Love to get a Vendetta but?

[Osiris]

As I grow older(81)I look for all the advantage I can get to stay ahead of the crowd. With this in mind I would like to know if a Vendetta is faster, given the same input as my current ride, a Bacchetta CA3. Anyone have any experience with both of them?
Bob Westgate

I went straight from a CA2 to the V20. The V20 is definitely the faster of the two, and I've done numerous power/speed comparisons to prove it. The difference won't be noticeable unless you're going fast, like 24 mph+, but the added performance of the V20 is just icing on the cake. It is in every other way superior to the CA2:

Lower seat height makes it easier to put your feet down.

The V20's frame and seat are one piece, so there's no rattling or bending of the seat supports when going over bumps, like on the CA2.

Better handling in tight turns.

Better view of the road.

No possibility of heel strikes against the front wheel when turning. This is a major selling point.

The V20 has the ability to change the height and reach of the pedals independently, and without changing the seat position. I'm not aware of any other recumbent that has this level of adjustability.

 

[RBW1938]

Thanks for the input. I think I am getting closer and closer to a V20. Looking at groupsets to go with a V20 frameset.

 

[Osiris]

Thanks for the input. I think I am getting closer and closer to a V20. Looking at groupsets to go with a V20 frameset.

I say this as someone who for years thought the CA2 was the most user friendly recumbent on the market, but once you get used to synchronizing the V20's pull/push motion on the handlebars with your pedal strokes, you will never regret having made the switch.

The only thing I would say with respect to groupsets is that I found that the mechanical shifters forced my wrists to twist in a very awkward way when shifting gears, particularly when downshifting. After weeks of trying to get used to it, I finally gave up and went with a Shimano Di2 system. Shifting is completely effortless now; it has totally transformed the bike. As always, YMMV.

 

[RBW1938]

I'm thinking of an Ultegra group set. Love to get DI2 but the budget won't stretch that far.

 

[RBW1938]

I'm off to a start on getting a Vendetta. Got a new 60mm carbon wheelset and am going to mount Conti 5000 tl's on them. Plan to order an Ultegra groupset and hoping for an end of year sale on a Vendetta frameset. One step at a time.

 

[RBW1938]

OK I did it! Ordered a V20 frameset.(Thanks Larry for the discount code)and I ordered an Ultegra groupset. Looking forward to building my Vendetta and joining the tribe.

 

[Andrew Wilson]

OK I did it! Ordered a V20 frameset.(Thanks Larry for the discount code)and I ordered an Ultegra groupset. Looking forward to building my Vendetta and joining the tribe.

Congrats !! You'll love it. I only have about 300 miles on mine and it's bette all the time.

 

[RBW1938]

Assembled the frame and components and took it to my LBS for final assembly and adjustment. Hopefully it will be done by Monday and I can finally start learning to ride it. Looking forward to changing my photo to me on my new Vendetta.

 

[jond]

Assembled the frame and components and took it to my LBS for final assembly and adjustment. Hopefully it will be done by Monday and I can finally start learning to ride it. Looking forward to changing my photo to me on my new Vendetta.

Congratulations. I wonder about local bike shops and their experience with your bike.

There is a ton of build info on this forum. Be sure and compare and check.

Take your time getting dialed in and learning. There is again a ton of info.

Best tip. Follow that info .

It takes most of us a 1000 klm to be a pilot and many more to benefit totally from platform.

The fastest 81 year old on a vendetta. I like it.

I’ve got a vendetta and Pelso Brevet and the vendetta is faster in its standard format with oem seat.

You made a great decision.

Any problems ask if you can’t find answer on forum already I’ll be surprised.

 

[DavidCH]

Hows it going @RBW1938 ? You might prefer to start with a cushion between your back and the seat. This raises the c of g and makes it stable. Wearing elbow pads might be an idea too; especially if you haven't ridden any other cruzbike before. Clip less pedals are good too. Get one foot clipped in and use the other leg as a balance.

 

[bladderhead]

First you have to learn to ride a Cruzbike. It is then that you realise that the headrest is too high or too low or not. Your arms are too straight or too bent. Maybe twiddle the bars round. Maybe not. The BB is too far in. Too far out. Then you get short cranks and the BB game starts again. Then the seat is too flat so you get a foam wedge and the handlebars are wrong again. Where do you put the water? Etc, etc.

