Golden Week is one of the biggest vacation times in Japan. It's a combination of one-day holidays that result in a little over a week of time off. And it's springtime, so virtually every cyclist takes to the road. This year, we went on a ride in the Japanese Alps with a group...
We are glad to offer our Compass Randonneur handlebars with a clamp diameter of 31.8 mm (for modern stems), in addition to the 25.4 mm model we introduced last year. These handlebars have been very popular, and for good reasons. They support the rider's hands much better than conventional handlebars. Having ridden them...
When our readers receive the Summer 2016 Bicycle Quarterly, they'll have a hard time putting it down. We embarked on our most ambitious adventure to date: A ride from Cholula to Mexico City via the 4000 m (13,100 ft)-high Paso de Cortés. We rode on rough gravel roads, past the majestic volcanoes...
Where is the best place to test an Enduro Allroad bike? That is what we asked ourselves as we planned the Summer 2016 Bicycle Quarterly. It had to be a ride that went beyond the capabilities of the Allroad bikes we usually ride, with their 42 mm-wide tires. And yet we...
I've long championed wool as a great material for cycling clothes, so some riders were surprised that our Compass knickers are made from synthetics. Why didn't we choose wool, or some other natural material? We chose the fabric after careful consideration and rigorous testing. We briefly considered cotton, but it gets heavy...
It might be challenging to understand cycling enthusiasts when you aren't one. We spend a lot of money on bikes, then spend a lot of time getting into shape, and then we go on rides to nowhere, and come home tired. After all this effort, we are back exactly where we started. We haven't...
This is just a quick note that our popular 26" x 2.3" Rat Trap Pass tires are back in stock in all versions. We've been surprised by the popularity of these tires... Many cyclists have a cherished old mountain bike, an expedition tourer or a tandem that is transformed with a...
Short trips often are the most enjoyable. Last weekend, we did not venture far from Tokyo. After an hour on the commuter train, we were assembling our bikes in a mountain valley. Our ride started on backroads. In Tokyo, the cherry blossoms are long gone, but here in the mountains, the whispy "sakura" still...
A few years ago, I called the Gilles Berthoud handlebar bags "unimprovable". After all, they are lightweight, waterproof and last (almost) forever. The elastic closures are easy to operate (unlike buckles), and they allow overstuffing the main compartment and pockets. And being made from canvas and leather, the bags also are...
Some of Bicycle Quarterly's favorite stories have been campouts – short camping trips into the mountains. We pack lightly and enjoy spirited rides, unrolling our sleeping bag or setting up a lightweight tent at the end of the day, before continuing the next morning on a loop that brings us home...
When the Australian Matt Hayman won the European Paris-Roubaix race yesterday, it came as a huge surprise to everybody, including Hayman himself. However, nobody was surprised that Hayman rode on super-supple tires. With their tan sidewalls, Hayman's tires looked like FMBs or Dugasts, but first reports insist that they actually were made...
Straddle cables provide a light and elegant way of transferring the brake force: Every cable-actuated rim brake needs to transmit the force of the single brake cable onto two brake pads that squeeze the rim. In recent years, straddle cables been replaced by direct-action V-brakes or complex linkages (on modern Shimano sidepull brakes). There...
This year's Bicycle Quarterly Un-Meeting will be held on June 25 and 26 in Carson, Washington. Carson is located on the Columbia River near the Bridge of the Gods. It is easily accessible by bike from Portland along the Columbia River (90 km/50 miles). From Carson, there are many options for great rides. On...
The popularity of our 4-packs of Bicycle Quarterly back issues has surprised us. They provide a neat way of reading up on a topic that interests you, whether it's tire performance, American framebuilders, or tandems. Especially popular has been "Our best interviews", which includes Grant Petersen; the legendary builders at TOEI; a...
The Bicycle Quarterly's Specialized Diverge test bike came out of the box all black. Specialized's photo (below) makes it look like a shadow, but when I saw the actual bike, I found quite unappealing. Everything looked like it was made from plastic. I dreaded taking the bike to the photo studio, where it's our job to...
