busted

Blown out. Busted. Bursted at the seam. Done broke.

That describes the tube of my bike's rear tire. Or "tyre" depending on how you translate from Katakana. (That is a joke for expats only)

.. In my search for replacement parts, I stumbled upon this detailed website showing the difference between US tube valves and Japanese ones. Yes, they're different. The kind with the metal pincher-clip ("French type," or perhaps also "English type" apparently) is most common in Japan.

.. I don't have firm evidence on the advantage of one over the other, but looking at the design I'd guess the French type wouldn't afford as high internal pressure as the "America type" (which is used on car "tyres," even in the UK), and neither as high as the presto type which is used only on expensive bikes.

What's your guess?

PS If you know a good source for strange bike tubes in Tokyo please comment!

PPS I put my love-quiz score in the comments below!