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General Category >> Ride Reports >> Surprising 21 miles tonight....
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Message started by aikigreg on May 20^th, 2008, 9:13pm

Title: Surprising 21 miles tonight....
Post by aikigreg on May 20^th, 2008, 9:13pm

I adjusted Alexis' v-rex tonight to fit me, which consisted of :
moving the seat back almost as far as it'll go along the channel - which makes it nearly bolt upright.
removing the tandem crank shorteners to take the cranks form 110mm to 153mm
raising the riser to allow for knee clearance.

Unfortunately, I don't have hard and fast numbers on performance, but I completed 21miles in 79 minutes. One of you math whizzes wanna compute that for me?

The v-rex is nimble, stable, comfortable. Everything you could want in a bent. It definitely can't maintain a high cruising speed by comparison to a lowracer or highracer, but it can maintain normal cruising speed seemingly as well, and it had this ZIPPY feel going up hills that makes it seem pretty danged fast. Perception tells me it climbed better than the carbon aero, but my head tells me that must be wrong.

Weight distribution must be very close to 50/50, because I felt very comfortable going across gravel and going fast and pedalling through turns, which i don't often do on the racers.

Nice ride for a heavier bike. I was extremely surprised to say the least. Looks like I'll be able to do the 200k this weekend after all!

Title: Re: Surprising 21 miles tonight....
Post by FlyingLaZBoy on May 20^th, 2008, 9:34pm

You're gonna do a 200K on a "bolt upright" seat??? Doing the 30+ miles on Rose's Stratus didn't do my lower back any good...

BTW, that's roughly 16 mph average... not a surprising cruising speed, overall, and it SHOULD climb pretty well with that posture giving you a good push against the seat back.

But I'd seriously reconsider that 200K... ::)

Title: Re: Surprising 21 miles tonight....
Post by aikigreg on May 20^th, 2008, 10:20pm

No real choice, if I want to stay on track for the R12 award. I wouldn't consider it if I had a working aero, but wish in one hand and crap in the other.....

What problems do you forsee with the upright seat, other than likely getting recumbutt? Wind shouldn't be extreme, so I should be ok. Worst case scenario I DNF, but I gotta try!

Title: Re: Surprising 21 miles tonight....
Post by Kwijybow on May 20^th, 2008, 11:48pm

You don't need to carry all that much for a 200K, if you're adapted to the TiCa I'd ride that. But going slower on the V-Rex might not be bad either, supposed to be fairly hot, which for me to maintain calorie intake and hydration generally means going slower.

Take Care,
Nelson.

Title: Re: Surprising 21 miles tonight....
Post by aikigreg on May 21^st, 2008, 9:34am

I wouldn't say I'm adapted to it for a 200k, for sure. Plus it's in need of brake shoes badly. I might reconsider if they get here in time.

Besides, if you can do it on a new upright with a broken seatpost, I can surely do it on a v-rex after having done 2 on the aero in it's most upright position. ;D

Now, what's the time limit on a 200k again? :) You coming, Nelson?

Title: Re: Surprising 21 miles tonight....
Post by Kwijybow on May 21^st, 2008, 10:35am

Hi Greg,

I'm sorry I'm going to miss it, I'm heading to Houston to see my Grandmother over the weekend. Hopefully get a ride in down there, although it will be less than 200K. I'll miss getting to ride with you!

Take Care,
Nelson.

Title: Re: Surprising 21 miles tonight....
Post by bikerteam on May 22^nd, 2008, 8:12am

Greg - I'll be riding the 200k Saturday. I won't be trying to ride 18 plus mph avg. speed like I was able to do at Cross Timbers. Dennis Cook is coming up from College Station, and when I ride with Dennis, that usually means a relatively easy pace for 200k. That is if you can use "easy" and "200k" in the same sentence.