79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 10/15/2014 12:32 PM |
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Now you can buy "Damn cyclist in distress" valve converters. The "damsel " units were a cobbled together schraeder pump head and presta valve so we could place the pump head on the valve of a schraeder tire and use our presta frame pump to inflate. Many of us made and carried these units. Seldom used but good for a thank you and pretty smile every time they were, so well worth the small weight penalty.
Mow, there are the Mr. and Mrs. Stubby that convert presta valves to schraeder so when that (damn) cyclist has exhausted his last CO2 canister, he can get relief at any gas station.
http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/10/gallery/gallery-new-pumps-at-interbike_349432 photo #23
Since I average better than 30,000 miles between pump failures and since those failures are almost always completely unrelated to tire issues (usually falling off the bike and getting run over), I'll skip this adapter. I don't currently have a damsel adopter. I believe my pumps have a gasket that flips for schraeder but I have never used them successfully. If I am to be a good citizen, clearly I have work to do.
Ben
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 10/15/2014 12:41 PM |
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Oh, a little trivia. I heard the term "damsel in distress" regularly at Lifecycle bike shop were I worked from Michael Gilday, the gifted mechanic who sadly for the bicycle world, graduated to aircraft. He had a friend of like mindset who often came to our shop and may well have been the originator of that wording, Sheldon Brown. (Though, if he was the source, I am sure he disavowed himself of the connection decades ago!)
Ben |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 10/15/2014 02:36 PM |
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| These kind of adapters have been around for as long as I can remember. Since they are so small and weigh nothing I have one in each of my small toolbags "just in case". It'll fit in your patch kit if you have one. |
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smokey52
Posts:493
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| 10/15/2014 07:39 PM |
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| I got one in Ireland in 2005 when I took my bike along on an extended business trip in Newbridge. I changed a flat and got rideable pressure from the mini-pump. When I stopped at a petrol station to use their air pump to get up to normal pressure, they used an adapter, then gave it to me. I still have it but have not used it since. It's one of the memory triggers for the great rides I had that summer, including a couple of Sunday centuries. Newbridge to Wicklow over St. Kevin's pass through the Wicklow mountains, and another Newbridge to Kilkenny (home of Smithwick Ale). Also evening rainbows over the Curragh. Thanks for bringing up the memories. |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 10/15/2014 08:07 PM |
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I still have the opposite of what I think Ben is describing, a plain old presta valve adapter, from the mid 70s. replaced the O ring once. It's the oldest thing in my toolbox that I paid for myself, from my first job (bike shop mechanic, of course!) so it has some (I'll admit silly) sentimental value.
But presta pump to shraeder valve? Don't have that. Cheaper than buying a new pump or pump head, I suppose.
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79pmooney
Posts:3180
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| 10/15/2014 11:09 PM |
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Thanks, OC. Yeah, I've had those little brass or aluminum adapters, presta valve to schraeder pump, for years. Spaced and forgot about those when I saw the Stubbys on the Interbike gallery on VeloNews. I have never scene a commercial "distress" adapter. I'd love the unit Smokey has.
Smokey, was that an English made item? Sounds like something they would do.
Ben |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 10/16/2014 11:26 AM |
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| Its funny that the Stubbeys should be at Interbike; at my LBS the brass adapters sit in a plastic jar on the countertop and go for about $1 if I am not mistaken. My LBS is very practically oriented. |
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dkri
Posts:95
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| 10/17/2014 06:33 AM |
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| I always have one of the cheapie ones from a shop counter with me when I ride. Mostly I'd used them for inflating tubeless tires with a compressor before I got a Prestaflator. Now I use the Prestaflator 99% of the time, but there's still no way I'm going without something as small, light, cheap, and potentially useful as the converter. |
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| formerly dkri |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 10/17/2014 07:15 PM |
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Hey dkri,
I looked up the prestaflator and it looks slick, and I'm always game to buy another tool, but it's 50 bucks. Can you tell me why you like it so much more than a schrader chuck and a presta valve adaptor? thanks. |
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dkri
Posts:95
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| 10/18/2014 06:17 AM |
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Convenience/ease of use, and built in accurate - or at least consistent with my digital gauge and good floor pump - dial gauge. Used one at the wind tunnel and ordered one before I left the building.
Bear in mind with my work there are many days when I'll inflate 20 tires (or sometimes 1 tire 20 times). It paid for itself nearly instantly. |
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| formerly dkri |
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Gonzo Cyclist
Posts:568
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| 10/25/2014 05:28 PM |
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we have the Park Tool version of the prestaflator in our shop, very durable, as long as it does not get dropped. Like DKRI said, they get used a ton, so durable, and so accurate, totally paid for itself 1st time it was used
the little adapter for presta to schrader is super handy to have when you have it, all the seat bags on all of my bikes have one |
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