Dutch Bike Cap Triples Airflow, Ends Presta Valve Headaches

Cyclists have put up with finicky Presta valves for years, watching their delicate cores snap off at the worst possible moments or scrambling to find the right pump adapter.

Dutch company BBB Cycling just introduced a solution that sounds almost too simple to work. The CoreCap is a machined aluminum cap that screws onto existing Presta valves, instantly making them compatible with standard Schrader pumps found at every gas station.

The device solves multiple headaches at once. Those fragile valve cores that bend and break? Protected. The special pump heads cyclists have to carry everywhere? No longer needed. The sealant clogs that plague tubeless setups? Drastically reduced thanks to 300% increased airflow.

Riders keep all the benefits that made Presta valves the high-end standard in the first place. They're still lighter and narrower than Schrader valves, still better at maintaining high pressure, and still compatible with the small rim holes that keep narrow road bike wheels strong.

The increased airflow brings an unexpected bonus too. BBB Cycling says the CoreCap provides enough air volume to seat tubeless tires without needing a compressor or CO2 cartridge, a claim that could save cyclists both money and frustration during roadside repairs.

The Ripple Effect

This kind of innovation matters beyond just convenience. When cyclists can inflate their tires anywhere without special equipment, more people might choose bikes for transportation. Stranded riders with incompatible pumps have long been a real barrier to cycling confidence, especially for newcomers to the sport.

The fix is elegantly affordable too. The Upgrade Set costs about $20 and includes two CoreCaps that work with any threaded Presta valve with a removable core. For riders building new wheels or going tubeless, the fully-integrated Tubeless Valve Set starts at around $35.

Sometimes the best solutions aren't revolutionary redesigns but clever improvements to systems we've accepted as "good enough" for too long.