Dennis Perry
Member
Yet Another Silvio: or 321 (and it is about the bike)
Specifications
Frameset: CBSV-070 2009 model with internal rear brake cable routing, updated rear shock elastomer, stronger titanium leaf spring (with concomitant filing of rear fork spring mount!) and additional headset spacers.
Groupset: Shimano Ultegra, with 10-speed 11-28 cassette, minus crankset.
Crankset: Shimano R600a 50-34 compact chain ring, with 175 mm cranks shortened by Mark Stonich to 154 mm.
Wheelset: BPR Aero 30, with Continental Ultra Gatorskin tyres (700x25C)
Display stand: Xtras Essential Cycling Stand, a heavier duty version of the Shimano Pro Cycle Stand. Useful for assembling bits and storing / displaying the bike.
The finished Silvio with the supplied Mirrycle mirror, bar tape, bell and lights weighed in at 12.5kg (27.5 lbs).
What I learned, or Traps for new players
Patience: Building a custom bike over Christmas is probably not the best time of year to get parts in a hurry, or coordinate deliveries. Threading a rear brake cable through an internally routed system required a feeder brake cable and using gravity for front of frame feed (hold frame vertical) and a coat hanger for the rear feed.
Planning: Cabling the frameset would have been much easier if all the components had arrived at once and I'd cabled a frameset, rather than an almost assembled bike (see Patience).
Reading: The Cruzbike forums are very helpful. Technical gaps can be filled with publications like the Park Tool's BBB-2 The Big Blue Book of Repair 2nd Edition (thanks Mark), and Sidwells' Bicycle Repair Manual.
The value of the LBS(s): When I messed around with boats I learned there were two types of yachties; those that built boats and those that sailed them. I was beginning to turn into a Silvio builder, rather than a Silvio rider! At some point you need to take the bike to one or more LBS and get them to help, unless you are a bicycle mechanic, or have built other bikes. It also serves to spread the word, and the reaction has always been positive and complementary on the Silvio design from both staff and anyone in the shop.
321: My journey to the Silvio
The 321 refers to selling three bicycles: 2007 Cruzbike Sofrider V1, 2008 Birdy Anthracite and 2009 Giant CRX-Zero to get one Silvio. I used BikeExchange.com.au and basically priced each bike at around 50 per cent of what I'd spent on it. All three sold quickly and went to good homes. Two in NSW and one in Victoria (Giant).
I'd bought the Birdy and the Giant to see if a really well-engineered folder, and a no-expense spared flat-bar road bike would make a difference to the way I felt about "conventional" bicycles. Alas, no.
By the time I had ridden the Giant 10 km back from the shop I had a numb bum. The Birdy remained unfolded most of the time, but was a nice piece of machinery. While I still had issues with the Sofrider V1, it was so much more comfortable to ride.
I had bought the Sofrider from the website, sight unseen as it were, and spent a month of Sunday's learning to ride it. Everything clicked when I met Kim Tolhurst and he made suggestions on setting up the Sofrider. By the time I sold it, I was calling it a V1.3 Sofrider (Head stem extender - better knee clearance, Triple chain ring and Vittoria Randonneur Pro tyres - higher pressure). Down at the Geelong "test" track, I rode the Sofrider V2, under Kim's watchful gaze, and everything started to click. My picture on the forum is the Cruzbike grin, not a grimace, as I rode my first Sofrider V2.
The die was cast when John's prototype Silvio arrived in Geelong for Kim to show to prospective buyers. After a 10 km ride along the Barwon River trail, that was that. I had sold all but my Cruzbike Sofrider V1.3 at this stage, but when that had been sold, and Kim came up to help me pack it, I had no excuses, other than a heavy workload.
Shortly before Christmas 2009 John came over from the West, and I met him and Kim at the Cruzbike "showroom" in Geelong, ostensibly to ride the new Sofrider, the Quest and the Sigma. Imagine my surprise when Kim announced we were going to ride to lunch. John gratiously surrendered "his" Silvio, and away we went. I hadn't been on a bike for a month or so, but the joy of riding the Silvio came back instantly. I left Geelong that evening with Frameset CBSV-070.
I have since ridden the 20-inch Quest (Quest 451), and I can see that in my future as the ideal Cruzbike to give people the Cruzbike experience (wife, daughter and sister and friends?). Maybe in 2010 we will reach a "tipping" point for Cruzbikes?
My Silvio build was delayed by Christmas, parts, overseas visitors and a heavy January workload, but it all came together on Friday 12 February, when I went for my first ride on CBSV-070.
I expect I will not visit these forums very often ... because I'll be out riding! Feel free to email me directly if there's any further detail you would like (dennispATtekniche.com.au).
I'll post additional pictures on the crankset, and the GEKKO rear light.
Additional Kit
Shimano PD-A530 SPD Road Touring Pedals: Standard on the Giant CRX Zero Flat-bar road bike.
