Happy New Year!
It'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
Happy Holidays!
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:08-07:00All of us at Compass Cycles and Bicycle Quarterly wish you Happy Holidays!
Racing a 40-year-old bike
Jan Heine2026-03-04T21:37:00-08:00I've been racing my Alan cyclocross bike since I bought it second-hand, many years ago, when I was still in college. Back then, it was simply a used 'cross bike. Now it may seem like a relic from another era. And yet the Alan continues to hold its own in the...
BQ 4-Pack: 15th Anniversary Year
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:29-07:00To celebrate Bicycle Quarterly's 15th anniversary last year, we increased the size of the magazine and put together a number of truly outstanding editions. We now offer them in a special 4-pack. We kicked off our anniversary year with our biggest edition ever. More book than magazine, this hefty volume counts...
Happy Thanksgiving!
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:29-07:00Happy Thanksgiving to all readers, customers and cyclists! We're grateful for the joys and friendships that cycling have brought us.
Jordan Rapp tests the Compass Snoqualmie Pass 700C x 44 Extralights
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:29-07:00We're always excited to get feedback on our tires, and when it comes from someone like Jordan Rapp, it's especially valuable. The names of semi-professional gravel racers aren't yet household names – Jordan used to be a pro triathlete before becoming a gravel racer. This year, he came 6th in...
Fire in Paradise – Update on Mitch and Alistair and Ways to Help
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:30-07:00Alistair Spence and Mitch Pryor have been my friends for a long time. They both live in Paradise, CA, which was devastated by fire last week. Both are OK; they got out just in time. Their homes literally were burnt to the ground, but what counts right now is that...
Natsuko’s Trip to Rishiri Island
Natsuko2025-12-21T00:58:01-08:00Mount 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...
Tubular Stays and Other Fender News
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:30-07:00Many years ago, a big magazine published a note about Honjo fenders, which were just starting to trickle into the United States, and noted: "We are charmed by the idea that there actually are fender snobs." Those days are long over: Today fenders are recognized as an integral part of many...
How Long Do Compass Tires Last?
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:30-07:00One of the less-noticed results of the 'Wide Tire Revolution': Our tires last a lot longer these days. When I rode 20 mm-wide tires, I rarely got more than 1300 km (800 miles) out of a set of performance tires. For long-distance races, I put on new tires for every...
BQ Skills: Ghost Riding
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:30-07:00[youtube https://youtu.be/xGh49T2rlmY?rel=0&w=640&h=360] Most of us remember when we learned to ride a bike. The incredible feel of balancing on two wheels – it felt like flying. Over the following days, months and years, our skills improved. First we learned to ride without wobbling. Then – in my case – to start...
Autumn 2018 Bicycle Quarterly
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:30-07:00The Autumn 2018 Bicycle Quarterly is at the printer and will be mailed soon. It's another action-packed edition that will bring many hours of reading enjoyment. What better way to test the Masi Speciale Randonneur and the Frances Farfarer trailer than to take them on a real adventure? For our third attempt...
Why We Like Custom Gearing
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:31-07:00Our Rene Herse cranks are available with chainrings from 24 to 52 teeth, in single, double and triple configurations, including 11-speed compatible versions. We even offer tandem cranks. That way, riders can benefit from customized gearing, but it also means that we stock a lot of chainrings. We try to keep...
Compass Photo Contest: Vote for Your Favorite!
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:53-07:00The Compass Swift Campout photo contest has been a huge success with almost 500 entries! With so many amazing photos, it was impossible to select just 8 finalists, so we finally settled on 10. We selected photos that show different aspects of the contest theme 'Cyclotouring off the beaten path.' Now it's up...
BQ 64 Preview: Our Biggest Adventure Yet
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:53-07:00[youtube https://youtu.be/21Vb3RPCRG0?rel=0&w=640&h=360] The Summer 2018 Bicycle Quarterly caps our 15th anniversary year, and so we've put together a very special issue. In our most epic adventure yet, we headed south to the incredible Copper Canyons of Mexico. The video above takes you right into the action. Make sure to enjoy it...
Back in Stock and New Fenders
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:53-07:00Some new products are much more popular than we anticipate. Even though we try to keep everything in stock at all times, production can take a while to catch up to the increased demand. Recently, that has affected a few products. The first batch of our 11-speed Rene Herse chainrings sold out...
Being Interviewed by the Quoc Pedaler
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:13:53-07:00Recently, The Pedaler interviewed me for the blog of Quoc Pham's eponymous cycling shoe company. We chatted about the origins of allroad bikes, the inspiration of the mid-century randonneurs, and what makes Compass Cycles different from other companies. Click here to enjoy the full story.
Compass and BQ in the News
Jan Heine2024-03-21T21:21:49-07:00During the last week, Bicycle Quarterly and Compass Cycles have been mentioned in several news stories. The popular web site www.bikepacking.com featured an article about converting a 700C bike to 650B. They wrote: "The benefits are fairly obvious. Wider tires offer more floatation, a more supple ride, and are all...
Introducing Quintuple Rene Herse Cranks
Jan Heine2023-03-30T09:50:01-07:00Seattle, April 1, 2018: We are proud to introduce the new René Herse quadruple and quintuple cranks. Rene Herse is one of the few manufacturers of triple cranks with a wide selection of chainrings, and we've received requests for even more choices. There is a historic precedent for this: Alex Singer...
