Henri: Standing in front of a bike with 29-inch wheels, my mind wanders back to the good old days when my eyes didn't have to struggle with such sights. Last year, I already wrote here about the melancholy that the current demise of 26-inch bikes triggers in me.
So a few weeks ago, I quickly called on the services of a titanium processing custom forge and had a frame made in classic geometry. Before there are soon only plastic bikes with giant wheels.
"You can also have it in 26 inches," the voice of the stand staff snaps me out of my thoughts. Shorter chainstays would also work. Or different angles. Or a different colour. Or lots of colours. Or many other angles.
The Italians at Hersh have actually specialised in the custom production of carbon frames. Crazy expensive, you might think - but not at all. The smart frame is available for 2000 euros. "Round about", says Sönke Steiner from the German sales department.
And the weight? 1000 grams, informs Steiner. He weighs his head thoughtfully. "Well, round about." Depends on what the customer wants, after all.
Oh yes, I also learnt what the term Hersh means. It's probably the Italian name for a kite in the embryonic position. A kite in the embryonic position? Huh? Who the hell comes up with something like that?
Manufacturer information is available at: www.hersh-bikes.com
