My Very First Recumbent is a V20
- Thread starter Frito Bandito
- Start date
bladderhead
Zen MBB Master
That is my other bike.
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
I am guessing that it is green?
benphyr
Guru-me-not
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
Now THAT's a Wagon!
A foldable, suspended RWD bent. 2 Awesome things in the same pic. Putting around Tokyo on that would be fun.
A foldable, suspended RWD bent. 2 Awesome things in the same pic. Putting around Tokyo on that would be fun.
bladderhead
Zen MBB Master
Mine is more dirty than yours. And that one does not even have mudguards. Mine does not fold. It is one of the earliest made. I think that when I ordered it the production line was not set up. Unlike the one in the picture, mine has disk brakes, a Rohloff and Meks forks. I think they were all new ideas at the time. Indeed it is a wagon. It has the biggest Radical bags. I have carried massive amounts of stuff. My Grasshopper does not fold but my Silvio bends in the middle.benphyr said:
benphyr
Guru-me-not
It is ‘bent through and through.
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
A few days ago I went out on my road bike with clipon aerobars and did about 65km with a friend. Usually, it would take me about 2 hours to do that distance while on the aerobars, but since it was a leisure I just stayed on the hoods and we had a great chat while enjoying the relatively sunny weather. After the 3-hour ride my neck and shoulders were on fire, causing intense pain and a raging headache for 2 and a half days. I even had a 38C temperature for a short while the day after. For a short time I was a bit worried it was Covid-19 despite me being very careful. However, I had a strong feeling that my neck pain and headaches were caused from having to hold my head up during that ride which took an hour longer than usual, and wasn't ridden in my usual position on the aerobars.
Today I went out for another 65ish km ride (2:11 at just over 29kph) on the V20 and no issues whatsoever. I started off going pretty easy because I didn't want to exacerbate the injury but someone passed me so I increased the pace and eventually caught him by the turnaround. I really had to focus on keeping my shoulders down since I haven't fully recovered yet, but 6 hours later and I still feel fine. I still love that bike and have caught about 300 KOMs on it, so it is difficult for me to admit that the V20 is at the very least way more comfortable. As for speed, if I were on the V20 for those KOMs and am certain that the gap between the KOM and 2nd place would have been even larger. I just haven't been able to open it up on a day with similar weather conditions, open gates, and few people. The first chance I get I will do that though.
Today I went out for another 65ish km ride (2:11 at just over 29kph) on the V20 and no issues whatsoever. I started off going pretty easy because I didn't want to exacerbate the injury but someone passed me so I increased the pace and eventually caught him by the turnaround. I really had to focus on keeping my shoulders down since I haven't fully recovered yet, but 6 hours later and I still feel fine. I still love that bike and have caught about 300 KOMs on it, so it is difficult for me to admit that the V20 is at the very least way more comfortable. As for speed, if I were on the V20 for those KOMs and am certain that the gap between the KOM and 2nd place would have been even larger. I just haven't been able to open it up on a day with similar weather conditions, open gates, and few people. The first chance I get I will do that though.
3bs
whereabouts unknown
Lmao. In comparison, Saturday I rode the sofrider after not riding a mbbfwd for a month and two weeks on on the m5m an the Scott and the greenspeed.
The first few hundred feet were a comical demonstration of wild pedal boom turning wobble mess. It was hilarious. No effort to control it. Then the brain switched to cruzbike logic and all was well.
The first few hundred feet were a comical demonstration of wild pedal boom turning wobble mess. It was hilarious. No effort to control it. Then the brain switched to cruzbike logic and all was well.
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
It's weird how the brain can switch like that. 1 minute you look like a baby giraffe on ice skates and the next an F1 driver.
