New wheels, to drill or not to drill. Presta vs Schrader

Just recieved a very shiny set of wheels with Stans Flows.

But I’m a die-hard schrader user, and would like to remain so.

The question is, do I drill out my brand-spanking new wheels?

Or make the dreaded switch to girly valves?

Don’t drill.

Hmmm am comming upto the same decision soon. Do you run tubes? Think thats what my decision is based on as all the tubeless valve thingys seem to be presta.

It’s a bicycle, not a tractor.

It’s a valve. Either will be fine. Flip a coin.

I run tubes, and have no intention of going tubeless at the moment.

I suppose I’d get around the issue of ease by carrying around an adaptor? It’s just so simple to have schrader stuff on tap, when presta is bike specific. (Means I have to go get new tubes tomorrow!)

why are you not going tubless? just get the proper removable core presta valve and get rid of your tubes.

Or make the dreaded switch to girly valves?

Oooooh … pink?

Drill, then use whatever tube you like. Dint drill, and cry when you can only get an emergency schrader tube.

Drill tubes are tubes, don’t get stuck when the only loan on a cold wet night is a schrader.
Prestas are too flimsy for mountain biking 😉

Presta to flimsy ?

Drill.

My flows are drillied out for proper valves. .Paulo knows the score 😉

Presta valves have a few small advantages over schrader valve and no real disadvantages.

Unless you go riding completely unprepared and rely on other people to help you out, don’t bother drilling.

Presta valves have a few small advantages over schrader valve and no real disadvantages.

Presta Bends when unscrewed
Schrader Tubes don’t fit in Presta Holes
Both good to 100+psi

Unless you go riding completely unprepared and rely onhave a bad day and other people to help you out,

What advantage does presta have?

Proper valves are good to 300psi Mike.

Drill. Hardy valves versus delicate flowers. And you can do a hit and run on a garage pump in the far north west of Scotland when it all goes pear-shaped and your last but one tube has a 3″ slash 😳 .

I’m genuinely interested in the “few small advantages” presta have over schrader on a mountain bike.

Presta have no advantages for us, apart from that they fit in both holes. Oh and it’s easier to spell

Some say it’s easier to get high pressures with presta, because you don’t have to pressurise the valve each time. Unconvinced. And not relevant to mtbs anyway.

Proper valves are good to 300psi Mike.

Never tested a Presta above 110psi
Schrader on the otherhand is fine up to 300 as I found out on my Shock
They seem to work fine on HP suspension.

Schrader = proper

I’ll be honest and say i don’t like schrader valves based on the fact they’re ugly and look out of place on a bike, saying that i do carry a teeny brass adapter that allows me to use airlines/foot pumps if i’m stuck, never had to use it when out on the bike though.

Go tubeless now you’ve got the chance – not had a puncture in 4 years but then again i’ve done sod-all cycling really.

Prestas are too flimsy for mountain biking the mechanically incompetent

FTFY

Prestas are too flimsy for mountain biking the mechanically incompetent
FTFY

Thanks but even the “Mechanically Competent” have days when it’s cold and fingers don’t work properly. Or it’s dark and things get fumbled. Why stress.

they’re ugly

The male member is a fairly ugly thing but I’d still rather have one that does it’s job well over a smaller/weaker one that’s more likely to fail to perform in use.

Never had a failure yet, although I can see how certain ham-fisted souls may have a problem……we are talking bout valves ain’t we?.

I’ve always drilled my rims… Never had a problem yet so don’t see a reason to change 🙂

Presta valves have a few small advantages over schrader valve and no real disadvantages.

I’d say it’s the other way round TBH.

Take a look at, well, any air fork or rear shock. What sort of valve do you see there, ehh?

I’ve been drilling rims for 20 odd years. It’s a TINY fraction of metal that’s removed. There’s simply no reason not to do it.

I ride so fast that my wheels reach such a high RPM that Schrader valves stand no chance, therefore I use Presta.

Going to have a check on the warranty situation, just to keep myself happy, then get the old drill out like i’ve done with every other wheelset.

I run tubes, and have no intention of going tubeless at the moment.

So why buy Flows?

Are we arguing over tyre valves?

drill, then fit tubeless schrader valves

Presta valves, for people who can’t use a drill…….

God it’s just a wee hole.

No, I think you’re thinking of something else.

Are we arguing over tyre valves?

It seems that way…. 🙄

Err if you prefer schrader valves then drill but you’d be better off going tubeless and presta…

Honest question: why do Mavic/DT Swiss/Crank Bros/other proprietary tubeless systems use Presta?

Presta look better, are lighter, easier to spell, easier to get straight in a rim, and easier to get through the valve hole, as well as being easier to deflate, and easier to get a pump on.

Some people don’t like presta because they’re ham fisted and bend valves occasionally. Easier to blame the valve then themselves.. 😉

Also with presta kids won’t nick your fancy dust caps.

Schrader valves.. well.. I suppose if you let a monkey fix your puncture there’s a better chance of it coming back okish. If you’re really scared that you’re going to go out without enough tubes/patches to get you home (and still can’t be bothered to take more tubes/patches) and insist on relying on other people, drill your rims. Then use presta (it’s what I have on my bmx – schrader holes, presta valves).

Schrader – for ham fisted luddites

Presta – for anal retentive pedants

What niche valve for STWers?

woods