How to make your Vendetta as fast as possible

Tor Hovland

Well-Known Member
What a great read, and what an amazing lifetime experience that must have been. Would really love to do it some day!

Imagine a bike ride of such length that you need to bring shorts two sizes too small to change into halfway through :)
 

Frito Bandito

Zen MBB Master
I read it too, and thank you for the link to it. I can imagine both were some of the most fulfilling accomplishments of a lifetime. If you are going to do it a 3rd time, I an I can imagine many others would love to see your build up to it, as well as whatever we can see during the race.
 

TransAm

Well-Known Member
If you really think you only need 11-32t w/1x, you don't need the Eagle long cage RD. Force has medium & short cage versions that cover 36t or 33t . I got the Eagle because I'm using a 50t chainring and 11-50t cassette to get 1:1 low gearing. It needs a little bit of extra chain cut-off scrap from another chain and two quick links with the stock chainstay length. The disadvantage of a wide range cassette is 2t jumps on the small cogs.

One thing to keep in mind with the Force AXS is the proprietary AXS flat-top chain has larger, narrower rollers that are not the same as Eagle and aftermarket 12s chains. The AXS flat-top chain has less inside clearance and requires the narrower teeth on the Red/Force cassettes and chainrings.

So bottom line is chose wisely, since you won't be able to swap between Red/Force 10-33 (or 10-26 or 10-28) road cassettes and 10-50 or 11-50 SRAM Eagle cassettes, or 9-46 or 9-50 aftermarket cassettes. But you may be able to use Campagnolo 11-32 cassettes interchangeably with the Eagle.

Technical FAQ: SRAM AXS Flattop chain compatibility – VeloNews.com

ROTOR’s 12s cassettes are compatible with other 12-speed drivetrains on the market – available in 11-36, 11-39, 11-46 and 11-52 T. So that's what I will probably use for flatter courses.

AASQ #75: Are SRAM chains compatible with Shimano drivetrains? Drivetrain compatibility Qs answered! - Bikerumor
 
Last edited:

Bill Wightman

Well-Known Member
I'm not even sure if a disc wheel is the best option all-round. Might an 88mm wheel (on the rear) be better?
I am not saying this works for everyone but I use a HED Jet with an Aerojacket disc cover in back and an old Renn 575 disc in front. That is my "all the time" configuration. I have a nice wide and low bull bar and ride with my arms close to full extension. All I notice on blustery days is roll of the bike with just a little lateral motion because I ride in all wind conditions, lately up to 25 mph and my brain seems to have adapted. Cannot ride those conditions if there is a chance of rain as you will have the wheels blown out from under you.
 

Bill Wightman

Well-Known Member
Another thought is to replace the stock handle bars with narrower ones.
I tried to get used to narrow bars with my hands and part of forearm hidden in the leg wind shadow. I rode a regular 60 mile ride like that and was as fast as normal. Unfortunately I never felt comfortable in the position especially in slow speed maneuvering, stopping, and any kind of side wind gusts. For now I am sticking with the "wide/low superman position" for the arms. My grip is just below my chin at the same elevation as my shoulders.
 

Frito Bandito

Zen MBB Master
I'd like to know that too Scott. after a quick search I didn't see anything conclusive but I am sure someone will come along with better info soon.

With that said, I just tried to weigh my Vendetta on a scale and it was right at 10kg. I am not sure if it is right, but I assumed it would be much heavier. Here is what I have on it now.
80mm Campagnolo Bullet rear.
35mm Campagnolo Scirocco front.
Shimano 11 speed 105 R7000 mechanical groupset 53/36, 105 with 11/28 gears.
42mm Richie CF bars (chopped to bullhorns)
23mm Conti GP 5000 (with tubes)
Shimano PD-EH500 pedals
Ventisit
Suspension headrest

What kind of weights are others having with their Vendetta?
 

benphyr

Guru-me-not
@Frito Bandito That does sound like it could be low. Did you use the before and after bathroom scale method? You probably eliminated as many of these variables as possible but for reference of the method see below:

Cheap bath scales are notoriously both inaccurate and imprecise especially at the low end of the possible measurements.
Ways to get the best results out of whatever equipment you have include:
-Level surface
-smooth, hard surface
-Doing the test several times in a row
-noting exactly where your feet are placed and your balance, how you hold your bike etc. can help limit the variability.
-knowing that whatever variability you notice in any one measurement is within the error possibilities for each measurement so the final error could be double or more assuming calibrated scale /balance.
-bathroom scales are not calibrated after installation or throwing them in the closet etc. so...
But they are much better than nothing and the inclusion of your body weight at a single point in time puts the scale in a much more accurate range. $20 digital scales are usually pretty accurate for their use case: people whose weight is variable throughout the day due to drinking, eating, burning calories, sweating, using the toilet, etc.
 

Frito Bandito

Zen MBB Master
Thanks for the reply Benphyr. Yeah, it was the bathroom scale. A cheap one at that too. If it were a digital scale then I would have put more stock in the results but I'll eventually get around to putting it on a proper scale. I'm still on the lookout for an electronic groupset nearby so I can get rid of the brifters but it would still be nice to know what kind of weights other people's Vendettas are.
 

DavidCH

In thought; expanding the paradigm of traversity
Dont worry so much about the weight... worry more about aero and work on the engine. I was reading if you squeeZE either side of your thumb nail for 60 seconds, it activates your perineal gland, so you can contain twice as much oxygen in your lungs.

I just had a great ride

(If it doesnt work on the left try the right hand.)

Worth a try

As soon as you get the v to 20+ the aero kicks in... so I will be putting a front aero defender of sorts on my v in the next month so it will be interesting to see the results.

