A short trip to Japan, to visit family, friends and suppliers, was a welcome break from Seattle's winter. It's always fun to immerse ourselves into the vibrant cycling culture that inspires us in so many ways. One highlight of recent trips to Japan is riding with Makoto Ayano, the founder...
We returned from Japan just a couple of weeks ago, but so much has happened since then that it almost seems like we were there during the last century. With this onslaught of news, it can be hard to maintain our sanity. In difficult times, we must find our inner...
We developed the 700C x 31 mm Orondo Grade tires for riders like Ted King and Brennan Wertz, who had grown to love supple Rene Herse tires on their gravel and all-road bikes, and now wanted to experience the same comfort and speed on their road bikes. And they wanted...
We received another shipment of chainrings, and now we have all Rene Herse cranks, in all configurations, back in stock. That includes 15 different crankarms, 26 different chainrings, custom chainring and crank bolts, pedal washers and more. Why do we go through all the trouble to offer so many combinations—and...
Early on Wednesday morning local time in Morocco, Marei Moldenhauer won the 1,300 km Atlas Mountain Race in record time. For 4 days, 14 hours and 20 minutes, Marei rode and pushed her bike over the rough dirt tracks that criss-cross the Atlas and Anti-Atlas Mountains, climbing more than 30,000...
Few reviewers command as much respect as Anne-Marije Rook (aka 'Rook'), the North American editor for Cycling Weekly, the world's oldest bike magazine. Rook really knows how to ride: She placed 2nd in the 350-mile Unbound XL in 2023, the year when it was relentlessly muddy and most racers had...
The Atlas Mountain Race, the famous bikepacking race in Morocco, started on Friday. More than 250 racers headed out of Marrakesh and into the Atlas mountains on their 1,300 km journey. The Atlas is a true adventure. We took this opportunity to catch up with a few riders. After talking to some...
The Atlas Mountain Race, the great bikepacking race in Morocco, is happening right now. Yesterday, more than 250 racers headed out of Marrakesh and started their 1,300 km journey over long-forgotten gravel tracks. What they are finding along the way is very little pavement and plenty of hike-a-bikes. Distances between resupply...
The Atlas Mountain Race, the great bikepacking race in Morocco, will start within the hour. More than 250 racers will head out of Marrakesh and climb into the Atlas mountains on their 1,300 km journey over long-forgotten gravel tracks. Ahead of them is very little pavement and plenty of hike-a-bikes. Distances...
The Atlas Mountain Race, the famous bikepacking race in Morocco, starts tomorrow. More than 250 racers will head out of Marrakesh and cross the Atlas and Anti-Atlas mountains on their 1,300 km journey over long-forgotten gravel tracks. There will be very little pavement and plenty of hike-a-bikes. Distances between resupply...
The 'King of Gravel' has added the Race Around Rwanda to his long list of trophies. Best known for his strength in North American one-day gravel races like the Unbound 200, Ted likes to get outside his comfort zone—this time with a self-supported bikepacking race over 1,000 km (620 miles),...
And they are off! More than 100 racers and bikepackers started a few hours ago in Kigali for the Race Around Rwanda, a self-supported bikepacking race in east Africa. The challenging course will have them climb into the clouds at elevations of almost 3,000 m (10,000 ft), before dropping back...
A few weeks ago, Mark told the story of his new bike and the incredible adventure in the Pyrenees Mountains that was its maiden voyage. A number of readers went to our 'Suggestions' page to ask about the specs of his bike. Many wondered how a...
We just received another shipment of TPU tubes from Germany. Demand is still so strong that production has trouble keeping up. Some models have been out of stock for a while. Right after the tubes were delivered, we shipped pre-ordered tubes to our customers. Even with those tubes sent out,...
Amanda Naumann Sheek and Ted King will join the Gravel Hall of Fame in 2025. The selection committee couldn't have made a better choice! Both Amanda and Ted not only have won the 200-mile Unbound twice (in addition to numerous other races), they've also been the face of gravel for...
If you're running 700C tires on carbon rims, the wheel situation is better than ever. As companies have rolled out new rims, they've redesigned them to (mostly) meet the ETRTO / ISO standards for rim/tire fit. That's good news, whether you run your tires tubeless or with tubes. Things don't look...
