I am so relieved to hear that I am not alone in my struggle to pump tires with Presta valves! There are days (rare indeed) when all goes well on the first attempt, but for the most part I have to allow far too much time for this task.
When it suddenly *does* work, I have no idea what I did that was any different from the multiple frustrating attempts. My biceps are getting quite a workout, though.
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10-20-2009, 04:52 AM #1
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10-20-2009, 06:10 AM #2
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We have a very nice floor pump that I hate to use. HATE it. It holds on to the stem even when it's unlocked that I can hardly pull it off.
So, I dug out the 15 year old foot pump that we bought probably to inflate basketballs, and it works PERFECTLY, even though the lever is all skewed from my husband's gargantuan strength. It doesn't do Presta, unfortunately. Oh the irony.
My Road Morph works great on Presta valves, though.
Karen~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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10-29-2009, 01:35 PM #3
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You can get an adapter from Schrader to Presta.
Originally Posted by Tuckervill
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10-29-2009, 05:49 PM #4
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Oh yeah! I have one...didn't need it that day. At least I have one if my dh didn't take it with him and lose it out of his saddle bag instead of leaving it on the valve stem like I do. :-/
Karen~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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10-30-2009, 07:57 PM #5
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Oops! Originally Posted by Tuckervill
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12-18-2009, 03:59 PM #6
What's over that hill?
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I wish that I had found this thread earlier, before posting the other one
So it sounds like Presta valves are known for this, and that it isn't uncommon to have problems with them when you first start using them. This is good to know. I feel better about it now... so practice, practice, practice sounds like the key?
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10-20-2009, 09:11 AM #7
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Me too! Getting the tires pumped up is quite a workout! Originally Posted by Kubla
I am so relieved to hear that I am not alone in my struggle to pump tires with Presta valves!
My biceps are getting quite a workout, though.
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10-20-2009, 12:44 PM #8
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Biceps, with a floor pump?
Try using the triceps, quads and glutes...Speed comes from what you put behind you. - Judi Ketteler
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10-20-2009, 12:53 PM #9
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Biceps, triceps ... it is frustrating when you're pumping for all you're worth and air is hissing! I've got to find out what I'm doing wrong! Originally Posted by OakLeaf
Biceps, with a floor pump?
Try using the triceps, quads and glutes...
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10-20-2009, 05:37 PM #10
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Well, I wrassled with the hissing snake again tonight. I confidently tapped to break the seal (only worked on the rear tire, alas) and even more confidently pressed the pump head on... since now I know the difference between locked and unlocked.
Still: some hissing whenever I'm not pumping. Though I was slightly more successful than last time... the tire didn't get completely flat.
Is there supposed to be complete silence when you're not pumping, or is some hissing to be expected?
Hisssssssssssssss....
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10-21-2009, 02:21 PM #11
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I don't recall any hissing when the pump was demonstrated to me at the shop or when I tried it myself at the shop. I just tried my pump again using suggestions on this thread. I looked at wedsites with videos demonstrating pumps. Same old hissing sound. My pump is a JoeBlow Sport II. Do any of you have this pump? If so, do you have trouble using it. As I said before I used perfectly at the bike shop but I've had trouble since then. It's driving my crazy!!!! Originally Posted by zia
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10-21-2009, 02:50 PM #12
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Quads and glutes??? I don't know if we are talking about the same type of pump...unless you'd sit on the handle of the pump I have to push it down. (If that's the case, I don't want to think about the acrobatics needed to pull it back up again. LOL) Originally Posted by OakLeaf
Biceps, with a floor pump?
Try using the triceps, quads and glutes...
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10-21-2009, 03:29 PM #13
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LOL.
All the floor pumps I've ever owned are only a couple of feet tall, so pumping them involves squatting as well as pressing with the arms.Speed comes from what you put behind you. - Judi Ketteler
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10-21-2009, 03:30 PM #14
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It's possible the pump is defective but it sounds to me like the pump head is just not seated correctly on the valve stem. Take it to your bike shop or some other knowledgeable bicycle person and have them watch you do it so you can figure out what is wrong. No point in struggling with what should be a simple task. Let us know how you make out.
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