I'm getting a Vendetta!!!

[rx7mark]

then you will have to sell your t. ...

Yes I may have to sell my T50, or convert it for my wife's use, or set it up to go on an indoor trainer. Have not decided yet.

I am ready for a little faster bike, but my main motivation for getting my hands on a Silvio 2.0, or S30, frameset is that I will be retiring in about 2 years, and our plans are to travel a bunch, so I would like a bike that will break down for travel in a reasonable size checkable bag. The Silvio will do that easier than any other Cruzbike.

I plan on going all out on this build, but I won't be in a hurry. Frame is first, if I can't find a used one, then I can't execute my plan..

Mark

 

[DocS]

Friday, my Beautiful Yellow and Silver Vendetta frameset came in!!!
But...
The seller forgot to send the other parts with it. I let her know and she got the box out that afternoon.
The box of goodies should get here today, so I'm anxiously waiting

She really didn't know much about this bike and was selling it for a Military friend of her family's.
She said that she was considering buying and building it for herself, but didn't know anything about recumbents in general and didn't know anything about Front Wheel Bikes.

So, I'll look through the box of parts when they get here and see what I want to use. I will definitely need a set of wheels cables and such.

Some of my local friends are trying to talk me into leaving the Silvio as it is and selling it to them. They ride DF bikes and were really impressed with the Silvio, especially when we rode the MS Ride to the River century last October...

The frame is absolutely beautiful! a couple small "Character" marks, but otherwise in pristine condition!

Blessings,
DocS

 

[DocS]

The extra bike parts came in.

The groupset contains Shimano Tiagra 6500 shifters, front and rear derailleurs and an FSA 50/34 Crankset with square taper BB. Shimano shimano 12/27 cassette. Ultegra front and rear rim brakes. a hollow chain and the cruzbike dropout.

I think I'm going to start with the groupset that was sent with the bike. They look pretty serviceable, but I'm used to the Sram Doubletap, vs Shimano stuff...

I need to purchase a wheel set and cables to complete the build (hopefully over the weekend).

I took my Silvio down did a quick 20 mile ride in the 101 degree Texas heat yesterday afternoon! I managed a little over 19 mph average speed. Not my fastest, but I'll take it...

I was a bit rusty on the Silvio, I hadn't ridden it in 6 months!

I'm going out again this afternoon for a little more familiarity riding. Hopefully I'll have a bit more time to spend riding this evening on the Silvio...

Monday, I'm joining a bunch of Veterans for a Memorial Day ride. Hopefully, I'll be doing it on my Vendetta (stealing the wheels from my Silvio) for the time being...

I've retired my Catrike 700 until the winter...


Blessings,
DocS

 

[chicorider]

Have fun. The Vendetta is a blast!

 

[DocS]

Ok, change of plans...

I realized that the BB wasn't gonna work in the Vendetta. I don't like the rear derailleur and the small cassette, because I ride in the Texas Hill Country, so I wanted to be able to use similar components as I have on my Silvio...

I got frustrated looking for all the parts I would need to complete my build similar to my Silvio, so I decided to just pull the gear off my Silvio and put it on my Vendetta (as was the original plan)...

The only change is the BB...
I was reading RATs post about RWC BB and decided to order the Ceramic one (in gold to match the Vendetta).

 

[DocS]

After looking at the frameset last night, it looked like the frame had never been built before, like it was bought and put away for later...

I decided to put it together last night, using the BB from the Silvio. I'll swap it out when the RWC BB comes in.
As I was adjusting it, I realized I had to cut a little of the slider, so I bought a $20 pipe cutter and cut about 2 inches off the end.
The seat and "seat brackets" don't have holes in them, so I can mount the front of the seat, so I'll do that later.
Everything seems to be going pretty well. I have the Derailers and front brake mounted, but I ran into a snag with the rear brake. The hole is a bit small for the "nut" or threaded sleeve to go into. I'll gently drill the opening a little tonight.
I scavenged the Perez Clamp from the Silvio, since the new frame owner won't be needing it. I'm planning on using the headrest and "hydration" set-up from my Silvio.

I bought the new cables and yellow Lizard skin Handlebar tape, so will hopefully be riding my new to me Vendetta tomorrow sometime (if the rain holds off).

Of course there will be adjustments to make and all the frustration that can come from that...

I'll try to get some pictures posted later

Blessings,
DocS

 

[chicorider]

I'm not sure what you mean when you say, "I ran into a snag with the rear brake. The hole is a bit small for the 'nut' or threaded sleeve to go into. I'll gently drill the opening a little tonight." I have the same yellow frame, and I ran the brake cable housing through the frame just fine. Do you want to talk it through before you do any drilling?

 

[DocS]

It's not for the brake cable housing, it's for the brake mount...
I don't know what the part is called the screws the onto the threaded brake mount...

 

[ChaleJake]

That yellow paint is beautiful. Enjoy your build and millions of rides.

