After three years of analysis and improvement, René Herse, identified for its high-performance bicycle tyres and parts, has launched its first semi-slick tyre mannequin.
Semi-slick designs are commonplace in gravel biking, and René Herse readily acknowledges its late arrival to the class, stating: “we now have a whole lot of respect for pioneers who got here earlier than us. We even have a wholesome diploma of scepticism when confronted with groupthink and improvements that don’t make sense. That’s why, till now, there hasn’t been a semi-slick gravel tyre within the René Herse program. Merely put, the established technique to make semi-slicks resulted in tyres that have been neither notably quick, nor did they grip notably properly.”
With its all-new Corkscrew Climb mannequin, René Herse guarantees to ship “not simply one other semi-slick” however reasonably a tyre that’s meant to be the perfect of each worlds: quick like slicks, grippy like knobbies.
Model proprietor Jan Heine tells Biking Weekly that the Corkscrew Climb was developed in response to the calls for and insights {of professional} gravel racers.
“We’re fortunate to get direct suggestions from our racers…They love the pace and sturdiness of our casings—that’s why they selected our tyres. They like driving slicks on most programs, figuring that the least tread additionally has the least resistance. But when it’s muddy, they want knobs. For that, they’ve been utilizing our dual-purpose knobbies.”
Whereas the knobbed René Herse tyres are praised for his or her pace, Heine revealed that in inside testing, they found that underneath excessive energy outputs, the knobs can flex and squirm barely, resulting in energy loss. Whereas this is not a lot of a priority for many riders, it does develop into a problem for athletes like Ted King or Brennan Wertz, who’re taller, heavier and often produce outputs of greater than 500 watts throughout races.
And so, the design staff went to work. Three years later, the result’s a 700 x 44mm semi-slick tyre with a slick centre for effectivity, three rows of enormous knobs and a rounded profile for traction. The tyre is called after the most important climb of the SBT GRVL race, the Corkscrew Climb.
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“A couple of years in the past, Ted King received there on our slicks, however the brand new Corkscrew Climb can be even better-suited to this ultra-fast course,” commented Heine.
The tyre design is totally different sufficient from different market choices that 4 totally different patent filings defend it.
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ToggleA patent-protected design
(Picture credit score: Rene Herse)
When trying on the Corkscrew Climb tyre, there are a couple of primary design options that stand out:
– there’s a slick centre with a delicate chevron tread that, Heine says, is supposed to enhance braking efficiency;
– a gradual transition from slick to knobs due to a row of half nobs anchored to the slick centre;
– two rows of enormous, rectangle knobs which are staggered for noise-cancelling advantages. Heine says the massive knobs flex much less and are quicker than smaller knobs;
– the centre and knobs are the identical top.
– a rounded profile.
(Picture credit score: Rene Herse)
René Herse has filed for 4 totally different patents to guard its design, together with:
1: the gradual transition
The gradual transition from its slick centre to massive shoulder knobs is supposed to offer predictable traction and dealing with when getting into a nook – on- and off-road.
2: The anchored half knobs
As acknowledged above the primary row of knobs are about half the scale of the opposite knobs and connected to the slick centre tread. That is meant to supply stiffer knobs with higher traction underneath excessive energy. Much less flex of the knobs additionally reduces rolling resistance.
3: A rounded profile
Regardless of its massive shoulder knobs, the Corkscrew Climb tyre maintains a rounded profile as a result of the radius of the tread is considerably bigger than the radius of the tire casing. This curvature places extra rubber on the highway when leaning right into a flip for higher traction, whereas the facet knobs keep off the bottom when driving in a straight line, minimising rolling resistance.
4: noise discount
Whereas not distinctive to this mannequin, the staggered knobs are supposed to create overlapping noise frequencies that partially cancel one another, making René Herse tyres quieter than knobbed tyres of competing manufacturers.
Specs & Availability
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
The Corkscrew Climb tyre can be out there beginning mid-Jabuary straight from the René Herse web site and its stockists.
As with most René Herse fashions, the tyre can be out there in 4 casing choices and two totally different sidewall colors.
