Silca

I purchased these specifically for the sidewall puncture protection needed at the Lifetime Big Sugar event. They got me through the race without a puncture and also saved me on two occasions when I entered a corner too hot and thought I was going to slide out and crash but once the tires got onto the larger lugs on the edge of the tire, they hooked up and carved a perfect turn. So they successfully did what I purchased them for. On the flipside, this course has at least 18 miles of pavement and the tires feel awful on pavement. The significant spacing between lugs down the centerline of the tire translates a lot of vibration through the frame and into the saddle. It is definitely not a tire for events or rides that involve a significant amount of pavement.

I've been waxing all my chains (my gravel bike, track bike, wife's bike) for sometime now. I waxed my first bike chain back in the 1980s! This is great for lubing the chain when I need a quick 'top up' but don't have time to fire up the crock pot. If you don't want to get fully involved in waxing, but want something that's pretty close and easy to apply, then give this a try. My only advice is that you thoroughly clean your chain before application, it contains emulsified wax so it's not going to cling well to an oily chain.

I have been using my Silca Elettrico Ultimate pump for a month now and find it quite easy to use. I set my pressures after checking my tire pressure calculator app, then punch in the pressure, and pump it up! I also bring it to my rides/races incase I need to make an adjustment. Only thing is, some of my presta valves are plugged up and the pump will shut off when it reads a high pressure. It's slightly annoying, but those valves need to be replaced.

Fast and light tires, but the center grip is minimal and they are wearing fast. I've already had 1 puncture after only a couple hundred miles that I somehow got riding on champagne level gravel. The lack of center grip means you must always stay seated on any gravel climbs. You will slip and slide on even moderate gravel. I wish they sold an RCG-2 level because the RCG-1 is not much different than riding on slicks. I do like that they seated very easily and lose minimal air between uses.