My Silca floor pump just got an overhaul today. A few months ago I needed a new rubber gasket for the presta chuck. I bought a spare so each replacement doesn't become a project. Just this week the pump stopped being able to get to more than 90 lbs. I walked into a local bike shop today and purchased a leather washer ($2.00 seems like a mistaken price- doesn't it sound too cheap?) .... A little vaseline, fresh leather and voila,.. perfect performance once again. I can't stop bragging to my buds how incredible the old Silca is. They buy a new fangled pump every year and invariably something breaks on it. To date I have replaced the leather three times, and the rubber gasket thrice also. The hose once. Pretty good performance for an item that only originally cost about $20.00. I checked the archives and I noted that back in June I was raving about how good the Silca is when properly maintained. I guess that in a world where so many things seem new and improved, something old and proven often proves more satisfying than something cutting edge. I recently had the pleasure of using the most expensive floor pump that Blackburn makes. I think it costs about $150 and it definitely works better than the old Silca. In a year or two when parts start failing, will Blackburn still provide them at reasonable cost and easy access to local bike shops? Is it even possible to rebuild them? This year I have started to see Park and other companies making new pumps to appear as fashionable old ones with wood handles and tarnished brass chucks. Patina should be earned and not bought in pumps as it is in blue jeans.
Garth Libre in Miami Fl.