Valves - is this OK?

[ColinJ]

I cut a piece of rubber (from a tube that's beyond its 'patch by date') the shape of a 'Mint with a Hole' TM, and slip that over the valve before installation (to mitigate the risk of the hazard of tube abrasion close to the valve stem).

That's a good tip - I have had tubes fail that way a couple of times.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I cut a piece of rubber (from a tube that's beyond its 'patch by date') the shape of a 'Mint with a Hole' TM, and slip that over the valve before installation (to mitigate the risk of the hazard of tube abrasion close to the valve stem).

[QUOTE 5229315, member: 9609"]I do that too - wasnt going to mention it in case anyone thought i was mad, I form the holes with a paper punch
(I did have two tubes that had failed at the point where the valve union is, hence the idea of a bit of extra protection)[/QUOTE]
What a great idea, gentlemen.
I am always scared to rip the valve out the tube when using a hand pump on the road.