Friday News And Views

Image courtesy of Feedback Sports

 Feedback Sports Shows New Pro Air Lift, Pnuema CC Floor Pump:

Feedback Sports (Formerly Ultimate Stands) announced a new workstand for consumers with air-lift capabilities. The stand is activated by a floor pump. The stand can lift any bicycle up to 100lbs. When the work has been completed, the foot pedal on one of the workstand legs can be depressed to gently let the bike back down again. 

The Pro Air Lift will be available in late autumn for a price of $725.00 USD.

Also, the Pnuema CC floor pump is a new offering from Feedback Sports which can be pressurized to aid in mounting tubeless tires, or at the flip of a switch, be used as a standard high-pressure floor pump.  

The new floor pump will also be available in late autumn at a price of  $150.00 USD. 

Comments: The workstand is a bit pricey, but for some context here, I have had an Ultimate repair stand, *Feedback Sports old name) for over two decades. I finally wore out the clamp mechanism, and Feedback still offers the part I need to get it back going, so when it becomes available, I will have my portable workstand back going again. So, I think the new workstand is certainly worth the money if you do your own repairs and maintenance on heavy bikes like cargo bikes, e-Bikes, full suspension bikes, and the like. 

New Episode Dropped!

The latest Guitar Ted Podcast episode just dropped. In this one N.Y. Roll and I talk about the Continental Terra Adventure 700 X 45mm tires, the new Vittoria Peyote 29" X 2.4" tires, the new Maxxis Reiver, and more. 

We discuss the Rene Herse TPU tubes, and talk a little about TPU tubes in general. Then we get on to discussing the new Shimano GRX wireless group.

That is about when things went sideways. See, Mabel the Rhodesian Ridgeback got rowdy and would not settle down. We tried talking more, but we finally had to shut the episode down because she was getting out of hand.

Give this one a listen, and you can find the episode on most any podcast platforms, but here is the Spotify link in case you want to hit this up now. Listen HERE.

If you would, please recommend the podcast to friends, leave reviews, if you can, and help us out with the channel. We appreciate it very much!

When it says "uncomfortably humid"  Yeah...

Tree In The Road Ride Tomorrow!

Tomorrow I will be doing the Tree In The Road Ride. It is a free to join, group ride, no one left behind type deal. If you've been reading here regularly you are aware of this ride, so I won't get to far in the weeds about it here.

The forecast is brutal. Of course it is! Any ride I am a part of in Summer features stupid amounts of humidity, no matter what Summer month I choose. So, yeah..... I expected no less. 

Well, I'll just try to have fun no matter what. I expect the people who show up will be like-minded. Speaking of, I know of six others besides myself and N.Y. Roll who are planning to attend. I'm sure there will be a surprise or two.

Look for a full recounting of the sweat-filled, fun ride coming up Monday. 

Image courtesy of Trek Bicycles

Gen 3 Checkpoint ALR Announced By Trek:

The third generation of the Checkpoint in aluminum brings several new details to Trek's budget friendly gravel bike.

Now with tire clearance up to 700 X 50mm (without fenders, 42mm with fenders), and a T-47 bottom bracket, the Checkpoint ALR Gen 3 looks to be a good value for those who don't want carbon, or cannot afford it.

Trek has always had an interesting way of doing geometry for their bicycles. The new generation of the Checkpoint ALR is no different. Looking at the charts, the typical size Large/58cm choice I would generally choose is not correct, as Trek has inserted a "M/L" (Medium-Large) into the sizing which more closely reflects what I would fit on. Additionally, Trek varies the head tube angle across the sizing range, which is somewhat uncommon these days. Not that it is rare, but I do not see this being done as often as I used to see it.

Besides the geometry, the Checkpoint ALR features full internal routing, a full-carbon fork, triple-boss mounts on the seat tube, and a pair of those on the inner side of the down tube, while underneath the down tube is a standard pair of mounting points. The fork has triple bosses on either leg. There is also a bolt-on top tube bag mount with what looks like bolt-on top tube inner frame bag mounts as well. A chain guide, through axles, seat collar round out the offerings on the frame set. Of course, several build levels are offered as well ranging from about $1,400.00 to $2.500.00 USD. The frame only is $1,099.00.

Comments: I kind of like this. It has many carbon frame features without the stupid expensive price. If I were to get a M/L frame set, I would be a tiny bit disappointed in the slightly steep (for 2025 gravel bikes) 72.2° head angle. And does the chart say 72.8° for the seat tube angle? Why yes, it does. That's odd. 

At any rate, this is a very interesting offering by Trek.

Image courtesy of SILCA

SILCA Announces New Shock Pump:

I haven't had to deal with shock pumps for sevral years, but I used to note many of what was available for shock pumps back then were terrible. Some were "okay" and these often included top name brands like Fox or Rock Shox. The landscape for shock pumps was dismal. Apparently SILCA seems to think so as well

This new shock pump SILCA offers has several details and features I have never seen on a shock pump. Plus it is only $125.00 and is rebuildable. If it is also somewhat durable, well then.... Why buy anything else? I have no endorsement from SILCA nor do I get any benefit from mentioning their products, but more often than not, their stuff, especially within the pump field, is really nice. 

I don't much have a need for a shock pump, but if I had a 7K full-sus MTB this would be the pump I would want for setting a bike like that up. 
 

That's it for this week! Have a fantastic weekend and ride those bicycles!
 

Air Pressure Is King: Fat Bikes

The Blackborow DS on the way home from work Saturday.

 We finally got enough snow here over the last several days to make using a fat bike a smart choice. I managed to be able to hit the streets on Saturday well before the plows were out and had near perfect snow conditions. 

Sounds good, right? Well, that all depends on whether or not you hit on the "right" air pressure choice. Air pressure in fat bike tires probably makes more difference in how you ride, or even ride at all, than it does with any other type of bicycle. 

For one thing, you have a massive tire with a lot of volume. This dictates a much lower pressure than you might use in a gravel bike, and extremely different than a road bike would use. Because a fat bike tire doesn't need a very high pressure to work correctly, a little air taken out or added in can make a big swing in handling and ride feel.  