Gravel riding is becoming increasingly popular, and we are very happy about it! It was natural for Bicycle Quarterly to become a co-sponsor of the Eroica California ride in April, since it combines two things we love: gravel roads and classic bikes. But gravel riding isn't limited to riders trying...
The Bicycle Quarterly "Team" is the inspiration for much of what we do. Whether it's the ride stories in Bicycle Quarterly or the components made by Compass Bicycles, it all starts with a bunch of friends riding bikes. You may have noticed that "team" is in quotation marks, because it's not an official team, but a really remarkable group who have found each other over the years. We all are of similar strength, which means that a common pace comes naturally. We've ridden...
What is the 'correct' tire pressure for your bike? The simple answer is: Whatever feels right to you. Confused? Here is how it works: In the past, many riders inflated their tires to the maximum pressure rating. Now most cyclists now recognize that the optimum pressure often is much lower. But what is the right tire...
The Bicycle Quarterly Team's early-season rides usually head into the Cascade foothills to our east. There are plenty of quiet roads that seem to dead-end in the mountains... until you realize that they are connected by gravel roads! This allows us to string together a variety of rides – free of traffic and in...
The photo above shows raw forgings for Compass René Herse cranks. Perhaps you will have spotted that they are all different: Their length varies in 6 mm steps. We introduce René Herse cranks now available in 165 mm and 177 mm lengths, in addition to the 171 mm we have...
A few weeks ago, I visited the Tokyo Handmade Bicycle Show. It was a lot of fun seeing what Japanese builders are doing these days. Before we entered the show, we parked our bikes outside. The bike parking area by itself was worth a visit: Virtually every bike was a special,...
The Spring 2016 Bicycle Quarterly is at the printer and will be mailed in a few weeks. In this issue, we focus on the sense of exploration and discovery, from a trip across the world to a trip to get groceries. Mark Eastman explored a sense of history with his classic bike at Eroica...
Recently, I posted about slick tires and why they tend to offer poor traction, especially in the wet. Almost predictably, some Internet "experts" declared that it was all wrong. One of the more polite comments was: "Wow, lots of misinformation in this article." I guess it's normal: If your research is breaking new ground,...
Where to go for my first ride after recovering from my accident? I had commuted around Tokyo to make sure it was fine to ride my bike again, but now I wanted to experience the Japanese mountains once more before returning to Seattle. And so I headed to one of my favorite routes:...
The first Tokyo Cycle Parts show was held last week. This trade show is open only to the bicycle industry, which allowed focused inquiry into products, and provided a good glimpse at what is happening in Japanese cycling. For me, it also provided a great opportunity to see acquaintances, such as Mr. Yoshikawa, the...
A few weeks ago, we went back to Houshi Onsen, my favorite hot springs in Japan. Our friends had taken Hahn and me to this wonderful place on a ride that coincided with a typhoon hitting Japan. Despite the torrential rain and lashing wind, we took the old road that travelers used centuries ago,...
We recently received the French edition of our book The Competition Bicycle. It's exciting to see our work translated into languages beyond English – after the German edition, there now is a French one. Our French publisher, Éditions Vigot, did a great job with this book. It was printed by their favorite printer...
I recall a great ride up Tsuchiyu Touge (touge = pass) almost two years ago. This ride was organized for Hahn and me by friends from Tokyo. It was a day of much climbing, even more laughter, and the beginnings of wonderful friendships. We were in Fukushima to visit the Nitto factory, and the...
During the R&D of the Compass tires, I was surprised how much difference tire treads can make. I rode three sets of tires with the same casing, same tread rubber and same width, but different tread patterns: standard Grand Bois Hetres with large longitudinal ribs throughout the tire tread "shaved" Hetres where...
Best wishes to you for 2016! May the new year bring you wonderful rides and great memories. Photo credit: Natsuko Hirose
We want to celebrate a great year with our 10 favorite photos from Bicycle Quarterly. Tom Moran's article about fatbiking to the "Magic Bus" in Alaska was not only a great story, but it also was accompanied by great photos (above). Paris-Brest-Paris is full of captivating images, with riders from all over...
