The all-new Ciamillo Lekki8 carbon fiber road brake calipers mark not only a fresh start for Ted, they also mark a new record for lightest complete road brake set. With a measured weight (on their scale) of just 144g with pads and all hardware for both brakes, the Lekki8 are crazy light. Claimed weight for the set without pads inserted is just 129g, with the front at 68g and rear at 61g.
What’s new is the move to a mostly carbon fiber body. Where his prior GSL brakes tipped the scales at just 155g with a machined aluminum framework, these new ones use carbon fiber plates on either side of a machined aluminum cam, held together with a mix of titanium, alloy and stainless steel hardware.
So what’s up with the name? After struggling as a one-man show for years and admittedly angering customers with long lead times or inability to deliver, he finally shut down U.S. operations and sold off the equipment. He also got married and moved to Poland, where he was able to reboot on a smaller scale and take advantage of a lower cost of living. Lekki is Polish for “light weight”, and these are the 8th generation of brake he’s designed.
The design and function is similar to the GSL and Zero G brakes he’s made in the past, but with a few improvements. First, there’s a quick release to make wheel swaps faster. And the barrel adjuster is on a pivot, so it moves to stay in alignment with the housing and cable as you pull the brakes. That puts less friction on the cable, too, so they’ll feel smoother. The cam is supported by center bolt which helps make everything stiffer. Spring is redesigned and has 30% more power, so they’ll return more quickly.
The calipers are available in standard and long-reach versions. The long reach version takes advantage of this new modular design. The legs can be removed, and the long reach legs swapped in to buy you another 5mm of length (and 2g of weight). So, if your brake pads end up too close to the tire (or top of the rim), now you have an option. Both models will fit rims from 19-28mm wide, and clear tires up to 32mm.
The current versions use titanium hardware throughout most of it, with a ti stud centered in an alloy bolt head for the center bolt. The smaller bolts that hold the carbon plates together are steel, for now. Ted tells us he’ll be replacing those with ti version on the next batch to save another 4g.
Irish Cycles is distributing them for North America, and Ciamillo is handling European distribution in house for now. Ted told us they have 120+ sets in stock as of this post. Calipers are $539 for the set, with your choice of Shimano or Campagnolo style pad holders. Or get the long reach calipers for $559 a set.
