Similarly, I've developed a somewhat unusual attitude towards my bicycles wheels and inner tubes. Nearly every bike wheel is designed to use either the wider schrader valve (which is also found on most automotive tires) or the narrower presta valve. I intentionally bought a bike pump that can handle both, but why not go for as much flexibility as possible? I intend to only buy or build wheels that are designed for schrader valves, and to only buy presta-valved tubes. The tubes can easily be used in the wheels with a small adapter ring that costs about a dime and can be reused indefinitely. But if I ever get a flat I cannot repair or replace and only schrader tubes are available, I can still use them; having a presta wheel means I could only use one type. Similarly, I recently bought four small adapters that allow presta tubes to be aired up with a pump designed for presta. If I need a pump and mine is not forking for some reason, I'll be able to use a pump that is designed for one or the other standard. For a total price of about $5, my bikes can all now accept tubes or pumps designed for either standard.
I also purchased a 400mm long seat tube for my raleigh twenty. I used it for my commute home yesterday, and it made a WORLD of difference. It only raised my seat about 50mm above where the stock seatpost had it (I'm fairly certain I had the stock seatpost well above its minimum insertion length height), but that 50mm meant I was nearly fully extending my leg with each pedal stroke, instead of keeping my knees bent the entire time. The new seatpost is black, so I'll probably buy a chrome or steel 400mm post to use on my commuting bike and use this one as I build up my triathlon twenty. Gotta keep up appearances.
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