# Bicycle valve question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 13, 2007, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycle-valve-question/407856 "2007-06-13T15:13:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycle-valve-question/407856/1 "2007-06-13T15:13:34Z")
I got a new bike, well really a trike. I took one out for a test drive and loved it. It is a **Speed Catrike**. 🆒 It has been great, fantastic and I got a great deal on it as the bike shop owner was retiring and it was part of a going out of business sale. OK, one month later, it needs air. The valve stim is Tiny! My pump won’t fit it at all. I barely touched it and ALL the air came out so now it is completely flat. :eek: So does anyone know about these tiny valve stims and whether of not there is an adapter for a regular pump? Or do I need to order a special pump? Where? I know I should have noticed them before, :smack: but I didn’t. The catrike web site isn’t helping so far. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycle-valve-question/407856/2 "2007-06-13T15:17:37Z")
That is a Presta valve. The one you are used to is Schrader. You can get adaptors, check a local bike shop. Or, just get a new pump which can handle both types. > **[Presta vs Schrader valves by Jobst Brandt](https://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/presta-schrader.html)** > > Article by Jobst Brandt about presta and Schrader bicycle tire valves [http://www.matthewsbikes.com/techcorner/prestavalve.htm](http://www.matthewsbikes.com/techcorner/prestavalve.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycle-valve-question/407856/3 "2007-06-13T15:17:57Z")
You likely have a presta valve, which is common for higher performance tires on bikes. You can get an adapter at any bike store for a buck or so. It will screw over your valve and make it fit your pump (which is for a schrader valve, most likely). Does [this](http://www.geocities.com/cyqlist/valve.html) look right? ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycle-valve-question/407856/4 "2007-06-13T15:27:17Z")
Just a guess, but it’s probably a Presta valve, which as you’ve noticed, is different than the Schrader valves that grace most car tires. [The two are compared here.](http://www.geocities.com/cyqlist/valve.html) There are adapters, or you can go to most “serious” bike shops and get a pump with a Presta fitting. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycle-valve-question/407856/5 "2007-06-13T17:01:52Z")
Perfect, Thanks Bunches! I’ll have the adapter by this PM. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycle-valve-question/407856/6 "2007-06-13T17:19:02Z")
I had to buy one of those adaptors not long ago. I knew there were two types, and I knew the names Presta and Schrader, but somehow got it into my head that Presta was the car-tyre type, and bought a whole bunch of inner tubes with the wrong valve. Well, I figured it was easier to order a ÂŁ2 adapter from eBay then to go through the hassle of returning the tubes. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycle-valve-question/407856/7 "2007-06-13T20:35:58Z")
And when you’re done filling up your tires, twist the top of the stem to lock the valve shut! You’ll have to remove any adaptors to do this. ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycle-valve-question/407856/8 "2007-06-13T20:47:33Z")
[QUOTE=Colophon] I had to buy one of those adaptors not long ago. I knew there were two types, and I knew the names Presta and Schrader, but somehow got it into my head that Presta was the car-tyre type, and bought a whole bunch of inner tubes with the wrong valve. Well, I figured it was easier to order a £2 adapter from eBay then to go through the hassle of returning the tubes. [/QUOTE] This only goes one way, though. You can make your Presta tubes work in a Schrader rim, but you’d have to drill out a Presta rim to fit Schrader tubes. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycle-valve-question/407856/9 "2007-06-14T16:31:15Z")
Just to close out: Got the adapter, filled the tire, followed ALL the advice and am on the road again.