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My take on the finish on the carbon bits of the V20c is that they were going for that semi-opaque/semi-transparent top coat that shows off the carbon a little bit, especially in the sun. It's not so much that the finish is bad, but that you are able to see the carbon layup beneath. My...

For me, I don't think that pushing vs. pulling is an either/or thing. As I'm pedaling along normally, I'm pushing a little and pulling a little; pushing the right pedal leads me to pull a bit with my right hand while I also push a bit with the left hand. I don't think about it. It's just what...

I went from a V20, which has basically the same front end as your S40, to a V20c. While the V20c maybe has a slightly smoother ride with its carbon fiber front end, the weight difference between the two is negligible. I imagine they had to use a fair amount of carbon fiber to create enough...

I was riding with a friend a couple years ago, when we came to the top of a gradual 12 mile downhill that averages about 4%. So, not very steep. It can be a pedally downhill if you want it to be. I was on my V20c and he was on his Specialized Roubaix. Without telling him, I decided to run...

I ran 650b on my S40, with 50mm Gravel King slicks. The ride was nice and smooth, and with enough air pressure, could even be fast. I also still had room for fenders.

I often use a wiggling motion with stubborn thru axles. When inserting, push and wiggle. When extracting, pull and wiggle. The wiggle helps break thru axles free when coming out, and helps them find the threads when going in. The V20c design does complicate things, but I've never had to...

Welcome to the learning curve! It gets easier and easier, especially with short repetitions over time as the brain creates new wiring.

I've reused aluminum headset cups in the past without problems. Just as you want to take it slow and be precise when pressing them in, keeping the cup straight and level as you press, you want to do the same when pushing them out. If you get the cup out and it looks fine, then it probably is...

Ooh! I've been using the Zefal Spy Mirrors for years. They work fine, but the plastic mirror leaves a bit to be desired for clarity. The view is a little wavy, and if a car is coming from behind without running lights on, and it is a neutral color, like tan or gray, it can be harder to see...

As others have suggested, so much of what you are working through gets better and easier with practice, reps, time, and a kind of stubborn faith that it will indeed get better. For tight turns, such as flipping a U, or maneuvering through tight bollards, I unclip a foot (usually my left, which...

After nine years on a V20 and S30, I have noticed that the front/drive tire wears faster than the rear/non-drive tire, at about the same rate as the difference between front and rear wear on a standard road bike. I weigh 130lbs.

I'll second this. Early on with my V20, I was gripping and pulling so hard on the bars that I tore a tendon in my right arm. It took seven months to heal and I was afraid that I'd have to start the learning process all over. But I didn't. The brain wiring was still there and hooked up...

Sometimes my spare parts bin reaches critical mass, and it's time to clear some things out. I contacted CB a while back to order a couple extra headrest socks--the thin, old-school kind--to have on hand, should the one I was using wear out. What arrived were two sets of stock seat pad covers...

Welcome back! At the age of 48, lower back pain made riding a road bike just about impossible. The thought of becoming one those riders sitting bolt-upright, going 11 miles per hour depressed me. The thought of going recumbent depressed me. The thought of not riding at all really depressed...

I agree that crank length is a personal choice. I'm short, at 5'3". I built up my first V20 with 165mm cranks. They seemed fine, but I had no frame of reference, having tried nothing else. As an experiment, I put on 160mm cranks and liked them a little better. I rode those for quite a...

Ditto much of what has been said. I have a climber's body and climbing has always been my strength. I have nine years on a V20 (now V20c), and I climb just about as fast on it as I do on my Specialized Aethos road bike (my local club is hosting its annual 12 mile uphill time trial this Sunday...

I get no recumbutt on my V20, a little bit on my last generation S30, but it usually goes away after 15 minutes, and got it badly enough on my S40 that I had to sell it. I like my S30, but yeah, it's not really designed to carry much more than just the rider. I liked the flexibility built into...

All good advice about the feeling of sliding forward off the front of the seatpan. I'll add this: years ago, when I was new to riding Cruzbikes, I definitely had the sensation of sliding forward, and feared that I would somehow slide or bounce off the front. I use the word "sensation" because...

That should work. I'm running a V20c with a standard chainstay and Dura Ace Di2 12 speed 11-30 cassette, 36/52 oval chainrings (so the 52 is more like a 54), and a 122-link chain that I cut down from 126.

Hi Jan. I had a similar noise on my old V20, which had a similar design to your S40. In my case, the culprit was the clamp bolt that connects the boom to the steering column. Others have commented on this particular spot too, over the years. Some have solved it by checking/correcting the...