I ride on Vector Comps and at times spite searching and spending extra for long valve tubes. Can I just buy a set of valve extenders and buy normal presta tubes?
I don’t like valve extenders simply because they require teflon tape in order to make the seal tight between the extender and the valve. It’s one more little bit of gear to keep track of. I wrap some around one of my tire levers, and actually needed it when I flatted - twice!!! - at Columbia last week. But I’m tired of playing that game, and tomorrow when I’m riding at LP I will pick up several long-valve tubes at Placid Planet, where Kenny keeps a good stock of them.
Touch wood, I have never had a problem with the extenders or ever used teflon tape. I use the extenders because when riding my disk an extra long stem wouldn’t fit in the cutout so i would need 2 different spares for the disk or the front wheel.
I just buy the tubes with longer extenders, one less thin to go wrong. Depending on the brand, many do not allow you to lock the presta valve. My solution has been to use a disc and HED 3’s which work great with short valves, but it is a slightly more expensive solution.
I prefer to use tubes that have the longer presta valve but I would still suggest getting some plumbers tape and valve extension. Most bike shops should have both and it shouldn’t be a problem to find longer stem tubes. I suggest having both because sometimes you don’t know when your going to hit a patch of bad luck in a race…and having a valve extender isn’t going to weigh you down. For example, your in a race and you get two flats (I usually only carry one tube) and that way you can borrow a tube from someone else if they only have short stem…in reality I have never had a flat in a race and haven’t had this problem. The real life problem I have run into is coming to my bike 10 minutes before a group ride only to find my tire is flat and for some weird reason on only have left over short stem tubes…
If you decide to use only the extenders just make sure you wrap the threads with some plumbers tape (cost is about $1 for a lifetime supply) and you’ll get a good seal. If a race you don’t have any…don’t worry because if your using CO2 you should not have a hard time inflating it…regardless if it has a good seal (speaking from experience on group rides).
Go with the tubes as some of the extenders , you have no control of the stem core and the pump cant pop it off the seat at 200 psi. You can pop it with a pin or wire , to fill the tube , but its more trouble .
I had a ton of problems witht he extenders, I bought a new set, still, very frustrated. So when I found the tubes with the longer valve, I was really excited. So much easier and better. i bought 2 spares and carried one extender with me at IMAZ in case I needed a third tube for some reason. Plus I figured that if I get more than 2 flats in a race, there is a problem