This is Jas.
I first became aware of the manufacturer Paul Component a little while before I started working at Circles. It was the day I ordered my Surly CrossCheck—a bike I still ride and cherish—at the shop. That was over five years ago.
Back then, Tracy, who was helping me, recommended Paul’s cantilever brakes. I remember looking into the showcase and seeing all those beautifully anodized parts; I was captivated in an instant.
Because I had a limited budget, I had to begrudgingly give up on the Paul brakes, but I kept a strong desire to build a bike using Paul parts one day. After that, I became increasingly obsessed with the charm of bicycles, and six months later, I decided to join the team at Circles.
Time flies so fast. What were called the “latest components” back then are certainly no longer “new,” and in this era, brand-new items flood the market one after another, only to disappear as if they never existed.
Even so, the showcase I peered into all those years ago still has Paul’s parts lined up in the exact same spot, clean and precise. I think the reason they are loved by cyclists all over the world is their commitment to staying true to the basics while continuing to evolve and always producing the new things the world demands.
However, what’s different now is that the top shelf of the showcase is packed with collaboration items between Paul and our very own SimWorks, embodying our passionate vision. The longing I felt for those Paul brakes that I couldn’t afford back then remains, but now, it has evolved into a passion for creation itself.
Today, I’d like to introduce the new items that have joined the SimWorks and Paul lineup, which have helped turn that longing into reality.
MOTOLITE BRAKE
¥18,500 (excl. tax)
This brake design was first released nearly 20 years ago. In today’s era, dominated by disc brakes, the presence of V-brakes has begun to fade.
So why the Motolite Brake “now”? The answer lies in the abundance of wheel sizes available today.
We now have more options to choose from based on our riding style: 26-inch, 27.5-inch, 650B, 700C, and 29-inch. This also applies to recent trends like upgrading 26-inch bikes to 27.5-inch wheels, or performing inch-up customs on bikes equipped with disc brakes.
However, many of the inquiries we receive at Circles regarding wheel sizes still involve older mountain bikes without disc brakes, well-loved cross bikes, and touring bikes.
It is exactly for these types of bikes that the Motolite’s adjustable brake shoe positioning is so useful. The vertically adjustable brake shoe holders allow you to bridge the gap between wheel sizes.
Take, for example, the Surly Long Haul Trucker, an iconic touring bike. It’s just as popular here at Circles as the CrossCheck. Since the Long Haul Trucker uses 26-inch wheels, installing the Motolite makes it possible to upgrade to 27.5-inch wheels.
So, what are the benefits of upgrading from 26-inch to 27.5-inch wheels?
First, the larger wheel size rolls more efficiently than 26-inch, makes it easier to roll over obstacles, and improves overall off-road performance. Second, the visual balance improves. While this depends on the frame size, 26-inch wheels can sometimes look unbalanced on larger frames. (Though, personally, I do like that specific look and balance.) Moving to 27.5-inch wheels makes the bike look more balanced.
As for the downsides, the stand-over height increases slightly, and personally, I’d say fender installation is another factor. Because the clearance between the tire and the brake body—and the brake cable running above the tire—decreases, installation might be difficult depending on the tire size. However, even with those caveats, I think going 650B is an incredibly fun experiment and I highly recommend it. Why not put some The Homage tires on your Long Haul Trucker and head out on a new adventure?
THUMBIES for microSHIFT
¥9,800 (excl. tax)
And the other item is the Thumbies for microSHIFT.
Thumbies have been around for a long time, allowing you to use Shimano bar-end shifters as thumb shifters.
So, what exactly makes this a new product?
The answer is in the name. That’s right: Thumbies for microSHIFT.
These Thumbies are compatible with the microSHIFT bar-end shifters and shifting levers handled by SimWorks. Furthermore, thanks to an open-clamp mounting method not found on the original version and a thinner base, they offer greater flexibility for lever adjustment and significantly improved maintenance performance.
Since Surly CrossCheck complete bikes come with microSHIFT bar-end shifters on drop bars, these Thumbies make it easy to convert from drop bars to flat bars with minimal parts replacement.
Best of all, the “P” and “♡” engraved on this beautiful base will make your bike look even more stunning and soulful.
We’ll definitely be keeping an eye on what Paul Component and SimWorks do next!!