Does anyone else have a design Wishlist for the next model of Q series?

[Flying Dutchman]

The Classified hub with a SRAM 12 speed would add a huge range for gearing and the Classified hub would weigh much less then the Rohloff.

The Classified hub has its bluetooth receiver in the thru-axle so it won't fit in the current setup (Cruzbike uses a slightly longer thru-axle to accomodate the chain-stays).

 

[Black Hawk Down]

Bret is correct about the Rohloff hub and Gates belt. We toured Europe (mostly Italy, Austria and Slovenia) on a couple of Q45s with Rohloff hubs and Gates belts. They were fantastic. The gear ratio we used was determined by the chainstay length and it suited us well. We are slow riders who enjoy the scenery but not the hills, so having a lower gear range than the stock standard worked well. But I'll leave the details to another post. Spoiler alert: it was a bit of pain installing the Rohloffs, but did prove to be a good learning experience.

I'd like to see the carbon fibre front end migrated to the Q45 as the current front end is very heavy.

I'd also like to see more flexible ways of attaching panniers. I rigged up some racks that lifted up our panniers up by a couple of inches as the racks that Cruzbike supply were a bit too low for our panniers. I also rigged up some racks that hung below the seat which allowed us to mount some smaller panniers under the seat. It meant that our centre of gravity was nice and low - ideal for touring. Again, something for another post.

Hi Dudley. I saw that you have experience with converting a Q45 drivetrain to a Rohloff Speed Hub. I'm trying to do the same. I worked with my LBS to contact Rohloff with information and photos of the bike. They replied the following:

Good afternoon,

many thanks for getting in touch.

Unfortunately one of the few restraints of the A12 system, is its inability to function in a dropout which is also the linkage point.
Sorry, we are unable to supply any SPEEDHUB which will work in this frame.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen / Best Regards

Stewart Stabik

Did you have to do anything special to make the Rohloff work on your Q45? I have a 2024 model with through-axles. Is yours also a through-axle design? Any help you can give me about this would be greatly appreciated. I'm not planning to use a belt. My LBS said if it doesn't work, I'll be out $2200-$2400. I can still sell the Speed Hub for much less on eBay or put it on a different bike. Quite a gamble for a lot of money.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[Velocivixen]

How about some amazing color ways?

 

[Al E Kaatz]

My wishlist item is a quick release on the handlebars instead of four bolts.

 

[Black Hawk Down]

I still believe that the S40 would be the ultimate touring bike if the seat was 30 degrees instead of 40. That one issue ruined the bike for me. I spent most of the last year trying to make the Q45 into and S40, except with a 30 degree seat. I succeeded but the bike is much heaver than the S40. With all racks and modifications, the Q45 sits at 50 lbs. It's killing me and I can't seem to get it to be lighter without compromising the touring needs. Since there's no alternatives, it'll have to do.

 

[Bent not broken!]

I view the ride as pretty cushy, with stock tires and suspension, even on dirt tracks and gravel. I would be concerned that fatter tires would slow the handling too much. My PR on a stretch of gravel (sometimes a bit loose) is on my Q45, rather than my USS SWB (Vision VR45) or highracers (Baron HR or Mystique).
My seat was almost as far reclined as it goes, but I never felt the need for a headrest.
I'm a big fan of IGH and belts. Super durable, especially in poor weather and chains last longer too. I've had Alfine 8, Alfine 11 and SA 8 on bikes and trikes and ridden a friends Rohloff. I think the Q45 is a good candidate, but I would use a hub rather than add the weight of a crank/BB gearbox on the end of an already heavy boom. It would require a custom boom, but that's easier than needing to completely redesign a DF frame.

Most gravel here is too loose for traction with stock width tires. I struggle to climb with 2.25” knobby tires on my MTB! Then, there’s the fine sand and clay…

 

[Bent not broken!]

Another wishlist item, front suspension.
I legitimately think that a lefty suspension fork could be shoehorned onto the existing Q45, but using a smaller wheel may be necessary to get the suspension travel to where it won’t impact the frame.
Basically it would be groupset on the right + Lefty Suspension fork on the left. Loosen the hinge at the pedal side of the boom to allow freer movement.
Picture attached is the Cannondale Lefty Ocho, which I think may be the only single fork suspension right now. Obviously very expensive, but this whole sub post is just brainstorming what may be possible, not necessarily economical.

I want a front suspension, so bad!

 

[Bent not broken!]

Yet another item, inspired by my experience with cargo bikes: Double Leg Kickstand option. My initial thought was that such an option would be unwieldy, due to how high off the ground the frame sits. However, I believe there is potential in combining an under seat rack system with the double leg kickstand idea.
Attached is a quick sketch with Procreate illustrating the idea. I’m not a mechanical engineer, so the trusses pictured are just a mockup, not even an attempt at calculating static or dynamic forces was made.
The basic idea is to just beef up the underseat rack so that it can support a normal sized double kick stand on the bottom, that will swing directly in between the pannier rack, rather than have a side swinging leg try to go around.

YES! My loaded bike has tipped over several times. That’s after fussing with lean angle, turning the wheel to next to the seat, wheel strap, etc.

 

[Black Hawk Down]

I too would like wider tires. Why not make the forks and chainstays able to handle 3 inch tires?

 

[Bent not broken!]

