1951 Rene Herse!

justyn...@gmail.com

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Mar 17, 2021, 8:27:30 PM3/17/21

to 650b

I just picked up this lovely machine, and wow does it ride nicely! I haven't so much as cleaned it since it arrived. The frame has it's original paint and hand-painted downtube & headtube logos. The fork has been repainted to match as it's original paint was worn. It still has a Vitus tubing logo on the seat tube, and I was told there is the remains of one on the steerer. The Rene Herse stem, crankset/BB, brakes, and front derailleur are original and in remarkable condition! I've not decided if I am going to keep this to ride, or find the missing period parts and list it for sale.

As equipped with pump, racks, lights (but no battery/generator), handlebar bag, leather saddle it weighs 25.6 pounds. To my (less than Herse expert)eyes, the only parts not original/period are racks, bag, headlamp, bell, and pump. Mafac 121 levers are the correct early fully open back. Current tires are labeled 38mm, but they sure look wider.

Other notable parts include Bell wingnuts, Mavic Criterium rims laced to Maxi-Car hubs, Lafol Le Paon Mod Dep fenders, Stronglight headset

Perhaps Mike Kone or Jan Heine can tell me some more about this bike?

Joe Bernard

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Mar 17, 2021, 10:41:16 PM3/17/21

to 650b

It found a buyer! This was shown here a couple weeks ago. It sure is pretty.

Jason Fuller

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Mar 18, 2021, 12:45:33 AM3/18/21

to 650b

Absolute dream bike. I keep wishing that stem would be reproduced.

Dan Vee

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Mar 18, 2021, 8:52:25 AM3/18/21

to Jason Fuller, 650b

Pretty sure Jan is in the process of reproducing that stem if I remember correctly

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Brett Callahan

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Mar 18, 2021, 11:30:37 AM3/18/21

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Congratulations. That's a beauty!

Jan Heine

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Mar 20, 2021, 7:01:37 PM3/20/21

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That is a wonderful bike. Vitus tubing was a bit heavier than Reynolds, but I've seen another very tall Herse from that era with Vitus – this is clearly a top-of-the-line bike. Does this bike have the OS down tube, like some other tall Herse bikes (30 mm instead of 28)? As you mentioned, the racks look hand-made, but not in Herse's style. I'd love to know the serial number – we may have the bike in our records – and the story behind it. I'm not aware of any Rene Herses coming to the U.S. as early as 1951 – it seems that Clifford Graves was the first to order some in the late 50s, so there must be an interesting story if this bike shows up in Portland. Or is it a recent import from France? Either way, what a find!

Jan Heine

On Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 5:27:30 PM UTC-7 justyn...@gmail.com wrote:

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