I mostly ride cyclotouring bikes, and they work very well for me. But I'm always curious about other bikes. Years ago, I ordered a custom-built steel road bike with 23 mm tires to find out what that feels like. I've ridden a few modern carbon gravel bikes for Bicycle Quarterly...
Summer has finally come to Seattle. After finishing some work in the morning, followed by a short brunch, we drive to Duvall, a short 45 minutes by car from Seattle. Today we'll head into the Cascade foothills on some favorite roads and trails. The weather forecast is for sunny skies, and...
Francesca (Fra) Selva has been racing on Rene Herse tires for years, on road and track. Her feedback is part of our R&D. Her spirit and the joy she gets from cycling inspire us all. We recently caught up with Fra as she prepares the 2024 season. RH: Our readers...
All of us at Rene Herse Cycles wish you Happy Holidays! We are grateful for your support, and we hope you’re staying warm and safe. We look forward to being part of your rides and adventures next year! Natsuko, Jan & the Rene Herse team
Sometimes we forget how much there is to discover close to home. Last week, we headed for a short trip to the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River. It was a cloudy afternoon—not a perfect day by any means. But it's always great to get out, and it's good to...
Adapted from Natsuko's article published in Bicycle Quarterly 58. During the Fun Ride before the Otaki Mountain Bike Race, the other participants were surprised when they noticed that my bike is equipped with Shimano Dura-Ace derailleurs. But for me, the performance of my bike is very important. That doesn’t mean that...
We're excited that our Fleecer Ridge tires won the 2021 Design & Innovation Award in the Category Off-Road Components. This prestigious European prize is based on real-world testing. The 30-strong, international jury consists of journalists, test riders and engineers who are amongst the most renowned experts in their respective fields....
For me as an editor, seeing a new book come out is a very special moment, especially if it's a new and challenging project. Before I joined Bicycle Quarterly and Rene Herse Cycles, I edited more than 180 books and magazines, but our latest project, The All-Road Bike Revolution, has...
In October 2017, I visited Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island. After touring with a friend, I continued alone to Rishiri Island. From there I took a ferry to Rebun Island. (more…)
Update 12/2025: When Natsuko wrote this post five years ago, narrow handlebars were not on anybody's radar. That's changed since then, as racers have realized that narrower bars are the easiest way to improve their aerodynamics—by making their frontal area narrower. As a result, there are other options for narrow bars...
In the last post, I talked about riding on the old road across Jikkoku Pass. Where to go on the second day? We haven’t quite decided yet. The typhoon is getting closer, and we don’t know what the weather will be like. If it’s just raining, it’s OK, but this...
Usually, October in Japan is a month of good weather, with an occasional typhoon that needs to be considered when planning a cyclotouring trip. But when I visited Japan this autumn, October saw so many typhoons and rain. It’s very unusual. We did not want to miss the short window of...
Mount Rishiri-Dake (1721 m) is a popular hiking destination. Bicycle Quarterly editor Natsuko Hirose takes you to Rishiri Island, off Hokkaido's coast in northern Japan. From the northernmost town in Hokkaido, Wakkanai, there is a ferry that goes to Rishiri and Rebun Islands. These small islands are the northernmost inhabited parts of...
I like bicycles and cyclotouring, but I especially like traveling. When I think about where I want to go next, my heart skips a beat with excitement. Passhunting, visiting Onsen hot springs, eating good meals... During my busy life, it's easy to forget the small things that make this world...
by Natsuko Hirose, Bicycle Quarterly. On a rainy Sunday, I visited a farmers' market in Seattle, instead of going cyclotouring. I saw many tulips for sale. Often, I forget about the seasons, because I am so busy. I wondered why there were so many tulips. Jan explained: "It's the season of...
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