The top of Bealach na Ba Pass This autumn, Andrew Mathias rode around the entire coastline of Britain in one setting. Many of us followed his beautiful journey on Instagram. Now I had the opportunity to interview Andrew about his epic journey. JH: Congratulations on riding around the coastline of Britain. It...
At Compass Cycles, we have taken much of our inspiration from René Herse and his legendary bikes. In the past, we've talked about the great performance and incredible reliability of Herse's bikes, but what is even more striking is their beauty. You notice it immediately when you look at one...
We are excited to announce the latest SON generator hubs. The biggest news is the connector-less SL system for thru-axle hubs: Now you can remove your front wheel and its generator hub without having to disconnect any wires, even with a thru axle. The system consists of three parts: The heart is...
At Compass, we design our components over thousands of miles on the (often rough) roads we ride, so we have full confidence that others will enjoy them as much as we do. Still, we were pleasantly surprised when the world's biggest cycling web site, BikeRadar, tested our handlebars and awarded...
The new Bicycle Quarterly is shipping now – subscribers should have their copies in a few weeks. Many of our readers already have enjoyed the video of our tandem trip to the French Alps. Taking an unrestored 70-year-old bike on a challenging tour was full of...
Our new water bottles celebrate the Compass and René Herse logos with a bold new design. The bottles are based on Specialized's popular 26 oz. Purist design, with our custom graphics. In addition to the iconic logos, the bottles feature a quote that describes our approach to bicycles. The new design is limited...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKo2aDuTZ2g The Winter Bicycle Quarterly features the story of a remarkable adventure: Touring unknown mountain roads in the French Alps on an unrestored, 70-year-old René Herse. To bring you right into the action, we made a little video about the ride. Click on the image above to watch, before reading the full...
The new René Herse cantilever brakes are here! Prototypes of these brakes were one of the secrets that made Peter Weigle’s bike at this year’s Concours de Machines so light. They weigh just 75 g per wheel including bolts, springs and pad holders (without pads). How can...
During the second day of our recent cyclotouring trip to the Aizu mountains in northern Japan, we embarked on a little adventure to discover the 'Forgotten Pass.' In the evening of the first day, we climbed a small mountain pass, but found to our surprise that a...
During a recent trip to Japan, we went on a short trip to the Aizu mountains in northern Honshu (Japan's main island). It was a beautiful day, and the famous kouyou ('autumn red leaves') were at their best. Like most rides in Japan, we started by taking the train. A Shinkansen bullet train...
Compass Cycles is introducing the first-ever 11-speed-compatible René Herse cranks and chainrings. And the first-ever René Herse chainrings with ramps and pins. These are not just any ramps and pins: They're carefully engineered to shift as well as the best cranks from the big manufacturers. We are proud to offer this...
In addition to individual Rene Herse x Kaisei tubes, we offer three tubesets: Superlight, 'Mule' and Oversize. Each tubeset is based on bikes that we have found to work extremely well. Today we'll look at the Mule. Named after my most versatile bike, it features an unusual configuration: an oversized...
We aren't models! Anybody who has looked at our photos will have noticed this... but what I really want to say is that every photo you see in Bicycle Quarterly, on this blog and on the Compass web site is totally authentic. It's not a posed shot with – yes...
During a recent visit to Kyoto, we rented bikes for a day. Cycling is a great way to get around this beautiful old city, and it also presented an opportunity to experience Japanese city bikes. Our guest house offered bike rentals for the equivalent of $ 5 per day. In Kyoto,...
In addition to individual Rene Herse x Kaisei frame tubes, we offer three tubesets. Each tubeset is based on bikes that we have found to work extremely well. These bikes have distinct characters that I'll describe in a series of blog posts. The Superlight tubeset is just that – the...
The Autumn Bicycle Quarterly marks the 15th anniversary of the magazine. To celebrate, we assembled a very special selection of articles into our largest issue yet. Many readers have written to voice their excitement about the latest edition. Here are a few examples: "Issue no. 61 is absolutely the greatest I...
Sometimes, we get questions about why our René Herse cranks aren't anodized. Some even wondered if this was a cost-saving measure. Rest assured, Compass never will choose a cheaper process over a better one. There is a reason why our cranks aren’t anodized: When I was racing, I bought a beautiful used Campagnolo...
