The definitive US made CNC-bike-porn derailleur of the mid 1990’s, the  legend is that the Paul Powerglide even got its own centrefold in one of the teeny-bopper mountain bike magazines of the time. Next stop - the Playboy Mansion.

The Powerglide has a single sprung pivot, but is not quite a SunTour V GT in exotic drag, because the guide pulley is offset from the pivot. It worked well enough, but not spectacularly, and, with its aluminium hanger bolt and titanium small bolts, it was pleasantly light, but not astonishingly so. Nothing functional could possibly justify its extraordinary price.

However the Paul Powerglide looked amazing, the colours, the CNC geometric shapes, the detailing around the adjustable cable outer stop and the adjustment screws - all of this was like water in the desert for mountain bike aficionado’s drowning in a sea of Shimano (a fine mixture of metaphors).

This example is in the iconic ‘Rasta’ colours - red, gold and green - to match your obligatory elephantine wooly hat, ‘legalize it’ T-shirt and Fabulous-Furry-Freak-Brothers VW van.

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1. •Brand: Paul
   

2. •Country: USA
   

3. •Date of introduction: 1995
   

4. •Date of this example: unknown
   

5. •Model no: unknown
   

6. •Weight: 195g
   

7. •Maximum cog: 32 teeth?
   

8. •Total capacity: 40 teeth?
   

9. •Pulley centre to centre: 102mm (4” in old money)
   

10. •Index compatibility: 8 speed
    

11. •Chain width: 3/32”
    

12. •Logic: top normal
    

13. •Pivots: two pivots, front sprung and rear unsprung
    

14. •Material: aluminium
    

15. •My theme: A riot of colour
    

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