Please talk me out of a V20 and into an S40

[Henri]

What tiny amount of aero drag would we expect from a few more milimeters in tire width? (Assuming an aqually fit rim width for each tire)
Limiting your tire width for aerodynamic reasons hardly makes sense in the fight for first place in professional races. It certainly doesn't make sense on a commute. Remember we are not riding at the speed of professional racers. For us aero drag is less important and rolling resistance more imortant. Especially as our type of riding position is already very well optimised we may have more to gain in rolling resistance (also ower output - ergonomics). And of course the rider and his clothes being the biggest source for aero drag, we should optimise clothes first, then details of position. Also don't forget adaptation: A new rider should focus on getting better adapted, skillfull and comfortable. If you then reach the speeds, where a few millimeter narrower tire gives an advantage, your next set can be more narrow.

 

[cruzKurt]

Is a 28mm the widest tire that can fit on a V20c? What tire pressures are you running? I've gotten used to only 40-45 PSI in a 35mm tire, and even that is borderline punishing on about 2 miles of truly awful pavement on my commute. That may be the deciding factor against using a V20c for commuting. I'll be faster in practice on a wider tire if I'm being battered by the road surface.

I run 32mm Schwalbe Pro Ones on my v20c. I run between 70 and 50 psi, most days probably closer to 60.

 

[LANdrew4]

Hey all, I've decided I'm ready to ditch my DF because of numbness and neck pain on rides longer than about an hour. I've been riding a "gravel" bike for the past five years, and I've enjoyed the flexibility to run 35mm tires, with or without fenders and a rack. I use the fenders when the standing water on the bike paths takes days to dry out, and ditch 'em during the pleasant summer weather to be faster.

I know the S40 is the natural choice to replace that bike, as it can also easily run wide tires, fenders, and racks. However, I am absolutely addicted to speed. Half of my discomfort is from holding a tuck for longer than my body can really tolerate to gain an extra MPH or two.

I want to use a Cruzbike for my new commute, which is 19.5 miles each way and almost all off-street paths. I can fit what I need into a scarab bag. My main concern is riding when the weather isn't perfect. I mostly ride after rain and not during rain, but the post-rain road grit is intolerable on the DF bike without fenders. It looks like the V20c doesn't have fender mounts at all. Have people come up with other solutions? Or should I just let go of that last 15% of aero efficiency and enjoy an S40?

Thanks for any and all thoughts!

Larry Oslund who posts a lot here and who runs the Cruzeum in Hilton Head could tell you a lot about riding a V20 in foul weather and all kids of road conditions after his bike ride across Sweden (look for his posts). I visited the Cruzeum in May to ride both the S40 and a V20c to see which I wanted (definitely worth the trip!). I ended up deciding on a new S40 but then also bought a used V20 that Larry pointed out to me that was too tempting to resist. Having riden both for several hundred miles (including a bike trip across Ohio where I rode the V20 for day 1 and the S40 for the remaining 3 days), if I had to choose one for the types of rides I do, I would choose the S40. Even though you can add a wedge to make the V20 closer to a "V30", there is no question my situational awareness by being able to look around me easily is much better on the S40. Starting and stopping is also much easier on the S40 (though I have gotten quite efficient at that on the V20). If I was going for a long ride without any severe hills where I am only stopping every 20 miles or so, the V20 is awesome. It is very fast, fun, and speed is only limited for me by my nerve. However, for the rides I do most which involve a lot of city streets, cars, bike paths with considerable traffic, the S40 works much better (and comparing my actual stats on the rides, only slightly slower though to be fair, I have better wheels and components on the S40 than what came on the V20 so that might even things up a bit). If you can't get both, I would build out a nice S40 as I did and you will not be at all disappointed but if you get the chance to try a V20 for a long ride, take it.

 

[Beano]

I find my V20 with the longer wheelbase more twitchy at slow speeds and whilst the laid back position is okay I find for everyday riding it can be a bit extreme.

My S40 because of the shorter wheelbase is less twitchy and you can throw it about a bit more and still feel like you have control of the bike. It's more easy going and I find with the suspension headrest it is uber comfy.

I guess a comparison in the DF world bike would be comparing a full on TT rig to and endurance type road bike.

 

[Seth Cooper]

Poq, thanks for the thread, I haven't been on this forum much recently, so it is good to get a refresher about the various models (I only have a v20 / v20c). I am like you, I like to go fast, but reading here I am realizing an S40 is fast enough for most days. But I sure don't want to buy another bike after shelling out for the v20c...(grumpy old complaining about prices rising). I will give it a year or two before I pull that trigger.

 

[poq]

Thanks for all of the opinions and insight, everyone. So far it seems the consensus is that the best Cruzbike is multiple Cruzbikes

I will probably start with the S40 because the fastest bike will be the one that I’m riding, not the one hanging on the wall waiting for the trail to dry out. Wider tires and the option to install fenders will get me outside more, and that’s my ultimate goal.

Which bike will be second? Time will tell. And I promise build photos when the S40 frame is back in stock!