Now that it's officially autumn in the northern hemisphere, the temperatures are getting colder, the days are shorter, and there's often a chance of rain in the forecast. For me, that makes riding my bike all the more important. I enjoy breathing fresh air, feeling the wind in my face,...
Quite a few people were surprised at the 2017 Concours de Machines when Peter Weigle's bike was the lightest by a big margin. With a steel frame and mostly metal components, the Weigle weighed just 9.1 kg (20.0 lb) fully equipped with wide tires, fenders, lights, a rack, even a pump...
The updated Compass Babyshoe Pass TC 650B x 42 mm tires are now in stock in all models. What's new? We took our most popular 650B tire, and made it tubeless compatible. When you are riding fast on rough gravel, tubeless really makes sense – as I found out when...
Last weekend was the first cyclocross race in Seattle. Almost every year, the first race catches me by surprise. Summer is over? It's 'cross season already? Usually, I oil the chain on my trusty Alan 'cross bike and head to the races. This year, the Alan's tubular tires needed regluing. The...
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAwXw_GGtY4?rel=0&w=640&h=360] Open made a video to introduce their facelifted U.P. wide-tire racing bike. They went for a beautiful ride in the Alsace Mountains of France, coincidentally the same region where the first post-war Concours de Machines was held in 1946. A few months ago, we sent Open's Andy Kessler a set...
It's no secret that we love steel bikes. Steel allows us to build the bikes we need for our adventures – bikes where every detail is optimized to the nth degree. You can imagine our concern when True Temper, one of the most important suppliers of steel tubing, decided to...
The results are coming in for the Volcano High Pass Challenge. As the name implies, it was a challenging ride with much elevation gain, much gravel, and much scenic beauty. Fifteen intrepid riders set out from the Packwood Library shortly after 5 a.m. on Saturday. The long gravel climb up to Walupt Lake...
Smiles all around: That is perhaps the best summary of the Bicycle Quarterly Un-Meeting. A couple of dozen cyclists met in Carson, WA, for a weekend of exploring with like-minded cyclists. This year, the weekend started with the Volcano High Pass Challenge, an unsactioned ride/race over 103 miles (166 km) and...
The Bicycle Quarterly Un-Meeting and the Volcano High Pass Challenge are just a little over a week away! These separate events will take place consecutively on Labor Day Weekend (Sept. 2-4). You can do one or the other, but of course, we hope you will join us for both! The Volcano...
With the Autumn issue, we celebrate 15 years of Bicycle Quarterly! Fifteen years is a long time, and much has changed in the bike world since 2003. Most of those changes – wider tires, compact cranks, Allroad bikes – have been for the better, and BQ has played at least...
Sometimes, it feels as if cyclists are divided into two camps on many issues. One of these divisions concerns pedals. There are those who believe that if you don't have clipless pedals, it's hardly worth taking your bike outside. Others fervently believe that any foot retention will ruin your enjoyment...
We just received our first shipment of Gilles Berthoud "Open" saddles. In the past, I've tried many saddles with cutouts, but none were comfortable. While they relieved pressure in the center, the sharp edges of the opening were uncomfortable. So I was skeptical when I received a sample of the...
Jan's comment: It's always interesting to read others' impressions of our work. Cyclodonia discussed several bikes from the Concours de Machines in detail. Translated and reposted with permission. The French original is available here. The views expressed are those of the original author, not mine. Enjoy! J. P. Weigle (Lyme...
Many cyclists dream of a dual-purpose tire that rolls smoothly on paved roads, but has knobs that dig into the surface when it gets slippery. In the past, combining these two qualities in a single tire has been elusive. Usually, the knobs were too squirmy for good performance on pavement...
If there is such a thing, Babyshoe Pass is our favorite tire here at Compass and Bicycle Quarterly. It's 42 mm width gives it great cornering grip, comfort and puncture resistance. The 650B wheel size offers nimble handling with wide tires. The Babyshoe Pass is named after an iconic gravel...
