Monthly Archives: August 2016
I Bought a Titanium Bike!
The Firefly we tested for the Summer Bicycle Quarterly is one of a new breed – an Enduro Allroad Bike with tires much wider than we usually ride. Our usual routes in the Cascades didn’t seem enough of a challenge for … Continue reading
Steilacoom: Our First Cyclocross Tire
It’s no secret that we love cyclocross. It was only a matter of time until Compass Cycles would introduce a ‘cross tire. Like all our products, the new Steilacoom fills a need that currently isn’t being met: a supple, wide ‘cross … Continue reading
Minimum Tire Pressure
Over the last few years, the idea that higher pressures don’t make your bike faster finally has become accepted. Many cyclists now run lower pressures to improve comfort and traction, without giving up anything in speed. On gravel, lower pressures … Continue reading
Panel Discussion: The Wide Tire Revolution
“Buy the nicest, most supple tires you can afford; and buy them in the widest width that you can fit in your frame.” That is Joshua Poertner’s summary of a panel discussion on Cyclingtips.com. Joshua used to be the president of Zipp, the … Continue reading
Autumn 2016 Bicycle Quarterly
The Autumn Bicycle Quarterly went to the printer today. It’s always a great sense of satisfaction to complete another issue. A lot goes into each BQ: organizing trips and scheduling test bikes; photography on the road and in the studio; writing, … Continue reading
Riding a Tandem with Lyli Herse
No visit to France would be complete without seeing Lyli Herse. I first visited her after riding the 2003 Paris-Brest-Paris on a 1946 René Herse tandem. I wanted to learn more about her father, the famous constructeur, and about Lyli’s own sporting exploits, which include eight … Continue reading
The Missing Piece: Suspension Losses
How does it work that wide tires are as fast as narrow ones? It is really simple: Comfort = Speed When your bike vibrates, energy is dissipated as friction. That energy must come from somewhere – it no longer is available to … Continue reading
