Why Silca is at the cutting edge of cycle tech

We speak to Josh Poertner, owner of legendary brand Silca, about how the company is leading the way on some mind-blowing technology.
Learn more about Silca - saddleback.co.uk/pages/silca
Shop Silca - silca.cc/
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⚫️ In this video
0:00 Introduction
0:26 10 Years of Silca
6:10 Silca's best products
14:32 3D Printing
23:25 Other trends in cycling
31:15 Tubeless or not?
36:28 High-pressure sealant
42:40 Outro
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[@robbowman3034]

As a passionate 40+ year road racer/cyclist and recently retired aerospace material & process engineer, I have a new favorite cycling supplier. I have two original SILCA pumps from the early 80s and bought one of you new road pumps in the last 5 years. Was not aware how steeped in science you are, and your experiences in the materials world is encouraging. Wishing you and SILCA the very best for a long and rewarding future

[@CJONE764]

I wish a few more bike companies can take a few notes from this guy.

[@benconnor4848]

I have a lot of Silca stuff, bags, tools, cages, and he’s right, it all works really well. It’s a bit more expensive but I’ve never regretted buying any of it.

[@terrydean3802]

quality ain't cheap. pay for what you get. landfill bits.....or something that hangs with you decades

[@jeffcozad4863]

Thanks for doing this interview, I found it fascinating. I’ve been using SILCA products, pumps, since pretty my entire cycling career. I still have and use the pump I bought back in the mid-seventies. I can’t wait to see what these folks do next.

[@jeffreyastjohn]

Sounds like I’m blowing smoke but everything I’ve bought from Silca has just been excellent. It’s so nice (and rare these days) to get something well-made. Latest is a Tattico pump. A mini pump that actually works, and works quickly.

[@onenotesolo256]

Have to agree with this. I just got the same pump a few months back and it has done its job on long rides a couple of times already. Running tubeless, some days on reasonable tarmac I just take that pump in a jersey pocket and nothing else. Yes it’s larger than some others, but it works fast and I like the lever to tighten it onto the valve, just like a large pump has. I can also recommend their Synergetic chain lube and the titanium bottle cages.

[@buddhahat]

Can vouch for this pump, it is great. I've let other cyclists pump up with it and they're amazed at the valve fitting and how quickly it gets a wheel up to pressure. Once my current bottles of rock'n'roll gold are empty I'll be trying out their lube too, zero friction cycling rates it quite highly.

[@justinbouchard]

i want this man to run the planet. i'm dead serious.

[@jaylumbago559]

Very interesting and inspiring interview. The world needs more great engineers.

[@gren509]

Thank goodness for thinkers - one in a million, but they do all the useful work !

[@mypojam]

Loved this interview! Thank you

[@christopheroliver148]

Funny thing. My floor pumps are nothing special, but they both have Silca 24.0 chucks. One I bought for myself, and the other was a college going-away gift from the owner of my main LBS (now retired). They've been through multiple sealing gaskets, but no matter what pumps I wind up with, those chucks will remain. Like my Peter Mooneys, they are simply without equal.

[@shhhdontshout]

Kinda interview that we need

[@n22pdf]

Love my Silca frame pump so good and when on group rides I’m the guy everyone wants to be friends with when they puncture and there little pumps fail or co2 😊 brilliant.. Pete 🚴🏻👍

[@markmitchenall5948]

Just can't fault their sealant with road tyres at 60-70psi. Just astounding stuff. An interesting interview... thanks! Some great insights into product development.

[@DavidFritzIII]

This stuff is like magic... it literally seals nearly anything, anywhere full stop.

[@michaellarkin6158]

@@DavidFritzIII just started trying the Silca sealant. Apart from some mess on installation. No issues so far

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

Brilliant! Enjoyed that very much.

[@jkeiffer]

Super cool information. I was already a Silca fanboy too.

[@LoaforDie]

One of the Best decisions I ever made was to ride the silca latex inner tubes.

