NoCruzbike
New Member
Since I purchased my Silvio back in Jan/2012, I have tried it with my Ultegra groupo/wheelset and my touring setup. The bike offers a great deal in comfort, being able to see 180 degrees in front without craning your neck and no discomfort some riders experience with a DF bike.
Getting to the point where I could ride it certainly took me longer than 30 minutes, more like weeks. Not faulting the bike...it was more operator issues than bike issues. I had never ridden a recumbent before. Once I changed the handlebars to the WTB Mountain Road bars, handling the bike became immensely easier. Now, I was off and leaning the nuances of the Silvio.
My goal, when I purchased the Silvio, was to see if it would meet my road bike desires and my touring needs. I had imagined that the Extra Wheel trailer would be perfect for this bike. The groupos, road and touring, both fit well on the Silvio and I had road/touring wheelsets that worked well, also.
Initial, and continuing, issues with the Silvio have been: twitchy front end and wheel slippage.
On descents, I was able to handle the twitchiness of the front end by following the tips I read on this blog. Putting pressure against the handlebars and seatback helped keep the bike stable. What never changed was the reaction the bike had to any upper body movement I made while descending. Something I never experienced with a DF bike.
As for the wheel slippage, it was not significant overall, but was significant at the times it happened. Fell once. Came to an absolute stop another time and put my feet down. After one adjustment so my legs were better positioned and the handlebars were a bit closer, the Silvio felt great. While out riding it to check out these adjustments, I was ascending a hill after a fast descent and I shifted from the large chainring to the middle chainring and simultaneously pushed hard against the left crank. I went down in a heartbeat, sliding along the road bed. Funny thing was that my body protected the bike frame. The only part of the bike that suffered scratches was the end of the Shimano M324 pedal and the MTB handlebar had about a two inch long section where the paint was scraped off.
Definitely sustained some painful road rash on my right leg/hip and right arm. While recovering from this, I continued to ride the Silvio. Once recovered, I did a few long rides with the Silvio. Climbing one of the big but short hills near where I live, I realized that the Silvio would not suffice for my needs. It was a road performance bike, plain and simple. My desire is to tour and do some road riding on the off times.
So, the Silvio is for sale and is posted on the "Buy and Sell...Upgrade!" section of the Forum. I am only selling the frame, handlebars (two sets) and an extra derailleur hanger and front wheel skewer. $1200 plus shipping. FIRM.
Back to the DF bikes .... which I've ridden without the issues that I've read about in this Forum. Brooks saddle, a more upright position (attained with the right handlebar stem), and a properly adjusted bike. Have ridden thousands of miles with no pain. Perhaps I'm one of the fortunate ones.
Happy trails to the Cruzbikers,
Patrick
Getting to the point where I could ride it certainly took me longer than 30 minutes, more like weeks. Not faulting the bike...it was more operator issues than bike issues. I had never ridden a recumbent before. Once I changed the handlebars to the WTB Mountain Road bars, handling the bike became immensely easier. Now, I was off and leaning the nuances of the Silvio.
My goal, when I purchased the Silvio, was to see if it would meet my road bike desires and my touring needs. I had imagined that the Extra Wheel trailer would be perfect for this bike. The groupos, road and touring, both fit well on the Silvio and I had road/touring wheelsets that worked well, also.
Initial, and continuing, issues with the Silvio have been: twitchy front end and wheel slippage.
On descents, I was able to handle the twitchiness of the front end by following the tips I read on this blog. Putting pressure against the handlebars and seatback helped keep the bike stable. What never changed was the reaction the bike had to any upper body movement I made while descending. Something I never experienced with a DF bike.
As for the wheel slippage, it was not significant overall, but was significant at the times it happened. Fell once. Came to an absolute stop another time and put my feet down. After one adjustment so my legs were better positioned and the handlebars were a bit closer, the Silvio felt great. While out riding it to check out these adjustments, I was ascending a hill after a fast descent and I shifted from the large chainring to the middle chainring and simultaneously pushed hard against the left crank. I went down in a heartbeat, sliding along the road bed. Funny thing was that my body protected the bike frame. The only part of the bike that suffered scratches was the end of the Shimano M324 pedal and the MTB handlebar had about a two inch long section where the paint was scraped off.
Definitely sustained some painful road rash on my right leg/hip and right arm. While recovering from this, I continued to ride the Silvio. Once recovered, I did a few long rides with the Silvio. Climbing one of the big but short hills near where I live, I realized that the Silvio would not suffice for my needs. It was a road performance bike, plain and simple. My desire is to tour and do some road riding on the off times.
So, the Silvio is for sale and is posted on the "Buy and Sell...Upgrade!" section of the Forum. I am only selling the frame, handlebars (two sets) and an extra derailleur hanger and front wheel skewer. $1200 plus shipping. FIRM.
Back to the DF bikes .... which I've ridden without the issues that I've read about in this Forum. Brooks saddle, a more upright position (attained with the right handlebar stem), and a properly adjusted bike. Have ridden thousands of miles with no pain. Perhaps I'm one of the fortunate ones.
Happy trails to the Cruzbikers,
Patrick
