building a bike around an older kit

[Doug Burton]

Wow, she's a looker!

There's a trick you can do with the Cyclestar mirror if you want to get it away from the bar end -

Take the little intermediate swivel link and arm off, and push the mirror directly on to the strap - It can tuck in just inboard of your shifter and be angled out of the wind.

Very impressive work indeed. Is it as fast as it looks?

Good Onya!

Best,

Doug

 

[kidneyboy]

thanks doug,
i like the mirror right there. it is in a similar spot that the mirror on the mach2 is and it is like a handrest right there.
don't know how fast it is yet (probably like lightning ) but it really can climb!

the 26x20 cruzbike kit lowracer is in the works.

 

[WhiteSilvio]

kidneyboy wrote: ok, it's done. it is a blast to ride too!!!

Hi Kidneyboy,
Bike looks really good. It's been interesting watching the progress of the build.
I think there is more than a passing resemblance to the Vendetta. Geometry wise. Seat position and all.

I'll have to go back and a have a look at earlier posts, but did you build up/laminate the seat from "veneer"?
And just a question for curiosity, how much does the bike weigh ready to roll? (10kg 22lbs. That's my guess.)

Ta for now. Let the forum know how your riding experiences go on the "beast ".
John R

 

[kidneyboy]

john r,
any vendetta resemblance is purely chance. if anything the pic in my head of how it should look has been the silvio, particularly body and hand position.
the seat is a wood laminate and was purchased from BROL member 'atom' and the 2" foam came from poweron cycling.
the bike weighs about 31 lbs as is. there is not a weight weenie part on it. my main objective when i started was to make a rideable bike of this design, which seems to have been accomplished.

here is a bit of a ride report - my first impression is that the bike rides 'soft' (not stiff). my comparison for this is the volae tour i had which had a stiffish, bumpy feel. i'm assuming this is from a combination of the older kit, steel frame and 2" of foam padding on the wood seat. it seems very stable so far and climbs really well, and i mean really well. it has a 21 speed drivetrain and i am only using the 2 bigger chainrings, 42/32 would be a tooth count guess.i am learning the importance of keeping shoulders and hips relaxed especially on take off.
i took a longish, hilly ride on saturday with about a hundred starts and stops and came back with sore abs and a tired upper body. i'm really happy about that. one of the many reasons this style of bike is appealing is the amount upper body involvement. something i don't get on my other bent.
so far, so good!

 

[Doug Burton]

Hey KB,

31 lbs. is great, especially if you can get that with the forgiving rugged nature of steel.

I'll be interested in where your next effort weighs in.

But this bike looks like a great all-around 'bent.

Best,

Doug

 

[kidneyboy]

thanks doug,
i'm sure more ride reports will follow. there is also the tailfairing.......
can you tell me the differences between the older kits and the newer ones? i'm assuming weight and stiffness?