Cyclocross Magazine, along with a handful of other publications, had the opportunity to take a tour of Paul Component Engineering's factory, ride Chico's trails and tour the Sierra Nevada brewery in May last year. We're back at the 2017 event (with the only returning journalist), but in case you missed it, we're resurfacing the tale of our journey from last year. Come along for a photo-heavy factory and brewery tour, a look at the Paul Component Engineering's history and a slideshow filled with eye candy. And stay tuned to our Instagram feed for the latest from 2017.
Another Silicon Valley Garage Inventor
Paul Price is a genuine American tinkerer. His company, just like slightly more famous Silicon Valley companies like Hewlett Packard, took shape in a Bay Area garage. Borrowing his dad’s tools, he used some sheet metal to make his first set of road brakes in high school while in Danville, and followed that up by making a set of mountain bike brakes as a senior project while studying mechanical engineering in college. These brakes weren’t a CNC machined product as he didn’t use a computer to create them. A simple mill and lathe were what he had access to. Even today, most of Price’s creations start with him using the same types of machines to build prototypes.
A mini museum of Paul Component Engineering brake history. The two on the right are still made. © Cyclocross Magazine
Even after expanding beyond these early crude brakes, and launching his company in 1989 with a seat clamp quick release, brakes still are the best selling products Paul Component Engineering offers. And despite most cyclists thinking of Paul Component Engineering as a mountain bike component company, its most popular components are really tailored to cyclocross and gravel riders. The new mechanical disc brake, the Klamper, has been wildly popular, while the Mini Moto linear pull brakes are still a best seller.
Although brakes have always been one of the company’s best selling components, there was a time when the industry was moving so quickly, Price himself couldn’t slow down.
