Paul Centerpull Brakes for A Homer Hilsen

[Lucia Matioli]

Hey Folks,
RBW "newbie" here. Building up my very first AHH, and cannot wait. 
I have currently spec'd Tectronics side pulls. I know they are inexpensive and probably work well, HOWEVER I am a Paul Components fan, and considering putting on Paul Centerpull Racer brakes. Does anyone have a perspective?
When I was speaking to Riv about the build, they talked me against them, since they were harder to set up, but knowing me, I like the tried and true, made in USA and feel like they match my "quality" and aesthetic values. I'd probably switch them out to Paul's eventually anyways. 
LMK if anyone has perspective and experience with these brakes. Have used Motos in the past (90's). :)  

Thanks!

Lucia

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Lucia Matioli

Sr Creative Consultant

goodthinkingco.com

linkedin.com/in/luciamatioli/

              

   

[Bernard Duhon]

I purchased the Paul center pool breaks, mostly for the made in USA vibe

I use them on a 650 B conversion. They did not have the reach needed  (80mm ) so I used  extended reach brake shoes .

They work fine. Ecellent stopping & modulation. 

I'm not the world's best bike mechanic. It took me a while to get them working properly but I blame myself not the brakes.  

There are a fair number of YouTube videos that help you With the set up

 

 

 

 

 

Y

 

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From: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Lucia Matioli <lucia....@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2025 2:15 PM
To: rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com <rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [RBW] Paul Centerpull Brakes for A Homer Hilsen

 

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[Gordon Stam]

I've got them on my Romulus and they are first class. Very smooth and progressive. I cannot, however, fit the 40c tires I'm using between the pads (with the cable released) without deflating them. Otherwise they are top notch

G

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[Steven Seelig]

I have them on my gravelly Sam build and will never go back.  I think in this case the Rivendell folks have a rather romantic vision of builds being non-canto-posted needing to have a side pull brake, for whatever reason.  I also have the racers on my titanium Spectrum road bike.

They are correct, getting the darn things set up properly can be a daunting and frustrating process.  Is the tension right on both sides?  Where does the pad line up?  Do I have the right wrench with me to adjust, if need be?  But the reality is that once they are set up, they are set up and I have virtually never been required to do any adjustments except perhaps when I need to change brake pads.  

I will say also that you have to find the correct manner in which to hang the cable.  I have a Chunky Monkey Paul thing for the front and this hanger in the back.  I also use those things that permit a bit more cable movement for the hanging cable because they work and they are purple.  I don't like the stock hangers so much.

Steve Seelig, Washington, DC

[Shoji Takahashi]

Hi Lucia,

I have Paul centerpulls on my AHH (Toyo build). I recommend them over the long-reach Tektros, which I had originally, as the Paul's have much better stopping power.

I agree with Steve on setup. You will need hangers, and setup is different from sidepulls. After setup, I haven't touched them except to change brake pads. I use the Paul Moon Unit straddle hanger which are soft metal, so wrenching them requires care. 

Good luck!

shoji

Arlington MA

[Lucia Matioli]

Thanks so much everyone!

I’ve upgraded / respect’s based on y’all’s input. 

Excited to see it all come together. 

Also, props on the cable hangers with added flair. I’m adding black hearts from jubilee manufacturing to hold mine in place. 

Separately, does anyone know if Rivendell owners do rides based on regions? I’m building up my riding community and think it would be great to get together and ride. I’m in the east bay, ca. 

Thanks everyone!

Lucia

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[ascpgh]

Congrats on your Homer and building it up. 

I think when you assemble a bike with parts you've collected for a frame and fork you've chosen you create a physical record of your riding through the interest each part has to you through whatever riding experience made you aware of it. To the eye of another who has assembled their own bike this will tell a story, 

I put a set of Paul Racers on my Rambouillet (pre-country bike Rivendell) and have never been less than perfectly happy with them. After a number of years using them I found myself in front of Paul Price at their booth for the Philadelphia Bike Expo and told him exactly that. I would repeat that choice every time, even if a list of detractions was added. They just work so well you will overcome their stark appearance compared to the rounded shape and lines of other options.

A number of things came to my choice of these brakes, first was the quality of the arms of the calipers which are what give you the force of braking. Geometry of the design is one thing but the strength/rigidity of the material under the force of their use is where lots of the money goes. Caliper materials are on a spectrum from forged material to cast material, the Racers being on the high end. Shimano has (had) a way of making brake calipers appear similar across their groups but exist along this spectrum of material execution. RX-100 brakes would seem just fine on an entry level road bike until you rode and used Ultegra or Dura Ace brakes and experienced what caliper arm rigidity felt like. 

You ride, you learn. The set up of the Racers for me didn't even rate on my scorecard for them.  I went through a thorough installation and set up including setting the cross wire geometry appropriately which in others review would seem like twice the trouble since that second cable is included in this design. 

Enjoy your ride and if you opt for the Racers sooner, enjoy them too.

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

[J G]

In terms of an amazing combination of power and modulation, there is nothing better for me than the Paul Racer series brakes.

The only thing better than Racers, are post mount Racers.

The only thing better than post mount Racers, are post mount Racers with (now old stock) Paragon oversized posts.

My first custom a decade ago was built around the latter.  My most recent add built around the former.  My favorite bike having the center mount in M.

Racers for the win...

-Justus

Mpls, MN

[Peter Adler]

Getting clearance for 40mm inflated tires with Paul Racers (or with any centerpull brakes, or with any cantilevers) should be easily accomplished by:

1) Pushing the opposing brake shoes against the sidewall, either with your fingers or a third-hand tool (not the brake lever)

2) Popping the non-screwed side of the straddle cable out of the cradle of the caliper arm

3) Release the brake shoes

To reinstall, pop the loose straddle end back in, obviously.

The springs pop the shoes away from the rim+tire, and will usually provide clearance for anything narrower that super-knobby or fatbike tires. 40mm certainly don't fit into the fatbike category.

Paul brakes are the most ferociously powerful rim brakes made. As long as your aesthetics don't demand something sleeker, they are unparalleled for forward-motion-arresting excellence.

Peter Adler

who would use only centerpulls, if given the choice in the abstract

Berkeley, California

[Gordon Stam]

Hmm...I'll fiddle with that. Thanks.

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