The upgrade bug may have bitten
Now that I've had my Q451 for the better part of a year, I became curious whether I might like, or could even handle, one of the faster bikes. As it happens, ReklinedRider and I live in adjacent counties, and have mutual friends. He was gracious enough to let me try out both his Silvio 1.5 and his Sofrider yesterday.
I was a bit nervous about riding the Silvio, especially once I discovered that I'd have to shift upside-down SRAM DoubleTap levers with the "wrong" hand. This was the bike I'd come to check out, though. So I climbed aboard, pushed off...and oh, my goodness, what a revelation! The front-end heaviness I was used to from my little Quest--nonexistent. The Silvio felt much more stable, and I could make tighter turns. Shifting was smooth as butter. I rode a few short laps in that small section of the parking lot, literally laughing out loud with delight, and then branched out for some longer stretches.
Once I reluctantly got off the Silvio, I tried the Sofrider. Its handling wasn't that much different from the Q, despite the difference in wheel sizes and the higher bottom bracket. It helped confirm that my decision to start out on the Q451 was the right one.
So, come spring (and tax refund), I may be in the hunt for a Silvio 1.5 frameset, and combing the forums for tips on the best components for my budget.
. I should have no trouble building it up, that might even be preferable.
