The Radavist

The original SRAM Maven brakes offered limitless power, but some riders wanted better modulation and a lighter touch. Travis sure did, and he found it in the newly evolved Maven B1.

We pulled a winner this week. Congrats to Mike H for taking home a Paul Component Klamper kit!. Be sure you’re signed up for The Radavist Membership to be entered in future giveaways!

This used brake kit is just for representation purposes only; you’ll receive a brand new brake kit if you win!

2026 is a big year for us. It’s this website’s 20th anniversary, and we’re stoked you’re part of it. Founded in 2006, this website has seen various waves of content, but one thing has remained the same: our love for small makers. So it’s fitting we team up with one of our favorites to kick off our 20th!

This month, we’ve teamed up with Paul Component Engineering to give away a Paul Klamper brake kit. Included in this giveaway is a pair of Paul Klampers in whatever pull and finish (that’s currently in stock) you want, with matching levers.

To be entered to win, all you’ve got to do is be a Radavist Member with an active subscription.

The winter months are hard for bike media. We’re still cranking out content every day, but our advertising revenue is usually half of what it is in the spring through fall months. Help us out by becoming a Radavist Member for a little as $5 a month. Every cent of your contributions keeps our staff paid and this website running smoothly.

Subscribe here to support our independent Reportage and be entered for your chance to win!

In this video by Paul Component Engineering, Lucas walks us through a full Klamper disc brake overhaul!

The best rim brake road-reach calipers on the market, Cane Creek‘s eeBrakes, often get special, limited edition anodizing. The first colorway of the year is this JPS livery, inspired by the Team Lotus Formula 1 cars in the late 1970s and 1980s, and has easily become one of the most beloved liveries in the history of motorsports. The Lotus 79 was the first modern ground effects car in F1 and was driven by Mario Andretti to the 1978 World Drivers’ Championship. Later, the black and gold would be piloted by the legendary Ayrton Senna to further victories.

Priced at $779.99, catch these while you can, because Cane Creek often flies through these limited runs. So spring your way over like a Le Mans start to check them out.

At the end of each year, The Radavist’s staff compiles a list of their favorite products. Like last year, we’ve included our favorite products, rides, experiences, and more. Read on for John’s list from 2025…

After riding SRAM‘s new Maven brakes all summer on his Meriwether 150 mm hardtail and other review bikes, John penned a review. This is the second Maven review on The Radavist, after the initial early production brakes didn’t fare so well for Travis. Did SRAM fix the issues Travis found? Let’s read on to find out…

In the latest episode of Backcountry Bike Repair, we teach how to troubleshoot brake issues while traveling or bikepacking. In this video, Episode 7, we break down how disc brakes work (hydraulic and mechanical) and cover strategies for troubleshooting some of the common brake issues we’ve encountered, including: how to separate your brake pads after accidentally squeezing the lever without a wheel in, how to address squealing from brake contamination, and how we work through “soft” brake levers that squeeze to the bars. This is the first part of two brake-focused episodes. In Episode 8 we go deeper into adjusting and working on brakes and share how to replace brake pads, adjust rubbing rotors, and bed in new brake pads…

SimWorks has worked with their partners at Nissen to develop an alternative to their standard Stainless housing that will account for less stroke loss during your shifting and braking efforts, Crisper if you will…

The tiny Trickstuff Piccola brakes were first called out to Travis from a tiny booth at Eurobike 2017, but the tiny German brand that made them was slow to expand into the US. Now, after being acquired by DT Swiss in December of 2021, Trickstuff is finally scaling up. There have been some growing pains, which we’ll get into, but from first squeeze, we can assure you these were worth the wait.

SRAM just added some new more approachable, lower-priced options to some of their mineral-oil brake lineups. The DB4 and DB6 slide in below the existing DB8, while the Maven Base now backs up the Maven Bronze, Maven Silver, and Maven Ultimate. In other news, SRAM also released the entirely new Motive lineup, and we’ve got our first-ride review live now. But while you’re here, let’s cover what’s new in DB and Maven.

The new SRAM Motive brake has a bit of everything. The power is similar to a Code, the weight is similar to a Level, and the fluid is similar to baby oil. But don’t put it on your baby. Put it on your bike. Travis did, and although they’re not perfect, they’re on his bike to stay.

What’s the difference between short pull and long pull brakes? It’s the most often asked question to Paul Component Engineering‘s tech email and phone line. In this video, Paul and Patrick help make sense of it… and also the funniest explanation of the history of mountain bikes!

Hayes Bicycle‘s Purple Hayes brakes were released last year and immediately sold out. The brand has just restocked this limited-edition color rendition of its famed Dominion A4 model. These brakes are sold as a single part number; each brake pairing comes with a 180 cm hose and retails for $249.99.

Specs:

• Tool-Free Reach Adjustment
• Flip-Flop Lever Orientation
• King Pin Pad Retention
• Crosshair Caliper Alignment
• Two-Stroke Dual-port bleed system

Check out more at Hayes.

Portland’s Shovel Research just launched these nifty WRT Cable Hangers ($69), inspired by a 1930’s constructeur, Louis Villemus, and the Le Lewis brand’s design that pre-dates both Alex Singer and Rene Herse’s models. The 6061-T6 pulley and hanger body is machined in Portland, Oregon, and anodized locally.

The pulley design will center itself after wheel replacement, but the option exists to immobilize the pulley with any 0.040 M5 washer – a pair of brass ones is free with purchase upon request; just put it in the order notes when ordering direct from Shovel Research.

Sold as a pair. Comes with a 2.5mm hex key and hardened stainless set screws with thread locker pre-applied.

See more at Shovel Research.

If you have a bike with porteur bars, like an old 26″ MTB conversion, scorcher, Rivendell, Crust, or a sweet custom frame, Paul just brought back its Reverse Levers. These are hands down the nicest reverse brake levers on the market. They’re full-machined in Chico, California, ambidextrous between short and long pull, and adjustable cable pull. They’re designed to fit bars with an inner diameter of 19 to 25 mm and come in a variety of finishes.

Check out more at Paul Component Engineering.

Want a truly unique pair of Klampers, hand assembled from random anodizing colors, complete with a certificate of authenticity? Look no longer! The Paul Component Engineering Series One is just that. Each pair of Klampers is a one-of-one colorway in a sealed box with certificate of authenticity included. The boxes are chosen at random upon ordering and we don’t even know which box has each colorway.

Check out more at Paul Component Engineering!

Germany-based Magura and SQ Lab are hoping to get you fit better on your braking system thanks to a new ergonomics checklist the two brands announced last week. Based on a variety of metrics, you can fine-tune your brake lever setup, grip spec, and more. The metrics are very easy, such as the graph illustrated above, stating that size small hands need 2 cm of brake lever extension, medium hands need 3 cm, and large hands 4 cm. There are even metrics for handlebar height and brake lever angles.

If you’re interested in pain-free riding, this one is an interesting read. Do so at Magura.