The floor pump: an essential weapon in the arsenal of bicycle tool essentials.

My first year in college, I remember my good buddy from high school {Toby} showed up for the Race of the Redwoods (Humboldt County, CA circa 1975) and unloaded his steed and the rest of the support jibber jabber from his car; I was curious about the floor pump.

“What’s that?”
“Floor Pump” he says.
“You gotta have one to pump the tires before the ride; can’t use a stinking hand pump, you’ll tire yourself out before you start.”

When I bought my first Silca (Downy Cyclery) it made me feel like I had arrived.   It was positive, smooth and precise. Pumping tires is part of the basic ritual and you gotta have a unit that reverberates the zen essence.

Compared to models you can buy now, the volume per stroke (VPS) is considerably less with a Silca Track Pump, but fuck-it; stick to the Silca, what’s a few extra strokes to be in the zen with heritage.

The old pumps use to boast Columbus Tubing.

Muy globo de aire caliente AnImAux!