Pompe

• Il suono di una pompa Silca che immette aria nella tua ruota è profondamente legato alla bicicletta, come lo è il “click” della catena che si muove da dente a dente.

  All serious cyclists eventually realize the need for a floor pump. Particularly for those running skinny tires at high pressures, hand pumps just won't cut it. Since 1917, the gold standard for floor pumps have been Italian Silcas. Essentially unchanged for nearly fifty years, they're still made from steel, rubber, brass, and leather. Every part is replaceable and serviceable and the typical Silca will outlast several bikes. Mine will probably outlive me.

  Like Brooks of England, Silca has had a resurgence in recent years, riding dual waves of retro nostalgia and a renewed interest in simple, timeless, perfect cycling-related products. This has had both positive and negative effects. Silca has released some pretty silly products, like a brass CO2 cartridge device and a semifuntional plastic mini pump. On the upside, the floor pumps have started to come in limited edition colors! I use the top of the line Superpista, which has a larger volume tube and swanky wooden handle. It's a shame that it now comes with a resin base, but I'll forgive the Italians this oversight, because the thing is just so perfect. It will still bring a track tubular to 240psi with ease, so I'm not really complaining.

  Except for the resin bases, I do like the look of the new pumps (redesigned in 2005). The modern sans serif typeface has more of a Formula 1 than Grand Touring feel to it, but it works, especially in the new colors. However, for those of you looking for something truly special, I do have a handful of NOS original Silca pumps from the late 80s in Black and Molteni Orange (pictured here). They have the old serif typeface logo, smaller brass chuck (though it's interchangeable with the new designs), and the metal base.

  • Pista ($70) Black, Chrome, Red, Blue, Silver, Ivory, Orange, Pink
  • SuperPista ($90) Black, Chrome
  • NOS Original Pista ($100) Black, Molteni Orange
  • And lots and lots of special heads, spare parts, etc.