Posted by: Endurimil
And long live purple ano...
Those levers are so delicious. I had an old set (not purple) that I ended up selling because I just don't have any cable-actuated brakes in my future (no regrets) but, BUT when I saw the purple ones... Oh My. The polished barrel adjusters are sweet-as too. Very nice.
How good would they look on a polished bar on a Stainless Murmur / or other raw Al bike with other matching purple bits...
Andrew - have you tried a set of Paul Klampers? Is this something NSMB would review?
Posted by: fartymarty
Andrew - have you tried a set of Paul Klampers? Is this something NSMB would review?
At one time, years ago, Paul was supposed to send me a pair of Klamper calipers for review. I'd also lined up some compression-less housing to try with them for the best possible performance. It was a while back as I still owned Paul levers and I also had some sweet XTR v-brake levers from BITD and with it being a quick swap I had a whole series planned out. They never showed and he ghosted me like he was hoping for a career at MRP.
In hindsight, I'm very glad he didn't send them (so much so that I'm considering putting on Garth Brook's song Unanswered Prayers while I finish typing this reply). The Klampers are beautifully made and I think overall they're the best cable-actuated disc brake option you can buy (power, manufacturing quality, forever-value, setup). BUT, having now ridden them, if you gave me the choice between Klampers and a good budget hydraulic system - for mountain biking, on the North Shore - I'd take the hydros every day of the week. And I'll note that this assessment is shared by folks I know who have bought and love the Klampers.
I'd really, really like a pair of Klampers for my commuter (to use with my XTR levers) and appreciate the brakes immensely but it would have sucked to write a review saying, that for mountain biking in steep janky terrain, your money is much better spent on some totally-meh SRAM Guide R brakes or that the Paul's are positively blown away by the Magura MT Trail Sports.
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It's funny to me that you asked because after commenting on those purple Paul levers I was thinking that as a smart dude who makes precision components I could totally envision Paul making hydraulic brakes. If they do I'd be very keen to buy a set. Especially if they come in Purple. Or maybe a timeless polished silver?
in addition to the ergotec handlebars, are those polished shimano brakes?
to me they look better than any of Shimano's black or anodized grey finishes (especially a good idea for crank arms that get half polished anyway)
Posted by: taprider
in addition to the ergotec handlebars, are those polished shimano brakes?
to me they look better than any of Shimano's black or anodized grey finishes (especially a good idea for crank arms that get half polished anyway)
Formula Cura.
But you’re right, way better looking than anything Shimano makes.
Posted by: AndrewMajor
At one time, years ago, Paul was supposed to send me a pair of Klamper calipers for review. I'd also lined up some compression-less housing to try with them for the best possible performance. It was a while back as I still owned Paul levers and I also had some sweet XTR v-brake levers from BITD and with it being a quick swap I had a whole series planned out. They never showed and he ghosted me like he was hoping for a career at MRP.
In hindsight, I'm very glad he didn't send them (so much so that I'm considering putting on Garth Brook's song Unanswered Prayers while I finish typing this reply). The Klampers are beautifully made and I think overall they're the best cable-actuated disc brake option you can buy (power, manufacturing quality, forever-value, setup). BUT, having now ridden them, if you gave me the choice between Klampers and a good budget hydraulic system - for mountain biking, on the North Shore - I'd take the hydros every day of the week. And I'll note that this assessment is shared by folks I know who have bought and love the Klampers.
I'd really, really like a pair of Klampers for my commuter (to use with my XTR levers) and appreciate the brakes immensely but it would have sucked to write a review saying, that for mountain biking in steep janky terrain, your money is much better spent on some totally-meh SRAM Guide R brakes or that the Paul's are positively blown away by the Magura MT Trail Sports.
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It's funny to me that you asked because after commenting on those purple Paul levers I was thinking that as a smart dude who makes precision components I could totally envision Paul making hydraulic brakes. If they do I'd be very keen to buy a set. Especially if they come in Purple. Or maybe a timeless polished silver?
Hmm...yes and no. Riders have down the Downieville DH on Paul's Klampers no problem.
https://theradavist.com/gold-amidst-the-dust-a-hardtail-gallery-from-the-2019-downieville-classic/
To further add to that. Ridden the Fromme a few years ago while visiting parents with the Samurai with Avid BB-7's. Didn't bother me at all really. While Onteribble did down hill runs at Horseshoe and the rock pile that is Camp Fortune- used to run Canada Cup downhills there. Non hydraulic didn't lessen the fun.
Run what works for you and to you what feels best.
Posted by: AndrewMajor
Formula Cura.
But you’re right, way better looking than anything Shimano makes.
Correct - Cura 2. Great brakes and relatively cheap. Thanks Andrew for the pre purchase advice.
Posted by: AndrewMajor
At one time, years ago, Paul was supposed to send me a pair of Klamper calipers for review. I'd also lined up some compression-less housing to try with them for the best possible performance. It was a while back as I still owned Paul levers and I also had some sweet XTR v-brake levers from BITD and with it being a quick swap I had a whole series planned out. They never showed and he ghosted me like he was hoping for a career at MRP.
It's funny to me that you asked because after commenting on those purple Paul levers I was thinking that as a smart dude who makes precision components I could totally envision Paul making hydraulic brakes. If they do I'd be very keen to buy a set. Especially if they come in Purple. Or maybe a timeless polished silver?
Interesting. It would be a very "bling" commuter and probably get stolen in a nanosecond.
I think I will stick with my Cura 2s.
I just saw https://www.pinkbike.com/photo/23225660/ . He does some interesting FS frames as well.
Posted by: fartymarty
I just saw https://www.pinkbike.com/photo/23225660/ . He does some interesting FS frames as well.
Very nice frames. I've day dream ordered a few of them! ;-)
Posted by: Vikb
Posted by: fartymarty
I just saw https://www.pinkbike.com/photo/23225660/ . He does some interesting FS frames as well.
Very nice frames. I've day dream ordered a few of them! ;-)
Ditto - I like his short travel Shore Country (sorry I couldn't say the DC word on NSMB) bikes. Maybe one day...
Posted by: fartymarty
I just saw https://www.pinkbike.com/photo/23225660/ . He does some interesting FS frames as well.
Very clean looking setup.
Posted by: fartymarty
Interesting. It would be a very "bling" commuter and probably get stolen in a nanosecond.
I think I will stick with my Cura 2s.
The Cura 2 is undoubtedly a significantly better brake system for aggressive trail riding for modulation or power (WC DH proven as well). They're really not a complicated system either (Formula's master cylinders are very simple).
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Yeah, I should have said 'ATB' or 'gravel bike' instead. I use my V1 for transportation but I'm generally keeping it inside at work. We'll see if it's an issue double locking it outside the library for when I sit there for work but it's the bike I own that's not V1. It's a bit flash, even with the rigid fork, to someone who knows bike parts even if it's all old parts (like 9-speed XTR).
Certainly, I had considered trying to rehome V1 instead and building up a less fancy rig for getting around and pulling Claire. But the allure of stuff I had and the fact that life's too short to ride crappy bikes won me over.
Cumberland water must be high octane; MEATengines has been moving fast lately! Perspectives was an interesting piece, but such a tease. Is there a chance we can get the deleted geometry content back somehow? I’m hoping it included geometry charts for the whole 3-model/6-size lineup. It’s the kind of work that encourages life to imitate art. :-)
On a related note, I preferred a longer chainstay setting on the hardtail for the suspension fork when switching from rigid. I’m not going to “chinbar argue” about it since there’s a sample-of-one issue, but I like where it puts the balance point for lifting the front wheel.
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