mafac racer vs paul
#1
was fixed, now i am free
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Boston
Posts: 148
Bikes: Royal H Rando, IRO Mark V Pro, Redline Monocog 29er
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
mafac racer vs paul
I am having a bike built for me right now and i would like to eventually put on Paul brakes. But as of right now, i have a set of Mafac racers.
1) can you take of 451E/452E (see diagram below) and make it boss mount instead of center mount?
2) are the boss mounts in the same location as the paul racer brakes?
They are this style:
1) can you take of 451E/452E (see diagram below) and make it boss mount instead of center mount?
2) are the boss mounts in the same location as the paul racer brakes?
They are this style:
#2
www.ridelugged.com
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Lemont, PA
Posts: 47
Bikes: 1993 XO-1, early 1980s witcomb fixed gear, 1993 MB-1 singlespeed, a Surly 1x1 with pugsley front end, trek 520 converted to 650b, Coppi lugged road bike, Schwinn Crisscross townie
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
It will not work. The Mafac bosses are smaller in diameter and in a different position. The Paul's use contemporary standard canti bosses, the mafacs would have to have those same bosses turned down to a smaller size.
As an owner of both types of breaks, and a mechanic who has had to work many mafacs, the mafacs are a fine way to go if: you are not doing loaded touring, if you have a few sets as spares, and if you dont lust after the crispest braking action ever.
Set them up with new housing, clean them, make sure they arent bent up and rubbing on themselves, and put some salmon coloured kool stop pads on, and you are set.
The Pauls are nice, but actually heavier, so, go figure.
As an owner of both types of breaks, and a mechanic who has had to work many mafacs, the mafacs are a fine way to go if: you are not doing loaded touring, if you have a few sets as spares, and if you dont lust after the crispest braking action ever.
Set them up with new housing, clean them, make sure they arent bent up and rubbing on themselves, and put some salmon coloured kool stop pads on, and you are set.
The Pauls are nice, but actually heavier, so, go figure.
#3
totally louche
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: A land that time forgot
Posts: 18,023
Bikes: the ever shifting stable loaded with comfortable road bikes and city and winter bikes
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
8 Posts
go standard canti bosses and run one of hundreds of different brakes on the frameset in the future. don't hobble your frame to mafacs unless you're made of money and have a stable of custom bikes already.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,095 Times
in
741 Posts
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 855
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Pinole, CA, USA
Posts: 17,414
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 443 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 27 Times
in
25 Posts
I have Mafacs on three bikes. They are silent. You just need to know how to set them up.
The Mafac bosses for brazing to the seat stays and fork show up on eBay fairly often. They are sometimes included with a brakeset and sometimes by themselves.
What does X01 know about brakes? He can't even spell it.
The Mafac bosses for brazing to the seat stays and fork show up on eBay fairly often. They are sometimes included with a brakeset and sometimes by themselves.
What does X01 know about brakes? He can't even spell it.
#7
was fixed, now i am free
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Boston
Posts: 148
Bikes: Royal H Rando, IRO Mark V Pro, Redline Monocog 29er
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
This will be on a rando/brevet style bike, would it make more sense to go with a center mount side pulls? My plan right now is have this chrown:
which would look great with canti style, but trying to figure out if it would be good with a center mount brake. (also weighing the functionality of the brakes, not just the looks).
which would look great with canti style, but trying to figure out if it would be good with a center mount brake. (also weighing the functionality of the brakes, not just the looks).
Last edited by viper_04649; 06-08-10 at 11:14 AM.
#8
www.ridelugged.com
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Lemont, PA
Posts: 47
Bikes: 1993 XO-1, early 1980s witcomb fixed gear, 1993 MB-1 singlespeed, a Surly 1x1 with pugsley front end, trek 520 converted to 650b, Coppi lugged road bike, Schwinn Crisscross townie
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have Mafacs on three bikes. They are silent. You just need to know how to set them up.
