Re: [CR]Is Herse the ultimate ride for Francophile?

(Example: Racing)

From: <hersefan@comcast.net>
To: thteach@sonic.net, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]Is Herse the ultimate ride for Francophile?
Date: Fri, 06 May 2005 18:01:08 +0000


Herse is actually not the originator of the famed internal connection between frame and fork. That honor goes to Camile Daudon - a builder who's works are amazing. Daudon's bikes are more handworked, a bit cruder in some ways but overall are wonderfully elegant. See Jan Hein's book for details!

Mike Kone in Boudler CO


-------------- Original message --------------


> I have a used Herse. I've riden it a bit, so I feel somewhat qualified to

\r?\n> respond.

\r?\n>

\r?\n> My response is that, no, the Herse isn't the ultimate ride.

\r?\n> The reason being is that there are so many kinds of rides to do.

\r?\n>

\r?\n> Herse is really good in the elite sport tour, light camping cyclotouring

\r?\n> categories. In the racing bike categories (Herse sportif model) there are

\r?\n> many comparable alternatives to Herse. Better/Best is in the eye of the

\r?\n> beholder.

\r?\n>

\r?\n> Herse is great because he innovated with new materials and that he

\r?\n> integrated those materials into a complete, elegant and beautiful system.

\r?\n> His products helped people feel confident using aluminum (brakes, cranks,

\r?\n> stems, hub, lights) on bicycles. His products helped people feel

\r?\n> confident about using triple front gears. His products helped cyclists

\r?\n> fee superior by using sealed bearings. The industry is moving away from

\r?\n> aluminum and into carbon fiber and I'm sure I'm not alone in being sad to

\r?\n> angry about the change.

\r?\n>

\r?\n> The one thing I have yet to see used by other makers is his "eclariage san

\r?\n> fil" (internal electrical connection between the frame and the fork).

\r?\n> Herse is the only maker I know that offered that system. I wouldn't be

\r?\n> surprised if others did it too its just that surviving examples of non

\r?\n> herse examples are very scarce. They are so few as to be considered

\r?\n> prototypes. If you have an Herse with lights in front and back you have

\r?\n> eclaraige san fil.

\r?\n>

\r?\n> I think materials choices and overall quality by today's framemakers are

\r?\n> better now than then. Because of the specialization today there is still

\r?\n> a problem with the overall system integration. Todays Breezer Bikes and

\r?\n> the Novararra Fusion (REI) are a start in the right direction.

\r?\n>

\r?\n> Todd Teachout

\r?\n> Hercules, CA