I bought all kinds of different recumbents, and I loved them all (Catrike Dumont, Optima Baron, Zockra Rapide, Catrike 559, and Schlitter Encore). I always wanted a Cruzbike but was always afraid of the learning curve stories. For the first two weeks, I hated my S30 and kept questioning why I had bought it, but then something clicked and now I love it. I still miss my Encore and wish I had kept it, maybe one day I'll pick another one up. I'm also getting an ICE VTX soon as well so I'll have the racing trike box checked.
Vosadrian's V20 Journey - Australia
- Thread starter Bentsoup
- Start date
DocS
Guru
I did the same think... I saw one in action, then decided I wanted (needed) to try one, so I found a Silvio 2.0 and bought it...
I was hooked...
Vosadrian, you said, "If I get the framset, I have to let go of a groupset and wheelset I have, so the loss is great.". That's not necessarily true. I bought a used frameset and put my own groupset and wheels on it. There is a market for the frame alone (if you want to go the route of getting a new one).
Were I in your position (and I was), I would try to negotiate a better price (Sounds like you already got a pretty good deal) and just go for it...
If you decide it's not for you, sell it for what you have in it... A buyer will come along. No need to take a loss...
Blessings,
Rudy
Yeah, I will probably go the local bike. Cruzbike got back to me and they have nothing cheaper than the framest on the website. So for around $500 more I get an almost new complete bike with extras which sounds OK.
Today I was able to ride a couple more bents. Locals are helping me out which is great, but there is no Vendetta available yet. I have so far ridden a Performer Muses, Baron of some description and an M5 (with 650 front wheel). All of them were pretty reclined and that felt good to me. I was able to ride all quickly without issue, and I assume a V20 would be more difficult, but I would get it. The M5 was much lighter and felt much more responsive and responded to accelerations much better. It was more unstable at low speed (higher??). I would be pretty interested in an M5 if it suited my short legs with 700C wheels, but it does not. I could go smaller front wheel, but that ends up being lower and more difficult woth wheels/tyres etc.
So I am just getting closer to commiting to the V20 really.
Today I was able to ride a couple more bents. Locals are helping me out which is great, but there is no Vendetta available yet. I have so far ridden a Performer Muses, Baron of some description and an M5 (with 650 front wheel). All of them were pretty reclined and that felt good to me. I was able to ride all quickly without issue, and I assume a V20 would be more difficult, but I would get it. The M5 was much lighter and felt much more responsive and responded to accelerations much better. It was more unstable at low speed (higher??). I would be pretty interested in an M5 if it suited my short legs with 700C wheels, but it does not. I could go smaller front wheel, but that ends up being lower and more difficult woth wheels/tyres etc.
So I am just getting closer to commiting to the V20 really.
The M5 is an awesome bike, so I'm told. I'm right at the bottom end of the Xseam chart but one day I'd like to own one too. The Optima Baron that you rode was one I previously owned and loved. They are stable and fast, but very low to the ground. From what I understand about the M5, you're correct about the stability at low speeds but a lot of recumbents are like that, even the Cruzbike. It's just something you learn to accommodate as you learn recumbents.
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
My V20 came from a taller rider, and has the longer chain stays but I could make it work because the boom is quite adjustable. He had the boom set on 7 (of 10) and mine is now at 3, which means I could even shorten it another 3cm if needed. If I were ordering a new one then I would have got the standard stays. Just out of curiosity are you a similar height with the seller?
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
I haven't seen the price for one, but it is possible. Occasionally Cbers will swap if they bought a used bike that has a chain stay longer or shorter than is optimal. No worries in your case though.
Anyhoo, about the MBB. Veteran CB owners probably already know this, but the argument about an MBB causing injury in turns just got a little weaker in my mind after my ride today. I went out there to see if there is any situation where I could damage my knee in a turn. Sure, I make pretty sharp turns on my V20 that could potentially put a lot of stress on my knees if I were clipped in and trying to pedal. However, never at speeds more than about 10kph, and at those times I do need to pedal and turn sharply by actually turning the bars instead of leaning, I am never clipped in. At anything above about 10kph all of my turns are carried out by leaning the bike, meaning the boom is almost completely straight. I would guess only a few degrees of turn leaving my knees in very little danger of being injured in a turn.
Anyhoo, about the MBB. Veteran CB owners probably already know this, but the argument about an MBB causing injury in turns just got a little weaker in my mind after my ride today. I went out there to see if there is any situation where I could damage my knee in a turn. Sure, I make pretty sharp turns on my V20 that could potentially put a lot of stress on my knees if I were clipped in and trying to pedal. However, never at speeds more than about 10kph, and at those times I do need to pedal and turn sharply by actually turning the bars instead of leaning, I am never clipped in. At anything above about 10kph all of my turns are carried out by leaning the bike, meaning the boom is almost completely straight. I would guess only a few degrees of turn leaving my knees in very little danger of being injured in a turn.
