Specs of Mark’s Rene Herse
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 fully equipped bike could be so light: Mark’s bike weighs just 10.3 kg / 22.7 lb. including rack, fenders, lights, pedals, bottle cages, etc.
The answer is simple: Everything is important. Parts like ultralight direct-mount brakes (137 g/wheel) and forged 3-arm cranks (498 g) are tied together by a fully integrated design that eliminates heavy clamps and bolts. Here is the complete spec, and why Mark chose each part.

Frame:
The frame is made from the lightest steel tubing available today, not just to reduce weight, but also to optimize the frame stiffness for Mark’s power and pedaling style. Details include the ultralight Rene Herse cable stops—slotted for Rinko–and the triangular wire on the chainstay that keeps the chain from hitting when coasting downhill on rough terrain.
- Tubeset: Rene Herse × Kaisei Superlight, long tubes, 0.7 mm curved chainstays (for tire clearance)
- Dropouts: Rene Herse for Nivex derailleur, stainless washers on inside surfaces
- BB shell: Rene Herse for pressed-in bearings (prototype)
- Lugs: Rene Herse custom, hand-made by Mark Nobilette
- Cable stops: Rene Herse
- Centerpull brake pivots: Rene Herse
- Headset: Rene Herse Ultimate Rinko

Fork:
The small-diameter blades provide suspension that augments the supple tires. SL dropouts connect to the generator hub without external wires.
- Blades: Kaisei ‘TOEI Special’
- Crown: Rene Herse 54 mm
- Dropouts: Rene Herse SL
- Rene Herse stem tube, 1.5 mm
- Centerpull pivots, rack eyelets: Rene Herse
- Low-rider bosses
Drivetrain:
As a long-distance rider with a healthy spin, Mark prefers small-ish gears. In the 42×11, he spins out at around 60 km/h (37 mph)—fast enough even for an all-out city line sprint.
- Cranks: Rene Herse Double, 9- to 12-speed, 42×26
- Crank Bolts: Rene Herse Titanium
- Bottom bracket: Rene Herse with pressed-in bearings (prototype)
- Front Derailleur: Rene Herse lever-operated (prototype)
- Rear Derailleur: Nivex 11-speed
- Cassette: Shimano Ultegra 11-30
- Chain: Shimano Ultegra 11-sp
Brakes:
Direct mount centerpull brakes are superlight and don’t flex, for excellent braking power and superior modulation. Just as important, the cable stops are flex-free: The front stop is incorporated into the stem; the rear is stressed in tension.
- Rene Herse Centerpull Rinko, direct mount, titanium bolts
- Rene Herse Rear Cable Hanger
- Rene Herse Rack Bolts to attach brake and rack to centerpull pivots (front)

Wheels:
Mark likes a bike with nimble handling, that goes where he points it. 650B wheels keep the rotational inertia low despite the extra weight of the wide tires. They also keep the chainstays short and stiff, and avoid issues with toe overlap.
- Front hub: SON Delux Wide-Body SL, 28 holes
- Rear hub: Hope RS4, 32 holes
- Rims: Pacenti Brevet (no longer available)
- Spokes: Sapim Laser (2.0-1.5 mm), aluminum nipples
- Tires: Rene Herse Babyshoe Pass Extralight 650B x 42 mm
- Tubes: Rene Herse TPU
- Quick Releases: Shimano (from Mark’s parts bin)

Contact Points:
Mark chose narrow handlebars for aerodynamics and comfort. He wrapped his suede tape with the suede side out. Unhappy with the short lifespan of his Brooks saddles back in the 2000s, Mark took matters into his own hands. After all, the superior comfort of a traditional leather saddle comes in large part from the shape being molded by the rider’s anatomy. To replicate that in a ‘modern’ saddle, Mark removed the cover from an Avocet saddle and carved out the foam underneath to match the shape of his old Brooks. Then he glued the cover back on. He likes that saddle so much that he made a second one for his new bike. Perhaps custom-carved saddles should be a thing?
- Handlebars: Rene Herse Randonneur Superlight, 40 cm
- Bar tape: Maware pigskin, suede-side out
- Stem: Rene Herse clamp-on, 100 mm, titanium bolts
- Levers: Campagnolo Record Carbon (no longer available)
- Saddle: Avocet (no longer available) with custom-carved foam
- Seatpost: Nitto S-65, shortened
- Pedals: Shimano PD-520

Lighting:
Generator hubs eliminate the worry about charging lights—essential for long-distance adventures. The Edelux II headlight with its layered beam illuminates the road evenly, without bright spots—just like a car headlight.
- Headlight: SON Edelux II, hanging, without switch
- Taillight: Rene Herse (with built-in reflector)
- Light switch: Rene Herse (doubles as stem cap)
- Rene Herse Headset Slip Ring (transmits current from fork to frame without external wires)
Racks, Fenders:
- Front Rack: Rene Herse CP-1
- Decaleur: Rene Herse
- Low-riders: custom-built by Mark for his 6-Hands
- Fenders: Rene Herse Smooth Fenders 650B for 38-44 mm tires (H80 650B Std)
- Rene Herse Rinko Nut (connects 2 halves of rear fender)

Rinko
Rinko does not require couplers or other modifications of the frame. All cable stops on the frame are slotted to facilitate removing the handlebars when packing the bike. To transport his bike, Mark used:
- Ostrich SL-100 Rinko Bag (for Train Rinko)
- Rene Herse Airplane Rinko Bag
- Rene Herse Frame Pads
Why so many Rene Herse parts?
The majority of components on Mark’s bike come from the Rene Herse program. There’s a simple reason for this: Versatile rando bikes are off the radar for the mainstream bike industry, and few available components are suitable for bikes like this. That’s why Rene Herse Cycles developed so many special components, from frame tubing to headsets. They are designed to work together, and they are one reason why these bikes are so light. The completely integrated design also a reason why bikes like these are so reliable—everything is optimized as a system, to work together seamlessly. Because everything is important.
The wear-and-tear parts on Mark’s bike are standard and easily available: chain, cassette, brake pads, spokes… That way, Mark can take his bike on adventures all over the world without having to worry about breaking down and needing to air-ship spare parts. This also means that his bike is future-proof: As long as 11-speed cassettes and chains are available, he won’t have any trouble keeping his bike on the road.
Further Reading:
- The story of Mark’s Rene Herse and its maiden voyage across the Pyrenees.