Since it rained today I removed the seat then cut and Velcroed some leftover material for 1 panel on the drive side of my V20. Not done with it yet, but I'll fine tune the shape as well as get it more secure. Once I am happy with it then I might see about getting it made in CF for both sides. Not sure I like that little fin sticking out near the QR though. I might just cut a straight line from up from the QR to the end of the seat. Now that I think about it more it could be nice to close it out from the top with a beak shaped end from the seat to about the 9 O'Clock position. Just trying to reduce air hitting the spokes near the top of the rotation.
On the non-drive side the brake calipers stick out and either a hole or slot has to be included for the brake cable. If possible I will also head to the Japan's version of Home Depot to see about buying some foam to shape and put under my shoulders to get them up about 1-2 inches.
Since it rained today I removed the seat then cut and Velcroed some leftover material for 1 panel on the drive side of my V20. Not done with it yet, but I'll fine tune the shape as well as get it more secure. Once I am happy with it then I might see about getting it made in CF for both sides. Not sure I like that little fin sticking out near the QR though. I might just cut a straight line from up from the QR to the end of the seat. Now that I think about it more it could be nice to close it out from the top with a beak shaped end from the seat to about the 9 O'Clock position. Just trying to reduce air hitting the spokes near the top of the rotation.
On the non-drive side the brake calipers stick out and either a hole or slot has to be included for the brake cable. If possible I will also head to the Japan's version of Home Depot to see about buying some foam to shape and put under my shoulders to get them up about 1-2 inches.
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Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
I planned on doing about 100km today but after about 35-40km my headrest fell off.
I backtracked to pick it up and even found both screws. As you can see, I glued it back on after it fell off the first time.
I stopped the ride and went to the DIY store to see if I could come up with something at least more durable. If it was more comfortable also then that would be great. I found a 10cm x 10cm block of thickish rubber and a 10cm x 10cm foam pad. I rounded off the corners of the rubber sheet with a pair of scissors then connected it to the suspension headrest with velcro.
I then connected the foam pad to the rubber sheet with velcro as well.
It felt like a charm, but let's see what tomorrow brings.
While tinkering around with it I adjusted the head rest bars by pushing them a little deeper inside. I got to thinking though. If someone made a bladder that would fit inside the frame to hold hydration it would be pretty snazzy. I can imagine that frame size would easily hold 1L of hydration, and probably closer to 2L. That is almost 3 of the 24oz water bottles. It probably wouldn't be too difficult to install a Bite-down hydration bladder in the frame if someone could make one in the proper shape and have the tube come out near the head rest.
I backtracked to pick it up and even found both screws. As you can see, I glued it back on after it fell off the first time.
I stopped the ride and went to the DIY store to see if I could come up with something at least more durable. If it was more comfortable also then that would be great. I found a 10cm x 10cm block of thickish rubber and a 10cm x 10cm foam pad. I rounded off the corners of the rubber sheet with a pair of scissors then connected it to the suspension headrest with velcro.
I then connected the foam pad to the rubber sheet with velcro as well.
It felt like a charm, but let's see what tomorrow brings.
While tinkering around with it I adjusted the head rest bars by pushing them a little deeper inside. I got to thinking though. If someone made a bladder that would fit inside the frame to hold hydration it would be pretty snazzy. I can imagine that frame size would easily hold 1L of hydration, and probably closer to 2L. That is almost 3 of the 24oz water bottles. It probably wouldn't be too difficult to install a Bite-down hydration bladder in the frame if someone could make one in the proper shape and have the tube come out near the head rest.
3bs
whereabouts unknown
@Frito Bandito waterbag in the frame would be a pita.
if in there all the time, pita to clean.
if not in there all the time pita to take in and out unless access hatch, best spot would be thru seat.
when you consider that a good tailbox makes the bike faster, hard to justify.
