Presta valve

[Catrin]

Believe it or not, I now have 2,000 miles on my beloved Gunnar :D My tires are Continental Travel Contacts (http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/de/en/continental/bicycle/themes/city/tour/travelcontact/travelcontact_en.html). I LOVE these tires, I tell you, after 2k miles they still have a lot of miles in them and don't look much different than new. My question, however, is about one of the tubes, not the tire.

I check tire pressure before every ride, always. As I've never had a flat, my tubes are the same as when I brought the bike home 14 months ago. A few weeks back, when unscrewing the Presta valve to check the air on my rear tires, the Presta "pin" came all the way out. I screwed it back in and there doesn't seem to be a problem but that valve hasn't seemed to be as tight as on my front tire since then. Even the actual valve cover doesn't tighten properly - but that isn't a concern.

Is a loose pin on a Presta valve a problem? I don't want to throw on a new tube if it isn't needed, but I don't know if this is an issue or not.

[ny biker]

Well, it really sucks when the head of the presta valve comes off the valve and gets stuck in the pump after you put air in the tire.

I would replace it.

[Catrin]

Well, it really sucks when the head of the presta valve comes off the valve and gets stuck in the pump after you put air in the tire.

I would replace it.

:eek: :eek: I didn't think about THAT possibly happening, I was wondering if a wonky Presta valve could cause it to lose air...

[Owlie]

Yeah, I'd replace it, just to be on the safe side.

[Catrin]

I mentioned this as a side note at my LBS this afternoon when I dropped by to pick something up and they also said to change the tube...and apparently they can replace the valve core properly. They said I don't have the right tool for it but they can fix the valve and it can still serve as a spare.