paul racer owners - clearance question

[Brent Eastman]

Specifically wondering about front brake + fork. Wondering what the lowest point of vertical clearance is once they are installed. Is any part of the brake lower than the inside of the fork crown?

My tektro R559 are rubbing the top of my new fenders even with a spacer under the fork crown. They sit several mm lower than underside of the fork crown. Super annoying. I might buy Paul Racers to help with clearance. I also like the idea of more stopping power.

[ascpgh]

Long story short; the Paul Racer mounting bracket is less of an obstacle than the bottom of the for crown. Same for the arms themselves.

These are shots of my Rambouillet with the Shimano "non-group" (they're Ultegra tier) double pivot brakes that were on my bike when initially spec-ed from Rivendell and the Paul Racers I switched to when I also went to RH (Compass then) Stampede Pass EL tires and a fresh set of Honjo fenders that I didn't have to crimp and bodge. 

The rear view of the Racers does better at showing the brake bridge being lower than the center bolt mounting bracket of the caliper, see the orange paint below the mounting bolt? The stay is of smaller dimension from the mounting hole and the edge of the material than the fork crown. It's also easier to photograph effectively relative to your question about which is the lowest point.

 

The Shimano double-pivot calipers always rattled on the fenders from any little flex of the bike, fork, fenders, or wheels. More when the brakes were being applied and the calipers moved the pads to the rims. My crimping and shaping were a cumulative effort over time to eliminate interference. Those Honjos are even too small for the 28mm tires I was limited to by those brakes.

 

My Rambouillet was now free to roam the wilds without sounding like maracas or a tambourine. Here it is after a rainy 80-mile,  off-pavement ride. 

Hope this helps,

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

[Brent Eastman]

Thanks Andy. I should have started on Rivbike.com as these photos kinda show it all. Front or rear, the lowest point of vertical clearance will be the bike, not the brake. Now I need a pair.

[ascpgh]

You won't be sorry after you do it! One of the upgrades you may be able to thank the guy responsible for in person. I spoke with Paul Price at his Philly Bike Expo booth and made sure he understood how transformative those brakes were for my installation

I am always remorseful about "upgrades" since they aren't replacing broken or worn beyond serviceable condition, doing the most with the least always resonates in my mind. In this case, my bike became closer to the ideal I would pen on blank paper for my particular uses. It bought me 12 more years of happiness before my bucket list was refined to the point requiring a fresh start. 

Here's a screenshot of a Chris Bishop (he's worthy to follow) bike with Paul Racers that he re-posted from 2011, but remains as awesome today as it was then. His orange frame makes that brake bridge show itself as the limit of clearance, not the brakes, even in this screenshot. 

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

[Dorothy C]

Not a very close up picture but here is my 2023 50cm Roadini with Schwalbe 700c x 38mm tires, SKS P45 fenders and Paul Racers. Can confirm they offer much better clearance than the Tektro R559s I previously had on this bike, with good stopping power

[Timothy Harwood]

Does anyone know if the Dia Compe GC610 centrepulls offer the same benefits as the Paul  Racers in terms of clearance?

Tim - Chiang Rai