Long-time Bicycle Quarterly reader Matt Surch (above) put his name on the map when he won last year's Steaming Nostril gravel race on Compass Bon Jon Pass tires. We checked back in with him to see how the tires performed in the year since then, and to hear about his road racing...
When Bridgestone USA closed in 1994, many mourned the loss of what they saw as the last bastion of sensible design in the quickly changing world of bicycles. They rejoiced when later that year, Bridgestone's marketing manager Grant Petersen started Rivendell Bicycle Works. The new company's first project were three...
During its last week, the Tour de France heads for a final showdown in the Alps. This year's race is incredibly close, with less than 30 seconds separating the first three riders. The penultimate stage is a time trial, so we may even see an almost-repeat of 1989, when...
The official results of the 2017 Concours de Machines are in! Peter Weigle's bike did even better than we thought:Lightest bike: First place Choice of the jury: First place Technical points (bonus for features, penalties for problems): First place Zero penalties for technical problems Faster than required speed on each stage: zero penalties Overall: Second placeWe...
Allways pedal At Compass Cycles, we sell only parts that we want to ride on our own bikes. It's important that we can rely on the components we use to carry us through all conditions, problem-free. This is why we offer the top-of-the-line pedals from MKS. Each of the MKS pedals we...
In past decades, there was little doubt about what made a "road" bike: narrow tires, drop handlebars, no fenders. Then randonneur bikes were re-introduced into cycling's mainstream, leading to some confusion. "That is a touring bike," said many. "It has a rack and fenders." But the performance of the randonneur bike is...
The 2017 Concours de Machines in Ambert (France) was a great success for everybody involved. The bikes were amazing – and much-improved over last year's machines – the routes were truly challenging, and most of all, the spirit among all participants was wonderful. The goal was to find the best "light randonneur bike",...
In this year's Concours de Machines technical trials, I am riding J. P. Weigle's entry (above). The Concours is a competition for the best 'light randonneur bicycle.' The rules stress light weight, reliability and innovation. Bikes must be fully equipped with lights and the ability to carry luggage, plus a pump and a bell....
Next weekend, the Concours de Machines (Technical Trials) will be held in Ambert, France. The Concours is a competition between bikes, not riders, with the goal to find the best "light randonneur bike". Bikes will be weighed, judged on their features, and then sent on a challenging course over three days to...
We've experienced a profound revolution in road bikes in recent years: It used to be that to go fast, you rode narrow tires and pumped them up to the maximum pressure. If you wanted more comfort, you used wider tires and (maybe) lower pressures, but you knew that you'd be...
In recent months, I've been traveling and testing so many bikes for Bicycle Quarterly that I my "main" bike, the René Herse, hasn't seen much use. But now the Summer BQ is out, and I am back on my favorite bike. We built it six years ago as a prototype...
"I no longer believe that the ultimate rigidity defines the ultimate bike!" That revolutionary statement came from Damon Rinard, Road Engineering Manager at Cannondale, in a recent Cyclingtips.com podcast on frame stiffness and "planing". For many decades, stiffer frames were thought to perform better. Frame flex was equated with wasted...
The long days of summer see us heading far into the mountains. Often, our ambitious plans push the limits of even the longest days... Above, Natsuko descends the incredible chain of passes in the Cevennes mountains of France. This amazing tour is featured in the latest Bicycle Quarterly. Just in time...
Unpublished photos are fun, especially when they tell a different story from the one featured in Bicycle Quarterly. When I was cleaning out old photo files, I was reminded of our trip to Mexico City a little over a year ago. The main reason to visit Mexico with our bikes...
It's always interesting when bike industry people talk among each other, off-the-record. On the ride from the airport to Paul Camp a few weeks ago, one bike tester was still visibly shaken when he related: "My tubeless tire blew off the rim yesterday. I almost crashed." Worried that...
A few weeks ago, the Bicycle Quarterly editors went to Paul Camp – a get-together for the media at Paul Components, the famous maker of brakes and other parts. The idea was simple: Instead of attending a big trade show, why not get the media together, bring them to Paul in...
At Bicycle Quarterly, we've been testing quite a few titanium and carbon bikes lately, and even a bike made from bamboo. We really liked most of these bikes. And yet our own bikes continue to be made from steel. Why don't we ride carbon or titanium (or bamboo) bikes? We choose steel...