I wish all our readers Happy Holidays! I've enjoyed all the interactions with readers. The technical discussions are stimulating, but most of all, it's nice to read about so many people enjoying their bikes on great rides! Thank you all! Photo credit: Fred Blasdel
Recently, we received our custom René Herse chainring bolts (above). Why in the world would we go through so much trouble and expense to make custom chainring bolts? They are pretty significant little bolts, because they are the finishing touch on the René Herse cranks. René Herse chainrings are 1 mm thicker...
Since our first visit to Japan last year, we've been fascinated by Rinko, the Japanese system of packing bikes for train travel. The Rinko system developed by the builders Alps and Hirose is especially elegant and results in the smallest possible package for the bike. It still amazes me that a fully equipped...
As the cycling season draws to a close, I look back over the memorable rides that I have enjoyed. This year, my cycling season ended abruptly when a car turned in front of me in Taiwan, but my recovery has been helped by remembering many wonderful rides. It's been a...
Books about bicycle history and classic bikes are easily misunderstood: Are they intended for bicycle collectors? Do you need to be an aficionado of René Herse to enjoy reading about him and his riders? Our books are written for readers who want to learn from and be inspired by cyclists passionate about...
Good news: We've found a less expensive way to send Bicycle Quarterly to our international subscribers! Our readership has grown so much that we are now able to access bulk mailing options. We are passing on that reduced mailing cost to our subscribers and have lowered our international subscription rates. Click here for Bicycle...
I like climbing, and I like mountain scenery, so I was excited when the Audax-Club Parisien introduced the Super Randonnée 600 (SR 600) brevets a few years ago. The idea behind the SR 600 is simple: Over 600 km (373 miles), the route climbs at least 10,000 m (33,000 ft). The...
In our last post, readers noticed the image above and asked about cornering. How am I able to lean the bike so far? Wider bicycle tires corner better than narrower ones. This may run counter to what many cyclists believe, but it's easy to explain. The reason is the lower pressure...
When I test bikes for Bicycle Quarterly, I treat them like my own bike. I ride them for several weeks, often exclusively so I get used to the bike and get attuned to its peculiarities. Features that were unfamiliar at first soon become second nature. And conversely, minor issues may become significantly annoying...
The Winter 2015 Bicycle Quarterly is at the printer and will be mailed in a few weeks. It's another fun-filled, action-packed issue. The Winter issue's theme is "Riding with Friends". We test the Elephant National Forest Explorer, a bike made for gravel roads (above) by riding it to the Bicycle Quarterly Un-Meeting....
This year's PBP saw a significant number of riders on Compass tires. Of course, we (Jan, Theo, Hahn) rode them, too, but it's always nice to hear from others how our products are doing. J. O. from Vancouver, B.C., and his wife rode a tandem. We gave them our samples of the...
It's a common dilemma: You want to ride to the start of a cyclocross race. The distance of 20 miles to the start doesn't bother you – it's a good warm-up. But your expensive cross tubulars will wear off their knobs quickly if you ride them on pavement. What to do? One solution is equip...
Recently, I was on a familiar road, but riding it did not feel familiar. It seemed like I was straining to stay on top of my gear, whereas usually I just spin along. Was I exceptionally tired? I didn't feel that way... Then I remembered that I had replaced my 46-30...
As the rains return to the northern hemispheres, many cyclists' thoughts turn toward fenders (or mudguards, as British riders call them). Fortunately, the idea that fenders are just an afterthought is long passé – today, most real-world bikes are designed with fenders in mind from the onset. Just like Porsche...
The bike above is the icon of my youth – a 1980s Cinelli Supercorsa with Campagnolo Super Record components. Back then, I was riding a crummy Peugeot 10-speed with heavy tires, rattling fenders and poorly-shifting derailleurs, and I dreamt of a lithe racing bike. When I finally was able to afford one...
All Bicycle Quarterly back issues continue to be popular, because their content is timeless. Our historic articles are well-researched, with interviews of the people who were there, plus detailed research in the contemporary literature. If you want to know the story of Alex Singer or Jack Taylor, or how the first...
Of all the people I have interviewed for Bicycle Quarterly, Charlie Cunningham was perhaps the most fascinating. We talked for hours about a great variety of bike-related topics. I am particularly fascinated by his various brake designs – we both prefer brakes with posts next to the fork crown. (Since then, even...