Then you have the way cold air can make your job setting air pressure a lot fussier. Cold air has the effect of lowering air pressure versus what you may have set in a heated garage or workshop. Because a little change in a fat bike tire can make a big difference in how the bike will ride and handle, as stated above, you should account for the change in air pressure cold air can cause. A good way to accomplish this is to set your fat bike air pressure after the bike has been out in ambient temperatures for at least 15 minutes. 

I set my tires up at seven psi knowing this would drop a bit after being outdoors. (I didn't have time before work to set the bike outdoors). I took the gamble, and it worked great. The streets were 100% covered in soft snow at about three to four inches. Same thing when going back home with the exception that we had received another 4" while I was at work. 

The Blackborow DS did really well. I will say the pump you choose to use makes all the difference in the world when dealing with low air pressure. I had been using seven or eight psi as it read on the dial of other pumps but this newer SILCA Terra pump has a lot more accurate low psi capability and it showed up for this ride. My feeling is that seven or eight on the other pumps is actually a bit higher than seven or eight psi on the Terra pump! 

I'll have more to say about air pressure throughout the week, so stay tuned.....

Review: SILCA Terra Floor Pump

 Note: Guitar Ted purchased a SILCA Terra Floor Pump with his own money to test and review on Guitar Ted Productions. SILCA has had no prior knowledge of this review and has neither paid nor bribed Guitar Ted for these posts. 

SILCA is an icon of cycling known best for their ubiquitous floor pumps. The best known of those being the Pista, the original portable floor pump. Made in Italy for decades the company now is owned by Josh Poertner who purchased the SILCA from the original family owners of the brand. 

I've had the pleasure of owning several SILCA pumps and I have reviewed the Pista Plus before. That pump became my 'go-to' pump since that review and I have used it consistently with excellent results. 

So, when it "disappeared" recently and I could not find it I was distraught, to the degree that anyone should be distraught over a floor pump. Which is probably less than you should be upset about anything, most likely, but perhaps mechanics out there will understand what it is like to misplace a favorite tool. It was like that for myself. 

So, after deciding that the Pista Plus was gone for good I hopped online and searched SILCA\s site for what they had available. I landed on the Terra Floor Pump since it is optimized for the lower end of the pressure scale and because it has a big dial with larger numerals that old eyes can see more easily. Hey! It's a thing!

Of course, the day after I ordered the Terra I found my Pista Plus pump.......(sigh!)

But whatever! I am here with a new pump and thought I would share my experience with it. Now that I have the Pista Plus back in my hands I can actually compare and contrast the two pumps, so all is not lost.

What It Is: the Terra Floor Pump is SILCA's rebooting of the Terra concept from the late 80's with new non-linear gauge scale technoilogy. What that means is that the pump is optimized to read more accurately up to 30psi, the range where most people woul be using MTB tires, fat bike tires, and even larger volume gravel tires. 

Note how half the gauge's needle sweep is dedicated to the range below 30psi. SILCA claims that this lower range has a 0.5 psi accuracy while at 120 psi the pump has an accuracy of 2.0psi. 

The pump is made with an aluminum shaft, base, and an ash handle. The pump has a gauge face diameter of approximately 75mm, so it is fairly easy to read the scale. The pump head uses SILCA's award winning Tattico locking pump head design with a reversible head to switch from Schrader to Presta valve use. 

It is notable that the Terra Floor Pump utilizes an all-metal construction with the exception of the wooden handle. 

The pump is approximately 26" from the base to the top of the amber tinted ash handle. The pump has a muted light flat sage colored green shaft and darker flat green accents on the pump head and base. It is a handsome, light weight floor pump. The price is $145.00 USD. You can check out the Terra Floor Pump on SILCA's site HERE.

First Impressions: The Terra pump looks classy and I like the flat green two-tone look. I am most interested in the gauge and low-end pressure accuracy of this pump. I almost never pump anything I have here for a bike over 40psi, and most of the time I am using something between 30psi and 40psi for gravel. My larger sized tires, such as the Gryphon Mk3, with the 29" X 2.8" tires, I run at around 20psi. Fat bikes, of course, are even lower psi than that. 

The hose is a nice length. Not too short but not ridiculously long either. The Tattico pump head I am somewhat familiar with having tested a Tattico mini pump before. The locking mechanism on the head has a pretty aggressive ratio for the cam action and it is a bit difficult to activate, in my opinion. The pump head is easily reversible for switching from Presta to Schrader and back again. No extra parts to fiddle with there.

The Terra has a slightly longer barrel and pushes a bit more air than the Pista Plus. This makes sense as the Terra is aimed at high-volume, lower pressure tires. My first time using the Terra showed me that it is super-easy to get to your desired pressure and that big gauge with easy to read numerals makes seeing what you are doing an enjoyable effort versus my squinting to make out the much smaller gauge on the Pista Plus. 

The Tattico pump head may seem like a trifle to you, but if you think this way it is almost guaranteed that you have not used one. The interface with a valve is positive and precise. No wiggling or any big outlet of pressure as you place the pump head on the valve. As stated, the locking lever takes a bit more effort to cam over, but it is solid and feels very positive versus many other pump heads I have had the displeasure of using. In short, choosing the Tattico pump head was a wise choice by SILCA for the Terra Floor Pump. 

So Far... My initial impressions are very favorable at this time. I still don't know how well the Terra will do with a tubeless set up, and I want to explore daily usage before I say anything more. I will also be doing a side-by-side comparison with the Pista Plus from SILCA in the future. 

My guess is that the Terra Floor Pump will end up displacing my favor for the Pista Plus, but let's wait out the review process here and make sure.

Friday News And Views

The Ritchey 50th Anniversary Outback (Image courtesy of Ritchey)

Ritchey Continues To Celebrate Its 50th With Special Outback: 

Ritchey Design has been releasing special paint schemes of its bicycles over the course of Ritchey's 50th anniversary. This time they are featuring a special Outback frame and fork.

