Meeting JaBig
JaBig and I have known each other for a number of years now. Back in 2019, he was planning a ride around the world to raise money for World Bicycle Relief, and we asked him whether he was interested in testing our tires on his ride...
Servicing the NUDA and NANA carbon pumps
Jan Heine2022-09-18T23:39:43-07:00At Rene Herse Cycles, we offer parts that last a long time and that are rebuildable if it ever becomes necessary. And not just 'rebuildable' in theory – we stock the parts you need for the rebuild, and provide detailed instructions how to do it. It's all part of our...
Rim and Tire Standards
Jan Heine2024-03-10T13:04:26-07:00Standards exist mostly to ensure interchangeability of parts. If you need replace one of the bolts that attach the bottle cages on your bike, you can go to any hardware store in the world and buy an M5 bolt. Unless it's specified otherwise, the threads will have a diameter of...
Readers’ Forum: Flat pedals vs foot retention
Jan Heine2022-02-13T21:28:10-08:00The readers of Bicycle Quarterly are a vibrant group, and that comes through in the Readers' Forum where we publish comments, opinions, and questions. It's more than just a 'Letters to the Editor' section; we also answer technical questions that don't warrant a complete Bicycle Quarterly article. In a recent...
Back in Stock and a New Rack
Jan Heine2022-02-05T18:39:30-08:00"I feel like Santa Claus," said the truck driver when he saw our excitement as we unloaded the latest shipment. "You are! We've been waiting for these for a while!" was our reply. The shipment from Japan included some popular tires, like the 700C x 42 Hurricane Ridge and 700C...
Routes: Tahuya-Hood Canal
Jan Heine2022-02-01T21:22:09-08:00When we talk about wide tires and other bike tech, it's for one reason only: so we can have more fun on our bikes. We have some amazing riding in the Pacific Northwest, and here we're sharing some of our favorite routes. First in the series is a wonderful loop...
There is no place for Antisemitism
Jan Heine2022-01-21T19:10:02-08:00This is so evident that it shouldn't need saying: Jews (and all other religious groups) should not have to be be afraid when congregating in places of worship. There is no place for Antisemitism. It's sad that almost a century after this photo was taken, Antisemitism is still very real and...
Price Increases and ETAs
Jan Heine2022-01-20T22:10:07-08:00Inflation has been all over the news, and it's caused much confusion. Customers have asked us: Do we really need to worry if used car prices are high? We are cyclists, after all... From our vantage point, we don't need to worry, but prices will increase. It's a world-wide thing,...
Gravel is as old as cycling!
Jan Heine2022-01-15T10:54:47-08:00When the project for a Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame was announced, there was immediately some pushback: Isn't 'gravel' too new to have a Hall of Fame? From the perspective of gravel racing, that makes sense. Many of the big names from the early days of 'gravel' are still racing...
Cranks have landed
Jan Heine2022-01-13T15:33:37-08:00It's been a long wait, but we have good news: Rene Herse cranks have arrived. We've got 171 mm arms, and the 165 and 177 mm arms are at the polisher. They'll be here soon. In an age of integrated spindles and carbon cranks, you may wonder why many riders prefer...
More Merino Wool Jerseys
Jan Heine2022-01-07T08:38:11-08:00This is just a short note that we got more Merino Wool Jerseys. They're the ultimate performance cycling wear for the cold season, and they are a key part of what makes our adventures possible: They keep us dry and warm over a wide range of temperatures, during hard efforts...
Why we call it a Revolution
Jan Heine2022-07-17T10:11:26-07:00The word 'Revolution' is overused. Almost every new product and idea is marketed as 'revolutionary.' And yet, once in a while, something happens that really does change everything. For bicycles, the 'All-Road Bike Revolution' has been perhaps the biggest change since multi-speed drivetrains replaced singlespeeds. The 'All-Road Bike Revolution' can...
Happy New Year!
