Summer 2025 Bicycle Quarterly
The new Bicycle Quarterly is at the printer. Make sure your subscription is current so you’re among the first to get your copy, straight off the press. And you’ll want to read this edition: filled with inspiration, information and fun—with 108 pages of stories you aren’t going to find anywhere else.
Anybody who followed this year’s Atlas Mountain Race was mesmerized by Marei Moldenhauer’s performance. Taking a commanding lead early on, she moved steadily through the field, winning the race in record time and becoming the first woman ever to make it into the top-ten overall. Watching the video of her finishing the race in real time was just so moving: She explained how she was happy to win, but also sad that her beautiful ride was over.
A brief finish-line video can’t convey the full story of Marei’s adventure. That’s why we asked her to write about her race. It’s clear that Marei puts her heart and soul into everything she does, and her story is one of the most inspiring pieces of cycling literature anywhere. Marei recounts how her love of cycling has brought her to a place where she confidently traverses the deserts and mountains of Morocco.
For most bikepackers, the bicycle itself is just a tool. Gabriel Refait’s 1974 Alex Singer is much more—it’s a philosophical statement as much as a hard-charging bike. Gabriel takes us to Spain and Portugal, where he raced the Desertus Bikus bikepacking race. After finishing the race, he installed his front panniers and continued his ride as a leisurely tour—all the way to Morocco. His adventures and observations make for captivating reading.
Jimmy Ashby takes us to Tasmania, a place he’s known since his childhood. Racing the Tassie Gift, Jimmy revisits familiar places and discovers himself and what he is capable of: For the first time, everything comes together and he rides in a way that makes him proud. In fact, he wins the race after a neck-and-neck battle with Swiss legend Adrien Liechti—who in the photo above is leading Jimmy through the wilds of Tasmania.
Despite many proclamations that “it’s not about the bike,” it is the interaction between human and machine that makes cycling so special. Framebuilder Dickson Bou explains why he chose an analog drivetrain for his personal bike and what it’s like to ride.
Our research collaboration with the engineering department at Cal Poly Pomona examines tires as springs: How do casing and air pressure interact? And how does that change the stiffness of the tire? Some of the test results confirm long-held beliefs, while others brought surprising insights into how tires work in the real world.
Among all who’ve documented cycling and its technology, Daniel Rebour’s influence stands out. Forty years after he put down his pen for the last time, his drawings remain instantly recognizable. Part 2 of Heiko Strömer’s definitive history looks at Rebour’s technique. You’ll be surprised to see how he streamlined his workflow to meet deadlines—without reducing the artistic quality of his drawings. Heiko also examines Rebour’s influence on other illustrators and shows us rare and unexpected works by the great master.
Rebour chronicled all the latest bike tech, and he would have found plenty of inspiration at this year’s Tokyo Handmade Bicycle Show. Innovations like a bike with connectors on the seat tube to secure the wheels when the bike is packed for Rinko… We bring you a full report from this fascinating show that combined tradition with innovation and showcased Japan’s most famous craftspeople as well as newcomers with fresh ideas.
Bringing you such a variety of fascinating articles is the best part of our job as editors. This week, we are finalizing the mailing list for the Summer Bicycle Quarterly. To be among the first to get your copy, straight off the press, please make sure your subscription is current.
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