Jenna Rinehart: My Year on Rene Herse Tires
During much of my 20s, I raced mountain bikes, before taking almost a decade off to focus on my bike shop, Nicollet Bike and Ski in Mankato, Minnesota. I returned to racing at the top level in 2023, now mostly on gravel, but with plenty of mountain biking in the mix.
I was first introduced to Rene Herse tires when I joined the Mazda Off Road Team in 2024. Our team was run by Jon Harp, a former pro racer himself, who selected Rene Herse tires based on their performance and durability. Rene Herse supplied the tires, but there was no sponsorship beyond that. When the team folded early last year after losing its main sponsor, Rene Herse increased their support so I could continue racing.
2025 has been a good year, with podium finishes at the UCI Gravel World Series, at Gravel Worlds (above) and at Gravel Earth Series Core 4, plus a top-10 at the Gravel National Championships, and a few wins at smaller races. This year more than ever, the women’s field was very stacked, and it was great fun to ride with such strong racers.
I’m happy to say that I’ve had zero tire issues at any of the races over these two years. Sure, a little bit of that is luck, but a lot of it is due to the quality of the tires—and making the correct choices for the terrain and conditions of each race.
During my first season on Rene Herse tires, the team mostly rode the 44 mm-wide tires with Endurance casings. I used the Manastash Ridge knobbies, the smooth Snoqualmie Pass, or a combination of the two. Coming from a mountain bike background, I’m used to running a different tire in the front and the rear. I’ve come to like this in gravel as well, with a little more tread in the front and a little extra speed in the rear.
This year, I’ve really started to see the benefits of running a wider tire in many of the races, and also in training. My favorite tires are now the 48 mm models. I’ve run the new Poteau Mountain semi-slicks a lot lately, or the knobby Oracle Ridge and smooth Hatcher Pass. Between those and the 44 mm Corkscrew Climb semi-slicks, all my gravel race needs were covered. I really appreciate that Rene Herse offers three different tread patterns to balance speed and grip, and four casings to match the required durability with the terrain. This makes it easy to choose tires for an event.
The new semi-slicks are really something else. At first, you think that such big side knobs can’t roll fast, and then you look at your numbers and also how you’re doing at the races in a pack of top-level women, and you realize that appearances can be deceiving. These tires are really fast!
Another new thing I’ve tried this year are the Extralight casings—and I fell in love! The ride quality is amazing, and now I don’t want to ride anything else. Of course, some courses require a tougher casing, but for the smoother gravel roads we have here in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest, the Extralight casing is perfect—provided you run a wide-enough tire that allows you to keep the pressure low (which is better for many reasons). I raced the Extralights at Gravel Nationals (above), which were held here in Minnesota this year. I’ve also experimented with running the ultra-wide 55 mm Antelope Hill Extralight slicks. That is the widest I can fit on my Specialized Crux, and it was perfect for mid-summer, when our gravel roads get extra dry and loose.
This autumn, I’ve been experimenting with running the knobby equivalent, the 29″ x 2.2″ Fleecer Ridge, on my mountain bike. They feel light and accelerate fast, and I can see myself running them on select mountain bike courses next year—anytime there’s a good amount of gravel or paved roads. For really technical courses, I prefer wider tires, and unfortunately Rene Herse isn’t currently offering any.
It’s been really exciting to be a part of the growth in the gravel scene over these past few years. Especially the women’s field is more competitive than ever, with young riders coming up and more and more international racers coming to the U. S. to race here. I’m just honored to have the opportunity to line up and give it my best. I’m looking forward to another year of balancing running my bike shop with racing amongst the best women’s gravel and mountain bike racers, and fitting in some good adventure rides along the way, too. I hope to see you out there on the (gravel) roads and trails.
Photo credits: Clare Paniccia