Jan Heine2022-01-01T07:22:41-08:00We wish all of you a Happy New Year filled with health, joy and great bike rides! Jan, Natsuko & the Rene Herse team
Looking back over 2021
Jan Heine2022-04-04T19:33:40-07:00Despite its many challenges, 2021 also brought out a lot of resiliency. We learned to live with the new circumstances, helped by the fact that riding bikes is actually safe, even in small groups. For us at Rene Herse Cycles, 2021 was another year where our tires and components were tested...
Our Favorite Routes
Jan Heine2021-12-29T11:04:44-08:00Rene Herse Cycles was born out of our passion for exploring the forgotten mountain passes of the Cascade Mountains and beyond. Now we are sharing some of our favorite routes, from an all-paved rambles through the Cascade foothills to the multi-day adventures that take you over the highest passes. Explore...
Trail Does NOT Make a Bike Stable
Jan Heine2023-06-09T08:58:43-07:00For decades, cyclists have believed that trail makes a bike more stable. It makes sense: A bike's front wheel touches the ground behind the steerer axis. As the bike moves forward, there's a self-centering force on the front wheel – sort of like the caster of a shopping cart. Trail is...
Happy Holidays!
Jan Heine2021-12-24T18:19:52-08:00We are grateful for your support, and we look forward to being part of your rides and adventures next year! Jan, Natsuko & the Rene Herse team
Sleeping Beauty: Riding a Rene Herse in Paris
Jan Heine2021-12-20T10:49:45-08:00Winter is coming to Seattle, but, contrary to stereotypes, it's not always raining. Sunny days invite us to explore neighborhoods we usually don't visit. Last weekend, I decided to ride a bike that brings back many memories: The Rene Herse I used for years to commute around Paris. Back then, I...
Lyli and the Puy de Dôme
Jan Heine2021-12-12T23:47:51-08:00We love history because the stories are so inspiring – real life is often better than fiction. One of my favorites is Lyli Herse's record-setting ride up the Puy de Dôme in 1951. Tour de France fans know the 'Puy' as one of the toughest climbs in France. Many times it...
Adventure Cyclist reviews The All-Road Bike Revolution
Jan Heine2021-12-09T13:52:28-08:00We're excited to share a short review of our book The All-Road Bike Revolution. Adventure Cycling's Dan Meyer wrote: "Jan Heine will be a familiar name to longtime readers of this magazine (he wrote the Mechanical Advantage column for years). Heine has long been an evangelist for the "all-road" bike,...
Porteur Races, Jacquie Phelan and other favorite BQ Editions
Jan Heine2021-12-12T23:49:13-08:00The first 15 years of Bicycle Quarterly were spent unearthing previously unknown parts of cycling culture, talking to larger-than-life characters, and delving into long-forgotten photo archives. Many of these wonderful BQ editions are out of print, but we recently found a few boxes that had been mis-shelved. Among them is...
Winter 2021 Bicycle Quarterly
Jan Heine2021-12-01T21:40:56-08:00The Winter 2021 Bicycle Quarterly is at the printer. We are preparing the mailing list this week – subscribe now to be among the first to get a copy of this exciting edition! It's another un-missable BQ, starting with the cover story: Donalrey Nieva and Karen Yung climb Mauna Kea....
Holiday Gift Guide
Jan Heine2021-12-01T08:09:03-08:00It's the season for giving nice things to people you like. It's an opportunity to show appreciation and love. Giving something that delights and is useful creates lasting memories. Every time we use a gift, we think of the person who gave it to us. It's always fun to use...
Rene Herse Merino Wool Jerseys
Jan Heine2022-01-07T08:28:27-08:00Our Merino Wool Jerseys have landed! I've been wearing the prototype for the past year, and I'm glad we can finally offer them to our customers. Some may ask: Why Merino wool? It's all about performance. Synthetic fabrics have improved a lot in recent years, but wool has a few...
Nana, the ultralight carbon pump (25 g)
Jan Heine2021-11-26T11:23:58-08:00Most of my bikes carry a full-sized frame pump, but on BQ test bikes, I often need to bring a minipump. When I had to air up a tire during a ride, Natsuko saw me struggle with the hose and multiple screw-on connectors. "Use my pump," she said and pulled...
