Wins, Podiums and FKTs on RH Semi-Slicks
At Rene Herse Cycles, racing is an important part of our R&D. It helps us improve our products. Racing inspires us to make our tires faster and grippier. Racing helps us to create reliable tires that withstand the toughest courses and highest power outputs. And once a tire is released, racing serves to validate our work to that point. It’s the ultimate test that shows us whether we got it right, or whether we need to head back to the drawing board.
We’re happy to report that our new semi-slick tires perform exactly as expected. Last Sunday, national gravel champ Brennan Wertz won The Old-Fashioned Gravel in Minnesota. With the national gravel championships nearby and just a week away, a number of top riders used this little-known race as a final tune-up for their legs and equipment. Brennan was off the front with breakaway specialist Chase Wark all day, before attacking on the last climb and solo-ing to the finish. He was riding the 44 mm Corkscrew Climb Endurance, with a pressure of 31 psi (2.1 bar). After the finish, he told us about the tires: “I’ve been really enjoying them. Perfect setup for out here.”
It’s always exciting to see a Rene Herse jersey on a podium of an important race. When Jenna Rinehart placed 6th at Gravel Worlds in Nebraska, she shared the podium with the biggest names in gravel racing—including the winners of Unbound 200,Traka 360, Rift Iceland, SBT GRVL… a veritable Who’s Who of gravel racing.
Jenna rode the brand-new 48 mm Poteau Mountain Endurance and commented:“The Poteau Mountain tires were great! They have the perfect combination of speed—like a slick tire—and cornering—like a knobby. The volume of the 48 is a great option for confidence and comfort on more rugged terrain.”
Ted King has been fascinated by the VTXL, the bikepacking route that traverses his home state of Vermont. With so many top racers living nearby, the FKT (Fastest Known Time) on this route has been hotly contested. Last week, Ted rode the ultra-hilly 300 miles in just over 21 hours, setting a new FKT.
Like Jenna, he rode the new 48 mm Poteau Mountain Endurance, inflated to 24 psi (front) and 26 psi (rear). (In metric units, that’s 1.7/1.8 bar). His impression: “The VTXL was the first time I put the final production version of the Poteau Mountains through their paces, and I couldn’t be happier. During a ride that spans an entire state you really get to test them out in any number of conditions. They’re fast-rolling when I needed speed; they’re confidence inspiring on some blind, loose corners; they’re wide and comfy for the chunky stuff. They performed exactly as I would have hoped!”
More Information:
- Tires in the Rene Herse program
- Ted King’s write-up of the VTXL FKT ride
- Scientific Guide to Choosing Gravel Tires
Photos: Jim Merithew (@tinyblackbox; Photos 1 and 2), Clare Paniccia (@nopressurejustbikes; Photos 3 and 4), Ted King (Photos 5 and 6)