While I was in Paris after this year's Paris-Brest-Paris, I visited Ben Le Batard, who runs a machine and fabrication shop. He specializes in motorbikes and bicycles. The bicycle portion of his shop is run by Daniel Hanart, perhaps best known for building Jeannie Longo's hour record bike, as well...
I thoroughly enjoyed the second Bicycle Quarterly Un-Meeting this last weekend. It had seemed hard to top the first-ever Un-Meeting, but this year's gathering was at least as much fun! About 50 cyclists met in Cle Elum for a day of riding and good company. The group split up into a...
We often hear from new subscribers: "If I had known how much I like the magazine, I would have subscribed years ago!" Now it's easier to give Bicycle Quarterly a try: you can add the current issue to your Compass Bicycles Ltd. on-line order for just $ 5 at www.compasscycle.com. Whether you are a new...
The first Paris-Brest-Paris was held as a "utilitarian race" in 1891. Organized by the newspaper Le Petit Journal, the big event started with a parade through Paris, before the cyclists raced off toward France's westernmost city, some 600 km distant. On our way to the pre-ride bike check of this year's...
Handlebars are one of the most important parts of your bike. As one of the three "contact points", the handlebar shape determines whether you are comfortable on the bike or not. After every Paris-Brest-Paris, numerous cyclists complain about numb hands. Some riders take weeks until their hands feel and work...
It's less than two weeks to the Bicycle Quarterly Un-Meeting! What's unique about our approach is that it is not a set, planned route, but rather the opportunity to loosely gather and explore together. Last year's meeting near Mount Rainier was great fun (above). This year we will meet on September 26...
During a pre-PBP visit to Germany, I had the opportunity to visit one of the largest bike shops in the region. Germany is the country with the most bicycle sales in Europe... and it shows. This shop is more like a supermarket. It's huge. There are four cash registers to...
We sometimes get the question whether there is a weight limit for Compass tires or components. The answer is "No". That doesn't mean that our components are indestructible. It's just that we have found rider weight to be a poor predictor of component failure. Neither is power output. Heavy and strong...
A few weeks ago, I was working on the third-ever issue of Bicycle Quarterly: Vol. 1 No. 3, a slim volume of 24 pages. We are reprinting this issue as part of our commitment to keep all this timeless content available. And many of the articles are indeed timeless, but I had...
We seem to be at the apex of Summer: Jan and Theo and other randonneurs experienced Paris-Brest-Paris, and we see many of you on great cycling outings. Yet, we all notice how the sun sets a bit earlier, and Labor Day is not too far away if we look at...
After Paris-Brest-Paris, Theo and I rode out to Chanteloup in the hills west of Paris. After every PBP, we organize a small reunion of the Pilotes de René Herse (the riders on René Herse's team) at the restaurant where the team used to eat after the Poly de Chanteloup hillclimb...
Update 08/2022: This post was written in 2015, when the first tubeless Compass/Rene Herse tires were introduced. Please check this post for more up-to-date information on Rene Herse tires and tubeless. I was trying to put a photo of the new Compass tires' bead here, but it's hard to photograph the...
Paris-Brest-Paris is less than a week away. That means that training is over. Any hard or long rides from now will just fatigue your body, rather than make it stronger. All you can do to get your body into top shape is rest. That doesn't mean you cannot prepare for the...
We recently received the first production samples of the new Compass tires. We've been testing the high-volume tires on our own bikes, but we don't have any bikes designed for the 26" x 1.25" Elk Pass tires. Fortunately, a Japanese friend was visiting, and she took the new Elk Pass Extralight...
Paris-Brest-Paris is less than three weeks away. If you are riding in the 1200 km ride, you already have qualified and trained. You will have thought about your equipment and tried any changes that you may want to make. Your endurance training should be complete by now. Riding long distances between...
Inner tubes often seem like generic commodities. One is as good as the next – so buy the cheapest one... I used to think that, too, until I started to see split seams, valves separating from the tube, and other mysterious flats that were not caused by "outside influences". Around...
"This is the future. It will change everything!" said Koichiro Nakamura as he pointed to a bright green women's bike in front of his office. We had met to discuss cycling and the media in Japan... and this bike wasn't what I expected. After I got over my initial surprise, I remembered...
