My Very First Recumbent is a V20

[Frito Bandito]

This weekend I found a 6L Rixen Kaul seatbag that just might work well on the V20. I am now using the Performance Adjustable Headrest on my V20, but it doesn't seem that I can connect this bag to it easily, so I am planning on rigging up some way to fit it on the OEM headrest bars with stainless hose clamps. The bag connects to the bar with 6 simple snap buttons, so in a mockup, I flipped the bar over and reconnected the bag just behind the bars and it looks okay. The angle with the seat bar flipped over almost perfectly matches with the 20 degree seat angle, so I am optimistic. Now if I can just find a way to connect it so that it stays put then I'll be happier than a clown in a balloon store.

 

[ChaleJake]

This weekend I found a 6L Rixen Kaul seatbag that just might work well on the V20. I am now using the Performance Adjustable Headrest on my V20, but it doesn't seem that I can connect this bag to it easily, so I am planning on rigging up some way to fit it on the OEM headrest bars with stainless hose clamps. The bag connects to the bar with 6 simple snap buttons, so in a mockup, I flipped the bar over and reconnected the bag just behind the bars and it looks okay. The angle with the seat bar flipped over almost perfectly matches with the 20 degree seat angle, so I am optimistic. Now if I can just find a way to connect it so that it stays put then I'll be happier than a clown in a balloon store.

Would the mount attach to the Cruzbike utility post add on? It looks like a really nice bag. Good luck with your tinkering.

 

[Frito Bandito]

Would the mount attach to the Cruzbike utility post add on? It looks like a really nice bag. Good luck with your tinkering.

That might work. Since the bag was intended for a seat post the clamp is for a vertical post only, but I might be able to think of something.
For now, I put it on the Performance Adjustable Headrest bars with 2 stainless hose clamps with the vertical bars spaced as far apart as possible and it held snugly for the 60km I did today. So, it might be okay. I'll do some more runs on the river to check what my CdA is compared with my typical CdA and see how it stacks up. I don't know how durable it would be as a hydration carrier since water is so heavy but as a 6L light tourer it could be pretty handy.

 

[vosadrian]

When are you going to play with some Carbon @Frito Bandito and make a custom setup? You know you want to!!

 

[Frito Bandito]

When are you going to play with some Carbon @Frito Bandito and make a custom setup? You know you want to!!

Yes I do. I have some ideas about making some CF under seat storage that would essentially look like stingray wings contoured to the seat shape. I figure it would add about 10L of storage space to each side, but would still be quite aero. 1 piece would connect to the bottom of the stock seat either with velcro or screws, and maybe the bottom piece would connect to the frame by velcro so it doesn't rattle. The bottom piece that is shaped like the stingray wings would slide into the top piece, and a couple of locking hasps would secure it. Simple unlock the two hasps, pull down on the bottom piece to access what's inside, leaving the top half connected to the seat. Doing the right side of the bike would give access to the Moosebag.

 

[vosadrian]

Do you plan to do touring on your V20? I find my custom carbon box has plenty of space for anything I need to carry on a day ride. Most of the time all it has is my water bladder, food and personal items such as phone etc. But I can easily fit full winter clothing in there etc.

My biggest issue is that I cannot fit a laptop in it. I would consider commuting more often with it if I could fit a laptop, but I can't be bothered to work that out. I can still ride my DF with a backpack with laptop if I want to commute... and if life ever goes back to normal after COVID and I can work at work 5 days a week, I will just leave my laptop at work and won't need to carry it for commuting. I do have the option of working at the office 5 days a week now, but I'm enjoying the lunch rides from home also!!

 

[Frito Bandito]

Do you plan to do touring on your V20? I find my custom carbon box has plenty of space for anything I need to carry on a day ride. Most of the time all it has is my water bladder, food and personal items such as phone etc. But I can easily fit full winter clothing in there etc.

My biggest issue is that I cannot fit a laptop in it. I would consider commuting more often with it if I could fit a laptop, but I can't be bothered to work that out. I can still ride my DF with a backpack with laptop if I want to commute... and if life ever goes back to normal after COVID and I can work at work 5 days a week, I will just leave my laptop at work and won't need to carry it for commuting. I do have the option of working at the office 5 days a week now, but I'm enjoying the lunch rides from home also!!

