Heron Bicycles |
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Heron Bicycles offers two different frames - the Rally and the Wayfarer The Rally Frame The Heron Rally is all about versatility and comfort. By using "normal-reach" (47-57 mm) caliper brakes, you can fit large tires and/or fenders. You can ride it with fat tires on bad roads and fire trails or you can race it on a smooth course. Our priorities were to design a versatile, all-around road frame that you can ride on any surface, and one that offers more comfort - by means of a proper riding position - than 99 percent of the frames you can shake a stick at.
The Wayfarer Frame A good all-purpose rough-stuff bike. It's smooth and stable by virtue of its wheelbase and steering geometry, but in no way does it feel like a station wagon. The Heron Wayfarer makes a wonderful bike for commuting, long distance riding, or light trail riding. For true, loaded touring, this frame is perfect. The clearances are right for fat tires and fenders, and they are rigid enough to handle heavy loads without squawking.
Rockwell Red is a metallic dark red with a hint of brown. Think autumn. The town of Rockwell is gone. All that remains is the cemetery and the Rockwell neighborhood of LaSalle. In the early 19th century, Rockwell had several hundred residents and was competing to become the point at which the soon-to-be-built I&M Canal would enter the Illinois River. This potential gold mine persuaded locals to fight off the various diseases that were part of living in primitive conditions in the river bottoms. Once it was announced that the canal would enter the Illinois in LaSalle, most of the residents of Rockwell left.
Shippingsport Silver is a classic silver. It is subtle and smooth lacking the flashiness of the silvers currently in fashion. Many folks don't realize that there are so many different flavors of silver, but there are. This one looks good in any era. The town of Shippingsport is gone. There are still a few homes marking its location across the Illinois River from LaSalle. The bridge there has always been known as the Shippingsport Bridge. The third generation of this bridge was recently completed, but its concrete construction will mean the end of the steel girders that gave our silver paint its name.
Gooding Green is a medium metallic green. Not as bright as Kelly Green, but not as dark as Forest Green or Waterford's Sherwood Forest. Gooding Green is named after William Gooding, the chief engineer of the I&M Canal. This canal, constructed in the early 19th century, provided a shipping link from Lake Michigan at Chicago to the Illinois River in LaSalle. This meant that goods could now be shipped from the Great Lakes all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. It was the I&M Canal that built the city of Chicago. Prior to its construction, the population of LaSalle was actually larger than that of Chicago since many goods were transported by wagon to LaSalle to be placed on boats.
Bailey Falls Blue is dark metallic blue with a hint of green. Some folks will call it a blue-green, but everyone seems to see it a little differently. Bailey Falls was a beautiful local landmark. It featured unique rock formations and a large waterfall. It had been a popular spot for picnics and swimming for decades. Unfortunately, the area had to be closed for safety reasons as a local mining operation expanded nearby. Eventually, the mine overtook the Falls, and this unique local spot was lost for good.
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