Ritchey says in its press release:  "Possibly Ritchey's best selling model, the Outback is a dedicated off road machine designed to feel at home on long dirt passes. " This frame and fork can utilize 650B X 2.0" tires and wheels or 700c X 44mm wheels and tires. Frame, fork, through-axles, and a head set come in at a reasonable $1699.00 for the special "Half Moon Bay Blue" paint scheme. 

Comments: This was a frame and fork I was seriously considering getting at one point. Turns out that a lot of you readers had some passionate thoughts on this one as well, judging from the comments left on my post about this and the Twin Six Standard Rando v2. As you all know, I ended up with the Twin Six.

But the Outback is still a cool design and might make someone a fine bicycle. It just has a couple of quirks that, for myself, take it out of contention for a bike I'd want to have around here. I think in many ways, the Outback, especially with 27.5" tires and wheels (650B), is the modern-day equivalent to the early 90's MTB with drop bars. It truly represents what MTB was at one time: An adventurous way to disconnect from the day-to-day grind and just have some fun. All without setting pressures, clicking rebound dampers, locking out, dropping down, or checking power meters and electronic shifter battery levels. 

It's good to see bicycles like this still being made in 2023.  

Two SILCA Impero Ultimate II frame pumps (Image courtesy of SILCA)

Inflation Option:

One of the most feared and ride-ruining things that can happen to a cyclist is experiencing a flat tire. Of course, tubeless tires and sealant have reduced this occurrence, or perhaps has eliminated it to a high degree for many riders. But you still should have a way to inflate a tire/tube anyway. You know....just in case. Any good gravel cyclist should be self-sufficient in that manner, at any rate. 

You can always go the mini-pump route, and several are good, but for my money, a frame pump is even better. Less strokes to fill up, and all with less effort. Plus, in a pinch, a frame pump can be used to ward off a dog attack. 

I know that mini-pumps often cost less, but most of them are - sorry to say - garbage. There are exceptions, but a well-made frame pump is like having a great floor pump on your bike versus using a mini pump. I mean, given the choice, which would you rather use? Additionally, frame pumps can last a lifetime, and the SILCA example here is built to last. 

Not every bicycle can fit a frame pump, I get that, and there is no argument that CO2 carts are faster/easier, but which choice is more environmentally friendly? Unless you are racing, well, do you actually need a CO2 cart? I know many of you will dig you feet in and staunchly defend your CO2 thingies, but there is no denying that a frame pump, built to last a lifetime, is a more Earth-friendly way to go. 

My ancient 1990's era Blackburn frame pumps are getting a bit long in the tooth. (Note- those weren't made anywhere near as well as this SILCA option and they still lasted 30+ years.) I may have to pop for one of these.

Chris King GRD 23 gravel wheels.

So, Did You Hear That Chris King Is Making Wheels Now?

I guess this came out in early December last year, but if it did, it slipped under my radar. Chris King is making its own wheels with USA made carbon fiber rims now. No - It is not Enve. And yes - They are very expensive. (Now listing at $2915,00 for the set)

So, with that out of the way, what's the deal here? Apparently, Chris King is using a newer carbon fiber manufacturing process called FusionFiber™. It is a new process for bonding carbon layers using nylon instead of epoxy. It's a product of the Utah based company, CSS Composites. 

It's a thermoplastic carbon fiber which means that it can be molded with less labor intensive methods and, supposedly, is recyclable since theoretically it can be re-melted and molded again. 

It also lays claim to being tougher than typical carbon wheel sets and allows for a bit better ride feel. You can read this CyclingTips review for more of how these wheels perform.  

Comments: The cycling world is awash in carbon wheel sets. The choices are dizzying. It is especially hard to choose the Chris King wheels here when you know that wheels are out there that weigh less, are cheaper, and probably ride pretty similarly. But, (in case you did not read that linked review), these are a more responsibly sourced choice with a lifetime warranty. So, I think some people will be attracted to that. That and the Chris King hubs, which are pretty stellar in their own right. 

But in the end, paying about a thousand dollar+ premium over similar wheels in this class is a very hard sell. Maybe this is a harbinger of things to come in terms of carbon fiber production. Thermoplastic carbon made more responsibly with the promise of ease of recycling would be cool. Maybe that's what this wheel represents.  

Diagram showing how a Lalbikes' Supre Drive derailleur works.

Derailleur Dangle No More!

Derailleur drive trains are very efficient and hard to beat in that way. However, those "dangly bits" can get wiped away by trail debris or rocks easily leaving you and your bike stranded.

Lal Bikes has developed a drive train which helps to eliminate this issue for the more extreme MTB type bikes. It's called Supre Drive, and it separates the two functions of a derailleur to achieve its out-of-the-way placement, on proprietary frames, of course. 

The diagram I chose to post here, (courtesy of Lal Bikes), shows the pathway of the chain in the highest gear (red line) and lowest gear (blue line). The actual chain shifting bit remains out back, albeit morre "in front of" the cassette. The tensioning part of a derailleur now has a satellite jockey wheel which traces the outer edge of the chain wheel. (shown by the black arrows).Check out the link for a deeper dive.

 Comments: I like the direction here for a mountain bike, or say even a fat bike that gets into a lot of underbrush/rocky areas. The proprietary frame bit is going to probably keep this as a niche choice, but you never know. It'll only take one company to buy in and this could take off. Or.....Shimano or SRAM could buy the company out, salt away the patents, and you'll never see this again. 

I just thought it was interesting since it is truly a different take on a derailleur drive train for a specific purpose.  

Yes - It's Another New Podcast!

Just in case you missed it, we posted another new podcast this week. We actually got a Featured Sponsor again, which is The Spinistry, a group out of Texas that puts on some cool events in Texas and Colorado. 

I first ran across The Spinistry back in late 2009 when they announced The Red River Riot gravel race in North Texas. They have expanded their offerings ever since and have several varied types of events and challenges which you could take part in. 

