Silca

Silca is a bicycle accessories manufacturer currently based in Indianapolis, USA. It produces a range of maintenance products, tools and accessories to elevate cyclists’ ride experience.

History

The company was founded in 1917 by Felice Saachi just outside of Milan, Italy. It started out by manufacturing pressure guages for pumps. Until 2013, Silca was the oldest company in the bicycle industry to be owned by the same family. In August of that year, Joshua Poertner, former technical director at wheel manufacturer Zipp, bought the company.

Silca was an innovative company from the get-go as the first manufacturer to put gauges on their pumps.

The company also prides itself on manufacturing the first true ‘high-pressure’ frame pump as well as pioneering the use of lightweight plastic after the conclusion of the Second World War. Ironically, it would eventually move away from plastic material use within its products, opting for wooden handles to offer a higher quality, durable product.

In recent times, Silca was the first company to produce a valve-controlled CO2 inflator. Many of its products from as far back as the 1960s are still in use today thanks to the company’s dedication to craftsmanship, durable materials and innovative design. The company also continue to sell replacement parts for these products, even fifty years on from their launch.

By 2013, Claudio Saachi, the grandson of founder Felice, sold the company to Poertner. Claudio sadly passed away shortly after the sale following a battle with cancer.

In 2014, Silca moved its headquarters and manufacturing operations to Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. In its new surroundings, the company benefits from being surrounded by numerous motorsports manufacturers which help Silca to continually improve its products.

Key Moments

1960s - Silca ups the pressure

The company launched the first-ever ‘high-pressure’ frame pump during the 1960s, a product that has shaped how bike maintenance equipment has been designed to this day.

1982 - Silca takes control of CO2 inflators

The company launched the first generation of its EOLO CO2 regulator. Prior to this product, “you had to turn the cartridge and pray” admitted Claudio Saachi. The EOLO is an ultra-precise turn-knob which allows cyclists to precisely control the flow of air to the valve.

2014 - Silca heads stateside

A year after being bought out by former Zipp technical director Joshua Poertner, the company move its manufacturing operations and HQ to Indiana, USA. Surrounded by experts in the motorsports field, the company has used local expertise to continue their product innovation.

Silca's products

© Silca

Pumps: Silca prides itself on the craftsmanship of its pumps with its flagship Superpista Ultimate Hiro edition seen as perfection in a bicycle pump, with a purpleheart wooden handle and a stainless steel braided hose. Silca offers another Superpista digital floor pump alongside two versions of its iconic Pista floor pump - still as popular today as it was in the 1950s. The company also produces high-quality mini-pumps and CO2 regulators.

On-Bike Accessories: The Italian company’s product range extends to on-bike gear too with a variety of bar tapes, titanium bottle cages and compact saddle bags available.

Did you know?

Pro cycling

© Velo Collection / Getty Images

Current sponsorships: EF Education-EasyPost, Israel-Premier Tech, Ruby West, Alexey Vermeulen, Ashton Lambie, Phil Gaimon, Adam Roberge

Highlights

• Fausto Coppi won five Giro d’Italias and two Tour de Frances during his career in the 1940s and 1950s. The Italian, nicknamed  Il Campionissimo, also won a World Championships title in 1953 alongside three Milan-Sanremo victories and a Paris-Roubaix title among many other wins. Coppi’s mechanics helped to redesign the Pista floor pump for it to better fit in their team car.
• In more recent years, EF Education-EasyPost’s Neilson Powless won the Clasica San Sebastian in 2021 with the team taking four Grand Tour stage wins that year too.
• Magnus Cort delivered Tour de France and Giro d’Italia stage wins for EF Education-EasyPost in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
• In 2020, Israel-Premier Tech won Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España stages with Alex Dowsett and Dan Martin respectively. The team followed this up with three Tour de France stage wins across 2022 and 2023.
• Adam Roberge has used Silca products to help him win the Belgian Waffle Ride triple crown as well as four Canadian National titles and countless other impressive gravel results.