Dust caps and valve nuts

Lose them, they just waste your time when confronted with a puncture. Sure it's only a couple of seconds, but when you chase down the group and you hit a hill, you could be dropped as a result of those 10 seconds.

I'm not familiar with the Michelins, but you may find that the lack of a thread on the valve housing is actually a benefit in that the threaded section tends to accelerate wear of the rubber pump insert. On my more expensive Vredestein and Hutchinson tubes there is a section of smooth housing where the pump head grips. The cheaper Giant and Rav X (I think) tubes I bought recently are threaded all the way. <br />BTW, judging by the tubes I have bought, the cheaper type have more seams, making them relatively harder to patch effectively.<br />

Valve caps? Whats the use? ???

Mmm, I would agree with the time thing (though when one compares 10 mins vs 10 mins 5 seconds its a moot point, haven't got it down to an art yet :-[) If it is for looking good though, I would have to admit that my argument goes the way of the reflectors. If you can look pathetic and win, then do it (when I am big and strong I want to start a race in the B or C group on a MTB and knobblies and kick their asses, all the while chatting about how tough this is ;D)

road bikes: stem nuts - never.<br /> valve caps - when racing/time trialing, probably not.<br /> - when training, why not?<br /><br />mtn bikes: stem nuts - never.<br /> valve caps - probably. i've had valve cores bent and one <br /> snapped off by sticks and stones in the woods. the <br /> caps offer some protection.