The podcast is another fly-over view of what types of things should be "on the radar" for anyone considering a ride on gravel. Give it a listen if you have some time, leave some feedback, and a review if you don't mind. Thanks!
 
  That's a wrap for this week folks! have a great weekend and get in a ride if you can. Spring will be here soon! Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions!

Friday News And Views

The Ritchey 50th Anniversary Outback (Image courtesy of Ritchey)

Ritchey Continues To Celebrate Its 50th With Special Outback: 

Ritchey Design has been releasing special paint schemes of its bicycles over the course of Ritchey's 50th anniversary. This time they are featuring a special Outback frame and fork.

Ritchey says in its press release:  "Possibly Ritchey's best selling model, the Outback is a dedicated off road machine designed to feel at home on long dirt passes. " This frame and fork can utilize 650B X 2.0" tires and wheels or 700c X 44mm wheels and tires. Frame, fork, through-axles, and a head set come in at a reasonable $1699.00 for the special "Half Moon Bay Blue" paint scheme. 

Comments: This was a frame and fork I was seriously considering getting at one point. Turns out that a lot of you readers had some passionate thoughts on this one as well, judging from the comments left on my post about this and the Twin Six Standard Rando v2. As you all know, I ended up with the Twin Six.

But the Outback is still a cool design and might make someone a fine bicycle. It just has a couple of quirks that, for myself, take it out of contention for a bike I'd want to have around here. I think in many ways, the Outback, especially with 27.5" tires and wheels (650B), is the modern-day equivalent to the early 90's MTB with drop bars. It truly represents what MTB was at one time: An adventurous way to disconnect from the day-to-day grind and just have some fun. All without setting pressures, clicking rebound dampers, locking out, dropping down, or checking power meters and electronic shifter battery levels. 

It's good to see bicycles like this still being made in 2023.  

Two SILCA Impero Ultimate II frame pumps (Image courtesy of SILCA)

Inflation Option:

One of the most feared and ride-ruining things that can happen to a cyclist is experiencing a flat tire. Of course, tubeless tires and sealant have reduced this occurrence, or perhaps has eliminated it to a high degree for many riders. But you still should have a way to inflate a tire/tube anyway. You know....just in case. Any good gravel cyclist should be self-sufficient in that manner, at any rate. 

You can always go the mini-pump route, and several are good, but for my money, a frame pump is even better. Less strokes to fill up, and all with less effort. Plus, in a pinch, a frame pump can be used to ward off a dog attack. 

I know that mini-pumps often cost less, but most of them are - sorry to say - garbage. There are exceptions, but a well-made frame pump is like having a great floor pump on your bike versus using a mini pump. I mean, given the choice, which would you rather use? Additionally, frame pumps can last a lifetime, and the SILCA example here is built to last. 

Not every bicycle can fit a frame pump, I get that, and there is no argument that CO2 carts are faster/easier, but which choice is more environmentally friendly? Unless you are racing, well, do you actually need a CO2 cart? I know many of you will dig you feet in and staunchly defend your CO2 thingies, but there is no denying that a frame pump, built to last a lifetime, is a more Earth-friendly way to go. 

My ancient 1990's era Blackburn frame pumps are getting a bit long in the tooth. (Note- those weren't made anywhere near as well as this SILCA option and they still lasted 30+ years.) I may have to pop for one of these.

Chris King GRD 23 gravel wheels.

So, Did You Hear That Chris King Is Making Wheels Now?

I guess this came out in early December last year, but if it did, it slipped under my radar. Chris King is making its own wheels with USA made carbon fiber rims now. No - It is not Enve. And yes - They are very expensive. (Now listing at $2915,00 for the set)

So, with that out of the way, what's the deal here? Apparently, Chris King is using a newer carbon fiber manufacturing process called FusionFiber™. It is a new process for bonding carbon layers using nylon instead of epoxy. It's a product of the Utah based company, CSS Composites. 

It's a thermoplastic carbon fiber which means that it can be molded with less labor intensive methods and, supposedly, is recyclable since theoretically it can be re-melted and molded again. 

It also lays claim to being tougher than typical carbon wheel sets and allows for a bit better ride feel. You can read this CyclingTips review for more of how these wheels perform.  

Comments: The cycling world is awash in carbon wheel sets. The choices are dizzying. It is especially hard to choose the Chris King wheels here when you know that wheels are out there that weigh less, are cheaper, and probably ride pretty similarly. But, (in case you did not read that linked review), these are a more responsibly sourced choice with a lifetime warranty. So, I think some people will be attracted to that. That and the Chris King hubs, which are pretty stellar in their own right. 

But in the end, paying about a thousand dollar+ premium over similar wheels in this class is a very hard sell. Maybe this is a harbinger of things to come in terms of carbon fiber production. Thermoplastic carbon made more responsibly with the promise of ease of recycling would be cool. Maybe that's what this wheel represents.  

Diagram showing how a Lalbikes' Supre Drive derailleur works.

Derailleur Dangle No More!

Derailleur drive trains are very efficient and hard to beat in that way. However, those "dangly bits" can get wiped away by trail debris or rocks easily leaving you and your bike stranded.

Lal Bikes has developed a drive train which helps to eliminate this issue for the more extreme MTB type bikes. It's called Supre Drive, and it separates the two functions of a derailleur to achieve its out-of-the-way placement, on proprietary frames, of course. 

The diagram I chose to post here, (courtesy of Lal Bikes), shows the pathway of the chain in the highest gear (red line) and lowest gear (blue line). The actual chain shifting bit remains out back, albeit morre "in front of" the cassette. The tensioning part of a derailleur now has a satellite jockey wheel which traces the outer edge of the chain wheel. (shown by the black arrows).Check out the link for a deeper dive.

 Comments: I like the direction here for a mountain bike, or say even a fat bike that gets into a lot of underbrush/rocky areas. The proprietary frame bit is going to probably keep this as a niche choice, but you never know. It'll only take one company to buy in and this could take off. Or.....Shimano or SRAM could buy the company out, salt away the patents, and you'll never see this again. 

