rootboy 

https://www.bikequarterly.com/books_rene_herse.html

I'm tempted. Looks really nice and I like to support efforts like this, but, at close to a hundred bucks with shipping, well....

ColonelJLloyd 

I will own one eventually, yes. I like coffee table books despite my home not having a coffee table.

repechage

Photography looks good, but I do not like the author's writing style.

obrentharris 

If the flowery prose that introduces the book on the web page is representative of the authors style this book might be impossible to read without frequent applications of mental floss...
The photos are very nice though.
Brent

vjp

I spend a lot of money on photography books and $100 is about the "regular" amount I pay for a beautiful monograph. I have the BQ "Golden Age" book, and while the photography is fine, I think the printing is mediocre and the acid content of the paper is high as most of the pages have significant discoloration already.

My biggest beef with BQ magazine s that the design is horrible. HORRIBLE. Hire a designer and do a decent template at the least!

rootboy 

Very interesting, A. Winthrop. If you ever decided to share photos of the bikes here I know we'd appreciate them.

rootboy 

Spoken like a true designer/artist. I agree, the layout of the magazine leaves much to be desired but can you imagine what the services of a designer would add to the cost of producing it? I know you can. Probably prohibitive given the ultra small niche that publication holds.

poprad

I'd actually disagree on this point, but only becasue I think his target audience is relatively unimpressed by slick print design. Not that I don't think it could be improved, but I pay for his mag because of the articles and his take on bike and component testing. Far more rigorous than the mainstream material. I'd hate to see him spend time/money/effort on anything that would detract from the quality of the written material. I don't claim to represent the whole of classic cycling, but I would venture to guess most of us are more impressed by high quality writing than attractive design.

To the OP's query, I'll probably buy it eventually, but now need to check my copy of Golden Age when it comes out of storage and see how it has held up.

dbakl

Ah, I just ordered one. Their other books are great and I'm sure there's easily a hundred bucks worth of enjoyment in this one too.

I applaud what they're trying to do.

rootboy 

Good point, Dbakl. Looks like a lot went into that book, and those sorts of efforts are generally worth supporting, I believe.

dbakl

Nobody will get rich producing those kind of books. High costs, low sales. The market is just too small. I'd guess they won't sell anywhere near 1,000 copies, probably a minimum order.

Thankfully, a book lasts forever and can be pulled out anytime to enjoy over and over. I have the Golden Age book and The Competition Bike book and I look at them all the time. I did subscribe to the magazine, but didn't find much of interest for me.

Heck, you could easily spend a hundred bucks on an awful meal that's thankfully over in an hour.

AZORCH

Yup, I pulled the trigger. I got the calendar too.

bibliobob

I probably will at some point, but it's a lot of dough. I have the Golden Age and the Racing Bicycle, and enjoy both (as well as BQ). I've been very tempted to buy the Toei monograph as well (I just had a copy in my hand at a bookstore in Bangkok yesterday), but it's $130! Instead, I picked up a Japanese magazine on vintage bikes, but it cost me $33! I love the books and think that they're totally worth it, but then I'd also like to save my dough for the bike show in Madison next week....

Henry III

Never looked at the price so I'll wait until one comes used on Ebay. I have the other two BQ books and enjoy both. My signed Golden Age book is sitting right next to the toilet and my wife has to ask me every once in a while if I'm okay because I get lost in the book and lose track of time. lol. I don't ever plan owning a Herse but if one were to ever land in my lap somehow I wouldn't set it on the curb.

Alex Moll

I enjoy books, especially fine books. I appreciate of the body of work that JH has done so far - I've learned quite a lot from VBQ, BQ and his two books thus far. I doubt I'll ever own an RH - due to price, and the large size I require. But I can own this beautiful book, and l will enjoy reading it and looking at it. I even popped for the signed, LE edition - I'm a sucker for that sorta stuff, and have quite a few inscribed books and CDs, etc. It's worth it to me.

iab

I haven't yet, but I will. I need to get my huge profits from the Madison swap.

I worked for a guy who published a book on Cobra Daytona coupes. It is considered the definitive book on the Daytona coupe. It has been out of print since the mid 80s as i believe it only had one print run. My dad bought one as he is friends with the guy. I just looked a couple weeks ago. You can get a used one off of Amazon for $1000+.

Now in no way am I saying the Rene Herse book will ever fetch $1000. But I am fairly certain there will not be another Rene Herse book in the near future, if ever. I also suspect there won't be any additional print runs.

I know I would be more disappointed not having the book than spending $100 on the book.

dbakl

Just received mine; its quite substantial, easily 2 inches thick in pages. Well designed and printed, filled with photos, I can't imagine anyone who loves old road bikes being disappointed with the cost. Looking forward to a cosy night in bed reading this tonight.

sisddwg

I agree.