I also posted this on bentrider
So I finally tried a Vendetta, thanks to Charlie Ollinger at the Northbrook HPRA races Saturday (we're about the same x-seam). Thanks Charlie!
This is the first time I've ridden a MBB bike.
Couple of notes:
I found it pretty easy to make it go; I slid into the seat, sort of braced my arms for the countersteer and gave it a push. Oversteered. Stop. Tried a second time (now I was ready for it), and zip, your rolling. Rode it out into the parking lot and was doing loops. I was wearing gym shoes on Charlie's Look pedals. I think it'd be easier to start clipped in (like on my M5 M-Racer)
The counter steer- that's what I call having to balance the reaction force from the pedal stroke with your arms- is not too bad, that said, I didn't really floor it. It's easy to pedal around corners and it's really quick for the power I was inputting (not too much).
The pivot from the MBB is off the hips, not the knees so it should be fine for folks like me with bad knees.
I did notice it in my shoulders- but was probably bracing the bars more than I needed to as I didn't want to crash someone else's bike. I can see that it does give you an upper body workout. If I were climbing a hill I'd definitely recruit my arms/shoulders in the motion. But initially the sensation is pretty odd compared to a RWD.
I found the seat angle comfortable, even if it's more upright than what I'm used to. The steering is very smooth- Mr. Tolhurst has hit the sweet spot on the geometry with this one.
A fun ride, I can see why they're popular. Now I have to look into getting one.
So I finally tried a Vendetta, thanks to Charlie Ollinger at the Northbrook HPRA races Saturday (we're about the same x-seam). Thanks Charlie!
This is the first time I've ridden a MBB bike.
Couple of notes:
I found it pretty easy to make it go; I slid into the seat, sort of braced my arms for the countersteer and gave it a push. Oversteered. Stop. Tried a second time (now I was ready for it), and zip, your rolling. Rode it out into the parking lot and was doing loops. I was wearing gym shoes on Charlie's Look pedals. I think it'd be easier to start clipped in (like on my M5 M-Racer)
The counter steer- that's what I call having to balance the reaction force from the pedal stroke with your arms- is not too bad, that said, I didn't really floor it. It's easy to pedal around corners and it's really quick for the power I was inputting (not too much).
The pivot from the MBB is off the hips, not the knees so it should be fine for folks like me with bad knees.
I did notice it in my shoulders- but was probably bracing the bars more than I needed to as I didn't want to crash someone else's bike. I can see that it does give you an upper body workout. If I were climbing a hill I'd definitely recruit my arms/shoulders in the motion. But initially the sensation is pretty odd compared to a RWD.
I found the seat angle comfortable, even if it's more upright than what I'm used to. The steering is very smooth- Mr. Tolhurst has hit the sweet spot on the geometry with this one.
A fun ride, I can see why they're popular. Now I have to look into getting one.