BUT, may i suggest that you have exactly what you are looking for if you redo your little plastic triangle to start at your seat edge, go down to your lower rear stays, go under and then back up to the other seat edge. use some formable plastic or thin abs and a heat gun, and make sure you close up the back, and now you have created a great storage bin and made the bike more aero. if you really want to make it more aero and hold a whole weekends worth of stuff bring the plastic back to a straight duck taillike the back of a velo. i have looked at doing some of these things in both aluminum and plastic (not carbon, because it is utterly unnecessary) but have not had the time do make them (time is my enemy) beyond some small heating and bending tests. (i really need a second v20 to do my mock ups on.)
if in there all the time, pita to clean.
if not in there all the time pita to take in and out unless access hatch, best spot would be thru seat.
when you consider that a good tailbox makes the bike faster, hard to justify.
BUT, may i suggest that you have exactly what you are looking for if you redo your little plastic triangle to start at your seat edge, go down to your lower rear stays, go under and then back up to the other seat edge. use some formable plastic or thin abs and a heat gun, and make sure you close up the back, and now you have created a great storage bin and made the bike more aero. if you really want to make it more aero and hold a whole weekends worth of stuff bring the plastic back to a straight duck taillike the back of a velo. i have looked at doing some of these things in both aluminum and plastic (not carbon, because it is utterly unnecessary) but have not had the time do make them (time is my enemy) beyond some small heating and bending tests. (i really need a second v20 to do my mock ups on.)
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
Yeah, that kind would be a PITA to install, clean and reinstall.
I like the idea of an aero abs seat pan that doubles as storage. I have the time, but not the space, or even skill/experience in molding abs plastic.
I like the idea of an aero abs seat pan that doubles as storage. I have the time, but not the space, or even skill/experience in molding abs plastic.
super slim
Zen MBB Master
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
That would be a lot easier just to throw in a hydration bladder and run the bite tube out of it.
DocS
Guru
Mine did the same when I got my Silvio 2.0...
I ended up swapping the screws for stainless steel bolts, washers and nuts.
Then I glued the foam pad onto is and placed the cover back over it.
No problems with it loosening or rattling now.
I did this for hydration on my Silvio 2.0 and when I moved over to the Vendetta, moved the set-up over too.
I like drinking cold water, like the idea of using a bite tube vs water bottles and wanted to stop as little as possible during long rides (Metric and imperial Century Rides).
I used two 40oz Vacuum bottles (with flip up straws) and a Camelbak water bottle drink tube.
Initially I had both set up that way, but realized that if I drank a full 40oz bottle, I would eventually need to stop for a pee break and just swapped over the tube.
Blessings,
Rudy
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
Those are HUGE Rudy! They look like cannons sticking out hahaha.
In Japan, we have a sports drink called Aquarius that I fill my 24oz bottles with. Today for my 100km ride I split a can of Monster energy drink between my 2 bottles and that helped way more than I thought it would. I saved the downwind section for last and from about 70km-96km I was mashing it. The usual 5km cool down ride is usually slow, but I even mashed most of that.
The new headrest backing plate was too flexible, and since the velcro piece holding it on was too small, it flew off when I hit a rough patch of road. So, I will work on it over the weekend since it will be rainy, cold and windy. I'll probably go back to the original one but either Gorilla glue it, or double it up with the rubber one, then put longer bolts through the original backing plate and the rubber one as well.
In Japan, we have a sports drink called Aquarius that I fill my 24oz bottles with. Today for my 100km ride I split a can of Monster energy drink between my 2 bottles and that helped way more than I thought it would. I saved the downwind section for last and from about 70km-96km I was mashing it. The usual 5km cool down ride is usually slow, but I even mashed most of that.
The new headrest backing plate was too flexible, and since the velcro piece holding it on was too small, it flew off when I hit a rough patch of road. So, I will work on it over the weekend since it will be rainy, cold and windy. I'll probably go back to the original one but either Gorilla glue it, or double it up with the rubber one, then put longer bolts through the original backing plate and the rubber one as well.
DocS
Guru
I know... But, I'm in Texas. It's pretty hot here in the winter...
For regular rides, I usually only take one (that's like carrying two standard water bottles).
Blessings,
Rudy (DocS)