Live Interview on Path Less Pedaled
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:14:28-07:00[youtube https://youtu.be/x6x5VC2nAuE?rel=0&w=640&h=360] I love the unscripted spontaneity of live interviews, where neither side knows the questions and answers in advance. When I sat down down with Russ Roca of Path Less Pedaled, we talked about how Bicycle Quarterly got started, what inspires Compass products, and how the bikes we ride...
Road.cc Reviews the Compass Barlow Pass
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:14:28-07:00"A supremely grippy, comfortable, fast tubeless tyre with no downsides" is the verdict of the popular British web site www.road.cc. Tester Mike Stead goes on to explain how he used the Barlow Pass tires: "After months of trying, I smashed a 1km Strava sprint segment, knocking...
North American Handmade Bicycle Show
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:14:28-07:00Last weekend's North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS) was a great success by all accounts. I've especially enjoyed the beautiful photos of John Watson (aka The Radavist) from the show. With his permission, I am reposting a few of them here. J. P. Weigle's bike (above) for the 2017 Concours de Machines in...
The North American Handmade Bicycle Show
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:14:28-07:00If you are in New England this weekend, I highly recommend a visit to the North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS). From Friday until Sunday, dozens of builders from North America and beyond will show their best bikes in Hartford, CT. This year, constructeur J. P. Weigle (above) will exhibit a number...
Midwinter Ride across the Tahuya Hills
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:14:28-07:00In Seattle, we are lucky: We can cycle year-round. Rarely is it so cold or so icy that cycling becomes difficult. Our cycling season usually starts with the new year. "What about the rain?" you may ask. It's not a big deal if you have the right equipment. Last weekend was the...
Global Cycling Networks Video on Frame Flex
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:14:28-07:00[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH_AL4rxrp8?rel=0&w=640&h=360] Global Cycling Networks just published a video in which they did an experiment that many of us have been talking about: Load up a frame with flex, and then release that energy. The rear wheel turns as the energy is returned to the drivetrain. It's nice to see it...
Back in Stock and New Products
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:14:28-07:00For us, cycling is part of our lives. Our bikes are the most important tools we own. We use them for transportation, and we use them for enjoyment, often combining the two. That means our bikes need to be ready at a moment's notice. If we can't get a part,...
Happy New Year!
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:14:28-07:00All of us at Compass Cycles and Bicycle Quarterly wish you a Happy New Year and many great rides for 2018.
Happy Holidays!
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:14:29-07:00All of us at Compass Cycles and Bicycle Quarterly wish you Happy Holidays!
Allroad Riding in Alsace (Open's Video)
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:14:29-07:00[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...
1995 Rivendell: Turning the Tide
Jan Heine2023-11-03T17:55:55-07:00When 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...
MKS Allways Pedals
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:14:56-07:00Allways 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...
Paul Components Interview
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:14:57-07:007 Questions with Jan Heine, of Bicycle Quarterly We always enjoy to learn how others see Compass Cycles and Bicycle Quarterly. Paul Component Engineering has been making CNC-machined bike components in Chico, California for over 25 years. Like Compass, Paul focuses on quality, craftsmanship and making parts that last...
Video: Testing the Open U.P.
Jan Heine2021-11-11T00:08:48-08:00https://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...
Visiting C.S. Hirose
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:15:15-07:00A 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...
Reducing Our Environmental Impact
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:15:15-07:00You 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...
Join Us at 'Stoked Spoke'
Jan Heine2022-09-25T13:58:52-07:00Every 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...
Happy New Year!
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:15:16-07:00Let your 2017 be filled with wonderful rides and passionate pursuits! —The team at Bicycle Quarterly and Compass Cycles
Bicycle Shop Gen
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:15:16-07:00In 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...
Follow Us on Instagram!
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:15:16-07:00At 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...
Holiday Gift Guide
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:15:16-07:00Winter 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...
Our Man in France
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:15:16-07:00Compass 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...
Just Another Road!
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:15:16-07:00[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...
Bicycle Quarterly Charity Drive a Success!
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:15:16-07:00The 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...
Rinko Systems: Ezy and Ezy Superior
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:15:17-07:00We 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...
Bicycle Flea Market
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:15:33-07:00Visiting 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...
It's a Hobby!
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:15:52-07:00It 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...
Join the Swift Campout
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:15:53-07:00Some 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...
Tokyo Cycle Parts Show
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:15:53-07:00The 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...
Happy New Year!
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:15:54-07:00Best wishes to you for 2016! May the new year bring you wonderful rides and great memories. Photo credit: Natsuko Hirose
Happy Holidays!
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:15:54-07:00I 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
Price Reduction for International BQ Subscriptions
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:16:10-07:00Good 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.
Charlie Cunningham Needs Our Help
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:16:11-07:00Of 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,...
A Visit to Ben Le Batard
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:16:11-07:00While 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...
$ 5: Add Bicycle Quarterly to Your Order
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:16:11-07:00We 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...
Visiting a Bicycle Mega-Store
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:16:11-07:00During 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...
Hanging Edelux II Headlights
Jan Heine2021-04-23T14:16:32-07:00When 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...
