Rohloff Season Is Here — and We’re Ready for It!

Every year, as the air cools and the days shorten, something interesting happens in our little corner of the cycling world — interest in Rohloff-equipped bikes skyrockets. Web traffic spikes, and before long, the phones start ringing.

Rohloff hub on Rodriguez Model 20/14 tandem

It makes perfect sense. Fall and winter are prime seasons for riders who appreciate low-maintenance, high-performance reliability — the kind that the Rohloff 14-speed internal hub delivers. What is a Rohloff hub?

What you might not know is that we’re the largest builder of Rohloff-equipped bicycles in the United States.

There’s a reason behind that.

As the century turned, major component manufacturers shifted their focus away from touring and toward off-road and racing. That left touring riders with fewer and fewer options. Many of our tandem and touring customers rely on us to build their dream bikes, so we worked hard to keep high-quality drivetrain choices alive — and we did it.

At that same time, another story was unfolding — one that would shape our future. Todd Bertram, who started with us in 1998 as a master mechanic, took a two-year hiatus in 2001 to move to Germany. While there, he worked for Rohloff, which had been founded in 1986 but was still more legend than reality in the U.S. cycling scene.

When Todd returned to Rodriguez in 2003, he brought back more than just experience — he brought home one of the earliest Rohloff hubs in the United States (the first one I had ever seen in person). Soon after, he transitioned into the frame shop and became a full-fledged builder. His deep knowledge of mechanics, frame design, and Rohloff systems helped us integrate the Rohloff hub into our frame designs in a more functional, cleaner-looking, and more efficient way — well ahead of the curve.

That single hub sparked years of innovation. One key outcome: our patented Bushnell Eccentric Bottom Bracket, now used by almost every Rohloff builder, as a precise chain/belt adjustment method for Rohloff-equipped bikes.

By 2006, traditional gearing options for touring cyclists were nearly extinct. The Rohloff trickle became a flood here at R+E Cycles, and our shop quickly became the go-to for riders who wanted precision, durability, clean engineering, and beautiful bikes — without constant maintenance.

It reminded us of another chapter in our history: when Angel traveled to France in the 1970s to learn more about framebuilding and returned with a suitcase full of heavy steel French tools. Some of those tools now hang in our hallway museum — others are still in use today.

Some of the old tools Angel brought back from France hanging in our hallway museum. It's the 'what in the @#$%$ is that thing for?' display.

Whether in the ’70s or the 2000s, one thing has stayed constant:

👉 Innovation is our tradition.

Now, as we roll into another Rohloff season, maybe you’ve been eyeing one of our Makeshift models, or dreaming of a specialty build — like the 6-Pack, Model 20/14, or the Double Roller Tandem.

Each one showcases what happens when timeless craftsmanship meets forward-thinking design.

Explore Our Rohloff Bike Photo Galleries

Whatever kind of rider you are, we have a Rohloff build designed for your adventures.

And if you’re curious, reach out — we love talking shop.

Ride further. Maintain less.

— The team at R+E Cycles

​ Happy Cycling, - Dan

PS

We are currently experiencing one of the best Octobers in our history. We know you've been sending in your friends, and we want to thank you for that. We owe 52 years of success to all of you who. Thanks again!

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Bicycles Hand Built in Seattle Since 1973
5627 University Way NE Seattle, WA 98105