More Umtanum Ridges and Hatcher Passes!
Jan Heine2021-11-18T09:03:01-08:00Just a quick note that we've received a restock on our most popular tires of the moment, the new 650B x 55 Umtanum Ridge knobbies and 700C x 48 Hatcher Pass all-road tires. A few other models are available again, too. Ever since taking prototypes of the Umtanum Ridges (above)...
Books!
Jan Heine2021-11-17T12:18:12-08:00Whether it's after a long ride (and shower and good meal) or on a day when it's not appealing to head out at all – there's nothing quite like making a cup of tea and sitting down with a beautiful book. Great books don't just tell stories and convey information,...
Let’s Focus on Humans, Not Things
Jan Heine2021-11-14T06:33:31-08:00The latest U.N. Climate Talks concluded this weekend. There was some encouraging progress, but not nearly enough. Yet bike companies and social media has been mostly silent on what is probably the most urgent problem humanity faces. It's almost as if we don't want to talk about what many perceive...
‘Steel Bike Edition’ of Bicycle Quarterly?
Jan Heine2022-07-18T22:05:17-07:00Half-jokingly, we've been referring to the Autumn Bicycle Quarterly as the 'Steel Bike Edition.' We didn't plan it that way; it just happened. This illustrates how vibrant the world of steel bikes is today – arguably, they are better than ever before. Of course, there are also great carbon bikes...
Dumonde Tech Chain Lube
Jan Heine2021-10-31T20:26:32-07:00When I was racing on fender-less bikes, chain lube was an important topic here in the wet Pacific Northwest. Back then, it was generally accepted that Dumonde Tech was by far the best lube. It was the only one that allowed you to complete a rainy ride without the chain...
Cal Poly Pomona x Rene Herse Cycling Research
Jan Heine2021-10-26T12:02:25-07:00We're excited to announce our partnership with the Mechanical Engineering Department at Cal Poly (Pomona) to explore cycling-related research topics. Starting this semester, 38 undergraduate and 2 graduate students are working under Dr. Nolan Tsuchiya on a variety of projects, including: Measure drivetrain losses: Does cross-chaining decrease efficiency? What about...
Travels with J. P. Weigle
Jan Heine2021-10-22T23:08:24-07:00Today would have been J. P. (Peter) Weigle's French Fender Day, the gathering of cyclotouring bikes old and new at the master's workshop deep in the woods of New England. The meeting went virtual this year, with a photo contest on Instagram with the tag #ffd2021v. You can still enter;...
Introducing Rene Herse Stems
Jan Heine2021-10-18T00:51:54-07:00They are here! What is probably the most iconic stem of all time, the Rene Herse stem, is now available again, updated for the 21st century. And we're not just making the stem, but a complete, integrated system consisting of stem, decaleur and light switch, plus a few other parts.
80th Anniversary Rene Herse Update
Jan Heine2021-10-13T12:15:12-07:00It's been a while since we announced the 80th Anniversary Rene Herse bikes and frames and started taking orders. From the beginning, we had decided to offer just eight bikes and eight frames – this isn't a money-making project, but a celebration of our heritage and a way to share the...
We Love Fenders!
Jan Heine2023-12-20T17:48:33-08:00Many years ago, the biggest American bike magazine published a short note about aluminum fenders with the comment: "We are charmed by the idea that there actually are fender snobs!" I had to smile, because the reason we care so much about fenders is simple: We like to ride in...
We Test Everything We Sell (before we sell it)
Jan Heine2021-09-29T08:09:03-07:00In addition to making our Rene Herse components, we also distribute parts made by other makers. Our goal is to make products that don't exist, not to duplicate what others already offer, so we work with SON in Germany, FMB and Berthoud in France, as well as Nitto, MKS, Ostrich,...
