[CR]Re: Rene Herse pictures - 1st pic

(Example: Framebuilding)

In-Reply-To: <001401c613a2$02362390$ba14fbd1@Newhouse>
References: <000701c6132a$ce600030$e00fa8c0@Tom>
Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2006 13:12:28 -0800
To: "Aldo Ross" <aldoross4@siscom.net>, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "Jan Heine" <heine93@earthlink.net>
Subject: [CR]Re: Rene Herse pictures - 1st pic


>Some interesting details in the first Herse pic, from 1945-49:
>
>http://www.pianosromantiques.com/images/godartearly.jpg
>
>Very delicate mounting of the headlamp.

Just looks like it. Herse started doing his special mounts after this bike was made. This is the standard Radios part. I think the screw/nut shows black... making it look as if the light is held up by two wires.
>
>Splash guard nearly reaches the road when the front wheel is straight.
>
>Does it look like the splash guard is made from rubber?

Yes, rubber.
>
>Splash guard is attached behind the garde-boue (mud
>guards/fenders/parafanghi) a few inches from the bottom. Is there a
>special fitting of some sort?

Yes. Aluminum strap screwed onto fenders, mudflap sandwiched in between.
>
>No bottles or cages.
>
>36 spokes, front and rear.
>
>1 inch of seatpost showing, handlebars at saddle height. (Tell me
>again, bikeshop boy - What size do I ride?)

Somehow, French cyclotourists were able to reproduce, despite the clear lack of standover clearance! Maybe they were able to stop and put only one foot down, rather than jumping off with both feet?
>
>Is there a special tool to reach the brake lever from the drops? ;-)
>I don't think my stubby fingers would ever get there.

The Lefol brake levers came with different reaches. No idea why the "huge reach" version was used here. That one usually is found on city bikes with flat bars
>
>At first glance it appears that the bike weighs at least half as
>much as the rider.

In which case the rider would weigh less than 50 lbs. This 1940s Rene Herse certainly was lighter than most racing bikes of the era, and lighter than most bikes that came later. Depending on whether it is made from 4/10 or heavier Vitus tubing, whether the saddle has an alloy frame, and whether the tires are handmade or heavier standard ones, that bike complete weighs between 23 and 24.5 lbs. Unless it's somehow special, like one made for the technical trials, in which case it weighed a lot less.

While we are at it, note the very thin fork blades (at the bottom), the large amount of rake, and the elaborate pinstriping.

Also note the rider's attire - cyclotourist events did not allow tight-fitting clothes back then. The shorts are special riding shorts, and he probably is wearing a chamois underneath. (Similar to mountain bikers today.)

--
Jan Heine, Seattle
Editor/Publisher
Vintage Bicycle Quarterly
c/o Il Vecchio Bicycles
140 Lakeside Ave, Ste. C
Seattle WA 98122
http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com