Late 40s / Early 50s René Herse tip find

Jonny69 said:

MAFAC cantis are really good. There are a few imperfections in the rims which make them a bit grabby on one spot. Apart from that they’re pretty good.

Lock. Ah. Yes. I probably ought to lock it better. But the thing is, to 99.999999% of people it’s just another rusty old bike.

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Imwit said:

Are you getting used to the levers?

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Woz said:

Best comment.

There's something about this picture which also makes me think the original Rene Herse would be so proud if he saw it. Revived and used.

The latest re-carnation of Rene Herse of today in todays world I doubt would feel the same.

Time does strange things.

Personally, reading about the finding, whole approach of going along with this bike and where it's at today represents a stunning achievement.

I'm sure anyone who enters that bike shed would spontaneously pause and take a double look. Form and function of it all is so distant now.

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Jonny69 said:

It’s taken me HOURS to find a new chain today. Halfords didn’t have one of their basic ones, my old LBS had closed down when I got there and then after a bit of head scratching I remembered where there’s another bike shop. Unfortunately I could only get a SRAM 6/7/8-speed which has slight ramps on the side plates. I was hoping to get a more basic chain than that because I still think it’ll perform better on this older drivetrain. Anyway, it’s on and it shifts across the whole range. Test ride time.

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This is the oldest derailleur system I’ve used, by quite a margin. All my older bikes have been fixed or hub gear, so I’ve got no comparison point like a Benelux or anything. The closest I can describe it is it’s a bit like an older friction 5-speed, whereby the lever has a lot of throw and on the block there’s space for the chain to slip if you don’t hit a gear. This is where I think an older-style chain would be advantageous. The original chain measures 6.8mm across the plates and 8mm across the rivets. The 8-speed SRAM has flush rivets and is 7mm across the plates. I think the extra 0.5mm of rivet sticking out is probably a good thing in this case.

The suicide front change is a surprisingly long way down when you’re up on the saddle. I was worried about this one but it’s actually a pretty slick, accurate change. I haven’t even tweaked it, it just works!

What does feel really alien, though, is having gearing like a 28 up at the front. You just don’t normally get old bikes with that sort of gearing. I think I mentioned before that this bike doesn’t like being ridden out of the saddle. The wild gearing brings it alive though, you just sit back instead and push the pedals round!

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That chain definitely looks out of place. Anyway, I think it’s ready to go back into service. Current commute is 14 miles each way with a few hills which I think it’ll deal with just fine. I’ll take it easy on Monday until I’m used to the gears and brakes, but it should fly along.

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dirttorpedo said:

I feel that Jan Heine would be happy to see this bike restored and being used again - I mean he loves the original Rene Herse bikes so much he bought the brand to continue it. He supports classic Herse restoration here

https://www.renehersecycles.com/product-category/components/classic-herse-restoration/

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Woz said:

Always love a counter argument. So we nail it a bit.

Yes, what you said is true. It is a commercial venture like the original. But it's on the back of someone who ploughed a lifetime also and did a lot too to make work it for a living.

I think when you have an original RH there is a shift of what actually is important. The bits and bobs that are in the link appear mostly like overpriced accessories to me.

It's the absolute essentials like BB and headset and full drive train to source. Here you are at total mercy of market prices.

Those Mafac re-created pad holders - right now - are 100% more expensive than the Ebay listing I have for totally complete original early brake set, pads and extra spares that are in superb condition.

I can't understand why - at least in Eurolandia - why you would take this path to buy from him.

I have limited - and perhaps some overly measured - respect for him and what he his doing and keeping a brand alive.

Most probably the two very different periods under different ownership will be very hard to survive very long term.

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dirttorpedo said:

What I've noticed since joining the Retrobike.uk site is that Europeans have access to a much deeper supply of vintage bicycles and components than we do in North America. And I feel another difference is that in North America there is a bias towards a quality new replacement part if available over cannibalizing a vintage component or bicycle.

I don't love the prices hence why I've never purchased anything from Rene Herse / Compass Bikes.

Funny story, I was chatting with a friend of my Father in law and he told me he knew Jan Heine. Apparently he's a geologist by training (FIL and his friend are both earth scientists hence the connection). I was very surprised - I thought he was an engineer.

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Woz said:

Visited a friend who lived in Seattle some 15 years ago now. A great bike vibe, but my god some areas hilly as hell.

I went to one bike recycling shop to buy a smaller chain ring for her bike - got sorted quick and very social.

Can appreciate over the pond there will be a different view concerning availability of parts. It not all joy here either especially when considering just the obsolete compatibility issues. I am personally amazed no one in France see's a business case to re-create some shiny new parts with short production runs to keep their history ticking over. It's a wash with 1/2 knackered rusty parts here. There are certainly two price levels - those that advertise their found old tat domestically and those who will to go to the trouble using Ebay and selling abroad.

It all does help keep the patina though of what is available

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wiredfool said:

I rode with him back in grad school (UW) when he was getting his PhD, and he was a little crazy even then with riding RAMROD and the S2S.

Now that I'm in Europe, I actually really miss the Seattle cycling scene. Recycled Cycles was awesome, and there were a ton of local frame builders. (I think 7 in the late 90's that I knew of)

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