Little things

[DuncanWatson]

One of the things I like about my Vendetta is how when you do go down it doesn't normally get all messed up. Larry's recent highway post got me remembering this. I remember when I was riding a Stick Hi-Racer. Any time I would go down, in leaves or whatever I would damage my brake levers or the shifting since with open cockpit steering everything important is way out in the wings and takes the brunt of the fall. Tiller designs and the road bars of the Vendetta/Silvio tend to protect the shifters and brakes. The rear derailleur is always a risk on any bike (that has one). It isn't an issue on my raptobike since I don't actually run one. I use a Rohloff and don't even run a front derailleur.

All in all, it makes learning to ride the cruzbike Hi-racer's easier than others.

 

[jond]

yes i have to say the design and material do lend itself to protection of bike and person. though i would not recommend testing the hypothesis. i must also give praise to radical design panniers banana racers. recently on my crossing i was side swiped by a caravan and went down. three weeks later my butt cheek is still healing. the bike rode on bag right side and front wheel. the dropout bent but i was able to pull it back into line. again no real damage just cosmetic. tough as teak unlike my butt.

my one issue is coming to a sudden stop and the proximity of frame and gonads. does not make for a happy marriage.