When we were growing up, the year 2000 was short-hand for 'the future.' Now we're a quarter century past that landmark. To celebrate this new milestone, Natsuko and I compiled an (entirely subjective) list of a dozen innovations that have reshaped cycling during these...
The new Corkscrew Climb semi-slick tires are now shipping. First priority went to our racers who've been testing and racing on prototypes for months now. Above is the Stars-and-Stripes bike of the current USA Gravel National Champion, Brennan Wertz. Jenna Rinehart (above) and Ted King (below) rode their prototypes at...
Update 1/14/2025: The new Corkscrew Climb semi-slicks are now shipping. You can order yours here. Interest in our new Corkscrew Climb Semi-Slicks has far exceeded our expectations. It's clear that the cycling world has been waiting for a semi-slick that finally delivers—combining the speed of a slick with...
To all our readers (and everybody else) in Los Angeles, we hope that you and yours are safe. We are saddened by the lives lost and hope that the count will not go up further. That is the most important, but losing homes, neighborhoods, and places you love is devastating....
We've added one more patch and alcohol wipe to our TPU Tube Patch Kits. Patching TPU tubes is easy—just wipe the area around the puncture with the included alcohol wipe and apply the self-adhesive patch. There's no need to sand the tube or use vulcanizing fluid. And since there's no...
We're introducing the Rene Herse Ultimate headset to complete our program. Some readers may wonder: Why would anybody run a 1" threaded headset in this day and age? There's no doubt that carbon forks need massive tapered steerer tubes—that's how makers have finally eliminated the dreaded brake judder of earlier...
We just received a re-stock of the forged Drust Taillight Mounts. They just received a coveted 'Gear of the Year' award from www.bikepacking.com. Now they are also available in anodized colors in very limited quantities. Get yours while stocks last! More Information: Lights and mounts in the Rene Herse...
Selecting Rene Herse tires for your bike is easy, because our program is logical and simple. It's all based on performance. We don't offer dozens of functionally similar tread patterns—just three that cover all riding conditions. Rene Herse tires are available with four different casings, because the casing, more than...
It's always fun when somebody mentions Rene Herse components among their favorites, but it's doubly meaningful when it's somebody of the stature of Joe Cruz. bikepacking.com contributor, route finder, philosopher—Joe is an absolute legend! Imagine our surprise (and delight) when Joe mentioned TPU tubes among his four favorite new products...
"Not just another semi-slick." We don't 'innovate' just to create something new. We have a lot of respect for pioneers who came before us, like the U.S. Army engineers who discovered suspension losses or the mid-century constructeurs who built the original gravel bikes at a time when most roads in the...
It's almost 2025! A quarter century has passed since that big landmark, the year 2000. It's a great moment to take stock of the revolutionary changes in cycling over those 25 years, and then have a look how things might develop in the future. Natsuko and I talked about the...
A 'wide tire revolution' has swept through the cycling world. Whether it's gravel racers on 48 mm rubber or Tour de France champions on 30s, today's tires are wider than ever before. At the same time, pressures have dropped. In the past, 4 bar (58 psi) would have been a...
All of us at Rene Herse Cycles wish you Happy Holidays! We are grateful for your support this year, and we look forward to being part of your rides and adventures in 2025! Natsuko, Jan & the Rene Herse team
When we work with the world's fastest racers, our main goal is not marketing, but R&D. These riders test our tires to the max, in the real world, under conditions that are impossible to replicate. An essential part of this testing is examining the tires they've raced on, so we...
This is just a quick note that we've received our latest shipment from Schmidt in Germany. We've got the famous SON generator hubs in stock again. If you're looking for the fastest and most reliable generator hub to power your adventures, look no further. We also carry the excellent Edelux...
When Rene Herse couldn't find the bags he wanted for his bikes, he began offering his own, way back in the mid-1940s. As far as we know, he pioneered the forward-opening flap that allows accessing the bag's contents while riding. Building on those 80 years of experience, as well as...
