Bicycle nipples: features and types

Over the period of its existence, the bicycle has undergone many changes, a number of spare parts have acquired a more complex design. The only part that has retained its original appearance and function is the bicycle nipple.

The nipple is called a tube that connects the bicycle tube and the existing check valve that retains air, in addition, it serves to pump it in. The valve is called a spool, it opens under the pressure of the air entering from the outside, and closes when the air begins to press from the middle of the wheel. The tightness of the spool closing depends on the pressure inside the wheel, and the higher it is, the more it is closed.

The main function of this device is to keep the air in the chamber hermetically. Such valves can have slightly different shapes, even for nipples of the same type, the spools can be partially different.

Nipples are made mainly made of brass, although steel models are sometimes found... It is better not to purchase such, since their quality is rather dubious.

The cap on the nipple is an integral part of this device. The main task of the plastic caps on the Dunlop models was to protect the nipple from dirt, and they also slightly retained the air that was passed by the rubber tube. Modern models have become more functional, they are also used as a special key for unscrewing the spool. Caps manufactured by Presta protect the nipple from dirt and mechanical stress, they are not very strong, therefore under strong pressure, they can break even from working with a bicycle pump.

Designers present a fairly wide and varied assortment of such devices. Caps can be roughly divided into 2 types:

• decorative, serving mainly as a showy decoration of a vehicle;
• backlit (neon)besides an aesthetic function, such caps make the bike visible in the dark, and are thus responsible for safety.

There are 3 types of nipples:

• Dunlop;
• Schrader;
• Presta.

Dunlop is an outdated rubber model that is practically no longer used... In the USSR, such standards were set for all bicycles. Now you can still find it on children's bicycles or old-style bikes. It is similar in hole diameter to the automotive standard - 8 mm, and in functionality to the Presta model. The design of such a nipple is rather unreliable and, moreover, is very vulnerable to dirt.

Tiny pebbles or even sand that gets caught in the rubber band of the spool can block the flow of air. Although these devices are no longer used in the manufacture of bicycle tires, they can easily be found in specialized stores. For the Dunlop nipple, the universal pump was not suitable as its thread was rather small. This has become a significant disadvantage of this variety. To pump air into tires with such a device, it was necessary to use a bicycle pump, or remove the tip from the car and poke the tube into the nipple.

Schrader, or automotive nipple (also sometimes called American nipple), is considered a universal standard, because it is suitable for both car and bicycle tires. The characteristic opening diameter is 8 mm. This variety is most commonly used in tire manufacturing. Due to its rather wide distribution, almost any automobile pump is suitable for this standard, although models without a clamp are not suitable for it. As a distinctive feature of the Schrader design, one can single out the presence of a special valve - if you press it, air is exhausted from the tire in full.

There are models in which the valve is designed so that the air is deflated almost instantly. The cap in such variants protects the valve from dirt and mechanical damage, but does not seal it tightly. A nipple of this type has a fairly high strength and durability.

The Presta, or bicycle nipple, is the most popular. It holds the tire pressure much better and has a more modern design. But at the same time, it will not work to inflate such a tire using an auto pump; for this you need a special nozzle or pump for bicycle wheels. And also the valve of this type of nipple is quite fragile, it can break even when the chamber is pumped up. Because of this property, many manufacturers make screw-in models. The bore diameter of the Presta spool is 6 mm.

Such a device is installed mainly on sports and road bikes, as well as mountain bikes. By its dimensions, it is slightly thinner than an automobile nipple, but it is distinguished by a longer length - 42-80 mm. A distinctive feature of this design is the location of the valve stem, it is placed outside, not in the middle. In addition, the cap also has a nut that helps to retain air in the chamber.

Air injection with this design is carried out as follows:

• the cap is unscrewed and placed nearby so as not to lose;
• unscrew the lock nut, but do not remove it to the end, you just need to release the rod;
• insert the pump and attach the clamp;
• pump air.

Presta and Shrader are the most common spool models and they also have fairly similar performance. When choosing a device, first of all, you need to pay attention to the rim holes - if their diameter is 6 mm, then only the first standard is suitable. If it is necessary to install the Shrader, it is necessary to ream the diameter up to 8 mm, but it should be borne in mind that after that the edges must be protected.

To avoid damage, be aware of the presence of the caps, even if they do not have sealing properties. When choosing a nipple, you must also take into account that the Presta requires a bicycle pump and the air injection procedure must be carried out carefully, without strong pressure.

You can also use a pump with an auto-nozzle, for this you need to perform several steps:

• unscrew the nut;
• pull out the rubber band together with the sleeve;
• unfold the plug downward with a narrow part;
• place the rubber cone with the wide part downwards and fasten the nut.

So, without much effort, you can change the pump nozzle from a car pump to Presta. Shrader is suitable for wide tires, including children's cycling tubes, while Presta is mainly suitable for sports models. It should be borne in mind that nipples have different lengths (33-80 mm), this variety depends on the parameters of the rims.

For information on how to inflate the Presta nipple, see the next video.