T50 to V20 quick thoughts

[Mrnelson]

Some thoughts from a long-time Short Wheel Base, Rear Wheel Drive recumbent rider. (I have probably tens of thousands of miles on a Rans Rocket. I even had the original square tube! Hey, don't laugh, it was a great bike, with some modifications...)

I took time off from riding due to moves / family/ playing more tennis, etc., but decided to get back into it spring of 2020, found a guy selling a T50 locally so I snapped it up based on reviews. I was not daunted by the challenge of re-learning riding with the MBB. HOWEVER, it was not easy. I know others get it quicker, my journey to proficiency took the whole hundred miles. I did dump the bike a few times, but now of course it's second nature.

• The T50 is super-fun. Carving figure eights with no hands is one of my favorites.
• It's not slow, but it's not super fast. I could keep up with my strong club rider friend on his diamond frame pretty well but it was hard work on the rolling hills.
• I ride on pretty flat trails and roads an average of 15 to 40 miles a day.

Being sold on the basic design I decided to upgrade and saw a V20 for sale (Thanks @telephd ) and now have maybe 150 miles or so on it.

• The V20 is wicked fast.
• The transition from T50 to V20 was not easy but WAY easier than traditional bent to Moving Bottom Bracket.
• It's way more twitchy at low speeds than the T50 but again I don't have many miles on it.
• I don't ride in city traffic so the low seat angle doesn't bother me. That said I wouldn't be terrified to take it into an urban environ now and then. You get good at popping up in the seat and checking the cross traffic. Make sure you have mirrors, though.
• No one loves a headwind of course but the V20 almost makes you enjoy them because you can sense how much more efficient you are heading into one and it makes you smile to think of the uprights trying to fight through the same wind.
• My first few rides on the V20 I honestly had the thought, "Well, I can probably sell it without much of a loss," in my mind. Then a couple days later I absolutely loved it, can't wait to get out and ride it.

I know it's not the most natural progression from T50 to V20 but I thought there may be a few out there who wonder what it's like to upgrade.

 

[3bs]

Well said.

t50 as your starter is what I recommend to everyone. It’s just easier. And that make the transition to upper level cb much easier. My first cb was a v20. Not brilliant.

 

[super slim]

Well said.

t50 as your starter is what I recommend to everyone. It’s just easier. And that make the transition to upper level cb much easier. My first cb was a v20. Not brilliant.

I would recommend a Silvio V1.0 with a 45 degree seat back as a starter CB, as cheap, FAST, and a GREAT front air suspension, AND can be broken down into a 26"*26"*10" US air-plane approved box!!!!

US normally has the biggest of everything!!!
Little old Australia (The BIG Land Downunder!!!) has Airline supplied bike boxes of 57" * 32" * 11.4", 3 times larger!!!!!!!

 

[3bs]

in other words, @super slim is ready to sell his bicycle and buy a new version Q45 or V20.

 

[super slim]

in other words, @super slim is ready to sell his bicycle and buy a new version Q45 or V20.

My dual air bagged Silvio V1.0 is the smoothest riding Cruzbike EVER, but my air front, urethane rear suspended Silvio V2.5, is the fast I have ridden!
I am 3D printing a range of Poly rear springs to increase the rear suspension moment over a 12 mm(1/2") step, from 2 mm for the standard PU spring, to 4 mm for the std PU centre drilled out from 8 mm to 14 mm, and 7 mm for a 68 mm long 3.5 mm walled 98 duro, but it bottoms out when driving off a 80 mm high curb, so more work required!

I am NOT selling my Silvios!!! as both can be packed into a US plane/train/bus sized box, for by next 4 month trip to USA/Canada!

 

[benphyr]

...but it bottoms out when driving off a 800 mm high curb...

Australia must be big to have curbs of 0.8m (31.5”) ! Does that do a better job of keeping the cars on the road?

 

[rx7mark]

My dual air bagged Silvio V1.0 is the smoothest riding Cruzbike EVER, but my air front, urethane rear suspended Silvio V2.5, is the fast I have ridden!
I am 3D printing a range of Poly rear springs to increase the rear suspension moment over a 12 mm(1/2") step, from 2 mm for the standard PU spring, to 4 mm for the std PU centre drilled out from 8 mm to 14 mm, and 7 mm for a 68 mm long 3.5 mm walled 98 duro, but it bottoms out when driving off a 800 mm high curb, so more work required!