I just thought it was interesting since it is truly a different take on a derailleur drive train for a specific purpose.  

Yes - It's Another New Podcast!

Just in case you missed it, we posted another new podcast this week. We actually got a Featured Sponsor again, which is The Spinistry, a group out of Texas that puts on some cool events in Texas and Colorado. 

I first ran across The Spinistry back in late 2009 when they announced The Red River Riot gravel race in North Texas. They have expanded their offerings ever since and have several varied types of events and challenges which you could take part in. 

The podcast is another fly-over view of what types of things should be "on the radar" for anyone considering a ride on gravel. Give it a listen if you have some time, leave some feedback, and a review if you don't mind. Thanks!
 
  That's a wrap for this week folks! have a great weekend and get in a ride if you can. Spring will be here soon! Thanks for reading Guitar Ted Productions!

WW4M: SILCA Pista Plus Floor Pump

 This is another "WW4M" post. That means "What Works For Me" and it may not work for you. So, take that with the following words into consideration..... Also- Standard Disclaimer.

I've waxed on about the SILCA Pista Plus floor pump on RidingGravel.com before, but I like this pump so much I had to add a "WW4M" post on it here as well. I was recently reminded how good this pump is again after using it for bike tune-ups I am performing for an upcoming bicycle rodeo that my church is putting on for under-served kids in Waterloo here. 

What is ironic about my experience with the Pista Plus is that I would be writing about it here even though at first I did not understand 100% what the pump could do. Which, by the way, I admit to my own shame, because I initially reviewed the pump before I knew about some of those features. 

In my defense I did not clearly see any instructions back in 2018 when I first reviewed the pump that would have informed me of this pump's feature set and how to use/access them. Specifically the Schrader valve compatibility. It was my friend in SoCal, Michael, who tipped me off that this pump's chuck worked with both Presta and Schrader valves. Finally, I figured that out and I was off to the races. 

Okay, so let's get something out of the way right now. This pump retails at $200.00. That's a lot of coin, no matter how you slice it. You can pick up what seem to be really good pumps for half the price of the SILCA, or less. (See another of my "WW4M" posts here for a great example) So- why? Why spend what the asking price is for this pump? To answer that, I have to list the things that annoy me about other pumps first. 

The three-footed design of the base, and the excellent gauge, are just what you need and nothing you don't.

So, I have used probably every design for floor pumps over my span of 29 years as a bicycle mechanic. From cheaply made plastic affairs to highly polished, steel and aluminum masterpieces of pump design. So, I think I have a good background to discern what is "good" and what is "not-so-good" in floor pumps. Here are a few things that annoy me about floor pump designs in general:

• Poorly executed pump heads- This has to be the #1 most common flaw of floor pumps.
• Plastic: Sorry, but anything plastic drops the function and feel of any pump to a "less-than-good" experience. Generally speaking, the quality and longevity of high performance output is lessened by use of plastics in pump designs. 
• Hose length: Too long or too short. Add in how the pump head/hose are stowed between uses here. THAT can be a really frustrating detail if it is not done well. 
• Related to the first bullet point, but deserves its own mention: Locking levers for valves. I despise these things. They can get in the way on smaller sized wheels, (think kid's bikes), and they can lead to bent or torn valve stems on tubes or tubeless valve stems. While some designs have levers that are okay, the best pump heads don't need that lever. 
• Sloppy bushings: Ever used a pump that seemed to wobble when the handle was pushed down? Not good.
• A floor pump that is easily tipped over when not in use. Honestly, SILCA has what is probably the worst offender in this way in their previous Pista pump which was produced for decades. But many current designs seem to want to fall over even if you barely touch them. 

Probably the best Schrader valve pump head interface in floor pumps today

Okay- now I want to get into what makes the SILCA Pista Plus a really great floor pump. First off, this pump probably has the very best Schrader valve attachment in floor pumps today. It is not novel- I've seen mini-pumps with this head design from other companies, but I don't see this on many floor pumps and definitely not executed as well as the SILCA's is. 

The head screws on- a very important point- and that bit that screws on can rotate independently of the hose itself, so you are not winding up the hose when you attach the pump head to the valve stem. This allows you to use both hands on the finely crafted ash wood handle, (very nice on the hands!), and you do not have to worry about that valve blowing off the stem during inflation, like you do with a lot of other floor pumps with friction style pump heads. You do not have any annoying locking lever to deal with, so pumping up those 8" kid's bike tires is a breeze. 

To switch to Presta, simply screw the Presta head into the Schrader fitting. That tiny black button is a bleed valve.

On the Presta side of things, this pump uses the tried and true design which SILCA is known for. All parts are replaceable, and the design is renowned for its ability to stay on a valve, even at ridiculously high track bike pressures of 200+psi. I'm not going over 40psi here! So I'm good to go. 

Speaking of pressure, that gauge is accurate to within 2%, which is pretty darn good. I've checked it against my two different digital gauges here and the Pista Plus is always spot on with those gauges. Many floor pumps have really inaccurate gauges. It's pretty rare to see a gauge so consistently accurate with my digital measuring devices that I have. In fact, I'm so convinced that the Pista Plus gauge is good that I quit double checking it. 

The hose stows away in a perfect position every time.

SILCA says that this pump is designed to "...outlast the rest of your cycling equipment." Hmm... Big claim there! Now, I can tell you that this pump has been in regular usage here since the Fall of 2018, so how has it held up for three plus years? 

Really, it works just like the day I unboxed it. I've noted no degradation of performance. I've seen lesser floor pumps get pretty ratty and almost unusable within a year of steady usage. Pumps that cost $50.00 or more. So, I may have gone through three, maybe four of those by this point, had I relied on a "cheaper option". 

You can do the math there. But that doesn't even begin to touch upon the ease of use for this pump, and the simplicity of its design, which is very satisfying to use. Other pumps may have small, frustrating quirks about them which you may be just passing over. But that stuff weighs and adds up over time. You don't have this at all with the SILCA pump. In fact, I look forward to using it. It works that well. 

