Q45 My first 100 miles

[woodguy]

Can you share how you were able to mount the Q rack on our Q45?
Thanks.

Yes - as I said in my write up, watching the video Cruzbike has on installing is a good idea, but a number of the things they talk about there aren't useful for the Q45. The video does help on assembling the rack, and I connected to the shock as shown, but other than that, the video isn't much help. The extra bolt and spacers shown in the video didn't come with my bike, and the method of attaching the seat to the tube is different on the Q45 than shown in the video. If you have been trying to install the rack, you have probably found these issues:
1. When attaching the rack to the shock bracket. the original skewer worked okay, but the assembled rack had to kind of get pulled together, but that wasn't a big problem.
2. The rack hits the seat post when the rack is connected to the shock and the bike is assembled as instructed. I confirmed with Robert in Support that the 90 degree angle they recommend for the seat strut isn't critical, so I pushed the seat tube further down. That changes the angle of the strut, but also allows the rack to clear the tube.
3. The rack struts won't go wide enough to attach to the seat strut. An option is to bend them to fit, but I opted for putting the seat skewer connecting the seat post to the seat strut in the 2nd hole of the strut. This opened up the 1st hole and I used that to connect the rack struts to it. I did need to put some washers on both sides to keep the rack struts straight, but that worked okay. Using the 2nd hole also has the effect of putting the seat in a more reclined position, but I have found it to be comfortable.

Hope this explanation makes sense. I have also attached a close up picture of the finished rack installation. Enjoy!

 

[woodguy]

Thank you for your write up. Your Q45 is really nice.

I am considering getting my first ever Cruzbike and the Q45 is the focus of my research.
Happy pedaling.

Yes, I studied the website and the forum for a few months before buying. In the end, I felt the Q45 offered the best combination of features and value for my type of riding. I ride for exercise and fun, but have no illusions about breaking any speed records. At the same time, I don't want to have everyone passing me all the time.

Update: I talked about getting the clip in pedals going, and today I took my first ride with them. It went much better than expected. Should have done it sooner. I felt more stable on the bike, and didn't have any problems.

 

[Velocivixen]

@ woodguy - it sure sounds like you are making progress. The Cruzbike site says that the Q45 has a seat angle adjustability of 30-53 degrees. In actual riding, how much of that 23 degree range is actually usable functionally?

Thanks.

 

[woodguy]

@ woodguy - it sure sounds like you are making progress. The Cruzbike site says that the Q45 has a seat angle adjustability of 30-53 degrees. In actual riding, how much of that 23 degree range is actually usable functionally?

Thanks.

I haven't tried different seat angles, but I don't see any reason the full range would not be useable. When you look at the picture of my bike, I might have trouble reclining all the way without hitting the pack I have on the rear rack, but I could probably move the pack back further also. Most of my riding is more for general exercise & touring - not racing, so I like a more upright seat to be able to see better around me. If you read my explanation of how I installed the rack, I have already dropped the seat bracket into the 2nd hole to mount the rack. I have still found the seat to be a comfortable riding angle. I did a pretty hard workout yesterday and got some recum-butt pain. Don't know if that would be helped by a more reclined seat or not.

In reading the forum, my impression of the more reclined position is better aerodynamics and therefore increased speed. It seems like everyone with that reclined position also puts on a headrest. I have not felt the need for that with the more upright position. In the past, I have done a few duathlon's, and if I sign up for that again, I might take off the rear rack, recline the seat, and see how fast I can go. I know I won't be winning because my engine is way too heavy, and I can't run very well, but sometimes it is fun just to take on a challenge. For now, in June I am signed up for "Biking Across Kansas" with about 800 friends I haven't met yet. If that goes well, I plan to do a Coast to Coast ride in 2019.

I understand your dilemna in deciding what bike to get. In the end the thing that sold me on the Q45 is the versatility - it has the long boom like the V and S series; the seat angle is adjustable; it will fit a variety of tire and wheel sizes; the 1 x 11 gearing is mostly good, but you can mount a front derailleur if desired; the folding option & the shock absorber are neat features. I expect whatever Cruzbike you choose will work out great!

 

[benphyr]

Yes, the more reclined position can help with recumbutt as it moves a little more weight on the back. Also, more time riding allows the body to adjust to a new activity and position so some of it is just that. Think about sitting on a regular bike for the first time. The seat is definitely not very comfortable until you get used to it.

