Schrader, Woods or Presta, which d'you find better?

[Browser]

Just curious, but do you have a preference? I grew up with Woods (not that I knew rhere was any other type) and they seemed to work OK and hold air quite well. Discovered Presta's when I went to comprehensive school and some of the kids had racers with them on. Also knew kids with Grifters/Choppers (unstable? Dunno what you mean! ) whos' tyres were fitted with Schrader-valved tubes.
I've recently gone back to Presta as I wanted slimmer tyres than 35C's and all of the slimmer tubes, out of necessity due to space limitations, have Presta valves. Now, in the past I've cursed these things for leaking, bending and a general lack of durability, partly I think due to the fact that some of the rather delicate valve gubbins is the bit that stick out of the top of the valve body, whereas Schrader and Woods are nice and contained, but they are bulkier. I have also realised that my compact pump wasn't helping as, like many of it's type, the inflation adaptor on the pump was built in to it rather than being on a short hose a-la Woods/Schrader so there was a lot of sideways bending force being transmitted to the valve when pumping, despite my best efforts to keep the pump still. I have now swapped to a mini-floor pump with a hose, but had to top up the rear tyre yesterday as it had dropped to 60-ish Psi from the 75 I set it at on Saturday.
What's your preference/experience?

 

[wafflycat]

Presta valves on all my wheels

 

[NormanD]

Same here Presta

 

[jimboalee]

If the reccommended pressure is over 85 psi, Presta.

Under 85 psi, I prefer Schrader cus I can inflate with a gas station air hose.

 

[tyred]

I have all three and they all do the the job. With Woods, you can't check the tyre pressure but I don't find that a problem on relatively low pressure tyres. I prefer Schrader to anything else really, for the reason Jim points out, no need for silly adaptors. I don't see why you wouldn't use them over 85psi. Lorry wheels are inflated to around 110psi without problems.

 

[Arch]

I have both* Presta and Shraeder on my steeds and don't really have a preference.

*including, I have to admit, on one bike

Mind you, I was hoping one day, with my trike, to have all three

 

[GrumpyGregry]

chez greg has standardised on presta for the fleet. presta tubes fit schraeder rims.

 

[Hont]

Prefer schrader, for previously mentioned reasons, but don't have the option with my wheels so Presta it is. If you have good tubes with good valves they're fine, but some of the cheaper ones are a nightmare.

 

[mickle]

Depends on the bike. Lightweight bikes;
Vertex, Colnago, Speedy have Presta.
Utility bikes; Black Phantom, Africabike, Grannybike, microscooter have Schrader.

 

[Tynan]

I have a vague idea that the presta valves are harder on pumps, pumps that rely on a rubber bit to clamp onto the valve head seem to get worn very quickly, I have a mini morph lying in my bike shed that I got tired of reforming the rubber bit on

 

[simon_brooke]

Presta on everything.

I'm not persuaded they're actually better for high pressure - the shock absorbers on my mountain bike both use schraeders, and I run the rear at 270psi - but by standardising my tyres on Presta I don't need to have two different track pumps.