Presta Valve are used on high performance (high pressure) bicycle and mountain bike innertubes.

A Presta valve is thinner and longer than ordinary schrader valves, which are used on most bicycles and all cars.

It looks like this:
This is what a presta valve looks like

If you don't have Presta Valve pump, you can buy presta valve adapters below that will convert your presta-valve so that in can be used with an ordinary bicycle pump. See the video on the right to see how this works.

Video Tips For Inflating A Presta Valve Inner Tube...

What is a Presta Valve?

A Presta Valve is a somewhat uncommon valuve on an innertube that is used on high performance mountain bicycles and road bicycles. The Presta Valve has a smaller diameter than the more common Schrader valve, giving the tire's rim more strength.

Presta valves are thinner and longer than Schrader valves (the more common valves used on cars and most bicycles). A small nut must be turned to allow the inner tube to be pumped or deflated.

Options If You Have A Presta Valve

1. Buy a Presta Valve pump.

2. Buy a Presta Valve adapter so you can use a regular Schrader valve style pump.

3. Drill out your rim, and use a Schrader Valve tube. The problem with this idea is that the reason for Presta Valves is that the smaller diameter hole increases the strength of your wheel's rim -- helping you avoid a tire taco.

You can get some valve adapater reviews here.



Unusual Innertube valve?

Posted on June 28 2009 at 04:55 PM

What are your options if your mountain bike uses presta valve tubes, but all you have is a regular bicycle pump (with a tip like the kind used on cars)?
Well, first of all you can by a presta-valve pump from a specialty bicycle shop. This will set you back about $30 - $50 bucks -- maybe more.

Another option is to buy an adapter online. These presta valve adatptors will convert a normal schrader valve pump into a presta valve style pump.

Lastly, you can just switch the tube out. Be careful though, because the presta valve has a smaller diameter, and the tip of the schrader valve won't fit through the hole in your wheel rim. In that case you need to drill it out, which can significantly weaken your rim.

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Got my bike back from shop!

Posted on June 26 2009 at 01:09 PM

Woot! My bike has new Shimano breaks and gear changers. They must have lubed up the bike to a little, because it was totally a pleasure to ride again. I took my son around the neighborhood and we went off-roading a bit too.

I'll try to post pictures soon.

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$120 In Repairs.

Posted on June 23 2009 at 11:06 PM

The shop called and said that my break wires were rusted out. Same with the gear shift wires. Ugh. Gonna be like $120 to fix the bike. Can't be worth it.

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Doh! My Mountain Bike Is Still In the Shop!

Posted on June 23 2009 at 07:07 AM

The saga of the mountain bike repair continues. I dropped it off about 10 days ago because the gears weren't switching smoothly. I missed the phone message when the shop talked to my wife -- she says she okayed about 80 dollars in parts, which were then ordered.

I never heard back though. Finally, they called back to tell me the parts have arrived and the repairs should be complete by Thursday. Woot!

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So I chickened out.

Posted on June 14 2009 at 03:35 PM

So I got invited by a neighbor to go mountain biking. I just completed my first marathon, and I have a bike -- I should totally to it!

But my gear changing thing busted (good excuse). I dropped the bike off at the shop. So, maybe next week I'll be walking my fancy bike up the hills :)

Wish me luck.

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Adapters

Kool Stop Presta Valve Adapter Brass 12/Card

Kool Stop Presta Valve Adapter Brass 12/Card

Category: (Sports)

2 new, starting at $7.75

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Silca Brass Presta Valve Floor Pump Head

Silca Brass Presta Valve Floor Pump Head

Category: (Sports)

4 new, starting at $8.75

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Topeak Presta Valve Extender with Valve

Topeak Presta Valve Extender with Valve

Category: (Sports)

4 new, starting at $4.50

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Topeak Presta Valve Extender XL with Valve

Topeak Presta Valve Extender XL with Valve

Category: (Sports)

8 new, starting at $5.50

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Forte Presta Valve Adapter

Forte Presta Valve Adapter

Category: (Sports)

1 new, starting at $0.99

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Vittoria Presta Valve Cores

Vittoria Presta Valve Cores

Category: (Sports)

1 new, starting at $9.99

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Presta Rocket Valve Caps, Chrome

Presta Rocket Valve Caps, Chrome

Category: (Sports)

2 new, starting at $3.49

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Presta Adapter

Presta Adapter

Category: (Sports)

1 new, starting at $1.50

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Pumps

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The Planet Bike Peace Pumps features a locking T-handle for comfortable fast inflation ...

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Planet Bike Ozone Bike Pump

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This is a small hands-only bike pump from Planet Bike , a small company that treats the...

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PLANET BIKE OZONE PUMP

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Take the guesswork out of your on-trail repairs: this Planet Bike pump features in i...

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PLANET BIKE OZONE COMP MTB PUMP

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Handy! This compact pump includes a water-bottle bracket and velcro strap so you can...

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