Rene Herse offering 8 80th anniversary bicycles
08-12-21, 08:19 PM
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Rene Herse offering 8 80th anniversary bicycles
Story here and in the newest Bicycle Quarterly. I’ve got the issue but haven’t had a chance to fully read through yet.
Last edited by polymorphself; 08-12-21 at 08:30 PM.
08-12-21, 08:31 PM
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$13,900, yeah, why not.
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08-12-21, 08:52 PM
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Yeah, I briefly read the basics and it seems insane but hey. Personally, I’m not sure why you’d pay so much for something that is branded as the real deal but isn’t (I know they’re not trying to pass it off as such a thing, but still), especially with such a historically significant name. That being said, seems like they’ll be wonderful bikes for someone with tons of love going into them. I suppose it’s worth something that they mention that even at that price they won’t be making any money on them.
but…yeah. I’m hoping the rest of the article is a nice read at least.
but…yeah. I’m hoping the rest of the article is a nice read at least.
Last edited by polymorphself; 08-12-21 at 08:57 PM.
08-12-21, 09:24 PM
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“There’ll be a choice of drivetrains, either 12-speed SRAM eTap electronic shifting or a Nivex rear and Rene Herse lever-operated front derailleur”
Some of this article reads like a bad April 1st joke in the middle of August.
Some of this article reads like a bad April 1st joke in the middle of August.
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08-12-21, 09:56 PM
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08-12-21, 10:23 PM
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08-12-21, 11:01 PM
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08-12-21, 11:36 PM
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Especially the current generation of SRAM. I mean, I've put plenty of modern components (brifters and electronic shifting) on vintage bikes, but the overall aesthetic composition of an eTap-equipped RH had better be extremely carefully selected. That will be a challenge. I also hope the headset/steerer/stem integration will be a lot better than the dark blue RH pictured (Jan's ride). Like, dear Lord, just put a freaking Nitto Pearl or something on it and have it look a billion times better/cleaner. Or get an Innicycle headset (which I am running on my Trek 620), which is superb.
08-13-21, 12:07 AM
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I also hope the headset/steerer/stem integration will be a lot better than the dark blue RH pictured (Jan's ride). Like, dear Lord, just put a freaking Nitto Pearl or something on it and have it look a billion times better/cleaner. Or get an Innicycle headset (which I am running on my Trek 620), which is superb.
As for the bikes not being real Herses - I agree. He's got the name trademark from the late Lyli, so legally yes Jan can build a bike and call it a Herse, but I agree it'll never be a real one because the tradition's broken. I do wonder what the old French guys think. Like no doubt a Singer is still a Singer, but their shop never closed, and the tradition has been handed down directly from builder to builder, so maybe that's the difference? Or is the difference the incessant self-promotion and self-righteousness, and a certain type of fans and followers, while the real Herse was perhaps more humble, copied good ideas from others, and let his work speak for itself? I want to get to Levallois again and talk with Olivier, Thomas, and the rest of the Singer gang about it. They will have a nice long perspective, and we all need that.
Finally, I think you can buy a Singer for cheaper, and they'll build one for whoever pays!! But if I didn't have designs to roll my own, my choice would be a L'avecaise for what it's worth.
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08-13-21, 12:23 AM
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I dunno, that's how my real René Herse is. I guess it looks janky but it is lighter weight than a Pearl, because there's no quill/bolt/expander. An old Cinelli with the aluminum expander bolt from OMAS comes close, but I'm pretty sure the Herse setup is still lighter. Downside is the stem is mandatory slammed, but Jan sorta waves his hands and excuses himself of that in the blog post.
Finally, I think you can buy a Singer for cheaper, and they'll build one for whoever pays!! But if I didn't have designs to roll my own, my choice would be a L'avecaise for what it's worth.
Finally, I think you can buy a Singer for cheaper, and they'll build one for whoever pays!! But if I didn't have designs to roll my own, my choice would be a L'avecaise for what it's worth.
A custom Lyon would be really cool to have built--either level of his offerings.
08-13-21, 01:07 AM
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Like I said over at the paceline
If I was going to spent this much money on a bike this would bet near the top if not the top of my list
If I was going to spent this much money on a bike this would bet near the top if not the top of my list
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08-13-21, 03:05 AM
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But one of those René herse bikes would be a randonneur for life ❤️😍
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08-13-21, 06:26 AM
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I don't think I will buy one. I have too many bikes that i like already, and the cost is an order of magnitude higher than I've ever paid for a bike.
But I'd love to rent one for a season.
But I'd love to rent one for a season.
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08-13-21, 06:37 AM
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Jan's bike has a new/modern headset with the RH stem (essentially a quill conversion with a 'threadless' stem if reference images are anything to go by--done many a conversion). Its gesture is janky and its angle and aesthetic relative to the rest of the bike is incongruous to the rest of the bike. At any rate, it doesn't matter, ultimately, to non-owners of RH's.
