I would say the real reason Jan chose to dedicate his book exclusively to French bikes, is that he believes they are the best of their kind.
Wonderful racing bikes, look towards Italy, but touring bikes, the French were light years ahead of anyone else.
And this is not chauvinism, although I live in France, I am still officially a subject of HRH.
Another question that is sometimes asked, what is so special about Rene Herse bicycles compared to other French constructeur bikes. I'm not sure everyone gets it. And I can understand that, you have to have seen lots of these fabulous bikes to appreciate quite how special they are. Most people haven't had that chance. Photos are one thing, handling a bike, dismantling it, riding it, another thing again.
Here are just a few personal reasons I love these bikes (anyone feeling they have an overdose of RH, don't read on, it will bore you) :
1) Quality of paintwork, lining, chrome. The paint has a deep lustre, colour combinations of frame colour/lining are generally beautiful, never garish, the RH hand lettering is so much nicer than decals on for ex Singer bikes.
2) Quality of workmanship on the frame. The filing down of the lug points, the clean flowing lines of the lugs and all the braze-ons on the best bikes are simply remarkable.
3) Proprietary parts. What other maker had his own cranks and chainrings? Herse cantilever brakes are better in terms of beauty and efficiency than any other constructeur cantilevers, Charrel excepted (in actual fact few other makers made their own brakes : Barra, Narcisse, Singer, Marcadier are others). But Herse also made proprietary stems, front changer, modified bottom brackets, modified Cyclo RD, modified large flange hubs, RH dynamo and derailleur levers, modified front light mount, internal light wiring system, mudguard reinforcements, carriers, front bag decaleur etc etc. Non-proprietary parts were the best and most expensive, if of course the buyer could afford them.
4) Ride quality. The palmares of RH in PBP Chanteloup etc and concours in unbelievable. Their reputation for speed, sturdiness, and comfort was never contested. The bikes are both beautiful and highly practical.
5) Variety of models : the bikes are all so different. In a French touring collection it would be nice to have a Charrel or two, 4/5 Singers, 2/3 Daudons etc, but 20/30/40 Herses would be quite possible if rather unreasonable (unless you were a museum), without having any repeats or similar models. Tandems, triplets, racers, touring bikes, folding bikes, concours bikes, track bikes, early models, 50s, chrome, paint, etc, it just goes on and on.
6) Something the Japanes call "wa", someting to do with general harmony, of the lines when looking at the bike from a distance, then of the details. Difficult to explain, but Herse lovers will understand what I mean.
Alexander March
Bordeaux
France