HED Alps poll

Triathlon Forum
1

Poll for HED Alps clincher owners:

Do you:

a) Use tubes with a 60mm valve length?

b) Use tubes with a 80mm valve length?

c) Use valve extenders?

2

C.) Extenders with teflon tape on the extender so it won’t come loose and lock tight on the valve to keep it open
.

3

C.) Extenders with teflon tape on the extender so it won’t come loose and lock tight on the valve to keep it open

Why the extenders over a longer valve length?

4

I’m not sure I’ve got a good reason. It’s easier to pump up the tires which I like. No taking off the cap and unscrewing the valve and putting the cap back on. I’ve busted a couple of valves in my time pumping up the tires, not often but that’ll piss you off, turning a couple of minutes for a tire inflation into a tube change. Like I said, no great reason but I do like it that way.

5

If you go with extenders, just do yourself a favor and get tubes with removable valve cores so you can yank them out and screw into the extender. Tufo makes a little tool for a couple bucks.

6

a) yes
b) yes
c) yes

I know…not really an answer…but I use whatever is on hand. The 80mm stems are the easiest, but I can feel the fact that they are on there (wheel balance). The 60mm are serviceable with a brand new Silca gasket…worn ones don’t hold well enough to the tiny bit of stem they have to latch on to. Extenders are great and I like to use them for racing…most of the time…I remove the extender and just pack one in my flat kit…but I have lately been a bit paranoid about having to change a flat and the extender being AWOL.

7

a) yes
b) yes
c) yes

I know…not really an answer…but I use whatever is on hand. The 80mm stems are the easiest, but I can feel the fact that they are on there (wheel balance). The 60mm are serviceable with a brand new Silca gasket…worn ones don’t hold well enough to the tiny bit of stem they have to latch on to. Extenders are great and I like to use them for racing…most of the time…I remove the extender and just pack one in my flat kit…but I have lately been a bit paranoid about having to change a flat and the extender being AWOL.

My answer is the same – yes, yes, yes – whatever is on hand.