 

[dtseng]

View attachment 6680

LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED: There are a few things I learned that I don't remember reading anywhere. I may have just missed them, but I hope others can make good use of these when they are learning.
1. Starting from a dead stop - this is of course most difficult to do when all of the cars on the road have stopped and are watching you try to cross the road on the bike path! The thing I have learned is to get in the lowest gear when approaching anything that may cause you to stop. It is so much easier to get going from that low gear without swerving all over, and it is worth the inconvenience of downshifting even if you might not need to stop if no traffic is coming.

I use Microshift Centos 11 drive train. There are two shifting levers on the brifters; one press of the lever can shift one to three cogs. This is very convenient if you want to quickly down shift (or up shift). But from my experience, I found that starting from full stop using higher gears tends to wobble less.

 

[RAGBRAI VI]

Get a Ventisit pad and try it before investing in a Thor seat. I was unhappy with the seat and factory pad on my Quest. Putting the V pad on made a huge difference; it is now really comfortable. Also, put the clip in pedals on immediately, they make a world of difference in smoothing out the pedaling. With those, I can ride using one hand. Finally, I use Frogs, but pedals are a matter of personal preference. Enjoy your ride.

 

[onmyback]

I've only had two riding sessions, totaling about 90 minutes, but I'm agreeing with everything you said.
I'm from outside the US, so assembled my Q45 from two boxes of parts, but I actually found fitting the rear rack the most difficult. I was wanting to keep it as low and tight as possible, so it would have the least effect on stability. I used the lower bracket, that goes around the seat tube, but am right against the shock mount. I might have well have attached directly to the shock mount, like you. As it is, I have to compress the suspension to get the bike into public racks. I'm a little disappointed that the vertical height of the rack is so short, my very common waterproof Ortleib backroller panniers won't fit properly. I may have to modify them.
It's my first suspension bike, so I find it a little disconcerting to tip forward, when braking and when breaking hard, the back wheel has come right off the ground! I have the seat back as far as it goes and reclined to the next to last holes.

 

[benphyr]

Hi @onmyback,

Welcome to the tribe! Here are some rambling thoughts that may help:

I have a Marinoni touring bike that I switched over from mini-V brakes that were working poorly to mechanical discs and the difference was great enough that the mechanic at the bike store warned me to be careful until I was used to it. I have done the same thing with braking hard on my QX100 - intentionally in order to know the limits! Unless there are other circumstances in play it is more likely that you have brand new and/or disc brakes that work very, very well and tires that grip well, spokes that are tight, etc. That is, everything is working at perfect-better than you are used to, maybe even a little grabby because things are not worn in yet and you as the operator are trying to get used to a huge number of variables.

On your old bike you may be so completely used to it that you automatically adjust the pressure on the brake lever to maximize the braking without sliding. You may even grab the brake a little extra hard on the new Q45. On my QX100 I don't think about it at all now. In fact, I get back on the old conversion kit and think it has poor braking. In the parking lot I sometimes forget I am on loose gravel and grab a handful of brake initiating a front wheel skid that I then have to release very quickly and the bike self corrects better than anything I have ever been on, in fact the front wheel drive probably aids this.

Changing the spring tension on the shock might help with the bob and feeling of dive from the spring unloading. Come to think of it, when braking hard you unload the rear wheel/spring therefore it is going to come up. The softer the spring tension the greater distance it will be compressed when you are just sitting on it or regular riding, so increasing the spring tension should help by decreasing the total travel before the spring tops out. On my QX100 I can just turn the outside of the shock cover - it is attached to the adjustment nut that sets the spring tension. That might result in a less cushy ride, but the shock would still take out any bigger hits and really that is what you want it for, right?

Sorry to hear about the rack issues. I hope they can get sorted out to your satisfaction and that Cruzbike can figure out a solution to the rack mounting issues that you and woodguy experienced with the Q45.

@Robert Holler any suggestions or new video for rack vs. Q45 coming down the pipe?

