Last fall, when I started getting acquainted with my new S40, I was having a hard time. I was veering all over the place and having difficulty relaxing (which obviously does not help).
Winter set in and I put the S40 on a smart trainer. This helped me smooth out my pedal stroke as well as considerably increase my power output.
Fast forward to early 2021 when I acquired a new Q45. First break from winter temps and out I went on the Q45. It was easy. Very close to a standard diamond frame bike. Several things contributed to this: seating position, bottom bracket position, wide handlebars with bars close to the same plane as the fork steering tube, and last but not least, the Cane Creek Viscoset headset installed as standard on the 2021 Q45.
On my Q45, the steering was very tame. No sharp off course excursions. Got me to thinking this headset might help me on my S40.
So I have done two things to my S40: cut the steering tube down to lower the handlebars by two of the stock spacers, and having a Viscoset headset (medium setting) installed on my S40.
I have several rides in. My observations are:
1) I am much more relaxed now riding the S40.
2) My bar position is improved so that my upper arms and shoulders contribute more to steering (as opposed to my forearms) than with the bars higher. I could likely go up to 1 spacer further, but I'll give it some time to see if necessary.
3) My S40 no longer exhibits the tendency for the front end to want to uncontrollably tuck tighter into a slow sharp turn.
4) I am much more stable in a straight line, even with gusty crosswinds.
5) When resuming pedaling at the top end of my gear range (30+MPH) after a fast descent, instead of feeling like I'm about to lose the bike to a wobble, now I experience a gentle sway that is in no way threatening to my feeling of control.
6) Grabbing a water bottle from behind the seat, taking a drink while still pedaling, and returning the bottle to it's cage is no longer an exercise in control (or my lack thereof). I am still not perfectly stable, but my straight line deviation is not excessive and I no longer fear loss of control.
How much of the overall observations are due to the Viscoset is hard to quantify, but I believe it slows the steering down just enough to eliminate the rider induced twitchyness of the steering to a level I am comfortable with.
For me a big win.
Winter set in and I put the S40 on a smart trainer. This helped me smooth out my pedal stroke as well as considerably increase my power output.
Fast forward to early 2021 when I acquired a new Q45. First break from winter temps and out I went on the Q45. It was easy. Very close to a standard diamond frame bike. Several things contributed to this: seating position, bottom bracket position, wide handlebars with bars close to the same plane as the fork steering tube, and last but not least, the Cane Creek Viscoset headset installed as standard on the 2021 Q45.
On my Q45, the steering was very tame. No sharp off course excursions. Got me to thinking this headset might help me on my S40.
So I have done two things to my S40: cut the steering tube down to lower the handlebars by two of the stock spacers, and having a Viscoset headset (medium setting) installed on my S40.
I have several rides in. My observations are:
1) I am much more relaxed now riding the S40.
2) My bar position is improved so that my upper arms and shoulders contribute more to steering (as opposed to my forearms) than with the bars higher. I could likely go up to 1 spacer further, but I'll give it some time to see if necessary.
3) My S40 no longer exhibits the tendency for the front end to want to uncontrollably tuck tighter into a slow sharp turn.
4) I am much more stable in a straight line, even with gusty crosswinds.
5) When resuming pedaling at the top end of my gear range (30+MPH) after a fast descent, instead of feeling like I'm about to lose the bike to a wobble, now I experience a gentle sway that is in no way threatening to my feeling of control.
6) Grabbing a water bottle from behind the seat, taking a drink while still pedaling, and returning the bottle to it's cage is no longer an exercise in control (or my lack thereof). I am still not perfectly stable, but my straight line deviation is not excessive and I no longer fear loss of control.
How much of the overall observations are due to the Viscoset is hard to quantify, but I believe it slows the steering down just enough to eliminate the rider induced twitchyness of the steering to a level I am comfortable with.
For me a big win.
