Presta valves are common on serious bikes, but many cyclists find them frustrating. The new Aether valve stem aims to fix this by removing the traditional Presta valve core.
Presta valves are popular for several reasons. They hold high air pressure better than Shrader valves. They are also lighter and narrower. This means smaller holes in rims, which helps maintain the strength of narrow road bike rims. Plus, their cores can usually be removed to inject sealant into tubeless tires.
A New Valve Design
The problem is that these cores are often fragile. They can bend, snap off, or get clogged with sealant. The Aether valve, made by UK company absoluteBLACK, offers a solution.
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Start Your News DetoxThis carbon fiber composite valve replaces the core with a rubber plunger. This plunger sits at the bottom of the stem inside the rim. When you inflate the tire, air pressure pushes the plunger aside, letting air flow in. Once you stop pumping, the tire's internal air pressure pushes the plunger back into a sealed position.
AbsoluteBLACK notes that this design is similar to other bottom-sealing valves like Fillmore and Peaty's. These concepts date back to 1915. However, the Aether valve is simpler, with only two main parts: the stem and the rod-plunger assembly. This simpler design makes it much less likely to clog.
Benefits and Tradeoffs
The Aether valve is also very light, weighing just 2.6 to 3.1 grams. Because there's no core blocking airflow, cyclists can even seat tubeless tires using a regular floor pump.
One drawback is that the Aether valve is not repairable. If it stops working, the entire valve needs to be replaced.
The Aether valve stem works with road, gravel, and mountain bikes. It costs $29.95 for a pair.
Deep Dive & References: absoluteBLACK