The Mafac bosses for brazing to the seat stays and fork show up on eBay fairly often. They are sometimes included with a brakeset and sometimes by themselves.
What does X01 know about brakes? He can't even spell it.
The Mafac bosses for brazing to the seat stays and fork show up on eBay fairly often. They are sometimes included with a brakeset and sometimes by themselves.
What does X01 know about brakes? He can't even spell it.
#9
www.ridelugged.com
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Lemont, PA
Posts: 47
Bikes: 1993 XO-1, early 1980s witcomb fixed gear, 1993 MB-1 singlespeed, a Surly 1x1 with pugsley front end, trek 520 converted to 650b, Coppi lugged road bike, Schwinn Crisscross townie
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
IMO, the bi-plane Panceti crown would look too busy with a centerpull style brake. I would rock some high profile canti's, ala some old weinmann or Mafacs. They work well, stop well, usually have brass bushings, and have a very clean look to them.
Gestalt. The world needs more of it.
Gestalt. The world needs more of it.
#10
Real Men Ride Ordinaries
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,723
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
IMO, the bi-plane Panceti crown would look too busy with a centerpull style brake. I would rock some high profile canti's, ala some old weinmann or Mafacs. They work well, stop well, usually have brass bushings, and have a very clean look to them.
Gestalt. The world needs more of it.
Gestalt. The world needs more of it.
#11
www.ridelugged.com
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Lemont, PA
Posts: 47
Bikes: 1993 XO-1, early 1980s witcomb fixed gear, 1993 MB-1 singlespeed, a Surly 1x1 with pugsley front end, trek 520 converted to 650b, Coppi lugged road bike, Schwinn Crisscross townie
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I rail on them? I use them and like them. They are just finicky! Anyway, Koolstop pads have that sort of pre-toe'd little nubbin' at the end... I've never had any squeal issues with them.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,487
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 140 Post(s)
Liked 162 Times
in
89 Posts
I just installed some Paul touring cantilevers today. They are incredible brakes. They are finicky, in the sense that if you don't carefully toe the pads in, particularly on the front brakes, they howl like crazy. I've messed with them before, and it's the front brake that usually makes noise in my experience. The ones I installed today are on one of my own bikes, and I finally got them to operate quietly. As for the braking performance, I can't imagine a rim brake that requires less effort at the lever to stop or slow the bike. I've used a variety of canti's, and these Paul's are in another class all together than any I've used; I've also used very nice v-brakes, with brake boosters, and these Paul brakes are even better in regard to stopping power. According to Paul, the Neo Retro's are even stronger than the touring canti's. I imagine brake boosters would be necessary for those.
Last edited by well biked; 06-09-10 at 06:58 AM.
#13
was fixed, now i am free
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Boston
Posts: 148
Bikes: Royal H Rando, IRO Mark V Pro, Redline Monocog 29er
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
IMO, the bi-plane Panceti crown would look too busy with a centerpull style brake. I would rock some high profile canti's, ala some old weinmann or Mafacs. They work well, stop well, usually have brass bushings, and have a very clean look to them.
Gestalt. The world needs more of it.
Gestalt. The world needs more of it.
as for fenders, are honjos and VO pretty much the only options for quality? i want something for a 28mm tire, but the 35 honjo suggests up to a 27mm, and the 45 i think would just look goofy, unless i had a tire to fill it.
#14
www.theheadbadge.com
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,496
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2401 Post(s)
Liked 4,350 Times
in
2,075 Posts
Viper, is this for a Terraferma frame, by any chance?
Bek, you can be a snob all you want about bike lanes, but you're dead wrong in regards to components. Mafac Racers are arguably the most inexpensive centerpull out there - you can get tons of them on eBay for peanuts, both NOS and used.
