For those fabrication fiends, Paul Component‘s prototype facilities would be heaven on Earth. Follow along as Paul leads us on a guided tour of his personal tool making workshop and shows us the ins and outs of what it takes to manufacture bicycle components in Chico, California.
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One Mad Max Bruce Gordon 26″ Touring Bike
Ok, maybe this isn’t exactly a Mad Max-level bicycle but it looks like it’d take on a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles.
Bruce Gordon‘s bikes are mythical beasts and finding one used isn’t exactly easy, seeing as how many of Bruce’s customers bought a bike from him for life. Max picked up this bike off Craigslist, in fairly decent condition, yet built with a bunch of random parts and so for the past several months has been tracking down all the parts to make it complete again. That meant locating a Bruce Gordon “Chicken Neck” stem and getting it painted to match, ordering several PAUL component bits, getting a pair of the Bruce Gordon canti brakes and last of all: ordering those Compass Rat Trap Pass 26″ x 2.3″ tires.
The result is one rusty-looking touring bike, with big, plump tires and a riding position that’ll be comfortable for days, yet highly shreddable when need be. Jealousy besets me right now…
Radar
Paul Component Engineering: Rasta Quick Release Skewers
Rasta roots run deep in the MTB world… These limited edition #JahBlessed skewers can be ordered through your local Paul dealer, or bought direct on their website.
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Paul Component Engineering: Boxcar Stem
“The Boxcar Stem is the perfect combination of stiffness, strength and reasonable weight. Available in +/- 0 in 50, 70 and 90mm. Also +/- 15 in 70 and 90mm. All screws are high strength stainless steel with the popular T25 head. Made in Chico, California with US sourced 2024 aircraft alloy.”
Sounds good to me! Especially for a made in the USA, steel hardtail! See more at PAUL.
Radar
Paul Component Engineering: New and Improved Bottle Opener
Woah woah woah, what? Now that Paul makes damn fine disc brakes, their bottle opener needed a bit of a re-design. In reality, this was one of those tradeshow moments every component manufacturer has dealt with. A loyal customer approaches the booth with a “you know what you should make?” comment. This time, it was actually a great idea. Add a rotor-tuning slot to the existing Bottle Opener. Boom. Done. Does this mean all the pre-rotor tuning openers will be worth millions? Cuz I have a few!
Scoop up a new Bottle Opener at Paul!
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Steve Rex All Road
What’s this? Rim brakes? Yep. Steve Rex‘s submission to the Grinduro expo was the only bike that used traditional rim brakes and you know what? I like that. A lot. Especially when it comes to the stopping power of PAUL Minimotos. Steve chose White Industries T11 hubs to Pacenti rims, SRAM CX1 and even had some slick pinstriping added to the otherwise sleek and minimal frameset.
Void of ostentation, classic, timeless and ready to rip. Rex surely is king here…
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Sparkle Blue Collar Bicycles Disc All Road
Blue Collar Bicycles‘ Robert Ives knows a thing or two about metal. Both the tig-welded and guitar-wielded variety. For Grinduro, Giro’s Eric Richter commissioned both Robert and Paul Price of Paul Component Engineering to assemble a sparkle blue disc all road.
This bike stole the attention span of Grinduro Expo attendees with its intense finish and array of orange anodized Paul components, topped off with SRAM’s 1x technology… All hail the trail Eric and Robert. All hail. Take that puppy to dirt church already!
Radar
When This Hub’s a Cookin’
Without a doubt, the most polarizing bike of the year on the site (thus far) is the Speedvagen Urban Racer. A veritable atavist catalyst, this two-speed internal coaster brake bike is meant to keep you on your toes and out of the saddle the second you throw a leg over it.
Its one caveat is the coaster brake. Fun for around town for sure, but I found after prolonged use, especially in the hot hot hot summer months, once it’s cookin your ability to brake safely is jeopardized. Granted, that’s the fun of it, right? Sure but last month I put on a Paul Klamper disc brake as a bit of added protection. Luckily, since Speedvagen uses an ENVE ‘cross fork on the bike, it was an easy install.
So far, so good and it’s still one of the most fun bikes I’ve ridden… Now it’s just a bit safer.
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Paul Component Engineering Talks Singlespeed MTBs and His Engin
I’m really loving this video series put on by Paul in Chico, California. In this episode, Paul talks about his Engin 29+ and a new product that’s currently in development…
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My Geekhouse Woodville Update: Handsome Mud Butler Fenders and Compass Barlow Pass Tires
Fenders aren’t exactly my favorite bicycle accessory. Granted I live in Texas where it “never rains” or so it didn’t really until this year. We’ve had a very wet spring and summer, resulting in a lot of unexpected rain riding. So much so that I finally broke down and decided to ditch the big, plump tread of my Bruce Gordon Rock n Roads for some fenders and the biggest tire I could find that would fit…
Radar
PAUL Component Engineering Talks Klamper Disc Brakes
Here is the man who designed and fabricated the Klamper disc brake calipers. Paul Price has been making rad shit in Chico California since 1989. He’s seen trends come and go, yet when a piece of technology makes a leap industry-wide, he knows when it’s time to design a product to keep on top of the demand. Discs are here to stay and now, there’s a USA-made option. Good on ya, Paul. I can’t wait to give a set a run!
Radar
Paul Component Engineering Klampers Have Landed!
I remember a comment here on the Radavist. It went something like “If GOD wanted disc brakes on drop bar bicycles, then PAUL would make them…”
Well, the Klampers are here and they’re ready for public consumption. In short pull (for SRAM, Shimano, etc road levers) or long pull (for top pull brake levers), in black or silver. I don’t even know why I’m typing anything because they’re probably already gone! Made in the USA in Chico, California and tested by the guy whose name is on each caliper.
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Ride Bikes on the 4th of July
Celebrate this weekend, get rowdy on the trails, rip apart the roads, throw some skids and even some #RubberSideUp. Happy birthday, America. See you guys on Monday!
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Speaking of PAUL
For those of you who had questions regarding his personal Rock Lobster cross bike, here’s a video of him walking you through his build… I’m really enjoying these. Keep ’em coming!
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Spirit of PAUL Quick Release Skewers
When you’ve made quality bicycle components in Chico, California since 1989, I’d say you can anodize anything you make in red and blue. The Spirit of PAUL quick-release skewers are the finishing touch to your made in the USA bicycle or even just your made in the USA wheels.
In stock now at PAUL, sold in 100mm, 130/135mm, 170mm and 190mm lengths.
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Paul Talks Commuter Bikes
Our friend in Chico, Paul talks basic commuter bike setup in this new video series.
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Paul Component: Limited Edition Disc RHUB
Got a fat bike? Want a thru-axle hub with an XD driver? Like American-made METALLLLLLL? Holler at the folks at Paul Component for their new limited edition disc RHUB with 197 x 12mm spacing.
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Paul’s Rock Lobster Singlespeed ‘Cross
You can never have too many tools for the same job. In Paul Price’s case, a cyclocross bike. Over the years he’s collected quite the stable, from various frame builders throughout California. We already looked at his Black Cat monster cross and now we get to check out some details of his Rock Lobster SSCX. As with the Black Cat, you can see just how sated this steed is based on the component and frame wear alone.
With technology changing, PAUL making disc brakes and everything going oversized or tapered, there’s something elegant about a rim brake ‘cross bike with a steel fork. Especially from a man like Paul Sadoff.
Shred on man, shred on…
