What is the name of the bicycle valve common on road bikes?

The bicycle valve commonly found on road bikes is the Presta valve. It is a narrow, high-pressure valve also known as a French valve or Sclaverand valve.

Presta valves suit many road-bike wheels because their slimmer stems require a smaller hole in the rim, leaving more material around the opening. They also use a threaded valve core and a small locknut that the rider loosens before attaching a pump. Air pressure is adjusted by pressing the pump head or valve mechanism.

A common mix-up is the Schrader valve, the wider type used on many cars, mountain bikes, children’s bikes, and utility bicycles. Some road wheels use Schrader valves, so “common on road bikes” does not mean “exclusive to road bikes.” Woods or Dunlop valves are also bicycle valves, especially in some regional markets.

Presta valves are widely used with high-pressure inner tubes and many tubeless road setups. Riders need a pump head that fits Presta valves, or an adapter designed to connect a Presta valve to a Schrader-only pump.