Having just bought a used Q45 this week and spending about 5 hours on it, I am loving this bike! I also own all of the other Cruzbike models, so I have some comparison points. The Q seems great at everything except racing (for which I would obviously use the V).

I have read several comments on the forum about the Q being a “gravel”
Bike, but my back was taking a beating with the T and the S. So, to me the suspension is a basic requirement unless you ride pristine roads. I am sure many others feel the same. The weight penalty of the Q is negligible as a proportion of total system weight.

The Q to me is the all-rounder, the bike that most people should buy. I wanted to relay some comments from the person that sold me the Q. He is a very accomplished DF rider, now probably in his mid 70s. Sounds like he bought the Q thinking it would be that all rounder for him. However, the gearing was too high for him and perhaps even for me. I think the Q needs lower gearing for the general customer. Secondly, he had an anxiety regarding what would happen in the case of a flat. Cruzbikes are not easy to fix a flat on. think tubeless tires with inserts would be a great selling point.

I am sure over time, I will have some insights of my own. For now, just wanted to pass on those comments from someone who represents a core customer demographic. He did put 400 miles or so on the bike. His comments made a lot of sense to me.

My two cents would be, please do not add the Carbon boom to the Q. One crash and there go thousands of dollars.

The large diameter wheels, suspension and ability to fit the optional fat wheel set are a must for me. That and the racks are why I bought it.

 

[Bent not broken!]

Having just bought a used Q45 this week and spending about 5 hours on it, I am loving this bike! I also own all of the other Cruzbike models, so I have some comparison points. The Q seems great at everything except racing (for which I would obviously use the V).

I have read several comments on the forum about the Q being a “gravel”
Bike, but my back was taking a beating with the T and the S. So, to me the suspension is a basic requirement unless you ride pristine roads. I am sure many others feel the same. The weight penalty of the Q is negligible as a proportion of total system weight.

The Q to me is the all-rounder, the bike that most people should buy. I wanted to relay some comments from the person that sold me the Q. He is a very accomplished DF rider, now probably in his mid 70s. Sounds like he bought the Q thinking it would be that all rounder for him. However, the gearing was too high for him and perhaps even for me. I think the Q needs lower gearing for the general customer. Secondly, he had an anxiety regarding what would happen in the case of a flat. Cruzbikes are not easy to fix a flat on. think tubeless tires with inserts would be a great selling point.

I am sure over time, I will have some insights of my own. For now, just wanted to pass on those comments from someone who represents a core customer demographic. He did put 400 miles or so on the bike. His comments made a lot of sense to me.

My two cents would be, please do not add the Carbon boom to the Q. One crash and there go thousands of dollars.

Agree, lower gearing option. Here’s what I did. I really need lower gearing, but that requires changing cranks.

7/22/2023 128.00 mi. added 34T Wolf Tooth drop-stop chainring, longer bolts and 5mm spacers to convert from 1x to manual shift 2x. Switched from stock 11-42 to 11-46, which is the biggest derailleur specs allow. It still shifts ok. Chain line is straight on 34T and 6 (24). That’s 36.8 gear inches. I have mostly been riding on the 39.0, 45.5 and 52.0 gear inches on the 42T.

 

[Flying Dutchman]

I too would like wider tires. Why not make the forks and chainstays able to handle 3 inch tires?

Indeed. The front fork is not able to hold 700c gravel wheels with proper gravel tyres. The maximum tyre size for 700c is currently 32mm - I think the bike deserves 40 - 45mm tyres

 

[Black Hawk Down]

Indeed. The front fork is not able to hold 700c gravel wheels with proper gravel tyres. The maximum tyre size for 700c is currently 32mm - I think the bike deserves 40 - 45mm tyres

I run 26x2 tires but I've fit 2.1 inch tires with no problems. I wish I could have 2.5 inch at least as there are so many more off road tire choices in that size.

 

[CruzRider]

The front fork is not able to hold 700c gravel wheels with proper gravel tyres. The maximum tyre size for 700c is currently 32mm - I think the bike deserves 40 - 45mm tyres

I have a 2022 Q45 with Thru Axles.
I am running a 700c 38mm ReneHerse tire in the front. That is the absolute max it can take.

 

[Black Hawk Down]

I have a 2022 Q45 with Thru Axles.
I am running a 700c 38mm ReneHerse tire in the front. That is the absolute max it can take.

If you go to a 26" wheel, you can get 2.1" width comfortably.

 

[CruzRider]

If you go to a 26" wheel, you can get 2.1" width comfortably.

Agreed. But I want to use 700c carbon zipp wheels

 

[McWheels]

Noted. I am sure that I will include this in discussions about what is to come. Its always a balance - sometimes (not for the Q series - yet) we have done mixes of frames/completes only to be left with tons of frames at the end that have a hard time selling... some years its the opposite and the frames sell out faster... ‍ so a bit of balancing act is needed.

The Q series was previously (in the Sofrider/Quest days) intended as more the "bike in a box" thing, that wasn't a style that would be an attractant to home builders or people who wanted to do more custom builds. That could change though with enough interest...

I built a SA-8 IGH into my Sofrider (V2k) frameset. There was nothing special about doing it, it just worked with all the standard components one gets with the hub. All it needed was careful choice of chainring and a tensioner. Admittedly it's not really an act of super-touring but the chain-line was lovely.