A recent ride with BQ contributor Mark was typical: a combination of great training, enjoying the sights, and stimulating conversation. Except that this one was enriched by encountering some of my favorite cars... (I am aware of the many problems cars have caused, and I rarely drive them, but I...
This year's Bicycle Quarterly Un-Meeting will take place on September 26 and 27 in Cle Elum, Washington. The Un-Meeting is a simple idea for an event: Anybody is invited, but there is no organization, there are no entry fees, and no services are provided. The logistics of how to get...
What does the photo above show? It reminds me of the traps used to ensnare animals, used by trappers who hunt animals for their fur. As the animal passes, its leg gets caught in the snare... So why are these snares appearing all over Seattle's bike lanes? Is it a nefarious...
Our very first Enduro Allroad prototype tires started out as knobbies with supple casings – then we had the knobs shaved off by Peter Weigle. We wanted to test the concept of a very wide, supple tire before committing to expensive tire molds. We were happy to report that the...
One of the most confounding questions in cycling is this: Which hand should control which brake? In the U.S., the law requires that all bikes are sold with the left hand controlling the front brake, and the right hand the rear brake. It's the same in France. In Italy and...
Last weekend was the Seattle International Randonneurs 600 km brevet. Not only was it the last brevet we needed to qualify for Paris-Brest-Paris, but we also had a goal of finishing it in R60 time: 24 hours for 600 km. Some readers my be surprised by our secrets on how to...
Oceans have a strong appeal to me. The Raid Pyrénéen, a ride across the length of the Pyrenees mountains, starts at the Atlantic and ends at the Mediterranean. On our Flèche 24-hour rides, we often visit the Pacific Ocean. Oceans seem like limitless expanses of water from the shore, yet...
The Summer 2015 Bicycle Quarterly is at the printer and will be mailed next week. This summer's theme is a "Journey of Discoveries". We test the Breadwinner B-Road that won last year's Oregon Outback. We take it on a journey to the ghost town of Monte Cristo. Join us as we discover...
A while back, another magazine published a list of the "10 Most Important Innovations in Cycling". The list included things like electronic shifting and Lycra, but left out pneumatic tires... This got us thinking: What are the ten most important innovations in cycling? To keep things straightforward, we'll start after the...
Running Red Lights Few things raise the ire of motorists (and some cyclists) more than cyclists running red lights. Yet anybody who has ridden in major cities has seen riders proceeding through red lights. Why do they do this? Cyclists operate on streets that are designed for cars. The current traffic infrastructure...
When the new Edelux II headlights came out a little over a year ago, they were another big step forward in lighting technology. Compared to the first Edelux, the new version features a much wider and more evenly lit beam. Compared to older halogen headlights, the difference is night and...
"Let the guys on the 650B bikes to the front. They'll be ahead anyhow." That is what the organizer of the Seattle International Randonneurs 400 km brevet said before the start. We laughed – what a change from just a few years ago when many people thought I was exceptionally...
When bikes are as stunningly beautiful as the machines from René Herse, Alex Singer and other French constructeurs, it is easy to dismiss them as "beauty queens" or "show bikes." This would be a mistake: The performance of these bikes is as outstanding as their appearance. They confirm the old...
When you design a product, develop it, test it and finally bring it to market, you wonder how it will be received. Of course, you are confident that others will like it as much as you do – you wouldn't have released it if it didn't meet your high expectations....
Berthoud handlebar bags are wonderful, and we've been selling them for years now. I even wrote once that they were "unimprovable". It turns out that they can be improved after all! The model most riders prefer is the "standard" version, which uses elastic loops to close the pocket flaps. The "luxury"...
April 1, 2015: Flats are a major nuisance for cyclists. Nobody likes them, and various companies have tried to address the issue by adding puncture-proof layers to their tires. However, all these tires don't address the issue at its core: They still contain air. We've been studying bicycle history in search...
Whether you are going to ride a brevet with an eye on qualifying for Paris-Brest-Paris, whether you plan to ride a century or race, or whether you just want to enjoy exploring this season, having your bike in good condition is the best way to guarantee success. If you are...