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Last edited by scarlson; 08-13-21 at 06:42 AM.
08-13-21, 06:44 AM
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It's a threaded headset, but the steerer has a smaller-diameter, non-threaded 7/8" extension going up above. This is usually a short piece of steel tube, brazed in. The machined aluminum stem clamps to this. That's the way it is on my old tandem, and probably the way it works here, judging by the photos. It really looks like it's done the same way as the original. I don't want you to think I'm defending the concept, but the stem setup is pretty true to the original. Only difference is, originals had one bolt clamping the stem on the steerer, whereas his has two. But the originals sometimes broke at that bolt (a scary failure to have). I agree it's a little janky, but again it's pretty lightweight simply because it ditches a lot of parts. Jan probably also did it to incorporate his headlight switch. Which southpawboston tells me is also pretty janky, and not waterproof!
I've been looking for a bicycle headlight switch more quite a fee months. Do yo have a picture of it?
08-13-21, 06:46 AM
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I think they're pretty cool bikes. Wouldn't buy one because I already have a pair of rides that serve the same purpose.
Will be interesting to see who the target market turns out to be, assuming that diehard rando/brevet types who would use a tool like this to maximum advantage already have at least one bike set up to their liking.
Will be interesting to see who the target market turns out to be, assuming that diehard rando/brevet types who would use a tool like this to maximum advantage already have at least one bike set up to their liking.
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08-13-21, 07:09 AM
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08-13-21, 07:15 AM
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So what is Color 3?
08-13-21, 07:31 AM
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Look at all the fast randonneurs riding fat tires and steel.
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08-13-21, 07:35 AM
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I dunno, that's how my real René Herse is. I guess it looks janky but it is lighter weight than a Pearl, because there's no quill/bolt/expander. An old Cinelli with the aluminum expander bolt from OMAS comes close, but I'm pretty sure the Herse setup is still lighter. Downside is the stem is mandatory slammed, but Jan sorta waves his hands and excuses himself of that in the blog post.
As for the bikes not being real Herses - I agree. He's got the name trademark from the late Lyli, so legally yes Jan can build a bike and call it a Herse, but I agree it'll never be a real one because the tradition's broken. I do wonder what the old French guys think. Like no doubt a Singer is still a Singer, but their shop never closed, and the tradition has been handed down directly from builder to builder, so maybe that's the difference? Or is the difference the incessant self-promotion and self-righteousness, and a certain type of fans and followers, while the real Herse was perhaps more humble, copied good ideas from others, and let his work speak for itself? I want to get to Levallois again and talk with Olivier, Thomas, and the rest of the Singer gang about it. They will have a nice long perspective, and we all need that.
Finally, I think you can buy a Singer for cheaper, and they'll build one for whoever pays!! But if I didn't have designs to roll my own, my choice would be a L'avecaise for what it's worth.
As for the bikes not being real Herses - I agree. He's got the name trademark from the late Lyli, so legally yes Jan can build a bike and call it a Herse, but I agree it'll never be a real one because the tradition's broken. I do wonder what the old French guys think. Like no doubt a Singer is still a Singer, but their shop never closed, and the tradition has been handed down directly from builder to builder, so maybe that's the difference? Or is the difference the incessant self-promotion and self-righteousness, and a certain type of fans and followers, while the real Herse was perhaps more humble, copied good ideas from others, and let his work speak for itself? I want to get to Levallois again and talk with Olivier, Thomas, and the rest of the Singer gang about it. They will have a nice long perspective, and we all need that.
Finally, I think you can buy a Singer for cheaper, and they'll build one for whoever pays!! But if I didn't have designs to roll my own, my choice would be a L'avecaise for what it's worth.
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08-13-21, 09:58 AM
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I can think of much less dignified fates for classic French brands: Save up to 60% off Road Bikes, Free Ship 48, Schwinn, GT, Kestrel, Fuji, Motobecane and more Road bikes. Authorized dealer for Schwinn, GT, Kestrel, Fuji, Motobecane, Mercier, Gravity, Dawes road bikes. Shimano Carbon Road Bikes, Titanium Road Bikes,
I do wonder what Jan means when he says "we ask riders what they plan to do with the bikes and why they want one, and allocate the bikes based on that". How serious is this? Is this going to be a college admissions essay type thing? As an academic, I am intrigued.
And for what it is, he's right, the price is a steal.
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08-13-21, 10:32 AM
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Wow, Mr. Heine claps back in sentence #2 of his blog post: "Apart from the inevitable 'I didn’t know top-of-the-line bikes cost THAT much!' from retrogrouches who still remember the days when the dollar was strong and imported bikes were available for peanuts, there’s a lot of excitement."
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