Another Go at the Oregon Outback
Jan Heine2021-09-18T19:51:16-07:00The Oregon Outback has been a huge influence for us at Rene Herse Cycles. Back in 2014, the inaugural ride/race over the course made us realize the potential of truly wide tires. Ever since, I've wanted to come back with a bike built specifically for riding rough gravel roads at...
Lights for the Tour Divide
Jan Heine2021-09-02T10:28:37-07:00Before our ride on the Oregon Outback, Lael replaced her headlight – which was designed for mountain biking – with a more road-oriented SON Edelux II. The more even illumination of the road surface by a shaped beam makes riding at speed much easier and less fatiguing. And a single LED...
Nivex or eTap?
Jan Heine2021-08-14T09:23:48-07:00We're offering the 80th Anniversary Rene Herse bikes with a choice of two drivetrains: either SRAM eTap or a Nivex rear and Rene Herse front derailleur. It's a choice between best electronic or the best manual shifting. Both the current Nivex and modern electronic drivetrains stand at the pinnacle of...
80th Anniversary Rene Herse Ordering
Jan Heine2021-08-13T10:30:36-07:00There's been a great response to our 80th Anniversary Rene Herse bikes and framesets. There's a lot of excitement. Even people who don't want to order one are glad that they'll exist. Just like I'll probably never own a great sportscar, but when I see one, I smile. Perhaps the biggest...
80th Anniversary Rene Herse Bikes
Jan Heine2022-09-26T09:34:28-07:00To celebrate 80 years of Rene Herse bikes, we're excited to offer a limited edition of bikes and frames. René Herse entered the cycling world in 1938, when he introduced innovative superlight components that drew on his experience making prototype aircraft components. A few years later, during the German occupation...
Cross is Coming – Get Your Tires Now!
Jan Heine2021-08-01T23:50:48-07:00We're excited that cyclocross is back this autumn in North America. It's something we've missed more than almost anything else during the pandemic. 'Cross is so much fun in part because you get to ride multiple laps of the same course, so you get the opportunity to fine-tune your lines....
Rift Iceland 2021
Jan Heine2021-07-27T22:02:24-07:00The Rift Iceland gravel race has fascinated me since it was first announced. I've only been to Iceland once, during a short layover on the way to France for Paris-Brest-Paris in 2015. I was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the landscape – everything seemed vast and inhospitable, yet also magnificent...
Tour de France Cyclotouriste
Jan Heine2025-11-21T19:51:15-08:00This year's Tour de France provided gripping racing and a worthy winner: Tadej Pogačar rode a smart, powerful race, and his second win in a row promises more for the future. Especially since he's just 22 years old and at the beginning of his career. And yet one of the most...
New and Daring: Horse Cycles at Enve Show
Jan Heine2021-07-05T09:01:12-07:00Among all the amazing bikes at the Enve Builders Roundup, the entry from Horse Cycles stood out for me. Not because it was the most flashy, but because it is one of the bikes I'd want to ride, and because it breaks new ground in meaningful ways. In fact, I've...
Italian Fixed Champion on Rene Herse
Jan Heine2021-06-28T19:46:46-07:00It's been exciting to see the first stages of the Tour de France. A little too exciting, in fact, when spectators aren't aware that the privilege seeing racers zipping so close comes with responsibilities. Here's a little secret: Every bike racer, deep down, just a little bit, dreams of riding...
Visiting Makino, the Japanese Builder
Jan Heine2023-07-02T20:55:46-07:00Just before the pandemic made travel next-to-impossible, Natsuko and I visited Makino Cycle Factory, one of Japan's most renowned builders. It was intended as a short visit to take a few photos, but it turned into a wonderful day of watching the craftspeople at work, discussing frame geometry and stiffness...
A Shipment Arrives With a New Tire
Jan Heine2021-04-28T23:26:44-07:00We finally receive a big shipment of tires that had been on the seas for what seems like ages. And we've also got a new tire: The 26" x 2.3" Humptulips Ridge is now available with the ultra-tough Endurance Plus casing. Whether it's adventures into the unknown or gnarly singletrack,...
