Tire Valves - Cannondale SuperSix EVO Owner's Manual

2. Tire valves

There are primarily two kinds of bicycle tube valves:
The Schrader Valve and the Presta Valve. The bicycle
pump you use must have the fitting appropriate to
the valve stems on your bicycle.
The Schrader valve (fig. 18) is like the valve on a car
tire. To inflate a Schrader valve tube, remove the
valve cap and clamp the pump fitting onto the end
of the valve stem. To let air out of a Schrader valve,
depress the pin in the end of the valve stem with the
end of a key or other appropriate object.
The Presta valve (fig. 18) has a narrower diameter and
is only found on bicycle tires. To inflate a Presta valve
tube using a Presta headed bicycle pump, remove the
valve cap; unscrew (counterclockwise) the valve stem
lock nut; and push down on the valve stem to free it
up. Then push the pump head on to the valve head,
and inflate. To inflate a Presta valve with a Schrader
pump fitting, you'll need a Presta adapter (available
at your bike shop) which screws on to the valve stem
once you've freed up the valve. The adapter fits into
the Schrader pump fitting. Close the valve after
inflation. To let air out of a Presta valve, open up the
valve stem lock nut and depress the valve stem.
schrader valve
Presta valve
figure 18.
WARNING
We highly recommend that you carry a spare
inner tube when you ride your bike.
PATChInG A TUBe Is An emeRGenCy RePAIR.
If you do not apply the patch correctly or apply
several patches, the tube can fail, resulting in
possible tube failure, which could cause you to
loose control and fall. Replace a patched tube as
soon as possible.
37
Valve stem
Locknut