Two shipments came in this week. From Japan, we received MKS pedals. I'll never forget visiting the MKS factory during my first visit to Japan, years ago. After seeing huge machines forge all kinds of specialized parts for the automotive industry, we entered a small room where the top-end pedals...
The last time I bought a new bicycle was 17 years ago. Long-time readers of Bicycle Quarterly might be familiar with my 'Six Hands' bike that served as the control/reference for numerous bike tests and has carried me over tens of thousands of miles through many unforgettable adventures. I didn’t...
if you—or somebody who is looking for a gift for you—can’t decide on the perfect present, a Rene Herse gift card is probably the most versatile gift you can give somebody who reads this Journal. They are available from $25 to $200. They are good for anything we offer: tires, components,...
We get a lot of questions on how to run a generator lighting system. Compared to a self-contained battery-powered light, it can seem complex. Why are there so many different parts? They are mostly for special installations, and you don't need them for a basic setup. In fact, the simplest...
The Winter Bicycle Quarterly is now arriving at our subscribers, just in time for reading over the holidays. It'll be an opportunity to turn off their screens, make a cup of tea, and immerse themselves into long-form stories of rides, adventures, shop visits, product tests and history. We'd like to...
Bicycles are fun first and foremost. Sure, we use them for transportation and fitness, but the main reason we ride, race, work on our bikes, discuss technical details and generally nerd out about bikes is simple: Bikes are fun! When we saw Dominique Ehrhard's delightful pop-up book at a local...
We got another shipment of TPU tubes from Germany. Demand has outstripped our ability to make these tubes all year. Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that so many cyclists share our enthusiasm for these TPU tubes. They are superlight, pack super-small, roll faster than butyl tubes or tubeless setups, and...
When we wrote that our Universal Mudflaps were the result of two years of R&D, some people found that hard to believe. Of course, we didn't work full-time for 4,000 hours on these mudflaps... but it really did take two years from the first discussion with Ass Savers, who make...
We love handlebar bags! Putting the weight up front means it's easier to balance, especially when you're riding out of the saddle. (None of that tail-wagging-the-dog feel that you get with rear bags.) Food, clothes, camera—the contents of a handlebar bag is easy to reach, either while you're riding or...
A new Bicycle Quarterly is going to the printer. That's always a big deal around here. The Winter 2024 edition is our 87th. How does a magazine remain relevant and successful for so long? I think part of the secret is that we've shaped trends rather than just reported on...
Here at Rene Herse, we strongly believe that bicycle books should be fun. Few cycling books in recent times have been more fun than this bicycle pop-up book. What a brilliant idea: Chart the history of bicycles in nine meticulously crafted pop-up scenes. Starting with the Baron von Drais on...
As the cycling season draws to a close in most of the northern hemisphere, it's starting 'Down Under' in Australia. Over the last couple of weeks, the 2024 Tassie Gift took 33 intrepid bikepackers to Tasmania. The Tassie Gift was a relentless 1,800 km race along roads, trails and goat...
We recently found two 'Rene Herse Special' GB 22 bags in our warehouse. What makes them 'special' is that they don't have side pockets, which provides more room for your hands on the bars and improves aerodynamics. Of course, there are still plenty of pockets to keep your things organized:...
It's been a busy week here at Rene Herse Cycles. Which is just as well, since the rains have started with a vengeance here in the Pacific Northwest... Time to focus on organizing all the shipments that have come in, on new builds and overhauling existing bikes, and on spending...
Editor's Note: It often surprises (and delights) us when we find out what our customers do with our tires. The Silk Road Mountain Race in Kyrgyzstan is widely considered the toughest race in the world. We all know that Sofiane Sehili has won the Silk Road three years in a...
Ideally, I'd head to the mountains for a few days of riding, out of cell range and unplugged from the news that don't have anything new to report at this stage any longer. However, winter has already come to the Cascade Mountains, and I've got the next Bicycle Quarterly...
The response to our TPU tubes has been extraordinary. Production has not been able to keep up with demand. A significant portion of orders are from repeat customers, who are outfitting additional bikes with TPU tubes. Why do they love these new tubes so much? There are many reasons. Light weight...