The new Bicycle Quarterly is at the printer. It's our biggest issue yet – well over 100 pages filled with exciting adventures. Here are a few of them: Renowned framebuilder and constructeur Peter Weigle joins us on a trip to Japan. Read his experiences with Rinko-ing his bike, riding the incredible Japanese mountain roads,...
Spacers with a flat surface on the inner diameter can help prevent your headset from loosening. Just to clarify: If your headset stays put as it is, then don't change it! It's just that my headsets kept loosening on two different bikes, and so I was looking for a solution.Classic headsets...
Bikepacking is popular because it allows you to go places where bikes with panniers face difficulties. Bikepacking bags are inside the outline of the bike, so you can go anywhere an "empty" bike can go. Pushing the bike is easier, too, when there are no bags hanging off the sides. The only problem...
I really like our cyclotouring knickers. They are based on a design I discovered in Japan. The ones we offer are a development from that, a little lighter and even better for spirited riding. I've been wearing mine on almost every ride since we introduced them. So it's no surprise that...
Drew Wilson won the Ragnarok 105-mile gravel race on Compass tires recently, so we used the opportunity to ask him about his race and gravel riding in general. JH: Congratulations on your win at the Ragnarok 105. It’s a tough event - tell us a bit about it. DW:...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUvHudzx8VE Bicycle Quarterly took the Open U.P. to Odarumi, one of the highest passes in Japan. How does a carbon bike for wide tires handle the 2000 m (6600 ft) paved climb? And how does it do on the challenging gravel descent? We made a little video to take you right...
Compass Cycles is proud to sponsor the Swift Campout for the second year. The Swift Campout is a global event, allowing riders to participate where and as they choose: On Saturday, June 24, cyclists will head out for camping trips to a destination they select, then return on Sunday. It’s fun...
First, I want to apologize that several Compass tire models are out of stock. Orders from our distributors in Europe and Japan have exceeded our expectations, and tire production has to be scheduled long in advance... The tires now are on a boat to Seattle. We should have all models back in...
Compass Cycles and Branford Bikes are excited to announce the Volcano High Pass Challenge as part of a Labor Day weekend filled with great rides. Part race, part scenic ride with friends, this unsanctioned event challenges riders of all abilities. The one-day route goes from Packwood, at the foot of Mount...
The other rider passed us at great speed. Getting passed by "hobby racers" while cyclotouring with my Japanese friends isn't unusual, especially on valley-bottom roads that see many cyclists. From behind, the rider looked odd. His position was very low. He was turning a large gear. All this sounds like a novice rider,...
A highlight of my trips to Japan is visiting Cycle Store Hirose. It's a truly special place. I enjoy talking about bikes with Mr. Hirose. His knowledge is deep, and his ideas and thoughts never cease to surprise me. This time, I was proud to show him the Compass decaleur that licenses Hirose's locking...
When building a bike, one important decision concerns the wheels. How do you get the best performance and still make your wheels strong enough to withstand 20,000+ miles of riding on rough roads without needing service? By now, most cyclists know that spokes don't break from overloading, but from fatigue as the...
Tokyo's Mountain Cycling Club reminds me of the Groupe Montagnard Parisien: almost unknown, yet fascinating and influential far beyond their limited membership. The French riders brought us the Technical Trials and modern randonneur bikes, while their Japanese counterparts co-invented mountain bikes. The Mountain Cycling Club started exploring the mountain passes in the Japanese Alps decades ago....
We now offer Compass centerpull brakes with a backing plate for bolt-on mounting, in limited quantities. Many customers have asked for this: Wouldn't it be nice to get the superlight weight and superior performance of these brakes on an existing bike? A backing plate connects the pivots with the fork crown,...
Compass is proud to introduce what we consider the ultimate decaleur. Combining the ideas of René Herse and H. Hirose with Nitto's craftsmanship, the new Compass decaleurs are strong, light, beautiful and reliable. Here is why decaleurs are important: We love handlebar bags. They are a great way to carry the things you...
