=?UTF-8?B?UmU6IFtDUl0gUGluayBSZW7DqSBIZXJzZQ==?=

(Example: History)

Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2007 18:38:54 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
From: "Marc St. Martin" <marc.stmartin@earthlink.net>
To: The Maaslands <TheMaaslands@comcast.net>, CR <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: =?UTF-8?B?UmU6IFtDUl0gUGluayBSZW7DqSBIZXJzZQ==?=


Steven,

Ahhh, yes. I was picturing Bob Freitas' bike when I waxed poetic about inte rnally routed cables. One neat detail that I did pick out on the pink bike is the braze-on on the right seat stay to hold the rear derailleur cable ho using. Never seen this treatment before. If it were only my size.....

Regards,

Marc St. Martin Livermore, CA

-----Original Message-----

>From: The Maaslands <TheMaaslands@comcast.net>

>Sent: Sep 9, 2007 2:09 PM

>To: CR <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>

>Subject: [CR] Pink René Herse

>

>Marc wrote:

>

>"I was also of the opinion that only Herse randonneuse bikes with all of


>

>the RH bits were where the value was until I had the chance to examine

>one

>of the cyclo-sportif/racing frames up close. Granted, the machine in

>question does have some of the Herse bits, but one of the details which

>struck me as being extraordinary was the internal routing of the

>cabling.

>Granted, internally routed cables are not that unique; however, the true


>

>Herse touch lies wherein each of the entry and exit holes for these

>cables

>have beautifully filleted reinforcements. Also, it appears that to

>accomplish the internal routing of the front derailleur cable, a special


>

>bottom bracket was fabricated with an eye towards aerodynamics. Seems

>like

>every time I examine an Herse frame, I see something different and

>extraordinary."

>

>Are you perhaps looking at a different bike? Looking at the photos that

>appear here: http://www.reneherse.com/RHpink.html The derailleur cables

>appear to me to be standard under the bottom bracket routing. As far as

>the rear brake cable goes, the person who set this bike up has made a

>mess of it. The amount of cable housing between the exit from the top

>tube to the rear brake caliper is simply too short to allow proper

>functioning of the brake. Hopefully this is simply a matter of sliding a


>bit more cable housing from in front of the forward cable entry to the

>rear, but this is not evident. The chain also seems to be quite short

>for the selected chainrings and freewheel cogs. The set-up is also

>lacking in the general proportions, with the seatpost unacceptably low,

>making the whole bike look awkward. I am also surprised to see the

>adustable cup extending quite a few threads beyond a visibly thick lock

>ring. I don't consider any of these elememts acceptabe when you are

>selling a high end bike.

>

>Personally, I don't doubt that there will be somebody who will pay at

>least the opening bid, because as Barnum said, "there is one born every

>minute". For me, a collector buying this bike is only slightly better

>off than a Maserati collector buying a Maserati TC: a quaint filler to

>complete the collection.

>

>Steven Maasland

>Moorestown, NJ

>USA