So, is it worth 200 bucks? Well, in a world filled with immediate satisfaction and low priced options the initial, knee-jerk reaction is to say "No!". Two-hundred is 'crazy money' for a floor pump. But when you stop to think that - perhaps- this just might be the last floor pump you'll ever have to buy, then things maybe become a different story for you. 

Sure- If you never use floor pumps, are the type of cyclist that rides only on really nice days, and only has one, maybe two bicycle- Okay. This is overkill for you. If, however, you ride more often than not, all year long, and own several bicycles? This should be on your radar. Did you spend thousands on your bike? This pump should be considered for that bike. Use your head. I think after careful consideration that a floor pump that is serviceable, has durable, long-lasting performance, an accurate gauge, and is easy to use for decades, that you might begin to see that yes- this pump is worth 200 bucks. Because SILCA is only ever going to sell you one of these. It's truly all you'll ever need. 

Those other pumps.....? 

WW4M: SILCA Pista Plus Floor Pump

 This is another "WW4M" post. That means "What Works For Me" and it may not work for you. So, take that with the following words into consideration..... Also- Standard Disclaimer.

I've waxed on about the SILCA Pista Plus floor pump on RidingGravel.com before, but I like this pump so much I had to add a "WW4M" post on it here as well. I was recently reminded how good this pump is again after using it for bike tune-ups I am performing for an upcoming bicycle rodeo that my church is putting on for under-served kids in Waterloo here. 

What is ironic about my experience with the Pista Plus is that I would be writing about it here even though at first I did not understand 100% what the pump could do. Which, by the way, I admit to my own shame, because I initially reviewed the pump before I knew about some of those features. 

In my defense I did not clearly see any instructions back in 2018 when I first reviewed the pump that would have informed me of this pump's feature set and how to use/access them. Specifically the Schrader valve compatibility. It was my friend in SoCal, Michael, who tipped me off that this pump's chuck worked with both Presta and Schrader valves. Finally, I figured that out and I was off to the races. 

Okay, so let's get something out of the way right now. This pump retails at $200.00. That's a lot of coin, no matter how you slice it. You can pick up what seem to be really good pumps for half the price of the SILCA, or less. (See another of my "WW4M" posts here for a great example) So- why? Why spend what the asking price is for this pump? To answer that, I have to list the things that annoy me about other pumps first. 

The three-footed design of the base, and the excellent gauge, are just what you need and nothing you don't.

So, I have used probably every design for floor pumps over my span of 29 years as a bicycle mechanic. From cheaply made plastic affairs to highly polished, steel and aluminum masterpieces of pump design. So, I think I have a good background to discern what is "good" and what is "not-so-good" in floor pumps. Here are a few things that annoy me about floor pump designs in general:

• Poorly executed pump heads- This has to be the #1 most common flaw of floor pumps.
• Plastic: Sorry, but anything plastic drops the function and feel of any pump to a "less-than-good" experience. Generally speaking, the quality and longevity of high performance output is lessened by use of plastics in pump designs. 
• Hose length: Too long or too short. Add in how the pump head/hose are stowed between uses here. THAT can be a really frustrating detail if it is not done well. 
• Related to the first bullet point, but deserves its own mention: Locking levers for valves. I despise these things. They can get in the way on smaller sized wheels, (think kid's bikes), and they can lead to bent or torn valve stems on tubes or tubeless valve stems. While some designs have levers that are okay, the best pump heads don't need that lever. 
• Sloppy bushings: Ever used a pump that seemed to wobble when the handle was pushed down? Not good.
• A floor pump that is easily tipped over when not in use. Honestly, SILCA has what is probably the worst offender in this way in their previous Pista pump which was produced for decades. But many current designs seem to want to fall over even if you barely touch them. 

Probably the best Schrader valve pump head interface in floor pumps today

Okay- now I want to get into what makes the SILCA Pista Plus a really great floor pump. First off, this pump probably has the very best Schrader valve attachment in floor pumps today. It is not novel- I've seen mini-pumps with this head design from other companies, but I don't see this on many floor pumps and definitely not executed as well as the SILCA's is. 

The head screws on- a very important point- and that bit that screws on can rotate independently of the hose itself, so you are not winding up the hose when you attach the pump head to the valve stem. This allows you to use both hands on the finely crafted ash wood handle, (very nice on the hands!), and you do not have to worry about that valve blowing off the stem during inflation, like you do with a lot of other floor pumps with friction style pump heads. You do not have any annoying locking lever to deal with, so pumping up those 8" kid's bike tires is a breeze. 

To switch to Presta, simply screw the Presta head into the Schrader fitting. That tiny black button is a bleed valve.

On the Presta side of things, this pump uses the tried and true design which SILCA is known for. All parts are replaceable, and the design is renowned for its ability to stay on a valve, even at ridiculously high track bike pressures of 200+psi. I'm not going over 40psi here! So I'm good to go. 

Speaking of pressure, that gauge is accurate to within 2%, which is pretty darn good. I've checked it against my two different digital gauges here and the Pista Plus is always spot on with those gauges. Many floor pumps have really inaccurate gauges. It's pretty rare to see a gauge so consistently accurate with my digital measuring devices that I have. In fact, I'm so convinced that the Pista Plus gauge is good that I quit double checking it. 

The hose stows away in a perfect position every time.

SILCA says that this pump is designed to "...outlast the rest of your cycling equipment." Hmm... Big claim there! Now, I can tell you that this pump has been in regular usage here since the Fall of 2018, so how has it held up for three plus years? 

Really, it works just like the day I unboxed it. I've noted no degradation of performance. I've seen lesser floor pumps get pretty ratty and almost unusable within a year of steady usage. Pumps that cost $50.00 or more. So, I may have gone through three, maybe four of those by this point, had I relied on a "cheaper option". 