Cycle Computer: VDO 12.6 with heart rate monitor
"Be seen" lights: GEKKO 3 LED Front and Rear
Bell: Nuvo NH-B777AP
Zefal Spy Mirror
Links (Current as at 21 Feb 2010)
Crankset: Mark Stonich (http://bikesmithdesign.com/)
Cycle Stand: http://pro-bikegear.com/publish/content/pro_2010/us/en/index/products/tools/bike_stand.html.
Wheelset: BikePro http://www.bikepro.com.au/index.php?module=Website&action=ProductDetails&content=2253
Park Tool The Big Blue Book of Repair - 2nd Edition: http://www.amazon.com/Park-Tool-BBB-2-Blue-Repair/dp/B001B6NAW2
Chris Sidwells, Bicycle Repair Manual:
http://www.amazon.com/Bicycle-Repair-Manual-Chris-Sidwells/dp/075663394X/ref=dp_ob_title_bk
Shimano dual purpose pedals: http://www.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/products/pedals/mountain/product.-code-PD-A530.-type-pd_mountain.html.
Cycle Computer: http://www.vdocyclecomputer.com/en/produkte/pulsmessung/hc126/funktionen/.
GEKKO Lights: http://www.knog.com.au/Product.aspx?productId=159.
Nuvo Bell: http://www.nuvo.ws/bell/b777ap.html.
Zefal Spy Mirror: http://www.zefal.com/zefal/produit.php?key=472.
Cruzbike-friendly LBSs in Box Hill area, Victoria, Australia
Cycleworks: http://www.cycleworks.com.au/ (Box Hill)
BikePro: http://www.bikepro.com.au (Mont Albert)
Cycle Science: http://www.cyclescience.com.au/ (Mitcham)
Thanks to
Frameset: Cruzbike / Kim Tolhurst
Groupset: Kim Tolhurst and BikePro
Brifter cabling, adjustment and final sanity check: Cycleworks. Special thanks to Brent, Todd and Vladimir.
General advice and help: Kim Tolhurst, John Tolhurst, Jim Parker, Andy Choy and team @ BikePro and Pete Holloway and team @ Cycle Science
Very special thanks to Mark Stonich, for the work he did on the crankset, and his erudite and humorous email correspondence on bikes, the universe and everything, and to Kim Tolhurst for his infectious enthusiasm for all things Cruzbike. And of course John for designing it in the first place!
Pictures
Specifications
Frameset: CBSV-070 2009 model with internal rear brake cable routing, updated rear shock elastomer, stronger titanium leaf spring (with concomitant filing of rear fork spring mount!) and additional headset spacers.
Groupset: Shimano Ultegra, with 10-speed 11-28 cassette, minus crankset.
Crankset: Shimano R600a 50-34 compact chain ring, with 175 mm cranks shortened by Mark Stonich to 154 mm.
Wheelset: BPR Aero 30, with Continental Ultra Gatorskin tyres (700x25C)
Display stand: Xtras Essential Cycling Stand, a heavier duty version of the Shimano Pro Cycle Stand. Useful for assembling bits and storing / displaying the bike.
The finished Silvio with the supplied Mirrycle mirror, bar tape, bell and lights weighed in at 12.5kg (27.5 lbs).
What I learned, or Traps for new players
Patience: Building a custom bike over Christmas is probably not the best time of year to get parts in a hurry, or coordinate deliveries. Threading a rear brake cable through an internally routed system required a feeder brake cable and using gravity for front of frame feed (hold frame vertical) and a coat hanger for the rear feed.
Planning: Cabling the frameset would have been much easier if all the components had arrived at once and I'd cabled a frameset, rather than an almost assembled bike (see Patience).
Reading: The Cruzbike forums are very helpful. Technical gaps can be filled with publications like the Park Tool's BBB-2 The Big Blue Book of Repair 2nd Edition (thanks Mark), and Sidwells' Bicycle Repair Manual.
The value of the LBS(s): When I messed around with boats I learned there were two types of yachties; those that built boats and those that sailed them. I was beginning to turn into a Silvio builder, rather than a Silvio rider! At some point you need to take the bike to one or more LBS and get them to help, unless you are a bicycle mechanic, or have built other bikes. It also serves to spread the word, and the reaction has always been positive and complementary on the Silvio design from both staff and anyone in the shop.
321: My journey to the Silvio
The 321 refers to selling three bicycles: 2007 Cruzbike Sofrider V1, 2008 Birdy Anthracite and 2009 Giant CRX-Zero to get one Silvio. I used BikeExchange.com.au and basically priced each bike at around 50 per cent of what I'd spent on it. All three sold quickly and went to good homes. Two in NSW and one in Victoria (Giant).
