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Summer 2016 Bicycle Quarterly
When our readers receive the Summer 2016 Bicycle Quarterly, they’ll have a hard time putting it down. We embarked on our most ambitious adventure to date: A ride from Cholula to Mexico City via the...
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Compass 31.8 mm Randonneur Handlebars
We are glad to offer our Compass Randonneur handlebars with a clamp diameter of 31.8 mm (for modern stems), in addition to the 25.4 mm model we introduced last year. These handlebars have been very...
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Golden Week Cycling
Golden Week is one of the biggest vacation times in Japan. It’s a combination of one-day holidays that result in a little over a week of time off. And it’s springtime, so virtually every cyclist takes...
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Look-Compatible MKS US-L Pedals
Looking for LOOK-compatible pedals for your travel bike? Here is the solution. The MKS US-L pedal uses a similar retention system as the LOOK Keo. In fact, the cleats are interchangeable. Unlike any...
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Another Road for the Collection
A few years ago, I wrote in Bicycle Quarterly how I collect roads. Others collect bikes, or rare components, or photos of racers. My collection is more esoteric: I collect roads. Not the physical...
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Suspension Losses Confirmed
Recently, Bicycle Quarterly’s experiments on suspension losses have been replicated and confirmed: Higher tire pressures don’t result in faster speeds – even on smooth pavement. Replicating results is...
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Bicycle Quarterly Un-Meeting Next Weekend!
The Bicycle Quarterly Un-Meeting is next weekend. Join us for two days of riding, camaraderie and exploration! We’ll meet at the General Store in Carson, WA, on Saturday, June 25, 2016, at 9 a.m....
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The “Friend”, an Affordable Touring Bike
During a recent cyclotouring trip in Japan, we stopped at an onsen hot bath. As we locked up our bikes, I noticed an interesting touring bike, chained to a lamppost. “A few decades ago, a bike like...
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A Better Way to Adjust Toe-In
Compass centerpull brakes now come with special washers to adjust toe-in. These washers are easy to retrofit on older Compass and even classic Mafac brakes. With this system, you to adjust toe-in only...
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Bicycle Quarterly Un-Meeting: Fun for Everybody
The third Bicycle Quarterly Un-Meeting met in scenic Carson, on the Columbia River. More than 70 cyclists attended, and everybody had a lot of fun. BQ published a place, date and time, and then...
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How Small is a Rinko Bike?
When we introduced the idea of Rinko bikes to our readers and customers, there were some questions whether they could fit within the airline luggage requirements, or whether they’d have to pay...
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The 2016 Technical Trials
This summer saw the first Technical Trials in France since 1949. Then as now, the goal was to find the best “light randonneur” bike. Organized by Christophe Courbou, the magazine 200, and Victoire...
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The Inspiration: Bicycle Quarterly
Bicycle Quarterly is the inspiration for everything we do. It’s the basis for our research and development: The all-road performance of Compass tires was developed through Bicycle Quarterly’s testing...
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Cyclotouring in the Ardèche
After the Technical Trials, we spent a few days with our friend Richard Léon in the Ardèche region. It was fun to explore this area at a cyclotouring pace. The region is criss-crossed by tiny roads,...
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Choosing Your Crank Length
Our Compass René Herse cranks are available in three lengths to cover the needs of nearly all cyclists. The lengths we offer are a bit unusual, but there is a reason for this: Our cranks use dedicated...
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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...
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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...
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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;...
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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...
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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...
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