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Category Archives: Components
Compass 26″ x 1.5″ Tires
We now offer the Compass 26″ (559 mm) tires in a slightly narrower 1.5″ (37 mm) width, in addition to the popular 1.75″ (44 mm) model. These tires are great for an existing mountain bike, touring bike, or 26″-wheeled tandem. … Continue reading
Posted in Tires
37 Comments
How to Choose Your Chainrings
When we received another shipment of René Herse cranks recently, we built up and filled our pre-orders first. Some are shown above. All the cranks shown have different setups, except two. (Can you spot the two identical ones?) There are … Continue reading
Posted in Rene Herse cranks, Testing and Tech
23 Comments
Decaleurs for Aluminum Stems
Compass Bicycles now offers Grand Bois’ decaleur for classic aluminum stems. A decaleur is a small bracket mounted near the handlebars to secure the handlebar bag (the front rack holds the handlebar bag’s weight). A decaleur system has two parts: … Continue reading
Posted in Racks/Bags, Stems
7 Comments
Unimprovable: Gilles Berthoud Handlebar Bag
Gilles Berthoud handlebar bags are among the few things in this world that are so well-designed and have proven themselves for so long that they have become unimprovable. These bags first were introduced by Sologne in the 1950s, and they … Continue reading
Posted in Racks/Bags
41 Comments
René Herse Cranks in Stock
We just received a new shipment of René Herse cranks. In addition to the double and triple cranks, this production run includes the single-speed cranks (shown above). We also have all chainring sizes in stock (except 50 teeth, which are … Continue reading
Posted in Components, Product News, Rene Herse cranks
5 Comments
Silver Cups for SKF Bottom Brackets
More than three years after their introduction in North America, the SKF bottom brackets have lived up to their promise as the most reliable bottom bracket on the market. Many have been ridden for tens of thousands of miles in … Continue reading
Posted in Bottom brackets
5 Comments
Hutchinson 650B x 32 mm Tires
Compass Bicycles now carries the Hutchinson “Confrérie des 650″ tire. The Confrérie des 650 was created by French riders who loved their 650B bikes. They were concerned that the wheel size might become extinct, leaving them without rims and tires … Continue reading
Posted in Product News, Tires
11 Comments
New Products: Stainless Crowns and Connector-Less Wide-Body Hubs
We are excited about a number of new products that are now available. They have been in development for a while, and we think they were worth the wait! We really like the SON Delux “Wide-Body” generator hubs. The wider … Continue reading
Posted in Components, Framebuilding supplies, Lighting, Product News
3 Comments
René Herse Cranks Sold Out
The first production run of the new René Herse cranks has sold out. Reports from users have been very positive. The cranks work well with current 10-speed drivetrains, as well as classic setups with 5-9 cogs in the rear. The … Continue reading
Posted in Components, Product News, Rene Herse cranks
19 Comments
Bicycle Quarterly: Performance of Tires
Perhaps the most influential topic in Bicycle Quarterly has been our research on the resistance of tires, first published in Vol 5, No. 1 (above). It is not a coincidence that 5 years after that issue was published, professional racers … Continue reading
Preventing Flat Tires: One Year of Tire Wipers
Supple tires with relatively thin tread greatly contribute to the joys of cycling. They roll much faster and are more comfortable. However, they also tend to be more prone to punctures. On the other hand, “flat-resistant” tires are harsh and … Continue reading
Posted in Testing and Tech, Tires
36 Comments
Handlebar Bags: Which Size for Your Bike?
What size handlebar bag is best for you and your bike? Basically, the bag should fill the space between the front rack and the stem. To optimize the bike’s handling, the bag should be as low as possible, and well-supported … Continue reading
Posted in Racks/Bags
13 Comments
Mounting Tires on Rims with Deep Wells
Sometimes we get a call or an e-mail from a frustrated customer: “I have a brand-new set of your tires, and both wobble when I mount them on my rims.” In most cases, it is not the tires’ fault. Usually … Continue reading
Posted in hubs/rims, Tires
41 Comments
Dedication to Details
At Compass Bicycles, we tend to be a bit obsessive when it comes to our bicycles. “Good enough” usually is not good enough when we’re out on our bikes, and we apply the same exacting thoroughness to the components we … Continue reading
Posted in Fenders
10 Comments
Rim Weight
At Compass Bicycles, we are not obsessive gram counters, but none of us want to carry extra weight on our bikes. A few grams here and there add up quickly to a couple of pounds, and that can make a … Continue reading
Posted in hubs/rims, Testing and Tech
52 Comments
High-Flange Hubs from Grand Bois
Grand Bois recently introduced their new high-flange cassette hubs. They combine classic appearance with modern performance. The aesthetics of the new Grand Bois hubs are inspired by the classic Maxi-Car hubs. Like the originals, they feature large flanges and red … Continue reading
Posted in hubs/rims, Product News
31 Comments
Racks and Bags
The Grand Bois M-13 racks now come in two versions: One for bikes with narrow clearances (usually for 700C tires) and one for bikes with wider clearances. With this choice of two racks, it becomes much easier to fit your … Continue reading
To grease or not to grease?
Should one grease the tapers of bottom bracket spindles before installing the cranks? Few topics spur as much controversy among bike mechanics as this question. In the old days, Campagnolo not only recommended mounting the cranks dry, they even suggested … Continue reading
Posted in Bottom brackets, Rene Herse cranks, Testing and Tech
27 Comments
April 1: Taking Off Fenders
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
Wiring a Light for a SON Generator Hub
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