I got a Silvio and never tried a Vendetta, but I think they are similar enough for the above stuff to apply. All the palaver pays off eventually. It has been a long time since I did any adjusting. These days it feels almost like something I am wearing rather than sitting on. I never got this feeling from my Grasshopper. When you get this feeling you know you are a Cruzbiker.

 

[Bill Wightman]

The Vendetta has a long wheel base. The other day I went in a huge pothole but I was at escape velocity. I was going quite fast. If I was on a DF I would have fallen off for sure. For speed I feel safer on the Vendetta.

Along those lines I rode over some deep rumble strips Saturday at about 25 mph and should have better stiffened my upper body and grip. The front end got a little screwy for about 3/4 second and I did some mild death wobbles, something I have not experienced since first learning the bike. Lesson learned was to stop pedalling and rigidize when going over crazy rough road conditions.

 

[RBW1938]

First road ride with friends on my Vendetta. Had a good 37 mile ride and got to experience my first hill. The V is absolutely faster uphill than my CA3 and I'm sure at least as fast downhill but this time I took it a little easy(still left my riding partners in the dust). Over all a great ride but my starts are terrible. I look at Robert in the video starting off so easily and I wonder how he does it. Practice,practice, practice. Guess I'll be changing my avatar pretty soon.

 

[RAR]

For me starting in a really low gear and using only one foot until rolling enough to have good balance, then clip in other foot. Balance will get better as experience increases.

 

[Andrew Wilson]

I have about 1000 miles on mine and I'm still a little shaky taking off. Low gear is a must. I'm already in a habit of shifting to the small chain ring at all stops which I didnt have to do on my baron.

 

[trplay]

Push a step or two off the ground and be done with it. The slide and glide is a smoother more powerful approach anyway.

 

[benphyr]

Push a step or two off the ground and be done with it. The slide and glide is a smoother more powerful approach anyway.

That is, while sitting up at a stop or better yet while standing: push yourself forward for one or two good strides and then coast while you slide down into the seat with your legs out, then once you are on the seat and ready, then put your feet on the pedals and away you go. You can sit down on the seat back if that is easier or necessary and then slide in. Think about people getting into a bobsled: Push, push, jump, slide in, sit, tuck in for a crazy fast ride.

It is great to be able to start from a stop with a foot on a pedal but that is a more advanced technique and certainly will be more wobbly. Therefore the push, slide, and glide is more desirable in many situations such as traffic in close proximity, under-practiced takeoff, uphill, headwind, crosswind, rough terrain, soft or loose or slippery surface, etc.

 

[jond]

Post

First road ride with friends on my Vendetta. Had a good 37 mile ride and got to experience my first hill. The V is absolutely faster uphill than my CA3 and I'm sure at least as fast downhill but this time I took it a little easy(still left my riding partners in the dust). Over all a great ride but my starts are terrible. I look at Robert in the video starting off so easily and I wonder how he does it. Practice,practice, practice. Guess I'll be changing my avatar pretty soon.

Post a picture side on of yourself on the bike. So we can check your position. After 300 klm you’ll be good starting.

 

[RBW1938]

That is, while sitting up at a stop or better yet while standing: push yourself forward for one or two good strides and then coast while you slide down into the seat with your legs out, then once you are on the seat and ready, then put your feet on the pedals and away you go. You can sit down on the seat back if that is easier or necessary and then slide in. Think about people getting into a bobsled: Push, push, jump, slide in, sit, tuck in for a crazy fast ride.

It is great to be able to start from a stop with a foot on a pedal but that is a more advanced technique and certainly will be more wobbly. Therefore the push, slide, and glide is more desirable in many situations such as traffic in close proximity, under-practiced takeoff, uphill, headwind, crosswind, rough terrain, soft or loose or slippery surface, etc.

This works well on level ground and I'm working on grades. Love the challenge of learning the Cruzbike.

 

[super slim]

Post


Post a picture side on of yourself on the bike. So we can check your position. After 300 klm you’ll be good starting.

I will do it before YOU!!!