Fillmore Valve – did the worst bit of bike tech just get better?

Weird… are you people not using tubeless sealant? Because all the issues this seeks to address happen regularly for me

Get the pitch forks out – we still use tubes (with Presta valves) .

We also have QR on the rear wheels 😁

I won’t be paying £40 but definitely interested to try them some time.

The thing about clogging isn’t the cost of replacing the valve core, because they cost nothing- it’s the hassle when they clog. Makes simple jobs hard and generally when you’re out on a ride. That’s worth preventing.

But yep still wish we’d settled on schrader.

Are Schrader valves actually better at the things causing frustrations with Presta valves? (In particular having to take the core out to inject sealant or for extra airflow to pop a reluctant tyre on, along with getting clogged over time by sealant.)

I’ve a vague preference for Presta, despite it’s frustrations mostly on the basis that I presumed that Schrader were as bad at the bad bits, but with a couple of extra drawbacks – needing a fiddly tool to take the cores out, and looking (IMHO) a bit bobbins. If they’re actually significantly better at some aspects I might rethink that.

I once broke snapped 4 in a row on a ride

You…erm…how?

I mean, I’m happy to acknowledge that they’re less robust than Schrader, but I’d be surprised if people manage to snap them once a year normally. 4 in one ride sounds like there’s something really weird happening.

Well if nothing else this has reminded me to order some spare cores which I had run out of, and in doing so I discovered that most mythical of beasts, a 29er latex tube!

I use my MTB far too rarely these days and swap tyres virtually every time I do use it, at least this way I can run tubeless for proper MTB rides but go latex tubes in the lovely lightweight gravel slicks for those gravel rides that I choose to take the MTB.

I prefer schrader as they are easier to use and you can get cooler vavle caps for them.

From a rim strength/fatigue life point presta are probably better as the smaller hole will result in less stress.

Would be intresting to know if that is why presta is used for mtb rims or if it is just a fashion thing.

These do look like a good idea though some of the claims are pretty bold

it’s claimed you won’t even need a tubeless inflator

Most of the time tubeless works really easy for me but every now and then I get an awkward tyre/rim combo that needs core out AND an inflator/compressor. Do these valves flow better than a coreless regular presta or will they occasionally make my life a little bit harder?

Also, this has rather pissed on 76Projects new valve launch https://76projects.com/collections/shop-other-accessories/products/hi-flow-no-clog-tubeless-valves

I’ll never forget it, we were coming off High Street in the pouring rain it was freezing. There must have been something wrong with my pump or really cheap tubes as they just kept breaking off when I tried to release the pump head. My mates were in stitches as my wife had washed my backpack and not rinsed it properly. The more I pumped each tube up the more I foamed up. By the end I looked like I’d been in an Ibeza pool party. Switched to Schrader after that until 26 inch disappeared and new bikes come with Presta.

“The cost of progress” is a well known economic term and now we can quantify it. It’s a £20 tyre valve.

So they bang on about how much better the air flow is compared to skinny Presta valves but have the mentioned anywhere how they compare to Schrader valves? They don’t gunk up, they inflate nice and easily, the ends don’t get bent and most importantly of all, the tip of the little bottles of Stan’s fit in the end so no spillage.

most importantly of all, the tip of the little bottles of Stan’s fit in the end so no spillage.

Edit: Little not litre, fair comment but they fit in a coreless presta fine too

I think these guys are a bit miffed if the attention SC are getting

HI FLOW 'No Clog' Tubeless Valves

Different design, but same aim and far cheaper

To help avoid clogging park your bike with the valves at the bottom of your wheel, that way the sealant doesn’t pool in the valve.

I must be doing it wrong. Zero issues with presta valves on multiple tubeless wheels. stans valve core remover takes the core out in seconds. A syringe from an old reverb bleed kit injects the sealant. Core back in and a few pumps with a Lezyne track pump has the tire seated and inflating. 1 tyre in 20 maybe a bit stubborn and I have to get the airshot out.

