Just....questions
- Thread starter Cyclechik
- Start date
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
Well, I am contributing a little to that look myself. I blame the lack of Zone 2 recently hahahaOn a funny note, the hydration bladder on chest looks like beer belly
MNBentRider
Member
Update - I tried accessing this bottle behind me again yesterday. I didn't do a very good job; my fingers touched the rear wheel spokes! No permanent damage, but they do sting a bit yet today. So for those who are trying that approach: BE CAREFUL! I've ordered a new bottle cage for inside the race cage; I think I'll use the bottle cage behind me for bottle access only when I'm not moving!
Merczak73
Active Member
Looking back on my old posts, it looks like it took me about 6 months to get used to the S40. Everyone is different. I went ahead and practiced a lot in parking lots, doing figure 8s and weaving in and out of parked cars in the lot. Gave me motivation to not mess up. Now, I have no problems starting from a slight incline. Don't like it, but I can do it without problems.
As far as water bottles, I use a Camelbak backpack and strap it to the backside of the seat using velcro straps. I criss cross the shoulder straps over the headrest tubes so they aren't flapping in the wind. I have an extra long drinking tube with neoprene cover. I then put a piece of velcro near the end of the drinking tube and another piece on the side of the seat near the butt area. Easy to reach down, grab the tube and put it in your mouth. When you are done, but the tube back in place. Works great when the velcro is new. Not so much when the velcro starts to wear out. I have been wanting to upgrade to a magnetic clip system, but I have been procrastinating for the past several years as I was going to put on my Thor seat. Have not done that yet. I got cold feet about cutting off the seat flanges off the frame. Its a personal problem =)
I thought I posted a pic of the Camelbak system here, but I can't seem to find it. If anyone knows how to find it, please let me know. It is not in my media, nothing is. Yet pics I have posted in the past still are present.
Edit: RAR2's pic just showed up in my browser. Yep, mine is very similar to his. The difference is I just have the backpack/bladder system strapped to the back of the seat, not the whole carrier system.
As far as water bottles, I use a Camelbak backpack and strap it to the backside of the seat using velcro straps. I criss cross the shoulder straps over the headrest tubes so they aren't flapping in the wind. I have an extra long drinking tube with neoprene cover. I then put a piece of velcro near the end of the drinking tube and another piece on the side of the seat near the butt area. Easy to reach down, grab the tube and put it in your mouth. When you are done, but the tube back in place. Works great when the velcro is new. Not so much when the velcro starts to wear out. I have been wanting to upgrade to a magnetic clip system, but I have been procrastinating for the past several years as I was going to put on my Thor seat. Have not done that yet. I got cold feet about cutting off the seat flanges off the frame. Its a personal problem =)
I thought I posted a pic of the Camelbak system here, but I can't seem to find it. If anyone knows how to find it, please let me know. It is not in my media, nothing is. Yet pics I have posted in the past still are present.
Edit: RAR2's pic just showed up in my browser. Yep, mine is very similar to his. The difference is I just have the backpack/bladder system strapped to the back of the seat, not the whole carrier system.
Cyclechik
Member
Thanks for that! I think I'm *this close* to being able to grab a bottle...I had to postpone practice while I trained for the Tour of Steamboat. Not a race, but the distance and climbing training were something I'd been neglecting. Proud to say I had my best times! Next ride isn't until Tucson in November; that coupled with cooler, more comfortable temps has me looking forward to more time in the S40 saddle !
!Rolling Along
Well-Known Member
Initially, I used the Cruzbike head rest cage mount kit along with the Cruzbike bottle cages on my V20c. I reached back (elbow up) to fetch my watter bottles. I only had one drop in the reach learning process. But I had problems with the bottles sometimes launching on bumps. So I mounted the bottles under the seat using Cruzbike bottle cage spacers and plastic bottle cages. The reach is a little bit too far under, but I have had no problem mastering it. Not the most aero, but it makes things easy for me and no lost bottles.
Cyclechik
Member
Hi Rol
Hi Rolling - I have 2 cages in the Race Cage and 2 behind the seat. I liked the one on the left behind my head in the Cage when I had the bike on the trainer. I tried to use the ones mounted to the seat, but they felt awkward to get and put back. Robert suggested drilling new mount holes lower, but I'll wait for that project until I'm more practiced. I even have a bladder ready to go in the Cage, along with a breakaway lanyard to hold the tube, just in case!
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
Initially I had water bottles behind my head with the cage mount kit and had ejection problems too. I tried a few different cages and finally found a pair that held the bottles firmly in place over bumps, but now I have about 5-6 pairs of cages just sitting in a parts bin rotting away.
It took a few tries to be able to replace bottles effectively while riding, and all of this was when I was still a bit wobbly on my V20 but now I am much happier with a tailbag instead of the bottle back there. Yesterday was a perfect example why. In my tailbag I carry a spare tire and tube (60mm stem so it will fit almost any depth wheel), as well as a few other items that make impromptu repairs possible such as a 10s, 11s and 12s master links, my own allen keys for my V20 plus an allen key for thru axel even though I use a standard QR, star wrenches, glueless patches, tubeless plugs with bacon strips, toenail clippers, rubber cement, spare home-made boom clamp, spare BB clamp, 60mm of Stans sealant, micro pump, valve core wrench and 2 spare Presta cores. I was thinking to carry my chain tool also, but that would only work if I carried a few spare links each of 10s, 11s and 12s chain links as well as 2 master links for each chain. I'd be a rolling life saver for roadies who carry diddly squat if I did though haha.
kizarmynot
Well-Known Member
Tour de Tucson! Still on my 2do list. Hopefully next year.
Cyclechik
Member
My repair kit is very similar to yours (minus the toenail clippers )! I carry a Gerber Dime, mostly for the pliers, a valve stem remover and a brake caliper gapper. Also keep my voile strap in there. I bought some aluminum cages at the LBS and they seem to work well. I didn’t have too much trouble retrieving and replacing the bottle on the trainer…it helped make muscle memory. I was able to take my hand off the bars longer last night than I have before but I still wasn’t confident enough to do ‘the reach’. More practice is definitely in my future!
Mathew Fy
GRU
I couldn’t find it, but your avatar photo shows some.
Cyclechik
Member
I tried that first but didn't like it at all. I put it where the mounts already are, below, and my knees kept hitting. Don't think I'd bother to rotate the boom so the holes are on top...that seems more awkward.
Cyclechik
Member
Last year was the first of three that I was able to complete on my DF - it was WAY too hot previous years! Last year we had strong headwinds on the way out (uphill, of course) and the climb for me in the middle was slow going, but the downhill on the way back with light rain the last 8 miles was wonderful!
