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so I've taken some pictures of the valve on my bike tyre (if you zoom out they look clearer...), below. Basically, it's a new bike and I have no experience around these things. The pump I have doesn't fit onto the valve, because it gets stopped by the nut in the middle before it can attach - it's like the pump head is too deep for the valve. Does that make sense? But when I take the metal nut in the middle off, obviously the valve then falls out - but if I hold it in place it can pump the tyre up (showing that the pump is the right type) - but as soon as I remove the pump the valve then falls out and all the air comes out of the tyre again.

I bought the bike in Europe (Slovenia) if that changes anything.

Thanks for any advice on what to do here.

Simon

(My pump is http://washford.scene7.com/is/image/Washford/128234)

enter image description here enter image description here enter image description here

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  • Yeah, Dunlop/Woods. I've only seen them like twice. Probably the least grief is to replace the tube, though I'm not certain you can get a Schrader to fit without reaming the hole a touch, and the Presta should ideally have a bushing. Mar 2, 2014 at 20:33
  • 1
    This kind of valve has been the only type of valve used for bicycles the last century here in Norway (and I assume most of Europe), only the last decade (or maybe barely two) has the same type of valve as used for car tires become common. It is still commonly used.
    – hlovdal
    Mar 2, 2014 at 23:30
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    Dunlop valves were common in the Netherlands, Germany and some other non-Latin countries. In places like France or Italy Presta/Sclaverand valves were standard.
    – Carel
    May 2, 2018 at 19:39

2 Answers 2

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It's a "dunlop" valve. Also called "woods". I used to see this years ago in BMX bikes. For best results we'd use to have a schrader adapter (google: dunlop to schrader adapter) so we could inflate with schrader pumps.

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  • Sheldon brown says that you can pump these up with a pump setup for presta valves, as the top is the same size as a presta. If you don't like it, you can always buy a new tube with a standard schrader or presta. I'm not sure if the hole in the rim is big enough for a schrader (the size is very similar to the dunlop at the base), but a presta tube should work fine.
    – Benzo
    Mar 2, 2014 at 15:58
  • Thanks both of you :) Yeah, the valve itself pumps fine with the presta pump I have, it's just the screw thing gets in the way Mar 2, 2014 at 18:06
  • For completeness - dunlop/woods uses the same 8mm hole as a schrader valve. Presta is 6mm by comparison.
    – Criggie
    Apr 25, 2016 at 3:21
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These are an old type of valve called a woods valve. you can use a presta valve pump to pump them however it would be easy to change them to Schrader valves as recommended.

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