production numbers

[fastpastprime]

Now that I've gone off the deep end and ordered my Vendetta I wondering how many others are out there. I'm reading everything I can find and see two versions but don't see any production numbers. Just wondering how rare of a machine this thing is. My plan is to build it up with 2009 NOS Sram Red(53/38, braze on FD, english BB). Don't know if I'll need extra links for this chain. I hope everything fits. Will post a photo when I get there.

 

[Kenneth Jessett]

I have to confess to being

I have to confess to being very interested in either a vendetta or silvio but I will wait until they are in the shops. I'm not interested in building a 'kit' bike.

 

[John Tolhurst]

The best way to see a

The best way to see a Vendetta or Silvio in the shop, is to nominate your shop and have us send your new bike to it for assembly.

 

[Kenneth Jessett]

I tried that, of the many

I tried that, of the many excuses why they declined my request was; we don't have time, we don't want to have to go to a forum to find out how it all goes together, we can't guarantee the result, we can't provide warranty service, it'll take too long if we have to send for parts, who do we talk to again at the manufacturer? etc. etc.

Bike shops like to deal with tangibles, they assemble the same bikes over and over again, and really don't want to get into the custom bike build business.

But, some day.

I'm patient, I can wait, besides, although I have this 'wish' for a speedy Cruz, I still have four other standard bikes to ride.

 

[Eric Winn]

I'm happy to help anyone put

I'm happy to help anyone put their bike together that isn't too terribly far from me. You might also find a nearby DF home mechanic type that would enjoy helping you and perhaps make a convert...

-Eric

 

[Andrew 1973]

piggybacking on tiggertoo's comment

Let's face it, some bike shops don't want to get involved in anything outside the norm. If you have a good rapport with a particular shop's staff, you are more likely to find that they will take on the project.

I have visited several shops in my area and some of the staff have this attitude: "if the only bike I could ride was a recumbent, then I'd rather not ride at all." Everyone is entiltledto their opinion, but when it is voiced openly to a recumbent cyclist like me, then they can count on losing my business.

 

[John Tolhurst]

The answer you get is going

The answer you get is going to depend on how you ask the question. For example, if you take the picture of Maria winning RAAM on the Vendetta, plus the detailed assembly drawings downloaded from the cruzbike.com/vendetta page; and ask what it would cost to assemble the frame, you might often get a more considered reply. After the frame is built, a question on if they could build it up would be something more confidently addressed. Bike shops are into making money. If they can see how to do that, they may play. If they can't see it, they'll naturally walk away from the risk of losing time and money.

Just like customers, if someone in the bike shop gets the cruzbike story they can be more open minded about being part of it.

The shops you won't likely win over are those that are full of road bikes, follow the tour, have a local pack of riders each Saturday, are staffed by young guys emulating the older riders and so on. No, you need a shop with a more eclectic approach, they are out there, but don't turn up and say "can you assemble this strange bike I found on the Internet?" They all are smart enough to say no to that question.

 

[Kenneth Jessett]

There is one (Bachetta)

There is one (Bachetta) recumbent shop in this area, and 'they' have no interest either.

And as far as Maria, RAAM and ultra distance cycling is concerned, the only interest I can generate in that sport is with a couple of standard bike dealers who just don't have the staff to take on anything like custom bike building, let alone a kit system - a system that to be honest seems to need an awful lot of on-the-fly tweaking.

But one trend that we see in this region is the gradual disappearance of qualified and enthusiastic mechanics. The shops just don't or can't pay enough to keep good people and they leave for other industries. Oil is king and pay in the shale fields is in the high $$$$'s

"but don't turn up and say, 'can you assemble this strange bike I found on the internet". Actually, the wording I used was 'a back to front gizmo of a machine that needs a trailer to carry the load of parts no one seems to know where they go". Maybe that was what put them off. ;-)

Don't fret though, I can build anything, so one day when the mood finally takes ...

 

[Rod]

Wow I am sorry the LBS in

Wow I am sorry the LBS in your area take that attitude. I asked my local shop if they would be interested in building a bike for me if I bought a Cruzbike frame. They offered to check with Cruzbike about what was involved for them to be a dealer. They not only ordered and built my Silvio, but also ordered and sold a Quest to my ridding buddy. I believe before the year is out they will sell a few more Crusbikes because everybody that sees the bike is impressed and asked where I got the bike. I can tell them that Pedal & Spoke is a dealer for Crusbike. I think my local bike shop made a good business dicision to build my bike. It is too bad your local bike shops are so short sighted, it is their loss. I would try another shop.

 

[cyclefour]

Softrider brakes

They say you can put 27 inch wheels on a softrider. What about the brakes?