Every year, the first brevet of the season sort of sneaks up on me. I've been enjoying bucolic rides with friends for the first months of the year, and then suddenly, the 200 km brevet is just a few days away. It serves as a reminder that if I want...
Rizzoli USA recently re-released The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles as part of their "Classics" series. This series offers their most popular books in a slightly smaller, handy format at a very attractive price. Of course, I am excited that this book is considered a bestseller (at least among art and...
Rene Herse tires are available in two versions: standard and extralight. What is the difference between the two? The difference is in the casing. The standard casing is already quite light and supple, but for the Extralight, we worked with our Japanese supplier to push the envelope further. These tires use...
The Spring 2015 Bicycle Quarterly picks up where the 50th issue left off: After reviewing the progress of "real-world" bicycle over the last decade, we are looking into the future. How can we improve our riding experience further? Could we fine-tune the tubing configuration of our 650B bikes to supercharge their...
At Compass Bicycles, we think a lot about manufacturing. We know what we want to make, but how should we make it, and where? We are not looking for the lowest cost, but for the highest quality. The conditions under which our products are made are an important consideration as...
"Stop the Presses!" is a term you really only understand once you have seen these gigantic machines churn out sheet after sheet in rapid succession. They do seem almost unstoppable. Yet here they fell silent again, after just a few sheets had been printed. It was time for the press...
A little while ago, I wrote about how new scientific research has allowed us to design wide, supple tires that offer the speed of narrow, high-end racing tires. The key finding is that above a certain threshold, increasing tire pressure no longer results in lower rolling resistance. While these new...
If you have been around randonneurs lately, you'll have noticed a buzz around three letters: PBP. The 1200 km ride from Paris to Brest and back has captured the imagination of cyclists for more than a century. It's now organized every four years, and 2015 is one of those years! Randonneurs...
We just signed up our 4000th current subscriber to Bicycle Quarterly. The response to our 50th issue has been overwhelming – both from long-time readers who considered it our "best one yet" and from new subscribers. We received even more feedback than usual, with comments like: "The publication really has...
From time to time, we receive shipments of books that have been damaged. Usually they haven't been packed well and got damaged in shipping. Sometimes, they have minor flaws that happened during the binding of the book. Usually, we return these books to the publisher, but when they come from overseas,...
The cycling season has started again. In January and February, the Bicycle Quarterly team begins our training with long rides at an unhurried pace. This year, we've been lucky with the weather, with many clear days and gorgeous views. Mount Rainier (above)... ... the Cascade Mountains in the morning mist... ...and Mount...
The new Compass centerpull brakes have been very well received. Numerous builders have asked for the complete specifications for the brakes, since many riders plan to use them on their new bikes. We sold so many of the centerpull braze-ons that we are currently out of stock of these pivots,...
Of all our research on tires, the most revolutionary finding is this: Tire pressure has almost no effect on a tire's speed. We did not believe it at first, either, so we've tested it numerous times. It's been confirmed numerous times, with different methodologies. The real revolution is not how you...
With Paris-Brest-Paris coming up this year, a lot of people seem to be interested in randonneuring. They like the idea of a challenging, but not competitive, sport. Many brevets feature great scenery, a sense of adventure, and wonderful people to ride with. Unfortunately, all too often, I hear people say:...
Last week, I called Lyli Herse to wish her a happy 87th birthday. You can see her 62 years earlier in the photo above (third from the left). I love this photo – a great group of young (and some not-so-young) people. They congregate around a beautiful bicycle, yet their...
During our recent visit to Japan, we had the privilege of visiting Mikashima Industrial Company, better known as MKS, the makers of bicycle pedals. We had expressed an interest in MKS to our trading company. Fortunately, the MKS's president, Toshiyuki Ogino (right), had heard about Bicycle Quarterly and was also...
From its beginning more than a decade ago, Bicycle Quarterly was intended as a timeless resource, rather than a magazine you read once and then recycle. Most of our content is still relevant and interesting, and our back issues continue to be popular. We are glad that new readers enjoy...
We discussed "planing" in a recent post by looking at power data from a double-blind test of two different bikes. (If you haven't read that post, we suggest you start reading there.) The data showed that the same rider's power output was consistently higher on a bike with a more...
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