[@LS1conehead]

Once you ride with latex tubes, especially inside of a great, high TPI count, quality tire, EVERYTHING ELSE (including the featherlight poly tubes) feels out and out DEAD! At this point, I would almost rather give up riding altogether than to ride (even a 'racing' light) butyl inner tube. Josh may be correct about tubeless one day surpassing a great clincher with a latex tube inside as far as actual measured watts per MPH, actual measured rolling resistance CD, BUT, I seriously doubt they will ever match the road feel, suppleness, and SOUND of that combo (let alone a fine, high quality, tubular tire with a latex inner tube) against the road surface. He did get me to lower my hard core, 1970s mindset, ridiculously high tire pressures (before I went to 25C Corsas with a latex tube, which I pump to ~105 PSI front, 110 PSI rear, I was pumping 23C Vredestein Fortezza Slicks also with latex inner up to ~140 PSI, and going way, way back, silk casing tubulars used in crits, up to 150 PSI!!!), but not quite as low as his, or any other calculators say to go for my weight, tire size, and road surfaces. Again, that (self-motivating to go faster) 'sound' seems to lessen with the super low pressures, and even if I am technically losing speed, or expending more watts for the same speed, my setup just feels 'sluggish' at those (to me) crazy low pressures.

[@ferventheat]

My mind pictures Josh doing a Ted talk. He's totally fascinating to listen to, knows his stuff and makes it work. More please!

[@roadcc]

I think we need to make this happen!

[@xbob]

Phillipo Ganna's hour record bike was 3D printed and going into manf within the year (per UCI rules). So, it's here.

[@bigwave_dave8468]

Latex tubes are a pita. Back in ´80, I had Clement setas (with latex tubes) and pumped them up every day with a..Silca frame'fit pump with a Campagnolo head. Applied technology is good business. Good luck.

[@timtaylor9590]

i have a vintage silca pump use it almost everyday

[@billcooper2798]

There tire sealant is unbelievable!

[@savagepro9060]

When I see Silca, I also see Zefal, the two BEST bicycle pump companies . . . ever!

[@chiefrocker12]

Used to have a Zefal pump back in the eighties. Agreed

[@walcottav]

I still possess two frame fit and fully functional Zefal pumps. 😊

[@markmitchenall5948]

Except the Zefal crap Brompton pump

[@jdeckard1243]

Zefal HPX Pumps are the best.

[@timtaylor9590]

oh crap silca's calculator is telling me to run 99psi i'v been doing 90. but my system wieght changes by 5lbs or more and i use gp5000 tires with butyl tubes which isnt an option to select from. arent the gp's high end race tires but they pair those with latex.

[@dominicbritt]

Annoys the f’k out of me when people confuse an Engineer (highly technical scientific profession built upon an education in maths, physics, chemistry and biology) with a bike mechanic…

[@timtaylor9590]

90psi today and 20 years ago

[@fradd4045]

is this video here to help soften the blow of a soon to be released $300 set of 3d printed titanium valve extenders

[@caseyvollan8558]

ive been waxing chains for years.......(me)-thinking-i bet you have....i bet you have! lol

[@timtaylor9590]

welp 100 psi it is, just like 20 years ago.

[@Titanium308]

I can't believe the crap people talk these days and talk them selves up to feel like they are inteligent. looks like long gone are those days where people were honest and using simple language.

[@skyjuiceification]

S0 ur saying ur a m0r0n?

[@broccoli5408]

This guys certainly talks

[@timtaylor9590]

its obvious why no one is pushing thermal plastic

[@herculesrockefeller8969]

Still lots of pie-in-the-sky stuff here, prohibitibly expensive, and will be a LONG time before it will ever be affordable by average cyclist.

[@dzrdza]

Absolutely. It is such a shame that not a single word about their current range of product have being said, apart from chopped carbon in their sealant.

[@terrydean3802]

yep. thats what they said about reusable rockets and mass production electric cars. go figure.

[@Thomas-fy9yc]

There stuff isn’t that pricey, pumps are on the high but high quality and will outlast 4 cheaper pumps. If you’re spending several thousand on a carbon bike, then buying some quality tools for $150 is that much of a stretch. Quality bike products are always expensive.