Monthly Archives: March 2012

April 1: Taking Off Fenders

Posted on March 31, 2012 by

Spring is here at last, and so this weekend we took the fenders off our car. While we were at it, we also removed the lights. We don’t use the car much in the rain or after dark, and we … Continue reading →

Posted in Fenders, Testing and Tech | 59 Comments

People who have inspired us: Roger Baumann

Posted on March 29, 2012 by

I learned about the history of Paris-Brest-Paris from the late Bernard Déon’s excellent book Paris-Brest et Retour (unfortunately out of print). Déon was a great storyteller, and I found his report from the epic 1956 particularly gripping. The main protagonist … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycle Quarterly Back Issues, People who inspired us | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Wiring a Light for a SON Generator Hub

Posted on March 26, 2012 by

Before I explain how to connect your light to a SON generator hub, I’d like to summarize the advantages of quality generator-powered lights. They simply allow you to ride more safely and enjoyably: Light when you need it, at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Lighting | 28 Comments

Bicycle Quarterly Spring 2012

Posted on March 22, 2012 by

Cyclists come in all sizes, as illustrated on the cover of the Spring 2012 Bicycle Quarterly. In this issue, we look at riders that are outside the range of our usual testers. How will a low-trail bike handle for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Product News | 10 Comments

650B Tubulars?

Posted on March 20, 2012 by

650B wheels have been in the news lately. 650B appears to be the “next big thing” for mountain bikes. The popular 700C mountain bikes (“29er”) don’t offer the nimble handling you need in technical terrain – the same result we … Continue reading →

Posted in Testing and Tech, Uncategorized | 21 Comments

Frames Going Soft?

Posted on March 15, 2012 by

When talking to older cyclists and builders, you sometimes hear that old frames lose their stiffness. This apparently manifests itself in reduced performance – the “snap” is gone from the acceleration when you step on the pedals. On the upside, … Continue reading →

Posted in Testing and Tech | 43 Comments

René Herse Cranks are Here!

Posted on March 12, 2012 by

Customers who pre-ordered their René Herse cranks before February 1 should receive a box in the next few days. Inside… …is the new René Herse crank. It is delivered with our custom crank bolts and pedal washers. We are ramping … Continue reading →

Posted in Product News, Rene Herse cranks | 22 Comments

Crossing Tracks Safely

Posted on March 7, 2012 by

A while ago, we wrote about railroad tracks and how narrow tires can fall into the gap between rail and pavement. We suggested that wide tires are safer, because they don’t fit into that gap. In the comments section, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Rides | 31 Comments

Half a Century Old and Still Going Strong

Posted on March 2, 2012 by

I am the fortunate custodian of a lovely 1962 Alex Singer that is in almost-new condition. It has all the features that make an Alex Singer special, and really represents Alex Singer’s ideal of the perfect bike: lightweight, elegant and … Continue reading →

Posted in Our Bikes | 43 Comments