Interesting you chose the Arrowhead out of all the other bikes to bring along with your Vendetta. Personal preference for this bike design or easier transport?
Look what I found under my tree for Christmas....
- Thread starter LarryOz
- Start date
LarryOz
Cruzeum Curator & Sigma Wrangler
In the "very"minimal testing I was able to do last Fall, and without any "aero-type" modifications, the Arrowhead was the fastest. It was about equal the Vendetta at 200 watts, but at 300 it was about 1 mph faster, which tells me it is a tad bit more aero: Its seat is about 6" lower than the V and maybe 2 degrees flatter. This was on a track only. That is pretty much the only place you can really ride it:IMHO. It is very hard to start on as well, because your hands are pretty much touching each other due to the machine gunner style handlebar. There is also heavy chain rub, and crank overlap (even with 150mm cranks) on the front wheel if you have to turn the wheel more than a few degrees. Not something that you would ever want to ride out on the open road. I am pretty sure I can make my V as fast or faster with a few mods - coming soon to a Cruzbike forum near you. I've got all the parts, just need time to do the mods and test.
I knew the Vendetta would come out at or very near the top! Considering it's a bike that you can buy from a manufacturer like any other DF racing bike pretty much off the shelf, that speaks VOLUMES about Cruzbike's winning philosophy on bike design. If you don't mind sharing a teaser of your plans on modifying the V, send me a PM.In the "very"minimal testing I was able to do last Fall, and without any "aero-type" modifications, the Arrowhead was the fastest. It was about equal the Vendetta at 200 watts, but at 300 it was about 1 mph faster, which tells me it is a tad bit more aero: Its seat is about 6" lower than the V and maybe 2 degrees flatter. This was on a track only. That is pretty much the only place you can really ride it:IMHO. It is very hard to start on as well, because your hands are pretty much touching each other due to the machine gunner style handlebar. There is also heavy chain rub, and crank overlap (even with 150mm cranks) on the front wheel if you have to turn the wheel more than a few degrees. Not something that you would ever want to ride out on the open road. I am pretty sure I can make my V as fast or faster with a few mods - coming soon to a Cruzbike forum near you. I've got all the parts, just need time to do the mods and test.
It's unfortunate you couldn't throw a CHR and Ca2 into the mix but I suspect they would probably come out a tad slower than either the Arrowhead or Vendetta, with the conflagrant protestations of either bikes' owners notwithstanding. It's difficult to out-power a short unencumbered chain and efficiently triangulated front end, requiring superior aerodynamics just to equalize the inherent disadvantages of RWD-trains.
LarryOz
Cruzeum Curator & Sigma Wrangler
It is really hard to know. Kent Polk rides a CHR and is so fast. My problem at least with the CHR is that I am basically too short, although I am working at trying to pick up a used frame to see if I can somehow be fitted to it, especially with the short cranks I like to ride with. I would love to see where it stacks up, but I think you are right - it's hard to beat a Vendetta. It might just come down to "who" fits better into a specific bike in the most aero way when making power.
The problem with the CHR is as you say fitment for those who aren't giants. Even my inseam of slightly greater than 33" is apparently barely over the minimum recommended by M5, which is crazy, although people with inseams inches smaller have successfully ridden one with necessary modifications. I don't know what your size is but inseam is more important than X-seam when it comes to the CHR.
If you pick up a used one, you might need to cut the boom so much that the front derailleur post will cause interference requiring frame indenting and consequent loss in resale value. The frame itself cannot be fully cut because of the tightening bolt placement. Then there's the issue, and it's a significant one, of efficient idler arrangement that will give you both performance and less interference than a fully dropped chain. It can be done but it's like juggling, one misstep in the config and you can drastically affect either performance or the handling. Maybe that won't be an issue for your needs.
I love the CHR, but it's almost too involved in setting up and obtain a perfect balance of power transfer and unhindered handling. You will still likely end up with a compromise either way depending what your main purpose with the bike is: ultimate speed or all around handling. I was considering one a couple of years ago before I decided to get a Vendetta instead.
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LarryOz
Cruzeum Curator & Sigma Wrangler
Thanks for the information on this Apollo. Yes, my inseam in 30" - so on the small end of the spectrum for sure. I think since I run with 140mm cranks that gives me a little leway, but in the end the center of the bottom bracket needs to be about 33" from where the lowest part of my rear end when in the seat.
If I can find a really inexpensive frame I might would test with it, but like you said, if I make modifications then I would likely affect the resale of it - unless of course it makes it ride-able by a whole new segment of "smaller" people like me! :0 Then it might be even easier to sell when I'm ready to get rid of it.