- Measurement: 700 x 44
- All casings are tubeless suitable
- Casings, weights, costs:
- Commonplace: 517g, $82
- Extralight: 481g, $96
- Endurance: 552g, $96
- Endurance Plus: 564g, $104
First Trip Impressions:
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
Like so many high-end, area of interest manufacturers, René Herse (previously often known as Compass Cycles) is a model that elicits sturdy opinions—its loyal fanbase swears by the efficiency of its merchandise, whereas critics are fast to voice their considerations.
I, for one, am a fan of René Herse tyres on account of their exceptionally supple casings, which not solely present a exceptional journey really feel but in addition dependable traction, a low rolling resistance and superior consolation over tough terrain. I’ve discovered that each the traction and speediness usually belie the tyre width or tread sample. By that, I imply that the slicks have extra grip than one would count on –even on the occasional singletrack detour– and the knobs and width don’t really feel sluggish while you hit the pavement.
That mentioned, they’re not with out their challenges. There have been experiences of inconsistent high quality and blow-offs, and, personally, I keep away from the Extralight casing because it tends to be extra liable to punctures and sidewall weepage. Moreover, when you’re often swapping tyres, some René Herse fashions will be tough to remount and seat as soon as they’ve been used. They’re additionally very spendy.
However, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. The journey high quality is solely that good, and I sometimes have a set or two in my rotation, whether or not it’s a set of the 31mm Orondo Grade, 38mm Barlow Cross or 48mm Oracle Ridge.
I used to be intrigued to see the model enterprise into the semi-slick class and eager to strive the brand new rubbers myself. I stay within the Pacific Northwest, and it’s that point of 12 months when rain falls by the bucket hundreds and gravel rides flip into large mud fests. Standard semi-slick fashions like the favored Schwalbe G-One RS, Specialised Pathfinder and Panaracer SS merely don’t minimize it in these situations. The knobs are too small, too low and spaced too tightly for the mud, grime and slippery floor transitions.
With massive, generously spaced knobs, the Corkscrew Climb tyre seems to be far beefier than any of its rivals within the semi-slick class. It pairs the rectangle knobs as seen on the Hurricane Ridge or Oracle Ridge fashions with a 17mm-wide slick centre that contains a very delicate chevron tread.
For my take a look at set, I opted for the Endurance casing. The tyres got here in barely underweight and measured a reasonably slim 44mm on 21mm inside width rims. A wider rim (25mm or extra) ought to permit the tyre to develop to its full width.
The tubeless setup was a breeze, and so far, the tyres have held air very properly.
My preliminary rides have been restricted however lined a superb mixture of surfaces: easy and cracked pavement, hardpack gravel and downright sloppy trails. The grip is actually there, even within the muck, and the tyres roll properly. Quieter additionally than the Oracle Ridge tyres I’d often journey in these moist situations.
The Corkscrew feels quicker than its all-knob siblings, although that’s purely anecdotal at this stage.
I’ll by no means produce the type of energy output of riders like Ted King or Brennan Wertz. I, due to this fact, can’t declare to have truly, tangibly, skilled the power-diminishing flex of knobs that these semi-slicks goal to deal with. However, being properly acquainted with René Herse tyres, the Corkscrew Climb tyre does really feel prefer it has a contact extra rigidity than its all-knob or slick siblings. Nonetheless supple, simply ever so barely much less soft. After all, tyre strain, rim materials and rim width all play an element right here, in order that’ll give me one thing to play with within the coming winter months.
Whereas I’ve but to place important mileage on this tyre, my first impressions are beneficial. It’s a fast-rolling tyre that delivers dependable cornering traction in moist situations. However current fashions—each inside and outdoors the René Herse lineup—provide related advantages. So the query is: does this semi-slick design surpass the model’s “dual-purpose knobs,” that are additionally touted as equally quick on pavement and filth?
In striving to ship ‘the perfect of each worlds,’ there’s at all times the chance of compromising efficiency in a single space—or each. I look ahead to logging extra rides on the Corkscrew Climb tyres and discovering out whether or not this new mannequin can stay as much as its promise.