I'd bought the Birdy and the Giant to see if a really well-engineered folder, and a no-expense spared flat-bar road bike would make a difference to the way I felt about "conventional" bicycles. Alas, no.
By the time I had ridden the Giant 10 km back from the shop I had a numb bum. The Birdy remained unfolded most of the time, but was a nice piece of machinery. While I still had issues with the Sofrider V1, it was so much more comfortable to ride.
I had bought the Sofrider from the website, sight unseen as it were, and spent a month of Sunday's learning to ride it. Everything clicked when I met Kim Tolhurst and he made suggestions on setting up the Sofrider. By the time I sold it, I was calling it a V1.3 Sofrider (Head stem extender - better knee clearance, Triple chain ring and Vittoria Randonneur Pro tyres - higher pressure). Down at the Geelong "test" track, I rode the Sofrider V2, under Kim's watchful gaze, and everything started to click. My picture on the forum is the Cruzbike grin, not a grimace, as I rode my first Sofrider V2.
The die was cast when John's prototype Silvio arrived in Geelong for Kim to show to prospective buyers. After a 10 km ride along the Barwon River trail, that was that. I had sold all but my Cruzbike Sofrider V1.3 at this stage, but when that had been sold, and Kim came up to help me pack it, I had no excuses, other than a heavy workload.
Shortly before Christmas 2009 John came over from the West, and I met him and Kim at the Cruzbike "showroom" in Geelong, ostensibly to ride the new Sofrider, the Quest and the Sigma. Imagine my surprise when Kim announced we were going to ride to lunch. John gratiously surrendered "his" Silvio, and away we went. I hadn't been on a bike for a month or so, but the joy of riding the Silvio came back instantly. I left Geelong that evening with Frameset CBSV-070.
I have since ridden the 20-inch Quest (Quest 451), and I can see that in my future as the ideal Cruzbike to give people the Cruzbike experience (wife, daughter and sister and friends?). Maybe in 2010 we will reach a "tipping" point for Cruzbikes?
My Silvio build was delayed by Christmas, parts, overseas visitors and a heavy January workload, but it all came together on Friday 12 February, when I went for my first ride on CBSV-070.
I expect I will not visit these forums very often ... because I'll be out riding! Feel free to email me directly if there's any further detail you would like (dennispATtekniche.com.au).
I'll post additional pictures on the crankset, and the GEKKO rear light.
Additional Kit
Shimano PD-A530 SPD Road Touring Pedals: Standard on the Giant CRX Zero Flat-bar road bike.
Cycle Computer: VDO 12.6 with heart rate monitor
"Be seen" lights: GEKKO 3 LED Front and Rear
Bell: Nuvo NH-B777AP
Zefal Spy Mirror
Links (Current as at 21 Feb 2010)
Crankset: Mark Stonich (http://bikesmithdesign.com/)
Cycle Stand: http://pro-bikegear.com/publish/content/pro_2010/us/en/index/products/tools/bike_stand.html.
Wheelset: BikePro http://www.bikepro.com.au/index.php?module=Website&action=ProductDetails&content=2253
Park Tool The Big Blue Book of Repair - 2nd Edition: http://www.amazon.com/Park-Tool-BBB-2-Blue-Repair/dp/B001B6NAW2
Chris Sidwells, Bicycle Repair Manual:
http://www.amazon.com/Bicycle-Repair-Manual-Chris-Sidwells/dp/075663394X/ref=dp_ob_title_bk
Shimano dual purpose pedals: http://www.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/products/pedals/mountain/product.-code-PD-A530.-type-pd_mountain.html.
Cycle Computer: http://www.vdocyclecomputer.com/en/produkte/pulsmessung/hc126/funktionen/.
GEKKO Lights: http://www.knog.com.au/Product.aspx?productId=159.
Nuvo Bell: http://www.nuvo.ws/bell/b777ap.html.
Zefal Spy Mirror: http://www.zefal.com/zefal/produit.php?key=472.
Cruzbike-friendly LBSs in Box Hill area, Victoria, Australia
Cycleworks: http://www.cycleworks.com.au/ (Box Hill)
BikePro: http://www.bikepro.com.au (Mont Albert)
Cycle Science: http://www.cyclescience.com.au/ (Mitcham)
Thanks to
Frameset: Cruzbike / Kim Tolhurst
Groupset: Kim Tolhurst and BikePro
Brifter cabling, adjustment and final sanity check: Cycleworks. Special thanks to Brent, Todd and Vladimir.
General advice and help: Kim Tolhurst, John Tolhurst, Jim Parker, Andy Choy and team @ BikePro and Pete Holloway and team @ Cycle Science
Very special thanks to Mark Stonich, for the work he did on the crankset, and his erudite and humorous email correspondence on bikes, the universe and everything, and to Kim Tolhurst for his infectious enthusiasm for all things Cruzbike. And of course John for designing it in the first place!
Pictures
