Monthly Archives: August 2016

I Bought a Titanium Bike!

Posted on August 30, 2016 by

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 →

Posted in Testing and Tech | 45 Comments

Steilacoom: Our First Cyclocross Tire

Posted on August 25, 2016 by

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 →

Posted in Testing and Tech, Tires | 37 Comments

Minimum Tire Pressure

Posted on August 22, 2016 by

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 →

Posted in Testing and Tech, Tires | 39 Comments

Panel Discussion: The Wide Tire Revolution

Posted on August 19, 2016 by

“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 →

Posted in Testing and Tech, Tires | 29 Comments

Autumn 2016 Bicycle Quarterly

Posted on August 18, 2016 by

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 →

Posted in Bicycle Quarterly Back Issues | 7 Comments

Riding a Tandem with Lyli Herse

Posted on August 15, 2016 by

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 →

Posted in Rides | 14 Comments

The Missing Piece: Suspension Losses

Posted on August 8, 2016 by

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 →

Posted in Testing and Tech, Tires | 62 Comments