We are always excited when the final files for Bicycle Quarterly go to the printer. We think that our readers will especially enjoy the Spring 2017 issue. We tested no fewer than three really amazing bikes. The Open U.P. (above) promises the performance and feel of a modern carbon racing bike and the...
During our Bicycle Quarterly adventures and travels, we generate hundreds – sometimes thousands – of photos. Only a fraction of them make it into the magazine, and there are many great shots that linger in the archives forever. Now Bicycle Quarterly has its own Instagram account (@bikequarterly) to...
At Compass Cycles, we love riding on gravel roads, so it may come as a surprise that we don't make "gravel" tires. Compass tires are road tires, perfected for use on paved roads. The rubber compound is optimized for grip on pavement, and the "chevron" tread pattern interlocks further with the road...
You may have seen the headlines that global temperatures have hit record highs each of the last three years. There is little doubt that global climate change is real and accelerating. The signs have been there for decades: When I worked in the Cascade Mountains on...
The new Compass UD-1 front rack is a "universal" rack intended for bikes where our other racks don't fit. It's an especially good choice for bikes with disc brakes. Like all our racks, it is made by Nitto in Japan to Compass specifications. At 221 g, it's remarkably light for an adjustable...
The San Juan Islands are only a short distance north from Seattle. Why not go cyclotouring for a weekend? It was still dark when we took the 7:30 ferry from Anacortes. As our boat headed toward the islands, the sun rose over Mount Baker. Ferry rides are always beautiful, but in January,...
Riders are realizing the importance of handlebar shapes again. In recent decades, makers tried to make ergonomic shapes by flattening the bars where the most useful hand positions are located. But human anatomies vary a lot, and locking riders into a few 'anatomic' hand position rarely results in the promised comfort. In fact, rather...
Disc brakes have become increasingly popular on bicycles in recent years, especially on all-road bikes with wide tires. Bicycle Quarterly has tested more than 20 bikes with disc brakes. Our challenging adventures have provided excellent opportunities to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of modern 'road' disc brakes. I remember enjoying...
Every year in Seattle, Swift Industries organizes the 'Stoked Spoke' series of presentations about cyclotouring trips. On January 18, I'll talk about our ride across the Paso de Cortés in Mexico. Hear the story behind the ride, discover the inspiration that had us pack up the bikes and head to...
Small parts often get overlooked, but they can make a big difference in your cycling experience. Take light mounts, for example. Adjusting the angle of your headlight beam is useful: In town, you want to angle the headlight low so it doesn't blind oncoming traffic. Out in the mountains, you need a higher...
Let your 2017 be filled with wonderful rides and passionate pursuits! —The team at Bicycle Quarterly and Compass Cycles
In Bicycle Quarterly, we've featured a number of the great bicycle builders in Japan: TOEI, C.S. Hirose, Iribe and Level. We did a brief feature on Bicycle Shop Gen – one of my favorite shops anywhere in the world. This year, I had the opportunity to visit again. Bicycle Shop Gen is...
At Bicycle Quarterly and Compass Cycles, we take thousands of photos on our rides big and small. Only a fraction make it into the magazine or onto our web site. Many of the others are just too precious to vanish into our archives. Instagram provides a great way to share them. Most of...
In Seattle, the cycling season has ended. Snow has closed most mountain passes. Our bodies welcome a little rest from the long adventures. The time has come to pour a cup of tea and review the rides of this year. Here are some of the most memorable rides of this year. Click on the links to...
Over the last few years, Bicycle Quarterly has tested quite a few titanium bikes. There is a simple reason for this: Titanium is a great material for an up-to-date, thoroughly modern bike. In recent years, the pace of innovation, especially with respect to tires, has been incredibly rapid. Just a few years ago, "gravel grinders"...
When I returned from my first ride to Utsukushigahara, I was ecstatic about the amazing climb, the wonderful scenery and lonesome gravel road at the top, and the incredible descent where hairpin turns followed one another so quickly. But Natsuko was a little disappointed: "You didn't...
We recently decided not to reprint Bicycle Quarterly back issues any longer. In the past, we've reprinted issues as they sold out, because we wanted to keep the great content available: amazing bike builders like Alex Singer, Charlie Cunningham, Jack Taylor, Reyhand, Hetchins, Charrel; the incredible French technical trials; original technical...