Taking a Break from Comments
Jan Heine2021-04-23T23:13:58-07:00We've decided to turn off the comments on our Journal for a few months. We really enjoy the interactions with readers and value the discussions, but running one of the more popular cycling sites on the web risks becoming a full-time job. A recent post had 80 comments, and reading...
A Street Named After Lyli Herse
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:10:39-07:00Lyli Herse lived in Boisemont, on the hills above the Seine River. Now the town has named a street after the 8-times French champion. I found out the news when I talked to Lyli's neighbor, who has adopted her dog after Lyli died three years ago. We talk once in...
Talk with Ted and Lael about Tires
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:10:39-07:00We've been working with Ted King and Lael Wilcox on developing tires for bikepacking and gravel racing for a few years now. When riders who've registered for Rooted Vermont, Ted and Laura King's big gravel race/ride, asked about tire choice, Ted suggested to bring Lael and me onto their Water...
The Next Revolution: Smaller Wheels
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:10:39-07:00April 1, 2021: Rene Herse is announcing a new wheel size for performance bikes: 13-inch wheels. With a bead seat diameter of 230 mm, the smaller wheels will improve performance by allowing the tires to operate closer to their optimum temperature range. "It's our latest innovation, and another way of...
Lael’s Bike
Lael Wilcox2021-04-23T14:10:39-07:00Riding with Lael Wilcox, I was impressed not just by her speed and positive attitude, but also by her efficiency and planning. When we stopped at the small (and sparsely stocked) store in Index, I was still surveying the shelves when Lael was already checking out, having snagged the only...
Cyclist and Photojournalist: Riding with Rue
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:10:39-07:00When Lael and Rue came last autumn to visit the Cascade Mountains, it was great to spend a week riding, talking and planning. I've known Lael for a long time, but getting to know Rue was really special. She's just as amazing as Lael – and that says a lot. During...
A Firefly for Vermont’s Class IV Trails
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:10:39-07:00There are some bikes that you see on social media, and you just want to know more. FF986 popped up on the Firefly feed a little while ago, and it just looked so dialed. You could see that every part was carefully considered, chosen for the riding that the rider...
What Cyclists Say
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:10:40-07:00It's one thing to write a book that the experts enjoy, and you may have read what bike designer Gerard Vroomen (Cervélo/OPEN) and gravel racers Lael Wilcox and Ted King had to say about "The All-Road Bike Revolution." It was great to see that even they...
Happy New Year!
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:10:57-07:00It's official: A new year has started. As 2020 recedes into the past, we're looking forward to a new year that brings hope and promise. May your 2021 be filled with joy, health and great cycling adventures! Natsuko & Jan
Video: How a Bicycle Is Made
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:10:57-07:00A reader sent a link to the video "How a Bicycle is Made," filmed in the 1945 at the Raleigh factory in Britain. It's definitely a period piece, but look beyond that, and the 17-minute movie has a lot of interesting content about how bikes were mass-produced. Some production methods...
Our Holiday Gift Guide
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:10:58-07:00Every year, we enjoy the autumn cycling season, and then, suddenly, the holidays are almost here. And with that, we are looking for gifts for others, and we're being asked what we want ourselves. Gift giving is a wonderful tradition, and Natsuko and I really enjoy gifts that we use...
NPR Interview: Books, Brakes and Fit
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:10:58-07:00It's always fun to chat with Diane Jenks on her National Public Radio show The Outspoken Cyclist. This week, we talked about our new book and about bike fit, disc vs rim brakes, and the state of the bike industry in the age of Covid. Click here to listen...
Congrats! Ted King wins Arkansas High Country Race
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:10:58-07:00Ted King won the 1020-mile Arkansas High Country Race in a 4 days, 20 hours and 51 minutes, setting the FKT (fastest known time) in the process. The previous solo FTK was held by bikepacking legend Jay Petervary. Ted also was faster than Ernie and Scotti Lechuga, who rode the...