 

[onmyback]

Hi @onmyback,

Welcome to the tribe! Here are some rambling thoughts that may help:

I have a Marinoni touring bike that I switched over from mini-V brakes that were working poorly to mechanical discs and the difference was great enough that the mechanic at the bike store warned me to be careful until I was used to it. I have done the same thing with braking hard on my QX100 - intentionally in order to know the limits! Unless there are other circumstances in play it is more likely that you have brand new and/or disc brakes that work very, very well and tires that grip well, spokes that are tight, etc. That is, everything is working at perfect-better than you are used to, maybe even a little grabby because things are not worn in yet and you as the operator are trying to get used to a huge number of variables.

On your old bike you may be so completely used to it that you automatically adjust the pressure on the brake lever to maximize the braking without sliding. You may even grab the brake a little extra hard on the new Q45. On my QX100 I don't think about it at all now. In fact, I get back on the old conversion kit and think it has poor braking. In the parking lot I sometimes forget I am on loose gravel and grab a handful of brake initiating a front wheel skid that I then have to release very quickly and the bike self corrects better than anything I have ever been on, in fact the front wheel drive probably aids this.

Changing the spring tension on the shock might help with the bob and feeling of dive from the spring unloading. Come to think of it, when braking hard you unload the rear wheel/spring therefore it is going to come up. The softer the spring tension the greater distance it will be compressed when you are just sitting on it or regular riding, so increasing the spring tension should help by decreasing the total travel before the spring tops out. On my QX100 I can just turn the outside of the shock cover - it is attached to the adjustment nut that sets the spring tension. That might result in a less cushy ride, but the shock would still take out any bigger hits and really that is what you want it for, right?

Sorry to hear about the rack issues. I hope they can get sorted out to your satisfaction and that Cruzbike can figure out a solution to the rack mounting issues that you and woodguy experienced with the Q45.

@Robert Holler any suggestions or new video for rack vs. Q45 coming down the pipe?

Hi benphyre,

I've actually been using Avid BB7's on my old commuter recumbent, for many years. In winter (lots of rain here), I go through enough pads that I buy them in bulk, so was already stocked. With a combo of larger pads area and a supply of spares, I fitted them instead of the BB5's that came with my Q45. My problem hasn't been with sliding, but with doing nose stands. Increasing the spring tension did make it feel less bobby and seems to help keep the back wheel on the ground....at least a bit.

 

[woodguy]

@Robert Holler any suggestions or new video for rack vs. Q45 coming down the pipe?

I just noticed on the Q45 page of the website that there is a new video on installing the rack, along with a new bracket that attaches to the seat tube. It looks like a good solution to me, but I got my Q45 so early that the bracket wasn't available then. I will have to see if I can get one. Unfortunately that didn't seem to solve the problems for onmyback. I don't face the issue of fitting my bike into racks, so I expect the bracket will work nicely for me.

 

[PapaJ]

Thanks for all your info woodguy it helped . I am still in the learning stages of riding the Q45, but coming along well enough to hit the trail next week.

 

[woodguy]

Welcome to the tribe PapaJ. I’m glad my post was helpful to you. Keep practicing the exercises and soon riding the Q45 will become natural. It is both great fun & comfortable.

 

[PapaJ]

My ride last week put me over the 100 mile mark. I’m feeling more comfortable now.

 

[woodguy]

Well done PapaJ! You will find it to get better on each ride.

 

[PapaJ]

Any ideas on quenching the squeak coming from the shock? It was bugging me today as I crossed several dips in the paved trail. Would lubricating inside the rubber protector help? Also have any changed to an air shock and is our stock one adjustable?

 

[woodguy]

Not getting any squeak from my shock after 1,500 miles. I remember reading that an air shock can be substituted, but I don't know details.

 

[PapaJ]

Not getting any squeak from my shock after 1,500 miles. I remember reading that an air shock can be substituted, but I don't know details.

I only have a little over 200 on mine. Its squeaked since day one. I will spray some silicon up the sides where the rubbery material is and see if that helps. My weight is 170 so its not that its being compressed that much. But thanks for the reply Jim, I remember reading on the forum about this somewhere.

 

[ratz]

For the shock; lessen the preload; then do miles; that shock will get more flex and the squeak may dial down.

The air shock is from ali express is a "Kind Shock A5-RR1" that's the one everyone used to upgrade the Quest V1, V2. I do not know for certain it fits the newer Q45 but I think it should

 

[Rampa]

I think it's a more standard 160MM eye-to-eye on the new one. The original quest used a super short shock.