I am NOT selling my Silvios!!! as both can be packed into a US plane/train/bus sized box, for by next 4 month trip to USA/Canada!

I am in the planning stages of a Silvio 2.0 build for the very reason Super Slim stated in the last line. This will be my transition bike from my modified T50. I am nearing retirement and my wife and I plan on traveling quite a bit for several months at a time. I really want to be able to take a Cruzbike with me on those trips, hence the Silvio instead of jumping all the way to a V20.

Mark

 

[super slim]

Australia must be big to have curbs of 0.8m (31.5”) ! Does that do a better job of keeping the cars on the road?

Sorry, a typo, should have been 80 mm (3"), but correct for the west coast of Tasmania, where the rainfall is measured in metres(2.8m/yr, 110") instead of cm!

US pick Up truck, that needs a 36" high curb!!!!

Great Aussie Ute

 

[Frank Costantini]

I am 3D printing a range of Poly rear springs........

I’m interested in trying a 3D printer for making some bike parts, etc. Could you recommend a 3D printer to try? I have no experience with this technology.

 

[3bs]

cute pictures of minitruck and grocery getter.

@rx7mark i think the t would be the perfect chop & sleeve or pseudo s&s bike being a single tube frame. probably add less than a pound

 

[rx7mark]

cute pictures of minitruck and grocery getter.

@rx7mark i think the t would be the perfect chop & sleeve or pseudo s&s bike being a single tube frame. probably add less than a pound

Interesting idea, I never really thought of that. Maybe I just wanted a Silvio!

But I have been trying to decide on what to do with my T50 once my new build is complete. If I could get my wife interested in riding it, then that might be an option for us to travel with two bikes. I will need to investigate.

Mark

 

[super slim]

I have a Prusa i3 Mk3s bought as a kit for $750 us, with a 250*210*210 mm (10"*8.25"*8.25") printing area, with dual drive feeder to handle 80 duro Flex filament, self levelling bed system, and a flexible PU coated bed plate, so release agents are not required on the bed.

On my research this is the best 3D printer for 1.75mm dia filaments for under $2,000 us.

History of Prusa

Tour of Prusa Factory Jul 2019

best 3D printer under $1000 - Prusa i3 Mk3s https://www.aniwaa.com/best-cheap-3d-printers-affordable-under-1000-budget/

I have used mine for 10 months printing 95% PETG, faultlessly, as it does not shrink unevenly, and does not break down in sunlight after 1 year which PLA does!
The remaining 5% is 98 duro TPU for the rear compression springs!

 

[3bs]

@rx7mark mark

you seemed to be on the way to violationg the n+1 rule, i did not want such disruption in the universe.

s and s couplers are only sold to mfg's, but you look at many of the folding trike frames you can see some great methods so that the frame remains rigid at the connection. my TiCa is sleeved, and while its a flexible flyer, it is not a horrible method, i just could use a couple more innovations.

 

[rx7mark]

@rx7mark mark

you seemed to be on the way to violationg the n+1 rule, i did not want such disruption in the universe.

s and s couplers are only sold to mfg's, but you look at many of the folding trike frames you can see some great methods so that the frame remains rigid at the connection. my TiCa is sleeved, and while its a flexible flyer, it is not a horrible method, i just could use a couple more innovations.

OK, S&S couplers are out, they don't make a retrofit application for aluminum frames. The only applications are steel, Crome Moly, Ti, or new aluminum applications. I guess retrofit for steel frames is pretty easy, as the it slips on the outside of the frame and gets welded in place. Aluminum fits on the inside has to be welded and made specifically for the tube ID which varies.

Mark

 

[Vicki C.]

Interesting idea, I never really thought of that. Maybe I just wanted a Silvio!

But I have been trying to decide on what to do with my T50 once my new build is complete. If I could get my wife interested in riding it, then that might be an option for us to travel with two bikes. I will need to investigate.

Mark

My T50 is inside on a trainer for the bad air days.

 

[rx7mark]

My T50 is inside on a trainer for the bad air days.

I have a stationary recumbent already, got it when I was recovering from foot surgery. It worked well with a midsole peddle position. It actually came first, but I got bored indoors when it was nice out, and decided I needed to take it outdoors. So I tried out a T50, just to see if I could ride it, and see if I would ride it long term. 3 years later and approaching 7K miles now.

Mark