And the Winners Are…
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:10:58-07:00The vote is in, and the winner of the Bicycle Quarterly photo contest is Samuel P's evocative B&W study of his bike during a recent trip. He writes: "I'm a LatinX cyclist from the Bay Area, California. I've been riding since I was five years old. I enjoy cyclotouring and...
BQ Photo Contest Finalists
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:10:58-07:00The results are in: Hundreds of photos from all over the world were entered in the BQ Photo Contest. It was fun to see so many different photos – in style and subject – and it was difficult to selected eight finalists. Many great photos didn't make the cut. Here are...
Bicycle Quarterly Photo Contest
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:10:58-07:00Now that summer officially has officially ended, we can start to look back on the cycling season. So much has happened since we started riding in late winter under clear, sunny skies! The events of 2020 have upended many plans, but cycling is the one place where we can live...
No Un-Meeting this year; BQ Photo Contest
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:11:23-07:00After much thought, we've decided to cancel this year's Bicycle Quarterly Un-Meeting in Marin County, California. We've made this difficult decision together with this year's organizers, Bicycle Counterculture. The pandemic shows little sign of letting up. To have a large number of cyclists travel to the Un-Meeting and gather does...
California Fires: We’re heartbroken
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:11:24-07:00We're heartbroken to hear about the fires that are raging in California and much of the West. Our thoughts go out to all who are affected. Learning of acquaintances in the bike industry who lost their homes and workshops... Seeing old-growth redwoods and historic park buildings burn... Seeing the air...
Rob English’s new bike
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:11:24-07:00Rob English is not just a talented framebuilder, but also a top-class rider and racer. He recently built this bike for himself. Even though the bike is a superlight racer, it rolls on (extralight) 700C x 32 mm Stampede Pass tires – a sign how far racing bikes have come....
Back in Stock: Berthoud Saddles, Bar Tape, Mirrors
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:11:24-07:00Our friends at Berthoud Cycles in France have been working overtime, and we just received another shipment. We've got most saddles in stock again, as well as spare parts to rebuild your worn saddle with a new leather top, swap stainless steel rails for titanium, or replace parts that...
Beautiful Bikes at Enve’s Builders Roundup
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:11:24-07:00The Enve Builders Roundup is a show of custom bikes (and Enve's components). Among all the great bikes, here are three of our favorites (more…)
DIY Gravel: Ted King’s Epic Cross-Vermont Ride
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:11:25-07:00Ted King's DIY Gravel may have been born out of necessity – there are no gravel races right now, so why not ride our own rides and challenges in the mean time? Ted's idea has been a lot of fun, and more than a thousand riders have risen to the...
George Floyd, Christian Cooper, Ahmaud Arbery and the Couple on the Train
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:11:25-07:00Last year, on the train to Sacramento, we met a wonderful black couple in the dining car. They had gone to Seattle to celebrate their wedding anniversary. They had met when they were part of the civil rights movement in the South. They moved to the West Coast, because, as...
Round 2 of DIY Gravel
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:12:02-07:00Today would have been the Belgian Waffle Ride in California – which means that Round 2 of Ted King's DIY Gravel is starting. We've got until next Sunday to do our own version of this iconic ride, which offers three versions: Waffle is 138-miles, 53 off-road and nearly 12,000 feet...
Join Ted King for DIY Gravel
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:12:02-07:00All of us are figuring out how we can resume our lives safely and responsibly. How can we ride our bikes? Does it make sense to train when races and events are postponed or cancelled? How can we enjoy the community that cycling brings us? I caught up with gravel...
What We Ride (Part 1): Mark’s 6-Hands
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:12:02-07:00Editor's Note: We've been thinking about our role in the response to Covid-19. Here is what we can do: If there is a way we can positively influence the situation – like advocating social distancing and wearing face masks before these practices had widespread support – it's our responsibility do...
Calling for some real innovation!
Jan Heine2022-04-02T09:22:18-07:00April 1, 2020: This is the time of year when we take a break from the daily news and look at areas where real progress is possible in bicycle design. Forget marginal gains – today we're looking for revolutionary ideas! The industry likes to crow about disc brakes and carbon...