You can do the math there. But that doesn't even begin to touch upon the ease of use for this pump, and the simplicity of its design, which is very satisfying to use. Other pumps may have small, frustrating quirks about them which you may be just passing over. But that stuff weighs and adds up over time. You don't have this at all with the SILCA pump. In fact, I look forward to using it. It works that well. 

So, is it worth 200 bucks? Well, in a world filled with immediate satisfaction and low priced options the initial, knee-jerk reaction is to say "No!". Two-hundred is 'crazy money' for a floor pump. But when you stop to think that - perhaps- this just might be the last floor pump you'll ever have to buy, then things maybe become a different story for you. 

Sure- If you never use floor pumps, are the type of cyclist that rides only on really nice days, and only has one, maybe two bicycle- Okay. This is overkill for you. If, however, you ride more often than not, all year long, and own several bicycles? This should be on your radar. Did you spend thousands on your bike? This pump should be considered for that bike. Use your head. I think after careful consideration that a floor pump that is serviceable, has durable, long-lasting performance, an accurate gauge, and is easy to use for decades, that you might begin to see that yes- this pump is worth 200 bucks. Because SILCA is only ever going to sell you one of these. It's truly all you'll ever need. 

Those other pumps.....? 

A Silca Pump And Second Chances

The shop where I purchased this pump ended up being my first bike shop gig.

Winter means more time on my hands to get into projects that have been on the back-burner so cold that I almost forget about them. One of those projects has to do with the repair/restoration of an old Silca floor pump that I own.

This floor pump was sold at a bicycle shop that once existed in downtown Cedar Falls, Iowa, and was where I was doing my trading at the time. This would have been in the very early 1990's and back in the days when I was a jeweler. Yep! A suit wearing, diamond slinging, gold fabricating bench jeweler and salesperson.

I had purchased a Klein Attitude in 1992 and the shop owner, Tom, said I needed a floor pump. Okay then, which one? And of course, Tom being Tom, a guy that was all into the cycling tradition and anything Italian, pointed at a row of colorful Silca floor pumps and said, "One of those will do!" And of course, he said the coolest one was the celeste colored one because that was the color of Bianchi bikes, and...........

To be honest, his enthusiasm for old road bike history, while mildly interesting, was loosing me. I got the celeste colored one because he said it was 'cool'. Really. That was the only reason. I liked Tom and figured, why not? They all will get the same job done, and whatever color the pump was did not really matter to me.

So......that's the back story on how I got this pump. 

It worked really well, by the way. A great pump, but for one small, super-irritating trait. It would fall over at the least provocation at the most inconvenient times. Once, while in my "Lab", I was trying to pump something up and was getting frustrated with the short hose and the thing tipped over and...... What came next, I'm not proud of, but I grabbed that pump and launched it across the room in a fit of rage. Well, it landed in such a way that it damaged the gauge and it wouldn't work. Boy! Did I feel stupid! Now I couldn't get anything done and I had a busted pump.

The old gauge in the foreground and the pump in pieces on my bench. 

This all would have happened between my first shop gig, (ironically with Tom), and the next one. I decided to keep the old pump despite it not working because it came from a time that ended up drawing me into the bicycle business. Good thing I did, because once I got back into the bicycle business again I found out Silca had replacement parts for this pump. Basically, it could be rebuilt and used, rebuilt and used, on and on for the rest of my life. This was cool!

So, I got a new gauge, and at the time, since I was working in a shop, I didn't bother with the small parts since that shop stocked them. Now that I am in between jobs, I'll have to wait a bit, but I was able to start the restoration process and install the new gauge in the meantime. The nice thing about a product like this Silca pump is that it was designed to be serviced and it was designed with high quality parts and pieces. Originally they had hardly any plastic parts, being made mostly with steel and brass where it matters. I was told once as a little shaver that this was the difference between the European philosophy on things and the American one. Euros buy for a lifetime, Americans buy to save money. Hmm.....just what I was told then, and I have no idea if that holds any validity, but it does line up with this Silca pump's design, and it was made in Italy, so.....maybe. 

The brass bits were soaked in Muc-Off Bio-Degreaser and scrubbed with a wire brush.

 

I scrubbed the base with Muc-Off MO-94 and this stiff bristled pink brush.

Years of grime, gunk, and dirt were needed to be removed, so I employed a system of Muc-Off products and brushes to scrub the components with. It worked great. I ended the process with a rinse of Muc-Off MO-94, then a wipe down with a terry cloth rag. The parts and pieces were now good to be re-assembled and the new gauge was installed with a bit of plumbers tape on the threads.

The real deal.

Once I had that done and buttoned back up, I turned my attention to the pump shaft, seals, and bits which were in need of replacement. Over time, the pump lost its sealing capabilities and so I knew that internal parts were going to need to be ordered. First thing was to get inside and have a look at what was wrong. Many of these pumps feature leather cups that seal against the inner walls of the steel barrel allowing for air to be pushed into your tire. These can dry out and shrink causing the loss of any pressure generating capabilities. I figured that probably would be the only bit I needed, but when I got in there, I found something else.

Rats! A bad nylon spacer and a worn out piece of rubber instead of the good old leather.

Yeah....I had the version with the nylon spacer and rubber gasket. The spacer had cracked, and the rubber was worn too much to seal the plunger anymore.

Fortunately, Silca still offers the proper leather and washer parts that the plunger originally was designed to have and with which I can retrofit to this pump. That will be a better deal than this set up and easier to maintain.

Once that was discovered I went ahead and cleaned up the barrel of the pump with Muc-Off Silicone spray which cleans and leaves the painted surface looking shiny and "newer" than it did. It will never look "new" again since the paint has changed to a bit of a greener hue over time. That's just cool patina there, so I am not bothered by that. The main thing here is that my decal, which is not clear coated over, is still intact, so I have that nice older "Silca" brand proudly displayed on the barrel in great shape.

Once I get the bits for the plunger I'll reassemble the pump and it should be good to go for several years of use. Since the base of this pump is so minimal, and it is prone to falling over, one would think, "why bother fixing it?" Well, while it is true that the pump's base is not stable, it was made that way for a reason, which I did not know about until recently. See, apparently it was designed this way so the pump could stow away in a bag easily, making it portable, and thus it was meant to be taken to destinations where a ride might begin. Say, a race, or tour, or whatever.