I stopped taking sugar with the coffee and put myself on a calorie counter too.
 

Frito Bandito

Zen MBB Master
Mostly where I ride my Vendetta it is pretty flat, but I do plan on taking it on my next ride towards Mt. Fuji. That ride is about 110km from my home and includes about 1500m of climbing, but again, and it really isnt so important, I am just curious how much it weighs. I am going to do that ride with the Vendetta anyway. I easily make it up with my commuter bike with two 750ml water bottles, change of clothes and other essentials in various bags. On my road bike with clipons I can do 100km in just under 3 hours, and I am sure that I now have enough "bent" legs to do that as well. Once I get a more aero front wheel (50mm at least) and the disc wheel built then the Vendetta will be faster on the flats. For climbing I will just put on my Zondas from the commuter bike;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3bs

TransAm

Well-Known Member
Mostly where I ride my Vendetta it is pretty flat, but I do plan on taking it on my next ride towards Mt. Fuji.

I rode up the Mt. Fuji Skiline road trying to get to Grinpa, but found out it was on a toll road with no bicycles allowed. So I had to go back down the way I came up:

Mt. Fuji Skyline | Ride | Strava

I recommend going there via Ashigaratōge Pass:

Ashigaratōge Pass | Ride | Strava

But don't do anything else I did to get there from Tokyo the previous two days!

P.S. Have you figured out how to bag your Vendetta to take it on the train in Japan (that's what you have to do there--I got chased out of a couple of train stations by the police because I didn't bag the bike first, which is a real PITA)?

094c3a9fbad012b67d5563b905c56be5


1e5bb019fdae4e1124754508275d85ca
 
Last edited:

DavidCH

In thought; expanding the paradigm of traversity
I rode up the Mt. Fuji Skiline road trying to get to Grinpa, but found out it was on a toll road with no bicycles allowed. So I had to go back down the way I came up:

Mt. Fuji Skyline | Ride | Strava

I recommend going there via Ashigaratōge Pass:

Ashigaratōge Pass | Ride | Strava

But don't do anything else I did to get there from Tokyo the previous two days!

P.S. Have you figured out how to bag your Vendetta to take it on the train in Japan (that's what you have to do there--I got chased out of a couple of train stations by the police because I didn't bag the bike first, which is a real PITA)?

094c3a9fbad012b67d5563b905c56be5


1e5bb019fdae4e1124754508275d85ca
I follow this you tuber... but unfortunately he rides a DF. This is a good bag by the way... I got one. Guess you could bubble wrap it at the airport and it would be good to go on a plane.
 

TransAm

Well-Known Member
Guess you could bubble wrap it at the airport and it would be good to go on a plane.

I don't know about bubble wrapping the bike on a plane. I packed my bike in the bag, then in a cardboard box. After landing @NRT, I shipped my luggage to my first hotel near where I had a business meeting the next day. Then I dropped the box in a hotel near the airport that I had a booking in the night before my flight out. Then I took the bike in the bag on a train to the hotel.

At the end of my trip I rode to the hotel @NRT, put the bike back in the box, and flew home with it.

P.S. I saw Chiba Monkeys all over the road at one point on my way to NRT.
 
Last edited:

Frito Bandito

Zen MBB Master
TransAm, my friend and I are thinking to do that same pass on the way back from Fuji in the Spring. We usually go up HW 413 (Doshi Road) which includes the 1500m of climbing. Your route takes him closer to his home, but includes a lot more traffic than 413. That sucked you couldn't complete the trip because of the tolls. As for the bag, in the video David provided, ROJ is right in that as long as your bike is covered so you don't get anyone else's clothes dirty, you can bring it on any train. Just avoid the rush hours because it probably isn't going to fit. I do have a "Rinko" bag for my size 54 DF bike that will surely work for my Vendetta, but I have only taken my commuter on the train once coming back from Fuji using that bag. A cool thing about Japan is that you can simply stick your clothes and stuff in a box and mail it to your destination cheaply so you won't have to carry it. A group of friends and I went up there a couple of years ago and had Pina Coladas waiting at the lake hahaha.
If the airlines allowed bubble wrap for a domestic flight then I personally would trust them with my bike in bubble wrap as a last resort. Workers here would never treat your bike like a frisbee. Not for an international flight though. Those dudes on the receiving end act as if they are in training for the Olympics.
BTW, the pics didn't upload. They show only as a "?" again lol
 

Frito Bandito

Zen MBB Master
David, I follow him also. We wave at each other on the Arakawa river from time to time, but usually going opposite directions so we never get a chance to talk. He has a ton of tips, but I think his channel could be doing even better if he were to focus more on cycling trips in Japan. It is a cycle friendly country, with tons to offer. Culture, food, scenery, temples, shrines, history, markets. Hell, I should do that hahaha. It is a good bag though. It was hard to find one in shops that fit my bike here though. Most of them here were for size 52 or smaller.
 

DavidCH

In thought; expanding the paradigm of traversity
I don't know about bubble wrapping the bike on a plane. I packed my bike in the bag, then in a cardboard box. After landing @NRT, I shipped my luggage to my first hotel near where I had a business meeting the next day. Then I dropped the box in a hotel near the airport that I had a booking in the night before my flight out. Then I took the bike in the bag on a train to the hotel.

At the end of my trip I rode to the hotel @NRT, put the bike back in the box, and flew home with it.

P.S. I saw Chiba Monkeys all over the road at one point on my way to NRT.
Sounds like the perfect trip. Can't wait for the restrictions on travel to be lifted.
 
Top