I can't really see the knee effect being an issue unless you spend a lot of time doing low speed manourvres. These bikes are typically mostly ridden at high speed with very small steering angles. Most peoples knees should be able to cope with the occasional manouvre at low levels of power. I guess it would be more of an issue for peopl who do steep climbs with sharp hairpins.
$145 USD
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
Yep. And just knowing the limits of the bike they are riding. You will always find someone who points out the exception to the masses, and we should keep those in mind to create better things in the future. It's important to know who just wants to always stir the pot or if they are really looking for solutions.
bladderhead
Zen MBB Master
On my Silvio I do a lot of commuting in London and wiggle through pedestrian barriers and go through shop carparks. Serious steering. No sideways knee problems ever. I think the legs bend sideways at the hips.
benphyr
Guru-me-not
My experience agrees.
There is nothing restricting the knee or hip joints until you steer sharp enough for the outside leg to be hitting the headset which is way past what anyone will come across even with steep switchbacks through pedestrians barriers. By the time you bend or twist that far shoes have popped out of clipped pedals or your foot come off the pedal for platforms.
On the inside leg there is no issue whatsoever. There is loss of leverage that happens when the knee is bent.
Just bringing up the question of carrying a (lenovo P50 15.6") laptop on a V20 again. Is anyone aware of any threads where people discuss commuting bag options for a V20 or similar. Ideally for me something that can hang over the back of the rear seat, but I am not sure if that is possible in the V20 reclined position. Being able to remove it quickly to do a ride without it would be good also. I could also looking into my work issuing me with a smaller laptop in future.
Cheers!
Cheers!
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
Radical designs seems to have a bag that might work. I don't know if a laptop will fit in it, but it does look pretty nice.
https://www.radicaldesign.com/recumbent-bags/rear-bags
Those radical bags look good.... just not sure if they fit a laptop. I like that they are added and removed in seconds by just hooking over the back of the seat.
I have committed to the local bike and should have that in a week or so. Then let the learning begin!! The more I considered the options, the more I think out of the all the options, the V20 made the most sense for me. I am pretty good at picking up new skills and have good balance and bike handling skills so the risk of getting the hang of it is pretty low. I am most worried about whether it will allow be to ride for long distances in comfort (with my back) which is the main reason I am moving bent from DF. In terms of the things I like to do on a DF, the V20 is the best fit.... going fast on flats , rolling hills with hills sprints, longer climbs at threshold, perhaps trying to ride with my high level DF bunch.
I'm sure that I will be able to adjust the bike fit to suit me. I believe many riders replace the seat. Which seat options do riders most V20 riders find comfortable keeping in mind I would like something with good lumbar support. I'm pretty sure that is one aspect of the bike I will want to optimise as much as possible for my back.
Cheers,
Adrian
I have committed to the local bike and should have that in a week or so. Then let the learning begin!! The more I considered the options, the more I think out of the all the options, the V20 made the most sense for me. I am pretty good at picking up new skills and have good balance and bike handling skills so the risk of getting the hang of it is pretty low. I am most worried about whether it will allow be to ride for long distances in comfort (with my back) which is the main reason I am moving bent from DF. In terms of the things I like to do on a DF, the V20 is the best fit.... going fast on flats , rolling hills with hills sprints, longer climbs at threshold, perhaps trying to ride with my high level DF bunch.
I'm sure that I will be able to adjust the bike fit to suit me. I believe many riders replace the seat. Which seat options do riders most V20 riders find comfortable keeping in mind I would like something with good lumbar support. I'm pretty sure that is one aspect of the bike I will want to optimise as much as possible for my back.
Cheers,
Adrian
paco1961
Zen MBB Master
Thor Sport for the V. Great improvement for me. Went from struggling through centuries on a DF to looking forward to them. Did my first century 8 weeks after buying my first CB. Wife met me at the finish and asked how I felt after a hard and very hilly century. “Perfect” I responded. “ Except for my quads,” Back, neck and shoulders are much happier.
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
I just looked on here for what fits V20s...
https://www.radicaldesign.com/which-bag-fits
The V20 isnt listed, but looking at the Silvio and S40 the options are scarce. The Solo Racer might fit, but the shape doesn't look like a laptop will work in there without some of it sticking out.
ccf
Guru
I did a lot of commuting on my V20 pre-pandemic, and I regularly carried my 13” MacBook Pro in my scarab bag. It is a tight fit. I put some clothes under it and some on top. Watch out for this failure mode, though. The zipper came unzipped by itself. Good thing it is a tight fit!
