Back in Stock: TPU, SON, Apidura, RH front derailleurs

For most of us, cycling is a way of life. Our bikes aren’t just tools; they are extensions of ourselves. A reliable supply of tires and components is essential. That’s why, at Rene Herse Cycles, we do everything we can to keep our parts in stock at all times.

As much as we try, sometimes products run out before new deliveries arrive. Below are a few of the things we’ve recently restocked—and why they ran out in the first place. And also updates on parts that we’re still waiting for.

Our TPU tubes have been popular ever since we introduced them almost two years ago. At a time when the industry and media were still promoting ‘tubeless for everybody,’ we knew from our own experience that many riders don’t want (and need) the upkeep required by tubeless tires—at least not on every bike they own. As an added bonus, TPU tubes roll faster—the liquid sealant moving inside tubeless tires adds resistance.

Now the mainstream (finally!) is jumping on the TPU bandwagon, and demand for these tubes remains strong. They are made in small batches in Germany, and production has a hard time keeping up. We recently got another shipment, but they’re already going fast.

The same applies to the new SON Ladelux. This marvel takes generator lights to the next level. High and low beams provide excellent visibility in all conditions, even when descending twisty mountain passes in the middle of the night. The sophisticated charging system maximizes the power output of your generator hub. Where other lights allow only intermittent charging, the Ladelux charges your electronics even at low and moderate speeds.

No wonder the Ladelux has been popular… It’s back in stock, together with all the accessories (switches, charging cables, etc.).

We also received a restock of SON generator hubs. Whether you need a hub for your gravel or mountain bike with thru-axles (12 or 15 mm; standard or Boost) or your road / touring / rando bike with quick releases, we’ve got you covered.

In addition to the different axles / drillings / etc., SON offers two generators:

• SON delux has the lowest resistance of any generator hub—perfect if speed and light weight are paramount.
• SON 28 provides a remarkable amount of power with just a little more resistance—great if you plan to charge your electronics.

All models feature SON’s ingenious pressure compensation system that keeps moisture out of the bearings when the air inside the hub expands and contracts with temperature changes. That’s essential for reliability and longevity.

Some products are seasonal. Demand of Apidura’s superlight Packable Visibility Vests (see also top photo) surged as the days got short and dark. We anticipated some of that, and we almost got it right—but our stocks ran out a few weeks before our new shipment arrived. They are in stock again.

This re-stock is also a new product, in a way. Padded Disc Rotor / Cassette Covers protect your bike from damage caused by the sharp disc rotor edges when you travel. You can also use them to cover cassettes up to 38 teeth. They usually came in blue, but brake dust and chain oil quickly turned those unsightly.

In keeping with our motto of not selling you anything you don’t need, we now offer them as a Rene Herse-exclusive in black. That way, they’ll look great much longer. Best of all, they don’t break the bank, at just $ 14 apiece.

The initial response to our Rene Herse front derailleurs has been overwhelming. The first production run sold out in less than 48 hours. The parts are made by hand, which takes time. We’ve got more now, plus the jigs for brazing them to your frame.

We look forward to seeing all the bikes that these derailleurs will go on. We love modern derailleurs, but we also like alternatives for riders who prefer analog shifting.

Some parts aren’t exactly hot sellers, and that can make it hard to predict demand. We may not sell a lot of SON Rim ERD Gauges, but if you’re building a set of wheels, the gauge makes it easy to determine the spoke lengths you’ll need. We’ve got them ready to ship.

Thank you to all who have been waiting patiently for these parts. Unfortunately, some products are still out of stock. Here are updates on those:

Some widths of our handlebars are in short supply. A combination of factors has made them hard to keep in stock: More riders are discovering the supreme comfort of handlebars that are long (reach) and deep (drop). Our bars provide room to roam, for long-distance comfort. The recent trend to narrower bars means that we sold more 400 and 420 mm bars, and fewer wide bars. And there’ve been some production delays at our supplier.

The good news: Most widths are in stock, and the ‘missing’ versions are completing production. They will be ready to ship in a week or two, and should land in Seattle in February.

Supplies of our wool clothing are erratic. Our friend Alex in Switzerland makes the best Merino wool jerseys in the world, by far. And the wool tights we’ve developed together have become a staple of my wardrobe. But Alex likes to ride his bike—and Merino supplies can be unpredictable. Thus we never know how long it’ll take until the next batch of jerseys and tights is ready. All we can say is: They are worth the wait!

SON’s taillight for GoPro mounts is elegant and sturdy. It mounts to any GoPro mount—there are lots of versions—meaning you can attach it almost anywhere on your bike. Rene Herse is apparently the main customers for the taillight. (Most Germans mount their lights on fenders or rear racks…) That means production runs are small, and other things have higher priorities. We’ve been promised more taillights in a few weeks.

Tubular tires may not be as popular as they once were, but many much-loved bikes with tubular rims are still on the road. And if you’re a pro who races cross and is subject to the UCI limit (≤ 33 mm wide), you’ll want the extra suspension of tubulars. That’s also the reason why FMB in France is busy with orders from professional racers. For really important races, many pros run FMB tubulars instead of the rubber they are paid to promote. That means the wait list is long…

Our wider road tubulars are in stock, and the narrower models should arrive before spring, when the good-weather cycling season starts, and the bikes with tubulars come out of the basement. If you’re looking to stock up on ‘cross tubulars, most models are in stock.

Our cantilever brakes have received much love lately. The crowdfunding for a new forging run blew through its fundraising goal in just one weekend. We’ve decided to also add the classic version of the brake to our production run—it’s essential for restoring mid-century René Herse bikes that have lost their brakes at some point. The brakes are in production, and we expect to have them, plus springs, pad holders and other hardware, in March. You can pre-order your brakes now, so you’re sure to get a set.

Click on the images for more information about each product.