So, with that in mind, I decided that once I get this one back up and running it is going in the "Truck With No Name" in a bag to protect it and it isn't coming out. That way it will be there whenever I go somewhere to ride so I can top off my tires. I'll follow up on this once I get everything to finish the job with, which, by the way, will include a new hose and pump head, since I stole those bits off this pump years ago!

A Silca Pump And Second Chances

The shop where I purchased this pump ended up being my first bike shop gig.

Winter means more time on my hands to get into projects that have been on the back-burner so cold that I almost forget about them. One of those projects has to do with the repair/restoration of an old Silca floor pump that I own.

This floor pump was sold at a bicycle shop that once existed in downtown Cedar Falls, Iowa, and was where I was doing my trading at the time. This would have been in the very early 1990's and back in the days when I was a jeweler. Yep! A suit wearing, diamond slinging, gold fabricating bench jeweler and salesperson.

I had purchased a Klein Attitude in 1992 and the shop owner, Tom, said I needed a floor pump. Okay then, which one? And of course, Tom being Tom, a guy that was all into the cycling tradition and anything Italian, pointed at a row of colorful Silca floor pumps and said, "One of those will do!" And of course, he said the coolest one was the celeste colored one because that was the color of Bianchi bikes, and...........

To be honest, his enthusiasm for old road bike history, while mildly interesting, was loosing me. I got the celeste colored one because he said it was 'cool'. Really. That was the only reason. I liked Tom and figured, why not? They all will get the same job done, and whatever color the pump was did not really matter to me.

So......that's the back story on how I got this pump. 

It worked really well, by the way. A great pump, but for one small, super-irritating trait. It would fall over at the least provocation at the most inconvenient times. Once, while in my "Lab", I was trying to pump something up and was getting frustrated with the short hose and the thing tipped over and...... What came next, I'm not proud of, but I grabbed that pump and launched it across the room in a fit of rage. Well, it landed in such a way that it damaged the gauge and it wouldn't work. Boy! Did I feel stupid! Now I couldn't get anything done and I had a busted pump.

The old gauge in the foreground and the pump in pieces on my bench. 

This all would have happened between my first shop gig, (ironically with Tom), and the next one. I decided to keep the old pump despite it not working because it came from a time that ended up drawing me into the bicycle business. Good thing I did, because once I got back into the bicycle business again I found out Silca had replacement parts for this pump. Basically, it could be rebuilt and used, rebuilt and used, on and on for the rest of my life. This was cool!

So, I got a new gauge, and at the time, since I was working in a shop, I didn't bother with the small parts since that shop stocked them. Now that I am in between jobs, I'll have to wait a bit, but I was able to start the restoration process and install the new gauge in the meantime. The nice thing about a product like this Silca pump is that it was designed to be serviced and it was designed with high quality parts and pieces. Originally they had hardly any plastic parts, being made mostly with steel and brass where it matters. I was told once as a little shaver that this was the difference between the European philosophy on things and the American one. Euros buy for a lifetime, Americans buy to save money. Hmm.....just what I was told then, and I have no idea if that holds any validity, but it does line up with this Silca pump's design, and it was made in Italy, so.....maybe. 

The brass bits were soaked in Muc-Off Bio-Degreaser and scrubbed with a wire brush.

 

I scrubbed the base with Muc-Off MO-94 and this stiff bristled pink brush.

Years of grime, gunk, and dirt were needed to be removed, so I employed a system of Muc-Off products and brushes to scrub the components with. It worked great. I ended the process with a rinse of Muc-Off MO-94, then a wipe down with a terry cloth rag. The parts and pieces were now good to be re-assembled and the new gauge was installed with a bit of plumbers tape on the threads.

The real deal.

Once I had that done and buttoned back up, I turned my attention to the pump shaft, seals, and bits which were in need of replacement. Over time, the pump lost its sealing capabilities and so I knew that internal parts were going to need to be ordered. First thing was to get inside and have a look at what was wrong. Many of these pumps feature leather cups that seal against the inner walls of the steel barrel allowing for air to be pushed into your tire. These can dry out and shrink causing the loss of any pressure generating capabilities. I figured that probably would be the only bit I needed, but when I got in there, I found something else.

Rats! A bad nylon spacer and a worn out piece of rubber instead of the good old leather.

Yeah....I had the version with the nylon spacer and rubber gasket. The spacer had cracked, and the rubber was worn too much to seal the plunger anymore.

Fortunately, Silca still offers the proper leather and washer parts that the plunger originally was designed to have and with which I can retrofit to this pump. That will be a better deal than this set up and easier to maintain.

Once that was discovered I went ahead and cleaned up the barrel of the pump with Muc-Off Silicone spray which cleans and leaves the painted surface looking shiny and "newer" than it did. It will never look "new" again since the paint has changed to a bit of a greener hue over time. That's just cool patina there, so I am not bothered by that. The main thing here is that my decal, which is not clear coated over, is still intact, so I have that nice older "Silca" brand proudly displayed on the barrel in great shape.

Once I get the bits for the plunger I'll reassemble the pump and it should be good to go for several years of use. Since the base of this pump is so minimal, and it is prone to falling over, one would think, "why bother fixing it?" Well, while it is true that the pump's base is not stable, it was made that way for a reason, which I did not know about until recently. See, apparently it was designed this way so the pump could stow away in a bag easily, making it portable, and thus it was meant to be taken to destinations where a ride might begin. Say, a race, or tour, or whatever.

So, with that in mind, I decided that once I get this one back up and running it is going in the "Truck With No Name" in a bag to protect it and it isn't coming out. That way it will be there whenever I go somewhere to ride so I can top off my tires. I'll follow up on this once I get everything to finish the job with, which, by the way, will include a new hose and pump head, since I stole those bits off this pump years ago!