As part of a continuing series that will be running every Thursday, we’re going to be featuring the backgrounds and services of our numerous sponsors and partners. Furthermore, we’re going to exhibit how their relationship with us is making an impact in the lives of youth and in the community.  Today, our focus is on SILCA:
Company Overview:
SILCA was founded in 1917 by Felice Sacchi just outside of Milan, Italy. The company innovated and grew quickly by innovating as the first company to put gauges on pumps, the first company to produce a true ‘high-pressure’ frame pump, the first to work with the revolutionary lightweight material plastic after the end of WWII. More recently, the company was first with a valve controlled CO2 inflator, and with some irony, the first to move away from plastics and back to wood handles. Along the way, the company ideals became deeply rooted in a combination of durable materials, traditional craftsmanship, and innovation. It is no accident that so many of the SILCA pumps of the 1960’s and 70’s are still in use today, nor is it accidental that they continue to sell replacement parts for those very pumps.
Rolling into 2014, SILCA headquarters and manufacturing have been moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Here, they’re rebuilding a once great icon into a new great icon. They’re using the finest materials and craftsmanship achievable in their products. Here in Indianapolis, the company is surrounded by the motorsports industry, which attracts some of the finest minds and manufacturing capabilities anywhere, and it is from those minds and often times that same equipment that SILCA parts are now born. Each and every SILCA component is designed for beauty, function, strength, durability, and longevity before it is carefully produced by hand to the highest standards. They take great pride in upholding the 100 year history of this brand.
Relationship with Nine13sports:Â
Kids Riding Bikes uses the best pump in the world on a daily basis!
Nine13sports relationship with SILCA began in February of 2014. The relationship was a natural and practical fit, especially with the bicycle pump needs that our bikes require daily. Considering the organization had just relaunched in Indianapolis in early 2014, we were excited to partner with a local company of such high standards and professionalism. From the beginning of our partnership, Josh Poertner and the entire SILCA team have been nothing but advocates and proponents of Nine13sports and everything that we’re doing to get kids riding bikes. For 14 years Josh was Technical Director at Zipp Speed Weaponry and he’s been a lifelong SILCA fan since buying his first SILCA pump in 1990, a pump still in daily use today. Incidentally, we were introduced to Josh by previous President of Zipp, Andy Ording. Andy, similar to Josh, is a devoted and passionate supporter of ours and the cycling community as a whole. We’re so thankful and appreciative to have so many long-standing advocates of Nine13sports and we’re excited to continue building these meaningful relationships that impact and cultivate thousands of youth lives.
For more information on SILCA, check out their website