Books / Literature

René Herse The Bikes • The Builder • The Riders By Jan Heine Foreword by Lyli Herse This is a fascinating story of a time when cycling was a way of life. The bikes, as beautiful as they are, provide only the backdrop for the adventures and friendships that they made possible. René Herse needs little introduction these days: He created some of the most sought-after bicycles ever made. This 424-page book takes you right into the action, with thousands of historic photos and stories told by riders, racers, randonneurs, employees and René Herse’s daughter Lyli. Follow René Herse and his friends through half a century of adventures, starting with Herse’s early work on prototype aircraft. Join then at the 1938 Technical Trials, where his bike created a sensation: Fully equipped with wide tires, fenders, lights and a rack, it weighed just 7.94 kg (17.5 lb), lighter than any similar bike today. Witness the difficult years during World War II and learn how they used their bikes both to forage the country for food, but also to spend time with friends and to help each other. Watch amazing performances in the Poly de Chanteloup hillclimb race, Paris-Brest-Paris, and professional races won on René Herse’s frames. Visit the workshop and learn how American customers helped to keep the lights on during the difficult period of the 1960s. Learn how his daughter Lyli and Herse’s best framebuilder joined hands to continue the tradition, crafting amazing bikes that were as out-of-this-world as her father’s. This book tells a story that will inspire you in many ways! Comes with a 4-page update that tells the story since the original book appeared. About Recollections from Herse’s daughter, his employees and especially riders who rode on his team paint a vivid portrait of a gentle, hard-working man who loved cycling and bicycles. More than 400 photos, most taken by professional photographers, bring the story to life. Complementing this history are studio photographs of 20 René Herse bicycles, from one of the first machines made in 1941 to one of the last bikes built in the 1980s: randonneur bikes, tandems, racing and track bikes, as well as touring, camping and city bikes. Each bike is shown in profile and with detail photographs that illustrate why these bikes are so special. The owners and riders of René Herse’s bikes were a relatively classless group that included the well-off as well as young workers who saved all their money to afford their dream bikes. Many of these riders had one thing in common: Their lives revolved around cycling. They rode hard in competitions, but also explored new landscapes and cultures on their tours. Most of all, they forged lasting friendships along the way and lived their lives fully doing what they liked best: cycling in the company of good friends. This book is as much about these riders as it is about the bikes they rode. May they serve as an inspiration to future generations of cyclists! The Author: Jan Heine is editor of Bicycle Quarterly, the magazine about the history, culture and technology of cycling. He is the author of The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles and The Competition Bicycle. - Publisher: Bicycle Quarterly Press - Binding: Hardcover - Pages: 424 pages - Dimensions: 9.5?” x 12”

Modern all-road bikes combine attributes that were considered mutually exclusive just a few years ago: comfort and performance. Speed on smooth pavement and on rough gravel roads. A lively feel and the ability to carry a camping load. Handling that is both stable when the rider is tired and responsive on twisty mountain descents. All-road bikes combine the best aspects of racing, touring and even mountain bikes in just one bicycle. Based on the latest research, this book explains how all-road bikes work and what is important when choosing one. A must-read for cyclists interested in the technology of their bikes, and for every cyclist contemplating his or her next bike purchase. Illustrations by Miyoshi are not just whimsical and fun, they also focus the reader’s eye on what is essential in a way that no technical drawing can. Reading about bikes should be as much fun as riding them! 256 pages; 148 mm x 210 mm (5.8? x 8.3?); Printed in USA About “Our first all-road bike that combined road-bike speed and go-anywhere capabilities was a selfish project — it enabled us to ride how we wanted. We quickly learned many others want the same. Jan Heine’s book tells you how to get the most fun out of your bike.” —Gerard Vroomen, co-founder of OPEN and Cervélo “The proven science of cycling, backed by fascinating, anecdotal applicability, will be appreciated by everyone. From first-time bicycle owner to life-long cyclist looking to purchase their 20th bike, this book covers it all.” —Ted King, gravel racer “It’s hard to describe the joy of riding in words and maybe even harder to give advice on gear selection when riders have such different goals. This book does both in simple terms. It’s easy to understand and answers so many questions. The main idea is to have a comfortable, fast machine that takes you everywhere you want to go. The more fun you have on a bike, the more you’ll want to ride it.” —Lael Wilcox, bikepacker “The All-Road Bike Revolution summarizes two decades of research in an approachable way for a non-technical audience. If you’re into road, gravel, cyclocross, bike touring, or bikepacking, then this book is a must read!” —The Bike Sauce

Features: 4 Paris-Brest-Paris 2023 33 PBP in 44 Hours (Robert Demilly) 38 René Herse Mysteries 45 A Unique René Herse Flyer 46 Rene Herse Frame in the Raw 50 Volcano High Pass SR600 (A. Brey, J. Nadeau, T. Turner) 86 Japan North to South (Futo Togashi) 104 Icon: Ad-Hoc Pump Reviews: 66 Bike Test: Lauf Seigla 84 Why the Lauf Seigla is the Way it is (B. Skulason) Tech: 94 Wide vs Narrow Tires Through the Ages 92 A Custom Cyclotouring Bike for an 11-Year-Old Rider 98 Project: Airplane Rinko News: 102 Federico Bahamontès (1928-2023)

Autumn/Winter 2023 Features: 4 Paris-Brest-Paris 2023 33 PBP in 44 Hours (Robert Demilly) 38 René Herse Mysteries 45 A Unique René Herse Flyer 46 Rene Herse Frame in the Raw 50 Volcano High Pass SR600 (A. Brey, J. Nadeau, T. Turner) 86 Japan North to South (Futo Togashi) 104 Icon: Ad-Hoc Pump Reviews: 66 Bike Test: Lauf Seigla 84 Why the Lauf Seigla is the Way it is (B. Skulason) Tech: 94 Wide vs Narrow Tires Through the Ages 92 A Custom Cyclotouring Bike for an 11-Year-Old Rider 98 Project: Airplane Rinko News: 102 Federico Bahamontès (1928-2023)

Spring 2023 Bicycle Quarterly - The incredible story of the 2700 km Rhino Run bikepacking race - Are gravel bikes slower than road bikes? A scientific test. - Testing the Made-in-France Distance 45 gravel bike - Arizona’s Sky Islands—a magical landscape