I must be doing it wrong. Zero issues with presta valves

No, you are doing it right but I am doing it wrong because all my valves clog up and need a clean. But forty quid a pair, **** me!

**** me!

and the swear filter by the looks 😀

I think these guys are a bit miffed if the attention SC are getting

Pissed off that we hadn’t publicised ours earlier after having them for months. The designs are quite different though.

76 Projects valves are virtually identical and £24.50

But yep still wish we’d settled on schrader.

This.

Interesting. Design looks easier to manufacture than that 76 projects one, and I can see how the valve stopper at the bottom would stop clogging. Although I too wonder how you insert sealant through them.

They come with a lifetime guarantee

Does this mean they’ll replace them when they wear out (like the bearings) or is it a ‘lifetime’ of the valve warranty against manufacturing defects?

To be fair about cost, these will probably be standard on the reserves, so 1.5k wheelsets and so on, progression is always good, plus 40 quid isn’t horrific these days when wheelsets are getting more expensive.

Does this mean they’ll replace them when they wear out (like the bearings) or is it a ‘lifetime’ of the valve warranty against manufacturing defects?

That’s would be an interesting discussion to have – maybe start a thread just on that?

I think these guys are a bit miffed if the attention SC are getting

Or they’ve just got a load of interest out of it? Theirs are ‘unavailable’ to buy.

Who’s is unavailable to buy? 76 have 2 different colours and various sizes available

I’d clicked on “adaptor” which selected
“No colour”.

Clicking on a valve then says not available. (Have to select pink or black )

D’oh

According to the STW Facebook feed, this is the most discussed item of the week. (I though that the “favourite spaceship” thread was much more interesting). Still, the power of free advertising eh?

What injectors are recommended for Stan’s Race sealant? Their own version states it is not suitable as the fibres clog the outlet.

I didn’t realise I had a problem with the valves I have – but now I know, the solution is shrader tubeless (core comes out, just like on the car ones, which are tubeless of course)
I also know the solution is certainly not something which relies on a removable (aka lost) cap to hold the valve shaft shut!

Having had 2 rides on the last week where I’ve had a Presta valve not seat and need pumping up multiple times I can see the need.

Infact if they really work as claimed £40 seems fine. Not from the point of view of how much they should cost to make but how much better they could make my life. I’d say they would add more value to my life than £1500 wheels or a carbon bar

alanclarke
Full Member

I also know the solution is certainly not something which relies on a removable (aka lost) cap to hold the valve shaft shut!

What tyre valves need this?

What tyre valves need this?

Ones that cost forty quid 😀 (yes I read it, yes they hold air without the cap but the cap appears to do the job of the threaded bit on a presta of holding the valve shut)

According to the article the valve’s held shut by the air pressure. The cap seems to be just a cap?

I’m pretty sure the cap holds it shut to give an extra bit of security. Sorry, I probably didn’t actually read it here but in the Pinkbike comments where reservewheels were being really good at fielding questions/criticisms.

e.g. they said

The poppet doesn’t ‘need’ the cap to work. Air pressure in tire would hold poppet closed. If you lose the cap, the valve still works to get you home. And, you can contact us and we’ll get a new cap out to you.

I’d love to try some for six months to see if they are the last valves you ever need but that price is too much of a stinger

Fiddly tool for Schraeder? You can get it built into the valve cap.

Even carbon can be drilled.

Ah thanks Rubberbuccaneer, I stand corrected

presta love? now that’s niche! 😳

Reserve Fillmore Valve Field Test

“Scott from Corvus Cycles compared the Fillmore with the first Cane Creek Threadless headset. Something that will change the tubeless valve across the entire bike industry. That’s a pretty bold prediction, but I agree that it is one of the best new innovations that we’ve seen in the last couple of years.”

Plenty of other brands doing innovative things with valves well before this, Reserve are just the first one to do it with the full weight of Santa Cruz’s marketing budget behind it.

what’s the deal, however, with these and inserts? I wonder if my rimpacts would prevent the valve from opening??

DrP