Looking Back Over the 2010s
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:12:24-07:00At the beginning of the year, we talked about our predictions of where bicycles are headed in the upcoming decade. Now, with a little time to reflect on the 2010s, it's fun to look back and see what the last decade really has been all about...
James Bay Descent – The Movie
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:12:24-07:00https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=579&v=Fz106hSZqJk&feature=emb_logo When Ted King, Ryan Atkins, Eric Batty and Buck Miller rode more than 600 km in northern Ontario last winter, it was a real adventure – and they raised money for a local charity. We were happy to be involved in a small way – we supplied the entire team...
Predictions for the 2020s
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:12:24-07:00Happy New Year and welcome to a new decade, the 2020s! Ten years ago (above), Bicycle Quarterly predicted that wide tires would become commonplace, that all-road bikes would replace racing bikes as the most popular genre, and that riders would soon venture off the beaten path and onto gravel. All that...
Happy Holidays!
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:12:24-07:00All of us at Rene Herse Cycles and Bicycle Quarterly thank you for your support. We wish you a wonderful new year filled with many great rides! —The Rene Herse team
Rethinking Packaging
Jan Heine2023-12-02T12:00:37-08:00Since we've started making bike parts again in 2011, we've been working on reducing our environmental impact. We were among the first to use custom-designed cardboard boxes with inserts that hold our cranks securely. That has been part of our commitment to reduce our impact – while making sure that...
Blog Transition is Complete
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:12:25-07:00Thank you for your patience last week while we've transitioned the blog to the Rene Herse web site. We've moved all the old contents – blog posts and comments – to the new site, so everything continues to be available. If you've bookmarked a blog post, the link no...
Our Blog Has Moved
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:12:25-07:00We are excited to move our blog and integrate it seamlessly with our Rene Herse Cycles web site. This will allow us to create even more exciting content. And now we can link directly between blog posts and support pages. This and other changes will improve your experience as you...
Cost Increases = Price Increases
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:12:45-07:00Unlike most posts, this isn't one that I enjoy writing... Over the past decade, we've seen a period of remarkably stable prices. In fact, it's been more than five years since our prices have changed across the board – and back then, they went down, because the exchange rate to...
Gravel Before It Was a ‘Category’
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:12:46-07:00I've been wanting to thank Bicycle Retailer and Industry News for the nice article about Rene Herse on the front cover of a recent edition. It's not often that the media talks about the contributions of small companies, especially those without a big ad budget. BRAIN's Steve Frothingham wrote that Rene Herse "has nurtured...
Celebrating 2000 Posts on Instagram
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:12:46-07:00We're celebrating our 2000th post on Instagram with a favorite image. It shows everything I love about cycling: small roads off the beaten path, beautiful bikes and great riding companions. I don't spend a huge amount of time on social media, but I've been enjoying Instagram a lot: Seeing where you...
Ryan’s PBP Video
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:12:46-07:00[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve3tXQY5pFk&feature=youtu.be?rel=0&w=640&h=360] I've really enjoyed the stories that have come out of last week's Paris-Brest-Paris. Above is my friend and training buddy Ryan Hamilton's short video, seen entirely through the eyes of his bike-mounted camera. I was moved when seeing the great big bridge that leads into Brest. My eyes welled...
Ted King Wins SBT GRVL on Rene Herse Tires
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:12:46-07:00The inaugural SBT GRVL (Steamboat Gravel) race saw more than 1,500 riders at the start in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The field include the Who-Is-Who of gravel racing: Ted King, Colin Strickland and Payson McElveen and other top-level racers. It turned out to be an exciting race over the beautiful high-country gravel...
"Why I love Gravel" – Interview with Ted King
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:12:47-07:00Last weekend was the 14th running of the Dirty Kanza, the famous 200-mile gravel race in Kansas. After the race, I was chatted with Ted King (TK), winner in 2016 and 2018, about what makes gravel racing so special. JH: Congratulations to another great finish! TK: This was my 4th go at DK, and...
