René Louis Théodore Herse (1908–1976)[1] was a French builder of high-quality touring, randonneur and racing bicycles. His works are sought by collectors and riders.
Herse was born in Caen. He started working on prototype aircraft at the aircraft maker Breguet. In 1938, he introduced lightweight aluminum bicycle components: pedals, cranks, cantilever brakes and stems. In 1940, he began making complete bicycles. Herse was a "constructeur", meaning he built not just the frame but the entire bike.[1]
His hand-built bicycles were described as "the pinnacle of Frenchcycling" from the 1940s until his death.[2] Herse died in Paris.
Competition successesedit
Herse bikes won technical trials in wartime and post-war France.[3] His riders and especially his daughter Lyli Herse (see below) won numerous times in the Polymultipliée de Chanteloup hillclimb races.[1] Herse's riders won the Challenge des Constructeurs for the builder with the three best-placed riders in the Paris-Brest-Parisrandonneur event every time from 1948 until 1971, and again in 1975. Six victories out of ten times the trophy was attributed has never been equalled.
His frames were ridden to victory by racers including Louison Bobet.[1] Geneviève Gambillon won the world championships (female) on René Herse in 1972 and 1974.[4]
Familyedit
His daughter, Lyli, won eight national female cycling championships in France. After René Herse's death, Lyli Herse and her husband Jean Desbois, who was one of Herse's best framebuilders, continued the René Herse company until 1984. They also completed back orders of bicycles, so the last classic René Herse bikes were made in 1986.
Todayedit
In the early 2000s, Lyli approached Jan Heine, the editor of Bicycle Quarterly magazine and founder of Compass Bicycles, with the request of taking over the René Herse trademark and assets in order to safeguard them for the future. In 2020, Compass Bicycles officially changed the company name to René Herse, to fully safeguard the trademark and legacy.[5]
Referencesedit
^ abcdHeine, Jan (2012). Rene Herse – The Bikes – The Builder – The Riders. Seattle: Bicycle Quarterly Press. p. 424. ISBN978-976546023-6.
^Heine, Jan (2002). "Interview with Roger Baumann, Pilote de René Herse and Winner of PBP 1956". Vintage Bicycle Quarterly. 1 (2).
^Heine, Jan (Autumn 2003). "History of the Technical Trials 1946–1949". Vintage Bicycle Quarterly. 2 (1): 5.
^"Live Talks: The Fleecer Ridge, with Lael Wilcox and Jan Heine of Rene Herse". Archived from the original on 2021-12-21 – via www.youtube.com.
External linksedit
René Herse Project Photo gallery of René Herse bicycles
Resource including original catalog and pictures
December 18, 2023
rené, herse, rené, louis, théodore, herse, 1908, 1976, french, builder, high, quality, touring, randonneur, racing, bicycles, works, sought, collectors, riders, contents, career, competition, successes, family, today, references, external, linkscareer, edither. Rene Louis Theodore Herse 1908 1976 1 was a French builder of high quality touring randonneur and racing bicycles His works are sought by collectors and riders Contents 1 Career 2 Competition successes 3 Family 4 Today 5 References 6 External linksCareer editHerse was born in Caen He started working on prototype aircraft at the aircraft maker Breguet In 1938 he introduced lightweight aluminum bicycle components pedals cranks cantilever brakes and stems In 1940 he began making complete bicycles Herse was a constructeur meaning he built not just the frame but the entire bike 1 His hand built bicycles were described as the pinnacle of French cycling from the 1940s until his death 2 Herse died in Paris Competition successes editHerse bikes won technical trials in wartime and post war France 3 His riders and especially his daughter Lyli Herse see below won numerous times in the Polymultipliee de Chanteloup hillclimb races 1 Herse s riders won the Challenge des Constructeurs for the builder with the three best placed riders in the Paris Brest Paris randonneur event every time from 1948 until 1971 and again in 1975 Six victories out of ten times the trophy was attributed has never been equalled His frames were ridden to victory by racers including Louison Bobet 1 Genevieve Gambillon won the world championships female on Rene Herse in 1972 and 1974 4 Family editHis daughter Lyli won eight national female cycling championships in France After Rene Herse s death Lyli Herse and her husband Jean Desbois who was one of Herse s best framebuilders continued the Rene Herse company until 1984 They also completed back orders of bicycles so the last classic Rene Herse bikes were made in 1986 Today editIn the early 2000s Lyli approached Jan Heine the editor of Bicycle Quarterly magazine and founder of Compass Bicycles with the request of taking over the Rene Herse trademark and assets in order to safeguard them for the future In 2020 Compass Bicycles officially changed the company name to Rene Herse to fully safeguard the trademark and legacy 5 References edit a b c d Heine Jan 2012 Rene Herse The Bikes The Builder The Riders Seattle Bicycle Quarterly Press p 424 ISBN 978 976546023 6 Heine Jan 2002 Interview with Roger Baumann Pilote de Rene Herse and Winner of PBP 1956 Vintage Bicycle Quarterly 1 2 Heine Jan Autumn 2003 History of the Technical Trials 1946 1949 Vintage Bicycle Quarterly 2 1 5 Heine Jan 2012 The Competition Bicycle Rizzoli p 176 ISBN 978 0 8478 3841 7 Live Talks The Fleecer Ridge with Lael Wilcox and Jan Heine of Rene Herse Archived from the original on 2021 12 21 via www youtube com External links editRene Herse Project Photo gallery of Rene Herse bicycles Resource including original catalog and pictures Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rene Herse amp oldid 1094053891, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