Thank you to all who signed up for Bicycle Quarterly, gifted a subscription, or bought past editions. So many of you stepped up, and the result is $ 5,538. That's huge! Beyond the financial contribution, it's truly inspiring that so many people care. Thank you to all of you! 100% of...
Editor's note: Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic damage to Asheville and surrounding communities in western North Carolina in late September. More recent events have displaced the aftermath of this devastating storm in the news, but the rebuilding is only beginning. Buildings and roads are destroyed, more than 5,000 North Carolinians are...
Some climbs are appealing simply because they are out there. One of the most famous is the road to L'Alpe d'Huez. It climbs 1,118 m over just 13.9 km. That works out to an average gradient of 8%. The steepest sections are 15%. Simply climbing the Alpe was a great...
A long time ago, the leading American bike magazine called us 'Fender Snobs.' Perhaps that was the inevitable result of our belief that 'Everything Matters.' Nobody has ever been called a 'Derailleur Snob.' Yet we don't shift all that often during our long winter base miles, but the spray from our...
Our latest batch of TPU tubes has arrived. Every tube size and valve type is in stock now, but some quantities are already running low: Most of the tubes were pre-ordered. We also got the patch kits back in stock... There are quite a few TPU tubes on the market. What...
Next weekend are the third-ever UCI Gravel World Championships. That's a big deal—it doesn't get bigger than that. You can say that gravel has really arrived and carved out its place in the bike world, not just in North America, but world-wide. We're especially excited that four of the elite/professional racers...
It probably doesn't make sense to get a minimalist taillight like the Busch & Müller μ (pronounced 'Mu' for 'Micro') and mount it with a big bracket that weighs more than the light itself. Konstantin Drust, the framebuilder from Berlin, Germany, felt the same way, and so he created an...
After we published the story about a steel bike for Unbound XL lighter than most carbon bikes that line up for this gravel ultra race, a number of you asked about detailed specs of the bike. That makes a lot of sense: Almost everything (except the bottom...
Light weight isn't everything, but a lighter bike is faster and more fun. There is the simple physics of climbing—less weight means more speed. More important, to me at least, is the feel of the bike when I rock it from side to side as I climb or sprint out...
Realizing that Rene Herse tires are named after real passes, ridges, and climbs—places that one can go ride—Henley Phillips schemed a route that linked together as many passes as he could squeeze into a short bikepacking trip. He wrote up his adventure for bikepacking.com, complete with beautiful photos of mid-summer riding...
Natsuko and I met Dustin at a café in the neighborhood. We talked about bikes and book projects. We had recently published The All-Road Bike Revolution, and Dustin was working on his first book, Blood and Lightning (link below), about becoming a tattoo artist. As we talked, he told us...
After a hard-fought race against America's fastest and most experienced racers, Brennan Wertz won the 2024 USA Cycling Gravel National Championships. John Borstelmann was second, Colby Simmons third. Defending champion and general favorite Keegan Swenson finished sixth, while Inno Zavyalov was tenth. Brennan and Inno were on Rene Herse tires....
In a field of mass-produced carbon bikes, it's refreshing to see a national championship won on a custom-built metal frame. Brennan's Mosaic GT-1 iAR is the latest all-road offering from the Colorado maker. With an Enve Gravel fork and Mosaic's All-Road chainstays, Brennan's bike juuuust clears the 44 mm-wide Snoqualmie...
One reason behind the popularity of gravel racing is that it treats female riders as equals to men. That is a big break from traditional racing that used to focus on men first and foremost—women were either completely ignored or treated as an afterthought. Throughout history, a few women have tried to...
Before we go into our sale, just a quick note that another shipment of TPU tubes is on the way. There isn't much we can say about the tubes that hasn't been said, so I'll quote a friend and customer instead. He's definitely not a racer, but uses his bike...
We just received another shipment from Ostrich in Japan. Included are the chain covers—essential protection when you travel with your bike. The Chain Cover keeps your chain away from luggage and clothing during travel or bike storage. The Chain Cover attaches with Velcro and fits virtually any bike. Made from...
Last weekend, the MADE Show in Portland celebrated the art of framebuilding, as the show's official motto put it. Of course, the exhibitors brought much more than just beautifully crafted and gorgeously painted frames. There was some real innovation, as well as other news that didn't make it into the...