-Kurt
-Kurt
#15
www.ridelugged.com
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Lemont, PA
Posts: 47
Bikes: 1993 XO-1, early 1980s witcomb fixed gear, 1993 MB-1 singlespeed, a Surly 1x1 with pugsley front end, trek 520 converted to 650b, Coppi lugged road bike, Schwinn Crisscross townie
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The other option for fenders are the Gilles Berthoud fenders that Peter White sells. They make a 700x40, which, in person, looks perfect with a 28 or so. They also have a very nice flush mount for the fender stays. Don't be alarmed by the fact that they are stainless steel, they are still pretty damn light.
#16
was fixed, now i am free
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Boston
Posts: 148
Bikes: Royal H Rando, IRO Mark V Pro, Redline Monocog 29er
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The other option for fenders are the Gilles Berthoud fenders that Peter White sells. They make a 700x40, which, in person, looks perfect with a 28 or so. They also have a very nice flush mount for the fender stays. Don't be alarmed by the fact that they are stainless steel, they are still pretty damn light.
Would mafac racers fit around a 40mm fender?
#17
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Muscatine, Iowa
Posts: 152
Bikes: Bridgestone T700, Colnago International, Cannondale SR and ST 700, BH Vento, C. Itoh Super Light, Schwinn High Sierra
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Personally I've always liked the ESGE (now SKS). I've used them for years and many thousands of miles. They don't dent and are quite flexible. They have a clean look to them also.
#18
www.theheadbadge.com
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,496
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2401 Post(s)
Liked 4,350 Times
in
2,075 Posts
#19
was fixed, now i am free
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Boston
Posts: 148
Bikes: Royal H Rando, IRO Mark V Pro, Redline Monocog 29er
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#20
www.theheadbadge.com
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,496
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2401 Post(s)
Liked 4,350 Times
in
2,075 Posts
#21
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Rolled all over town in the pouring rain today and the things that were stopping me on a dime were Mafac Racers with Kool Stops.
They are among the nicest centre pull brakes ever made but many people missed this because their only experience with them was when they were fitted with stock pads and had to work with steel rims.
They are among the nicest centre pull brakes ever made but many people missed this because their only experience with them was when they were fitted with stock pads and had to work with steel rims.
#22
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
#23
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,691
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 510 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7287 Post(s)
Liked 2,362 Times
in
1,381 Posts
Mafacs are excellent brakes. Durable and reliable. They work well. They are a bit tricky to set up, but as someone else already said, cantilevers are much trickier.
I have a 1971 Raleigh Super Course which came with Weinmann brakes. I switched them to Mafacs, and I'm extremely happy.
I haven't used Pauls, so I can't compare.
I have a 1971 Raleigh Super Course which came with Weinmann brakes. I switched them to Mafacs, and I'm extremely happy.
I haven't used Pauls, so I can't compare.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#24
Senior Member
Mafacs are excellent brakes. Durable and reliable. They work well. They are a bit tricky to set up, but as someone else already said, cantilevers are much trickier.
I have a 1971 Raleigh Super Course which came with Weinmann brakes. I switched them to Mafacs, and I'm extremely happy.
I have a 1971 Raleigh Super Course which came with Weinmann brakes. I switched them to Mafacs, and I'm extremely happy.
#25
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,691
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 510 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7287 Post(s)
Liked 2,362 Times
in
1,381 Posts
I can't explain why, but I get more stopping and more modulability with Mafacs.
When I was a teenager, it was almost a religious war between the Weinmann fans and the Mafac fans. I had a few bikes with Weinmanns, so I was a Weinmann fan... until I tried Mafacs. Before that, I was already a mechanic, and I disliked Mafacs because the setup was more complicated. But now I feel it's justified.
When I was a teenager, it was almost a religious war between the Weinmann fans and the Mafac fans. I had a few bikes with Weinmanns, so I was a Weinmann fan... until I tried Mafacs. Before that, I was already a mechanic, and I disliked Mafacs because the setup was more complicated. But now I feel it's justified.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.