I am planning to make it a fast and light tourer and TBH, all of the changes done to my V20 have been with the TABR in mind. I couldn't register by the deadline on January 31st this year because the quarantine restrictions at that time would have put me almost 2 weeks beyond the 3 weeks plus 1 week as a buffer I SWAGged (Scientific Wild A$$ed Guess) I figured I would finish in. I can take a month off but not 6 weeks. Let's see what next year holds though.

I've heard of a laptop fitting in the Scarab Bag, have you tried that yet? If I worked in an office I would surely be using mine as a commuter also since I dislike crowded trains. They get so packed here that even if the conductor slams on the brakes while you are standing you won't fall over because the people are packed that tightly. How about using a flash drive at home for work?

 

[DavidCH]

Apple Mini ipad probably fits better than anything else

 

[vosadrian]

My work is pretty tight on security of IT. So we can only use secure company owned laptops to access our systems we need to do our work. But I am due for a new one, so I will try to keep the old one to leave at home. My current laptop is a big bulky 15.6" screen heavy thing. It won't go in a scarab bag (and I have one but have never used it). If I want to regularly travel with a laptop I would look to make something custom that mounts it vertically near the rear wheel which should have low aero drag. Perhaps it could even reduce drag by stopping air getting near the wheel?

 

[Frito Bandito]

Put it in a small backpack worn backwards on your chest like my hydration pack?

 

[Mathew Fy]

I sometimes think about the tennis racket cover used by this former Cruzbiker.

Cargo capacity successes, attempts, and ideas thread.

A thread for sharing Silvio cargo capacity successes, attempts, and ideas. I searched the Silvio forum for 'cargo' and 'storage' and found these pre-existing threads related to cargo and storage solutions: Behind/Under-seat custom bags Custom under-seat containers Cruzbike under-seat scarab bag...

forum.cruzbike.com

 

[Frito Bandito]

I sometimes think about the tennis racket cover used by this former Cruzbiker.

Cargo capacity successes, attempts, and ideas thread.

A thread for sharing Silvio cargo capacity successes, attempts, and ideas. I searched the Silvio forum for 'cargo' and 'storage' and found these pre-existing threads related to cargo and storage solutions: Behind/Under-seat custom bags Custom under-seat containers Cruzbike under-seat scarab bag...

forum.cruzbike.com

The CF project I had in mind would look very similar to that. Tidied up a bit, but almost nailed it!

 

[Frito Bandito]

Finally got an indoor trainer set up for my V20 just in time for the high 30C to low 40C days for the next 2 months. The PM seems to be off even after changing the battery, but that really isn't so important as I am just going to be building endurance. Still have to work out the Strava stuff so I can upload the workouts though. Youtube University?

 

[Don1]

More info

 

[Frito Bandito]

Just a simple friction trainer, no electronics. I have a PM and a HR strap to wear so that should help with Strava uploads. But I am mostly just going to be building endurance with it to get through August. I'll still take my V20 out though when the clouds come out.

 

[Don1]

Well I ran this setup for about 3years. Make sure you run trainer tyre otherwise you'll blister your road tyres. Any of the trainer apps will work. Zwift rouvy fullgaz wahoo. I prefer rouvy and fullgaz since they are real video. You've seen some of my rouvy rides on Strava will suit what you're looking for. Many mountain stages but many long flat routes too. It's not the same as riding on road but you'll certainly work out how to get the most of this set up. Using an app will keep you from being bored. Cheapest way in is on ya phone or iPad. Next step either appletv and monitor or a laptop, with Bluetooth

 

[Frito Bandito]

I do plan on getting some trainer tires to save money. I'll be looking at the long flat rides mostly since I will be working and studying so I think I'll be keeping the power at about 150-170w and slowly building endurance. I'm sure I'lI be might venture out of that plan a bit, but I need to be doing at least two 4-hour rides at something around 32kph and slowly building up to around 35kph for the same time, or for an extra 4 hour block.

 

[Don1]

I reckon for the first 3-4 months I wouldn't even consider speed. Use power and heartrate. Stick at a certain power and see how your heart responds to it.

 

[Frito Bandito]

Move the bars about 3cm closer to my chest so it cleared a bit more space for my legs which allowed for me to rotate them down a little. Should be a little more aero.

 

[M.J]

Move the bars about 3cm closer to my chest so it cleared a bit more space for my legs which allowed for me to rotate them down a little. Should be a little more aero.

Not if it makes your elbows stick out.