Postapocalypsia
Active Member
Hi Folks, I thought I would share the results of tweaking my stock standard Q2 559...
From the good advice given in this forum I have swapped out the suspended front fork for the unsuspended version, and replaced the standard rear shock with the Kindshock. Both mods were an improvement. I thought I would suffer the road bumps a lot more but no, the new setup works a treat.
I also replaced the stock tyres with Maxis Gypsys. At 1.5 they give a bit more cushion and seem to stick well to every surface I have tried.
I was suffering a bit of cockpit claustrophobia with the original handlebars - however I set up the seat and boom, I always seemed to bump my knees on the bar or the dual drive changer. After some searching I came up with a solution that seems to work for me... I now use Soma Sparrow bars, European cruiser style. These in conjunction with an adjustable stem I swapped from my hybrid gives me a lot more room both for my knees and also for my arms, which always seemed to be cramped and bent before. Now with more arm room and better grip position I can work the hills way better.
The other relatively simple fix was to swing the dual drive changer upside down so the 3 speed function is on the outside. No more knee bumping! I can't read the indicator but instinct and practice has made it redundant anyway.
Next thing I did was to get a new 9 speed cassette 11-36 to replace the 11-32. It's great! Gives a bit more room to move on hills, and gives me the option of bigger tyres if I want.
I had an old Topeak MTG bag on my hybrid with a nifty sliding mechanism for quick removal. I tried it out on the Quest, but with no easy fixing points I improvised with longer screws and nylox nuts through doubled-up tongue depressors capturing the bag to the rack. With the zip down panniers open I secured the bungy straps to the rear fork with small stainless eyebolts that fit neatly in the threaded holes.
Last but not least I bought some big retro mirrors. I had been nervous in traffic prior to this, never knowing how to look behind without swerving. Big mirrors may not be sexy to everyone but they sure are a confidence booster to me! Now I can see front and back all at once. I would highly recommend these to anyone still on the Cruzbike learning curve.
Any comment or advice is always welcome
From the good advice given in this forum I have swapped out the suspended front fork for the unsuspended version, and replaced the standard rear shock with the Kindshock. Both mods were an improvement. I thought I would suffer the road bumps a lot more but no, the new setup works a treat.
I also replaced the stock tyres with Maxis Gypsys. At 1.5 they give a bit more cushion and seem to stick well to every surface I have tried.
I was suffering a bit of cockpit claustrophobia with the original handlebars - however I set up the seat and boom, I always seemed to bump my knees on the bar or the dual drive changer. After some searching I came up with a solution that seems to work for me... I now use Soma Sparrow bars, European cruiser style. These in conjunction with an adjustable stem I swapped from my hybrid gives me a lot more room both for my knees and also for my arms, which always seemed to be cramped and bent before. Now with more arm room and better grip position I can work the hills way better.
The other relatively simple fix was to swing the dual drive changer upside down so the 3 speed function is on the outside. No more knee bumping! I can't read the indicator but instinct and practice has made it redundant anyway.
Next thing I did was to get a new 9 speed cassette 11-36 to replace the 11-32. It's great! Gives a bit more room to move on hills, and gives me the option of bigger tyres if I want.
I had an old Topeak MTG bag on my hybrid with a nifty sliding mechanism for quick removal. I tried it out on the Quest, but with no easy fixing points I improvised with longer screws and nylox nuts through doubled-up tongue depressors capturing the bag to the rack. With the zip down panniers open I secured the bungy straps to the rear fork with small stainless eyebolts that fit neatly in the threaded holes.
Last but not least I bought some big retro mirrors. I had been nervous in traffic prior to this, never knowing how to look behind without swerving. Big mirrors may not be sexy to everyone but they sure are a confidence booster to me! Now I can see front and back all at once. I would highly recommend these to anyone still on the Cruzbike learning curve.
Any comment or advice is always welcome
