Silca

I bought and love my portable electric pump earlier this year, but I struggled with how to carry it with me on rides. My current flat bag was too small even after removing my CO2 cartridges and inflator. The Mattone is NOT a huge bag, but it is big enough to hold the pump along with a mini tool and a TPU tube. The BOA closing mechanism makes it easy to open the bag to top off tires before each ride, and it is quick to close and secure to the point where it cannot move or rattle. It's a little expensive, but highly recommended.

I mounted the RCG-1's by hand on Enve SES 4. 5 (25i) inflated them without removing the value core. They weighed 450 & 470 . After riding a mix of road and class 2 gravel, using the Silca PSI guide set for the RCG-1 tires, they are sitting at 45.6. The RCG-1's have an extremely supple and soft feel, even more so than the Caracal race 45's which are extremely supple and smooth. I took them out for a ride on a route I regularly ride with a power meter. It's mostly class 2 gravel with about 20% rolling paved road. . On the road section the RCG-1 makes a bit of a whirling noise compared to the Caracal Races however my power meter and speed showed a very slight speed increase with the RCG-1's. Turning onto class 2 gravel, the tires showed how well the compound absorbed vibration. Even with a narrower tire, (45.5 vs 48.5 for the caracal race 45) the RCG-1 was smoother and had a luxurious damp and planted feel with excellent grip on punchy 7-10% climbs I had no issues with loose corners and loose over hard sections and the added vibration damping was much appreciated. At the end of the ride, my avg speed was about . 5-. 7 mph faster than my normal speed on this route. I did ride ~8 watts NP faster, but even taking off . 3mph for added watts, the RCG- 1's were still faster! More rides and testing ahead. Although the Caracal Race is still and excellent tire, the added speed, 200 grams savings for the silca and the next level ride quality make the Silca a better overall choice.

I had been thinking about making the switch from a hand pump to an e-pump for some time. The clincher for me was when I talked to a mechanic during this year's Seattle to Portland at one of the mechanical support stations. He was using his Elettrico in lieu of a floor pump - he provided a strong positive review, saying he was getting 6-8 fills per charge. I bought mine when BTD had knocked off 10%. I carry my Elettrico on all my rides, in a jersey pocket or a handlebar bag. I also use it at home, and like the fact it quickly and accurately inflates (you dial in the number) my tires. I have yet to use it on the road, but am confident it will perform. BTW, I have never been a fan of CO2 cartridges because they are one-and-done, and CO2 leaks quickly from tires.

The Silca Sealant is a great product albeit it really comes down to proper use and keeping it refreshed. This new formula is injectable and is marketed as lasting 6 months. I have found it lasts 2.5-3 months max which honestly is on par with any other sealant. Silca also claims it can seal anything up to a 6mm, which I find really hard to believe. I have had 2mm-3mm holes barely seal, ie it was 50/50 if the tire would hold air after 24 hours and would need a plug. You also need to shake the bottle really well, since you do want to get all the carbon strands into the tire, since this really does help seal the holes. If you keep up with your sealant refreshes I think this is one of the best sealants, I just don't think you will make it to 6 months without your tire not having the protection it needs.