Inflate French valve - quick tutorial
Bicycles are equipped with different valves. Most models have either a car valve or a flash valve, which is often also called a Dunlop valve. However, a few bikes are also equipped with a so-called French valve.
If your bike has a French valve and you want to inflate it, there are a few points you should pay attention to so you don't ruin the valve, because this type of valve is thinner and more fragile, which makes inflation more complicated.
What is a French valve?
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The French valve is often also called Sclaverand valve, Presta valve and road bike valve. The big advantage of this valve is that the tubes can be inflated with much more pressure. However, the valves are much thinner and more unstable than, for example, car valves. Therefore, you have to make sure that the road bike valve does not bend, especially when inflating.
Inflate the Sclaverand valve - this is how it works!
If your bike has a French valve and you want to inflate it, this might be a bit more complicated than with other valve types, but that doesn't make it rocket science. We will explain you in a few simple steps how to inflate the sclaver valve properly:
1. remove valve caps
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First of all, remove the plastic caps from the valves. Caution: These things have the property of dissolving into thin air. So put them in a place where you can find them again immediately. For example, use the change compartment of your wallet or your trouser pockets.
Pro tip: Road bikes come with valve caps, two of them in fact. Professionals and racers agree: These things are a nuisance. It's not about the weight, but rather about the frequent inflation. "The real racer says: "These things are useless, so they have to go." He's right, the valve caps on your racer expose you as a complete beginner.
Open the Sclaverand valve
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Now a small nut becomes visible. Turn this carefully and without much force. The valve is now open.
3. put on the pump correctly
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Take your pump and try to place it as straight as possible on the valve. If you position the pump at an angle, the air will not fully enter the tyre and you will waste energy. After mounting the pump, press the fixing lever down so that the hose does not come off the valve when pumping.
Select the correct air pressure and pump!
Now you can start pumping. Check the maximum air pressure on the side of the tyre beforehand and regularly check the pressure gauge to ensure that you do not exceed this value. For orientation: High tire pressure brings good rolling resistance, but low riding comfort, the road becomes harder. Lower tire pressure results in increased rolling friction of the tire, which is especially advantageous off paved roads, but make sure that you do not ride with too little pressure, because then your rims can puncture.
5. open fixation lift and adjust air pressure
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Now you can open the fixing lever again and carefully pull the pump upwards. If you have accidentally pumped too much air into one of the tyres, simply press on the small pin at the top end of the valve. A little air will then escape.
Screw the valve shut and put the cap on.
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Now you can screw the nut back on and mount the valve caps on the valve. Of course, only if you can still find them and they have not disappeared into thin air. Remember our pro-tip: You should ride without valve caps!
7. tighten the rim nut
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The rim nut at the bottom of the valve has a nasty habit of loosening regularly. This is not a big deal, but you should still show it the limits and simply tighten it again by hand. Just don't use pliers for this, because then you run the risk of causing a valve rupture.
Is it possible to change a French valve?
Whether the road bike valve can be changed depends on the type of tube. Some French valves have an interchangeable insert, while others do not. If the insert can be unscrewed, you can simply remove it by hand or with a small plastic wrench and use a new insert.
If air escapes from the valve, it is often the case that the valve has only loosened. So first try to inflate the tire again and screw the Sclaverand valve properly again and check whether air then still escapes from the tire.
Which pump is suitable for French valves?
Since hand pumps offer little stability, they are not very suitable if you want to inflate your Sclaverand valve. The risk of bending and damaging the valves due to constant movement is too high. If you need a small hand pump for longer tours, make sure that you can grip it stably to avoid damaging your valve.
Compare all pumpsIf you don't already own a floor or foot pump, you should consider investing in one. However, make sure that it also offers a suitable valve head for French valves. If you already have a pump, but it does not have the right valve head, you can also retrofit it with an adapter.