 

[chicorider]

Oh, got it. Yeah, that hole does look small. And the nut that you have looks to be standard size. Yup, bore that sucker out.

 

[DocS]

I'm glad I was messing around with it after I took the pictures, because I had the break on backwards!!!

I didn't drill it out (thankfully) and got the break installed.

Today, I'm hoping to get it finished up (if I get the time) and take it out for a couple test runs...

Blessings,
DocS

 

[DocS]

I finally got my new to me Vendetta put together !!!
I still need to tune the front and rear derailleurs, but other than that, I need to ride a little bit
Tomorrow, I hope to get a chance to take it out for a bit if it doesn't rain...

This was my first time completely assembling any bike. there were a few challenges, but I think I'm pretty well done.

I'll get some pictures of it tomorrow. I was able to move my hydration system over from the Silvio, which I'm really happy about, because I hate drinking warm water when I'm riding...

The Continental GP5000 700c X 25 tires have just enough clearance.
I ordered yellow Lizard Skin handlebar tape and it kinda looks green... I went ahead and used it anyways, because I just wanted to get this build done and go ride it a bit...

I'm sure I'll eventually want to change some stuff... I'd like to eventually get a new wheelset with Disk Brakes, but for now, I love it!!!

G'night,
DocS

 

[chicorider]

I'm glad you figured out the brake bridge orientation. Sounds like you're doing good work. Building a bike from the ground up is so much fun!

 

[DocS]

Finally finished...

 

[super slim]

Finally finished...

View attachment 9477 View attachment 9478 View attachment 9478

This Vendetta is STILL the best looking Vendetta!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Rampa]

My favorite Cruzbike color, for sure!

 

[DocS]

My wife and i went out.
For a little ride...

She on her trike, me on the Vendetta...

I really like the way it rides! Tomorrow, I'm riding a Memorial Day Veteran Ride. It's a hilly 40 mile ride to the Veterans Cemetery and back...

It will be great to be riding with my Veteran Brothers and sisters tomorrow, paying tribute to those who didn't make it back!

One of the other riders will be on her Vendetta!
She's the one who introduced me to Cruzbike!

Blessings all and be well

 

[cpml123]

Have a great Memorial Day! Thank you for you do for this country!

 

[DocS]

Well, good morning all!

The Memorial day ride was cancelled due to rain, but I did make it out that afternoon for a quick 27 mile ride with a friend.

Last Saturday, the Veterans group that was supposed to ride for Memorial Day got together and we did about 50 miles in hilly country...
The rider who introduced me to Cruzbike joined us, so there were 2 Vendettas on the road that day! Unfortunately, she said she had a bit too much spirits the night before and we ended up getting dropped from the group during the 1st half of the ride. I was more than able to keep up with the group, but stayed back with her, to be sure she was safe...

The same Military and Veterans group had a ride on Monday. We were seeing one of our Active Duty buddies off for his deployment. I was happy to join on my new Vendetta! Unfortunately, my front tire went flat within the first 2 miles... I was doing about 22mph at the time and the front felt a bit "wobbly", so I braked and changed it out...
Two buddies stopped to be sure I was ok and we were on our way...
After the flat, I was motivated to catch up with the group, and noticed that I was outpacing my two buddies, so I would ride a bit, stop and wait for them... The last third of the ride, I decided to break away and see if I could catch the group... I was surprised when I actually did...

I watched a Youtube video by a Vendetta rider who seemed to indicate that every time he's had a flat on the front wheel, he's gone down... This is my 1st front wheel flat on any Cruzbike, but I have to say that I thought it was more controllable than on my Bacchetta...

Yesterday was the 1st time I've ridden solo on my new Vendetta... It was hot, muggy, windy and rain was threatening...
I was planning on riding out and back, so I figured that if I rode out with a headwind, it would be a tailwind on my way back...
I was wrong...
As I was taking a short break at the turn around place (A Texas BBQ Joint), the wind shifted a bit and I had a crosswind on the way back...

I rode 26.71 miles with an average speed of 21.6 mph...
https://strava.app.link/WoMOzwZW16

I changed my bottom bracket to the one I ordered from RWC last Friday. We'll see if it makes much of a difference for me...

I discovered a "clicking" sound toward the front of my bike...
Last time I heard something like this, it was a spoke...
I'm going to check everything out before my ride this evening...

Blessings,
DocS

 

[RojoRacing]

I watched a Youtube video by a Vendetta rider who seemed to indicate that every time he's had a flat on the front wheel, he's gone down... This is my 1st front wheel flat on any Cruzbike, but I have to say that I thought it was more controllable than on my Bacchetta...

That's rider error in ether their skill or attentiveness. I just posted a video on my rojoracing video's thread of me getting an instant flat when I hit a rock and tore the sidewall and was able to easily come to a controlled stop. Every time I get a flat on the V20 I want to toss it over the cliff because the front wheel is such a PITA to take off and put on