Winter 2024 Bicycle Quarterly
A new Bicycle Quarterly is going to the printer. That’s always a big deal around here. The Winter 2024 edition is our 87th. How does a magazine remain relevant and successful for so long? I think part of the secret is that we’ve shaped trends rather than just reported on them. Wide tires, the joys of gravel, the resurgence of steel bikes—all things we’ve championed long before they became mainstream. Part is being honest in reviews and stories, because our readers’ trust is the most valuable thing we have. And finally, it’s important not to take ourselves too seriously. We need to be rigorous and scientific when testing tires or frame stiffness, but we can’t ever forget that the reason we cycle is because it’s fun!
Having fun on a bike can take many forms—and sometimes that means packing the bike on a raft and paddling down the whitewater of Montenegro’s Tara Gorge. Gerhard Czerner (above) tells the story of cycling across the mountains of this wondrous country (top photo) before unpacking the rafts from their panniers and changing modes of transportation. Martin Bissig’s amazing photos bring this adventure to life.
Fun on a bike can mean pushing myself for the 350 miles of Unbound XL, the gravel ultra race across the Flint Hills of Kansas. Well, most of the 28 hours on the bike were fun—there was a 2-mile mud pit that was, let’s say, challenging. Along the way, I realized that these gravel ultra and bikepacking events are some of the last true adventures in our world—the stuff of my dreams when growing up. Realizing in the middle of the night that I was living the dream was definitely fun!
Hailey Moore also headed to Kansas, for her third ride in the classic 200-mile Unbound. She reflects on how this race has changed over the years, and how she has changed as a rider. Hailey is a great storyteller, and her report is full of insights and funny at the same time.
In our product tests, we explore the allure of racing bikes. Of all component makers, Campagnolo has the longest history of supplying components to pros and those who dream of effortless speed. Does their new Super Record Wireless group live up to our high expectations? We also test Enve’s ultralight SES 2.3 wheels and find that they really change the feel of a bike. Road bikes have never been more fun!
For many of us, fun means riding long distances, often at night, where good lights are far more important than bladed spokes or hollow carbon crankarms. In this realm, the new SON Ladelux headlight is probably the most-awaited new product of the last few years. The Ladelux integrates a high beam and a charger for external electronics like GPS and cell phones. A buffer battery avoids damaging connected electronics as the bike’s speed fluctuates. Is this new light a game changer? We took one of the first pre-production samples on long night-time rides to find out.
If today’s randonneur and all-road bikes are inspired by the mid-century French constructeurs, we have to thank Daniel Rebour. For many decades, he chronicled the technical developments in France and all over the world. His iconic drawings show technical solutions and interesting ideas—including the first-ever decaleur, bikepacking-style cages mounted to the sides of the fork, and lighting systems that combined batteries and generators (above). Just as importantly, he made bikes and components beautiful and fun in a way few photos can match. Heiko Strömer has spent years researching Rebour’s fascinating life and work. His 20-page article is the first of two on this great illustrator, artist and rider.
With such a rich heritage, it may come as a surprise that framebuilding was virtually extinct in France by the end of the 20th century. Only the venerable shop of Cycles Alex Singer was still building a few custom steel bikes. Today, a new generation of French builders has taken up the craft. Few of them can rival Edelbikes, a small shop with plenty of experience and a no-nonsense attitude. Their bikes are as functional as they are affordable. Nicolas Joly takes us into their workshop at the foot of the Alps. He also showcases a number of finished bikes with interesting and unique features. Whether you are in the market for a new bike or looking for inspirations for your own build, you’ll enjoy Nicolas’ article and photos.
There’s a lot of fun and inspiration in the Winter 2024 Bicycle Quarterly. We’re finalizing the mailing list over the weekend. If you don’t have a current subscription, please subscribe or renew today so we can include your copy when we mail the magazine. That way, you’ll be among the first to get your new Bicycle Quarterly. Then you can look forward to sitting down with a cup of tea, coffee or whatever you prefer, tune out the outside world, and get inspired about the one thing that unites us all: having fun on a bike.
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