Ted King – Gentleman Gravel Racer
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:12:47-07:002019 will be remembered as the year when gravel racing started to be on equal terms with the great races of Europe. When Pro Tour riders appear at the Belgian Waffle Ride, you know that it's not just a local event any longer. And yet, the fun part of the...
Supporting the Classics: Rene Herse Brakes and Chainrings
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:07-07:00At Rene Herse Cycles, we support the classics, in addition to pushing the envelope as we develop our modern parts. René Herse's bikes were prized for their beauty and performance, and today, they continue to be treasured like few other classics. I've enjoyed many great rides on classic Rene Herse bikes...
Celebrating Earth Day
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:07-07:00Today is Earth Day – a day to celebrate our planet and think about what each of us, in our daily lives, can do to protect it. As cyclists, we get to enjoy nature in immediate ways: As we pedal over hill and dale, we feel the landscape, we smell...
Ted King's Bike for Land Run 100
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:07-07:00[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=bJxrxIcplvM?rel=0&w=640&h=360] In his latest video, Ted King takes us around his bike for Land Run 100 and explains why he chose the Rene Herse Snoqualmie Pass 44 mm all-road tires, rather than knobbies, for the race across the red dirt of Oklahoma. Click on full screen mode and enjoy!
Land Run 100: The Movie
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:07-07:00[youtube https://youtu.be/xBoNRa_62k0?rel=0&w=640&h=360] Gravel racing is one of the most exciting developments of cycling as a sport in recent years. It combines full-on racing with adventure and drama. Gravel races are a modern take on the roots of cycling, when racers were battling it out on the unpaved mountain passes of the...
Technology Transfer from Motorbikes and Cars
Jan Heine2023-04-03T08:15:42-07:00April 1, 2019: In recent years, there has been a lot of technology transfer from motorcycles and cars to bicycles. Modern bikes finally have tubeless tires and disc brakes, both introduced in cars as early as the 1950s! Cyclists tend to be a conservative bunch, but it's only a matter of...
Video: All-Road Cycling in Japan
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:08-07:00[youtube https://youtu.be/Bqn2MZJw9-Q?rel=0&w=640&h=360] Beautiful bikes, great roads, traditional Japanese inns: BQ editor Natsuko Hirose's short clip takes you to the Izu Peninsula. It's the first trip on her new all-road bike – a great opportunity to enjoy cyclotouring with friends. Enjoy this preview, then read the full story in the Spring 2019 Bicycle Quarterly. Make...
New Rene Herse Waterbottles and Stickers
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:08-07:00We're excited to release our new Rene Herse waterbottles. The bottles are based on the popular Purist bottles and feature the new Rene Herse logo. The new design is limited to 500 bottles. Available now for $ 10. We're not suggesting that these will become sought-after collectors' pieces, but we do...
Welcome to Rene Herse Cycles!
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:08-07:00It's official: Compass has become Rene Herse Cycles. It's a big change, with a new name and new logo for a line of products that has a very strong following. Rest assured, our philosophy won't change, and neither will our products. We'll continue to make the high-performance components that we need...
Back in Stock: SON Hubs and Parts
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:08-07:00SON generator hubs and other parts have been flying off the shelves lately. Some of it can be attributed to cyclists preparing their bikes for the upcoming Paris-Brest-Paris 1200 km brevet. More cyclists also realize that generator hubs provide peace of mind on long rides and commutes alike. As a...
Remembering Lyli Herse's Birthday
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:08-07:00Today would have been Lyli Herse's 91st birthday. And last Friday has been a year from her passing... ... and the 111th birthday of her father, René Herse. They continue to inspire us in so many ways. Today, we just want to remember their smiles and their passion for cycling in...
Happy New Year
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:08-07:00We are looking forward to another great year! We wish all our readers joy, happiness and many great rides in 2019. See you on the road! —The BQ and Compass/Rene Herse team Photo credit: Ryan Francesconi
