Monthly Archives: January 2015

Compass Centerpull Brake Specs

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Jan Heine

The new Compass centerpull brakes have been very well received. Numerous builders have asked for the complete specifications for the brakes, since many riders plan to use them on their new bikes. We sold so many of the centerpull braze-ons … Continue reading →

Posted in Brakes | 7 Comments

The Tire Pressure Revolution

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Jan Heine

Of all our research on tires, the most revolutionary finding is this: Tire pressure has almost no effect on a tire’s speed. We did not believe it at first, either, so we’ve tested it numerous times. It’s been confirmed numerous … Continue reading →

Posted in Testing and Tech, Tires | 124 Comments

10 Common Misconceptions about Randonneuring

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Jan Heine

With Paris-Brest-Paris coming up this year, a lot of people seem to be interested in randonneuring. They like the idea of a challenging, but not competitive, sport. Many brevets feature great scenery, a sense of adventure, and wonderful people to … Continue reading →

Posted in Rides | 47 Comments

Reconnecting Old Friends

Posted on January 18, 2015 by Jan Heine

Last week, I called Lyli Herse to wish her a happy 87th birthday. You can see her 62 years earlier in the photo above (third from the left). I love this photo – a great group of young (and some … Continue reading →

Posted in books | 21 Comments

MKS: Pedals and more in Japan

Posted on January 14, 2015 by Jan Heine

During our recent visit to Japan, we had the privilege of visiting Mikashima Industrial Company, better known as MKS, the makers of bicycle pedals. We had expressed an interest in MKS to our trading company. Fortunately, the MKS’s president, Toshiyuki … Continue reading →

Posted in Pedals | 42 Comments

Bicycle Quarterly Back Issues

Posted on January 10, 2015 by Jan Heine

From its beginning more than a decade ago, Bicycle Quarterly was intended as a timeless resource, rather than a magazine you read once and then recycle. Most of our content is still relevant and interesting, and our back issues continue … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycle Quarterly Back Issues | 27 Comments

TPI and Tire Performance

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Jan Heine

Tires with supple casings are faster, more comfortable and simply more fun to ride. Most cyclists know this, but how do you measure “suppleness”? A measure that often is used to describe the quality of tires is “threads per inch” … Continue reading →

Posted in Tires | 21 Comments