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Paul Comp adapts your discs, cantis, and thumbies

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Paul-Comp_BOsilver

Sometimes it really is the little things that are really appreciated. Paul Comp has been dedicated to developing simple, functional, american-made components from their Chico, CA home for several decades. And as the new year gets under way they’ve add a few small bits of machined goodness to solve some more common (and less so) setup problems. What that amounts to are new solutions to matching whatever size disc brake rotors you choose for any frame, a now complete front and rear set of canti brake stops, and a new pair of thumbshift mounts for use with Shimano bar-end shifters for more gearing options. Check it all out after the break…

Paul-Comp_Disc-adapter_silver40mmIS

Paul-Comp_Disc-adapters

Most recently we’ve covered Paul Set N’ Forget thru-axle skewers, the new Klamper disc brake, and an interview with the man himself, Paul Price. But the newest and most interesting out of this new group of CNC-machined goodies is probably the new Disc Adapters. Available for both IS or Post Mount, Paul has everything to get your 140mm bikes up to 180s and 160mm bikes up to 203mm rotors (maybe check with your bike/fork maker before jumping up 2 rotor sizes.) The IS mounts come in +0, +20 and +40mm options and Post mount comes in +20 and +40mm (since +0 isn’t needed.) Each aluminum adapter is available in clear silver or black anodized for just $20 and includes the appropriate length mounting bolts with thread locker already applied.

Paul-Comp_Funky-Monkey_front_silver Paul-Comp_Funky-Monkey_rear_black

The canti mounts are the Funky Monkeys that we have actually seen in the past. It looks like the new deal may just be the offering them both standard for the rear mount on the seatpost (with the integrated hinge to get good cable angle no matter the seatangle) and for a steerer tube mount for the front brake. Front comes in 1 1/8” and 1” sizes, rear in 27.2mm only, and both sell for $49.

Paul-Comp_Shimano-Thumbies

The Thumbies are an update back to Shimano compatibility and now are being made to fit either at the stem on oversized bars or at the grips on flat-ended bars. We had taken a look at the previous generation that was specifically designed to work with Microshift bar-end controls, but this newest version goes back to Shimano as they tend to be a bit easier to get ahold of, and there are more options for indexed gearing floating around out there and add in a friction option on many for 8-11 speeds. Pricing stays the same at $39 for one or $74 for the pair (mounts only, buy your shifters separately.) They are a great option for flat-bar road conversions, or even for touring bikes where having a separate brake and shift lever is good practice for worldwide durability. The 60g Paul Thumbies have a hinged clamp for easy install, and are available for either 22.2 or 31.8mm bars. They are available in either clear ano silver or black.

Paul-Comp_bottle-opener-with-rotor-truing-slot

And if you haven’t seen it, their Bottle Opener is pretty sweet too. Machined out of 6061 it includes a 15mm set of wrenching flats for canti adjusting (and the occasional pedal, we’ve heard) and a slot for rotor truing. At $20 it usually comes in silver or black, but is often available in limited color runs, like the current orange and blue seen here. If you want a closer look at how Paul is churning out parts, you might take a look at the factory tour we did with them back in 2013. We’re pretty sure those lathes have been churning out parts the whole time since.

PaulComp.com

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i
i
8 years ago

So how are the adapters better or different than the ones offered by every other brake maker? Saying it’s the most interesting new offering implies there’s something more to it than a more expensive, made in ‘murica version of something already available from dozens of other sources. Something that almost everyone already has and uses and almost no one has ever had a problem with…

Gears4Good
8 years ago

@i – If the adapters are anything like the NSB ones I’ve used, they will be stiffer, have better threads, and offer a more precise flush mount than any stock ones I’ve ever used. The finish will also be better and look great for much longer.

adam
adam
8 years ago

Saying they’re interesting may just imply that it is interesting that Paul is now in the game along with the other manufacturers. Though I’d never buy one from Paul, I do find it interesting that he is making them. Perhaps it is interesting merely because there are so many other cheaper producers of such products. Maybe BR is implying it’s an interesting move in that why would Paul make them when there are,m in fact, so many cheaper options.

Eric
Eric
8 years ago

Probably because Paul makes mechanical disc calipers now. As to why he’d design and release something that was obsolete 20 years ago… well he’s gotta pay the bill somehow, and people wanted it.

Lee
Lee
8 years ago

Disc brake adapters are specific to manufacturer. Sure, you can sometimes get lucky using one from a different manufacturer if you try enough of them, but you wouldn’t plan to use avid adapters on a shimano caliper would you? Each manufacturer makes them specifically to work with the dimensions of their brakes and to place the caliper correctly in regards to a specific size rotor. Nobody makes a universal adapter. Yes, you can buy a cheaper brake adapter for a different brand brake caliper, which would not be guaranteed to be compatible with Paul calipers.

suede
suede
8 years ago

@lee
Not lucky, they are pretty universal. I have an Avid adaptor on my front brake and a Shimano on my rear brake, both holding Hope calipers in the correct position.

Johannes
Johannes
8 years ago

The rotor truing slot and 15mm wrench are far to near to each other. I doupt, the alloy can hold only the rotor truing action without bending!

matt
matt
8 years ago

I know its not for axle nuts, but i’ve used my old paul opener on them in a pinch. Good luck doing that with the new one.

GrindMyGears
GrindMyGears
8 years ago

Let’s be honest here, yes there are slight variances in brake caliper shapes. otherwise things tend to be fairly standard.

The reason somebody buys a Paul adaptor is similar to the reason they would buy a Paul canti cable hanger which is also similar to the reason they would buy a Paul this or that. It’s made by some rad people in the US that love riding bikes and make some killer aluminum parts.

Are we seriously wondering?

I bought hope adaptors for my hope brakes and formula adaptors for my formula brakes. Done.

Brendan
Brendan
8 years ago

Lee, the location of mounting holes for IS mount and post mount are standardized, so everyone’s adapters will work with everyone else’s calipers for a given rotor size. The only time it would be inadvisable to mix and match calipers and adapters is if you are running an oddball rotor size like 185mm.

Paul
Paul
8 years ago

What I would like to see is a IS to flat mount adapter. I think Paul would do a good job of it.

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