Everything we ever needed to know about the Zero Gravity OG-Ti brake calipers we learned from the New York City Cycling Championships a few summers back. A particularly astute customer of ours named Art had long been thinking about indulging in a couple of upgrades to his beloved Colnago C50. His bike was rather loaded as it was, so there wasn't much room for improvement. Like the rest of us, that summer he'd just begun seeing Zero Gravity ads on cyclingnews.com, and it was also there that he saw a review of their brake calipers in which the reviewer was noteably astounded by the quality of the brakes. This came to mind as he walked past the Team Webcor entourage an hour or two before the race. He noted that their bikes were equipped with Zero Gravity calipers, so he decided (with all the signature coyness of a native New Yorker) to collar the first Webcor rider he saw to get the inside scoop.

Lucky him. Who did he snag? Chris Horner -- the unequivocal god of the American domestic racing scene for the previous 5 years, who's since become a powerhouse Eurodog rider for teams like Davitamon-Lotto and Astana. Horner couldn't have been clearer -- he loved his bike, a decked out Ti Lemond with full Dura-Ace and fancy carbon wheels. Then he got specific about the brakes. Forget about the gee-whiz weight factor, Horner said, and get this: He's ridden Dura-Ace 7700 9-Speed calipers and Dura-Ace 7800 10-Speed Calipers for lots and lots of miles, and there was no question in his mind that the Zero Gravity calipers stop with all of the authority of Shimano calipers. Period.

Art did a double take. He's a big shot attorney and for mere survival in his profession he's honed his BS-detector to a razor-sharp edge. He knew instantly from the tone of Horner's voice that he wasn't lying, that he wasn't just being a sponsor's shill. Art knew that the Zero Gravity calipers weigh in at almost 1/3 lb. lighter than Dura-Ace 10-Speed calipers, and here was a guy who makes a living ripping through tight, technical corners in huge packs at pro speeds and his first comment on the Zero Gravity calipers was how well they stopped? He was rather shocked and completely sold right then.

The weight of Zero Gravity calipers does indeed speak for itself. 160g for the pair of calipers. The caliper arms themselves are 7075 aluminum, while the center bolt, quick release, and cable clamp bolt are all titanium. Precision CNC machining of all parts and hardware shaves every last iota of unnecessary material.

The superb stopping power of the Zero Gravity calipers is a direct function of its unique design. A bearing grade Torlon cam lobe is positioned on a lever to create a compact 2:1 mechanical advantage. Further gains are made by the use of materials chosen for their ability to resist power-robbing torsion.

The 0G-Ti come with a set of four Swiss Stop Yellow King brake pads. These are amazing pads -- ideal for both aluminum and carbon rims. They're light (of course!), but they also shine in terms of speed modulation and lock-up power.

Zero Gravity calipers are ideal for a Dura-Ace, Red, or Record-equipped bike that is seemingly unupgradeable. Your jaw will drop the first time you hold them in your hand, and you'll have a huge smile on your face the first time you hit the brakes after you install them.