In a big announcement today, SILCA, the manufacturer of premium bicycle pumps and accessories, has acquired Hirobel Cycling Solutions. Hirobel is best known for a unique clamping system that’s safe for carbon fiber frames. Rather than produce a redundant competitor to an existing successful product, SILCA opted to buy the company – and even move production alongside other SILCA products in Indianapolis, IN.
You can find our past introduction of Hirobel’s high-tech clamp system, or their product updates since then. For full details on the SILCA acquisition, check out the press release below.
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PRESS RELEASE: (February 28, 2019) – SILCA announces today that it has acquired Hirobel Cycling Solutions and moved production to SILCA HQ in Indianapolis. Hirobel’s primary product is the Hirobel Frame Clamp, an innovative solution to the problems presented in mounting modern bikes to repair stands.
SILCA found the Hirobel Frame Clamp when their engineers began researching how to create a better solution to mounting a bike in a repair stand. Most shops and amateurs use clamps designed 40+ years ago for the steel frames of the time; while Pro Tour mechanics use fork-mount stands which are increasingly unwieldy when working on modern disc-equipped bikes. In their investigations, SILCA soon learned of another company, founded by a pro mechanic, which had already developed a solution they quickly grew to love.
Unique in the cycling industry, the Hirobel is a specially designed repair stand clamp developed for greater compatibility with the needs of today’s frames and components. The Hirobel distributes stresses and loads through the bicycle frame rather than just clamping the seatpost or *gasp* a frame tube, improving stability while eliminating possible crushing forces.
The Hirobel clamp features highly adjustable, specially shaped, paint-friendly cones to hug the frame at tube junctions, providing maximum support and stability with minimal clamping force. This is in stark contrast to the standard “jaw-style” clamp used by the vast majority of shops and home mechanics.
Not only is this a great solution to the problems presented by lightweight aero carbon frames, but it also allows the frame to remain in the stand with the seatpost out, perfect for internal Di2 batteries and dropper posts. The Hirobel is also superior to ProTour-style fork/axle mount clamps in that the wheels can remain mounted for quicker adjustment of brakes and drivetrains. The Hirobel also clamps the frame lower than seatpost-clamping jaws, closer to a bike’s center of gravity. This improves stability while keeping the drivetrain higher for improved visibility and reduced back strain.
SILCA’s acquisition of Hirobel gives them the opportunity to provide a better bike-repair stand solution to more riders, taking advantage of SILCA’s distribution network and Indianapolis production facility to make more Hirobel Frame Clamps while lowering the retail price.
Hirobel Frame Clamp Highlights:
- Easily adjustable
- Adaptable to all frame designs- road, mountain, tri, children’s
- Compatible with all “clamp-style” bike repair stands
- Improved weight distribution
- MSRP $ 185