Congratulations to Inno Zavyalov for a stunning 2nd place at Gravel Worlds in a star-studded field, riding on Rene Herse 700C x 44 Snoqualmie Pass Extralight tires. Here is his report: Gravel Worlds 150Lincoln, Nebraska 5:55 am start High index 105 Wow. I’m still processing exactly what happened yesterday. I’ll be fully transparent and say...
Long sold out, we now got a small number of Nivex T-Shirts back in stock, with Manga-inspired artwork by Franck Stephan. Only a few in each size…
Summer in the Pacific Northwest is a glorious time, when the days are long, the sky is blue, and the mountains are calling. We answer that call as often as we can, creating memories that tide us over the long and rainy winters, when the high passes are covered under...
FMB tubulars are made to order in a small shop in Plurien, France. Our latest order has arrived. If you've pre-ordered tubulars, they'll be shipped shortly. We also have some more 'cross and road tubs in stock. Get them while they last! More information: FMB tubulars in the Rene...
It's natural to wonder whether what we say about our Rene Herse dual-purpose knobbies is just marketing. We've all heard the word 'revolutionary' bandied about too many times. Who really believes it when a company says that they've created something completely new, something that eclipses everything that came before? "Come...
This is just a short note that our TPU tubes arrived. If you pre-ordered tubes, your order is being shipped first. For those customers who've been waiting for the tubes to actually be in stock, I really hate to say: "Get yours while supplies last." But that's the current situation...
When we started riding wide, supple tires more than a decade ago, we wondered about rim width. Do extra-wide tires need extra-wide rims? Figuring this out was part of our research into tire and bicycle performance. Last week, Zipp introduced their new 303 XPLR gravel wheels. Their main selling point are...
We've been working hard to get more of our customers' favorite products in stock. Our TPU tubes have been incredibly popular. Perhaps that shouldn't surprise us—superior strength, ultra-light weight, ultra-low rolling resistance and leak-free all-metal valves are convincing arguments in their favor—but we've just not been able to produce them...
Headsets are among those bike parts that you don't think about much—until you have to, because they aren't working as they should. Fortunately, the headsets on modern carbon bikes rarely intrude into the cycling experience—massive, tapered steerers spread the load over much bigger bearings than in the past. For steel bikes,...
More and more bikepackers and adventurers are adopting generator hubs. Having lights whenever you need them, at the flick of a switch, without worrying about battery charge, is liberating when you want to focusing on the road, trail and scenery. SON hubs, with their precision manufacture and unique pressure compensation...
Interviews are always interesting, because many questions are unexpected, and impromptu answers often chart new territory. That was definitely the case when Bike Gear Database talked to Jan recently. Among the questions: What is the vision for Rene Herse Cycles? Why did Jan continue a company with a rich tradition rather than...
At Rene Herse Cycles, we've been running some of our bikes tubeless for more than a decade. Back then, neither rims nor tires were tubeless-ready yet, so there was much improvisation. On rough terrain, the tires tended to burp, and there were other issues, too. It was all part of...
These days, Rene Herse Cycles is often associated with gravel and bikepacking, so it may come as a surprise that my love of cycling started on the road. Growing up in Germany, my family lived at the edge of a small village on a popular training route. Seeing groups of...
Four years ago, I first attempted to reach Humptulips Ridge. It was the first year of the pandemic. There were no races, and group rides were frowned upon. Vaccines were not yet available, and nobody knew yet what was safe and what wasn't. But I yearned for big adventures. I...
We just received a new shipment from Berthoud in France. Included are Ted King's favorite mirrors in silver and black. Machined from aluminum, these mirrors plug into the end of your (drop) handlebars. They are small and unobtrusive, yet they give you a good view of what's approaching from behind. We...
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...
It feels like summer has just begun in Seattle, and yet cyclocross season is just two months away. 'Cross is huge fun and riding multiple laps on a slippery course is a great way to hone bike handling skills. If I take a corner too fast, I'll scrub off most...
