube may sway one way or the other in a crooked position and be damaged if used with a rim drilled for schrader...

I always throw the "little nuts" on the presta valves in the rubbish.....Even on a new bike assembly....It provides 0 mechanical function. (IMHO) It causes more problems than it is worth.....You can use the rubber rim gromets that allow presta valve with schrader drilling.