Winter is a time when we think about our bikes. That way, when we are riding, we don't have to think about our bikes. During the off-season, we overhaul parts to make them last another year. We switch components in search of comfort, performance or beauty. We then test the modifications during...
Generator lighting make bikes far more versatile. You can ride at night and never have to worry how much charge you have left in your batteries. Your lighting system is always there, not consuming significant energy when off, and very little when turned on. Which generator hub is best for your bike? This...
This photo shows our Compass centerpull brake with the straddle cable released. (It also shows a Rinko fender, and a Babyshoe Pass Extralight tire after about 5000 kilometers...) More than a thousand words, this photo explains the design of our brakes: The arms fit around 42 mm-wide tires and fenders with...
Compass components have found fans all over the world. We are shipping them as far as Brazil, South Africa and Singapore. Unfortunately, international shipping is expensive. And we really want to see our products in bike shops. So we are working with distributors to make our products more widely available. Many...
We love handlebar bags. They are easy to access, they don't affect the bike's handling when you ride out of the saddle, and they are more aerodynamic than rear bags. (Yes, we did test that in the wind tunnel!) To take a photo, you stop, put a foot down and get out...
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY_9e-dB8M0?rel=0&w=640&h=360] Here is a little video we made in Mexico during our trip to the Paso de Cortés. Compass doesn't have the means to air it during the Superbowl, but we think you'll enjoy it nonetheless. Click on the image above or watch at this link. Make sure you watch...
Recently, I cleaned out old files on our computers, and came across this treasure trove of unpublished photos from Bicycle Quarterly's "Secret Pass" adventure. It took me back three years, when Hahn and I headed into the Cascade Mountains to test the MAP 650B Randonneur. Like all of Mitch's bikes, his latest machine...
The Winter 2016 Bicycle Quarterly will be mailed soon. Winter is when many cyclists review the year's riding season and think about a new bike. If we were to order (or even build) a new bike, what we would do differently? In the Winter BQ, we look at this question from many...
The Bicycle Quarterly Charity Drive raised $ 2475. We are excited to send a check to Doctors Without Borders. Thank you to everybody who made this a success, either by contributing directly or by sharing the news about the event with their friends. Thank you! If you would like to make...
With a tumultuous election season in the United States, we sometimes lose sight of the bigger worries that exist in many parts of the world, even as the news highlight armed conflicts and refugee crisis. One of the ways Compass Bicycles has chosen to make a difference is with a special 24-hour charity...
We have discovered a compatibility issue with the different versions of MKS Rinko pedal. Please note that the SPD-compatible MKS US-S pedals (shown on left) use the "EZY" release system while the other MKS Rinko pedals we offer use the "EZY-Superior" release system (shown on right). Each system works equally...
Visiting Japan is fun, in part because I meet so many different cyclists. There are the cyclotourists, the randonneurs, the collectors... Bicycle collecting as a hobby has a long tradition in Japan, and there are many events for collectors. The Keiokaku Bicycle Flea Market is one of them. It's a popular event...
Many Bicycle Quarterly readers wrote to tell us how much they enjoyed Takayuki Nishiyama's in-depth article about SunTour in the Summer 2016 Bicycle Quarterly (above). SunTour was one of the world's most innovative component makers, yet little has been written about this company. SunTour went out of business in the 1990s, but...
On a rainy weekend in late September, a group of seven friends headed out for a weekend tour in the mountains. We took a long train ride from Tokyo to Fukushima. We started climbing almost as soon as we left the station. Up an up we went, into a landscape hidden by clouds and rain. When...
We thoroughly test every Compass product before we release it. We also seek unbiased evaluations from experienced riders who weren't involved in the development of the products. For the new Compass Steilacoom cyclocross tires, we gave them to a number of cyclocross and gravel racers. Two of them have reported...
The Autumn 2016 Bicycle Quarterly includes a photo feature about riding in the Hirose Owners' Meeting. I really enjoy these events, because they combine amazing bikes with wonderful rides. Many Japanese custom bikes are incredibly elaborate and beautifully crafted, yet they are intended to be ridden. What makes "Hirose watching" so much fun is...
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