I purchased this frame new, but it sat in the box waiting for me to be ready to buy everything else. I own a ~2017 Vendetta V20 that I bought as a used frame and built. After that experience, I made judgment calls with the aim of building a better handling, more comfortable, more resilient, fast randonneuring, touring and commuting bike. After a build that was painfully long, I picked up the bike from a mechanic friend this morning, so I only have an initial impression that I'm going to be happy with the choices I've made.
Real quick, here's what I went with:
- The carbon, thru-axle V20c for improved front end steering performance.
- Shallower 45cm deep, aero, gravel rims for improved cross wind and high speed handling.
- 700x40 front and 700x35 rear, tubeless, with Tanner gravel tire foam inserts. I wanted a broader, more compliant tire pressure to improve comfort and climbing, and reduce or eliminate slipping and skipping. I only rode a few minutes, this morning, and the bike does feel really good with 2.5 bar in the front and 3.25 bar in the rear. The inserts are meant to eliminate rim strikes and reduce pinch flats; plus, reports say they give more stable cornering.
- Instead of the road gearing on my first Vendetta, I went with a 10-52 mountain bike rear cassette. My mechanic friend recommended a Garbaruk cassette for a more even gear distribution.
- I took Larry Oslund's and Cruzbike's tip and purchased 145mm cranks. For fun, I mounted an Alugear 48t oval "aero" ring; that large ring should still enable enough climb ability with the 52 rear cog and plenty of power for high speed cruising.
- Dynamo lighting for get out and go, all night and all day safety. Also, I purchased Redshift lighted pedals. I was hit by a car a few years ago and admit to some trauma when it comes to riding on the road these days.
- I bought the lifted seat a year or two ago. On a recent ride, I still felt uneasy looking "over my shoulder" and decided to add the S40 wedge Cruzbike offers. The wedge has put my head in a more level position, making looking around (and over the bars) easier. I rode my first recumbent 35 years ago and to me that upright seated, upright view of underseat steering designs certainly was part of the recumbent appeal.
- Instead of a bullhorn swept handlebar, I went to straight drop bars. Straight down might be too much, but my mental exercises suggested it would give me power like vertical grip seated rows at the gym. Plus, it would make it easier for me to have my Cruzbike and mountain bike on my hitch rack. I installed Togs. ESI grips.
- not pictured is the new cargo case. I'll get that on in the next few days.
Real quick, here's what I went with:
- The carbon, thru-axle V20c for improved front end steering performance.
- Shallower 45cm deep, aero, gravel rims for improved cross wind and high speed handling.
- 700x40 front and 700x35 rear, tubeless, with Tanner gravel tire foam inserts. I wanted a broader, more compliant tire pressure to improve comfort and climbing, and reduce or eliminate slipping and skipping. I only rode a few minutes, this morning, and the bike does feel really good with 2.5 bar in the front and 3.25 bar in the rear. The inserts are meant to eliminate rim strikes and reduce pinch flats; plus, reports say they give more stable cornering.
- Instead of the road gearing on my first Vendetta, I went with a 10-52 mountain bike rear cassette. My mechanic friend recommended a Garbaruk cassette for a more even gear distribution.
- I took Larry Oslund's and Cruzbike's tip and purchased 145mm cranks. For fun, I mounted an Alugear 48t oval "aero" ring; that large ring should still enable enough climb ability with the 52 rear cog and plenty of power for high speed cruising.
- Dynamo lighting for get out and go, all night and all day safety. Also, I purchased Redshift lighted pedals. I was hit by a car a few years ago and admit to some trauma when it comes to riding on the road these days.
- I bought the lifted seat a year or two ago. On a recent ride, I still felt uneasy looking "over my shoulder" and decided to add the S40 wedge Cruzbike offers. The wedge has put my head in a more level position, making looking around (and over the bars) easier. I rode my first recumbent 35 years ago and to me that upright seated, upright view of underseat steering designs certainly was part of the recumbent appeal.
- Instead of a bullhorn swept handlebar, I went to straight drop bars. Straight down might be too much, but my mental exercises suggested it would give me power like vertical grip seated rows at the gym. Plus, it would make it easier for me to have my Cruzbike and mountain bike on my hitch rack. I installed Togs. ESI grips.
- not pictured is the new cargo case. I'll get that on in the next few days.
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