Our shipment arrived earlier than expected (yes, that can happen!), so the TPU tubes are now in stock. If you've pre-ordered your tubes, yours will be shipped first. Stocks of some models are already low, but all sizes are still available—for now. Production of Rene Herse TPU tubes is running...
We want to apologize to our customers who have been trying to order our TPU tubes: We didn't anticipate this much demand. By the time many customers saw our newsletter announcing the last re-stock, the most popular sizes were already sold out. We understand your frustration. It wasn't intended that...
The Robidoux Rendezvous may be a new race, but very generous prize money brought some of the best gravel racers to Gering, Nebraska, last weekend. The result was an action-packed race. We're proud to report that both the men's and women's winners rode on Rene Herse tires. Here's the report from...
For years, I used to think that road bikes were relics from the past, when we thought that pencil-thin, rock-hard tires were a prerequisite for speed. Then Gerard Vroomen and Andy Kessler sent us the appropriately named OPEN MIN.D.—their road bike for tires up to 32 mm wide. And we...
You don't expect steel bikes to be ridden to the top steps of the podium in international races any longer these days, but that's exactly what happened last weekend when the UCI Gravel World Series came to Collingwood in Ontario (Canada). Blue Mountain Gravel was the last opportunity in North...
After racing (and winning) the Bon Jon Pass Out race last weekend, Ted King made a video for his 'King of the Ride' series. In seven minutes, he sums up the experience of gravel racing in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Click on the arrow below to watch him...
Ed.: We invited Ted King to the Bon Jon Pass Out gravel race to show him a part of the local gravel racing scene in the Pacific Northwest. Despite the weather—showers and even sleet all day—a lot of fun was had by all. Here are Ted's impressions from the race,...
The Summer 2024 Bicycle Quarterly is at the printer. With every edition, we bring you a variety of fascinating articles by some of the best authors in cycling. Stories you won't find anywhere else, with award-winning photos that come to life on the printed page in a way monitors simply...
A new shipment of TPU tubes has arrived in Seattle. The new tubes have been so popular that each of the first production runs sold out in less than a day. The tubes are made in small batches. We rigorously check each tube for quality. That's why those batches aren't...
Unbound, the gravel race across the Flint Hills of Kansas, keeps getting bigger with every year—in every way. This year, more than 5,000 riders lined up in various categories to test their stamina, skill and speed. I don't know whether Unbound is the world's biggest gravel race, but it certainly...
Thank you to all our readers and customers who've made our charity drive a success. We were able to round up a bit—also to take into account subscriptions that came in after the deadline—and donate $ 2000 to Doctors Without Borders. Thank you to everybody! If you missed the
Update: Thanks to the great response to the charity drive, we've extended it by a day. It also covers renewals to Bicycle Quarterly subscriptions. Cycling is a wonderful part of our lives, and it's fun to talk about fascinating bike tech and inspiring adventures. At the same time, as cyclists, we...
Why do people ride 355 miles on hilly gravel roads? On the face of it, Unbound XL seems a little crazy. Perhaps something you suffer through so you can tell the tale afterward? Actually, quite to the contrary, it can be hugely enjoyable, because it combines endorphins, beautiful landscapes and...
What do you pack for a 350-mile gravel race into the Flint Hills of Kansas? There are two philosophies: Pack light and buy what you need on the road. That's the classic bikepacking strategy. For races that last a week or longer, you simply have to resupply on the road. Bring most...
Yesterday's post about my Unbound XL bike mentioned tire pressure: 21 psi (1.5 bar). That is very low. In fact, it's about 20% less than the 'soft' value from the Rene Herse tire pressure calculator. Should we all run our tires that low? Not necessarily—what works for...
The Flint Hills are totally different from the Cascade Mountains where I usually ride, but equally fascinating. Flying here yesterday, Kansas seemed flat, but the Flint Hills are anything but. The climbs are shorter, but relentless. The rocks are chunky and can be sharp. The climate is hotter, especially at...
Today, Wired magazine published an article titled: "Your Bike Tires Are Too Skinny. Riding on Fat, Supple Tires Is Just Better." It's not like we don't know this already—after all, Tadej Pogačar is currently dominating the Giro d'Italia on 28 mm tires. Rubber that wide was considered appropriate only for...
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