The Goldilocks Principle is under assault, balance is lost. Without balance, we are reduced to savages. Steerectile dysfunction is spreading like wildfire; socks are quickly becoming knee-highs and the line between shorts and knickers continues to blur.
We spend considerable time making everything on our loyal steed fit and look perfect. Bar tape and tire color are carefully coordinated to frame and decals; the tape is wrapped and finished expertly. Saddles are positioned with a spirit level. Cables are cut to the shortest length possible to allow for smooth and friction-free braking and shifting. Cable ends are trimmed to the shortest sensible length. Tires are mounted with labels mounted directly above the valve. And yet the valve stems themselves have recklessly been allowed to grow ever longer.
The Prophet and De Vlaeminck didn’t ride around with 5cm of valve stem sticking out of their rims. Granted, they only had one length to choose from, but that one length stems were made in was obvious: as short as possible. Valve stems need to be managed just like everything else on our bikes. They need to protrude from the rim enough to allow for a pump head to be securely attached to it; anything more is ugly and dead weight. (Incidentally, if you are using a pump with a screw-on head like a Lezyne or Silca, then this means all you need is the threads of the valve core plus a few millimeters to allow for the head to securely thread on.)
For those among us riding deep section rims, forget the long-stem inner tubes. Buy tubes with 32mm stems with removable cores and use the shortest valve extender possible. Under no circumstances should one use an inner tube without removable cores. It is important, however, that upon removing the tube from its package and before installing it or placing it in your kit, that the core be removed and reinstalled using a small wrap of plumber’s tape; this will ensure that the core does not unthread with your pump head, causing a disappointing deflation of both spirit and tire.
Bring back the balance. Stop this long valve madness and get thee to your local bike shop for some fresh, short-stemmed tubes.
We are not savages, my children. We are the Velominati. Vive la Vie Velominatus.
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/frank@velominati.com/Goldilocks Stems/”/]
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View Comments
@humantorch
You nailed it.
@Chris
For as long as the old stock lasts.
If you prefer this full removable alloy valve you should buy old stock Vittorias because all new updated ISOgrip compound Vittorias come with brass valve 42 mm with removable core.
Vittoria went back to their old valve system after comments and complaints that their red anodized full valves are expensive and have no removable cores which makes injecting sealant difficult and less practical.
Also new Pave 320 tpi tubular is like the previous 290 tpi version black in the center with green stripes along the sides.
@meursault
You'll only really understand the meaning of frustration when your valve core come loose mid glue job, just when you're about to do the final adjustments to make sure it's all lined up nicely. By the time the valve core was back in, the glue was just a little bit too firm and the tubular had to be pulled off and the whole thing done again the next night.
It was my first time. It wasn't the scented candled, zen like experience that I'd read about. There was a lot of swearing.
@Jamie
Cheers for the reply. It was a thought, being involved with balancing wheels for a different purpose previously, that with bike wheels specifically, a manufacturer included compensatory weight could only be guessed at, as there are so many different weights of valves, and computer magnets also, that they couldn't possibly be near a perfect (or at least good enough) balance to be worth it, hence it seems a bit gimmicky/sales pitchy, and your experience seems to align with that.
Individual balancing with self adhesive lead tape for a given rim, tyre and tube or tub combo (use same tube as spares, they should be approximate) would be the only way I would have thought. I wonder if pro teams do this, hardly worth it for an amateur, but when looking for your half percenters......
@TommyTubolare The concept was a good one but the lack of a removable valve core does seem like a bit of an own goal. Doesn't stop the application of pitstop though.
I found the threads that pumps screw onto were a bit soft - my Lezyne pump used to blow off before it was completely off which damaged the threads. Not great when you find yourself unable to pump your tyres up on holiday. I've replaced the chuck with one of the newer air bleed models, problem solved.
Glad to hear they're going back to the black centre stripe though. The only time the current ones look clean is on wet days.
Of which I should add, the choice of valve length can be used to help balance your setup further, as long as it's short enough and long enough...
@Beers With regard to the Fulcrums, I believe that the only reason I know about the balance point is the spectacular bearings / hubs. Every other wheel I own stops at a random spot and I KNOW they are less well balanced than the Fulcrums...
@TheVid
I would submit that ideal length is (a) subjective and (b) that mine is dependent on using a Lezyne or other pump that screws on and (c) not to take any of this crap too seriously. Except the bit about the nut because that's just crazy talk.
Go as short as is reasonable with your pump.
Here is an example from my own stable with unacceptable length stems and whose presence on my equipment brought this issue to a head. The tubes have been replaced.
@TommyTubolare
The single most exciting gear development of 2013.
With my HED 60/90 combo my LBS sold me tubes with 80mm stems. This fits the front sans extender and the back with the supplied extender. HED logo sits just above the rim too. Cores don't transfer but no issues yet. Got 3 TT PBs this season so it must be the correct solution.
Works well with my Specialized (err, red with BMC decals) floor pump.
I can't vouch for the long term use of the extender yet.
@sthilzy nice pic bro