Mods for my return to cycling
10-16-18, 08:41 PM
#1
Drink my Koolaid
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Paradise CA
Posts: 128
Bikes: 2013 Trek DS 8.3 (sold) '13 Trek Domane 2.0 (sold) '18 Trek Super Commuter 8s
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Mods for my return to cycling
First, this is my 2nd return. A few years ago, I bought a dual-sport and then an endurance road bike. I rode a couple of years till my neck simply wouldn't allow it anymore.
My weight went from 200 to 260.
I decided to return and was going to buy another flat-bar bike when I was given the opportunity to ride the Super Commuter I eventually bought. It's a terrific bike, but certainly not perfect. There's no suspension or even compliant components. My Domaine had the Iso-zone bars and seatpost (the seatpost is awesome). The Super Commuter? Nuttin.
My first change was the Cirrus Cycle Kinekt 2.1 suspension seatpost. The model I bought was rated to 260 or 250lbs depending on the site you were viewing. I was 260 on the money. Pre-loaded, the spring basically had about 2mm of travel left because of my weight. Cirrus came through with the XL model - not even on the site yet.
Folks, if you are a bit bigger like me and not riding a full suspension bike, this is your answer.
The XL gives plenty of travel without being bouncy or stealing my effort with a loss of efficiency. I can hit the broken pavement or the potholes without my rear end complaining. I actually look forward to longer rides.
Next was the front end and the RedShift stem. They make two models - 6 or 30 degree and a number of lengths. The 30 degree I chose comes in one flavor - 100mm. I was worried it might make steering twitchy but not at all. After a couple of weeks using the stock elastomer setup, I opted for a softer feel. The bars don't try to yank themselves out of my hands on every bump.
Even though I'm riding 3-5 days a week and averaging almost 100 miles a week, I'm not dropping pounds. My gut is shrinking a little but my legs are getting much stronger.
I love the Super Commuter, but I don't think I would be putting the miles on without the ride I get from the Kinekt and the RedShift. I don't understand why Trek builds a 55lb bike with no compliance for commuters, but it is an awesome ride.
My weight went from 200 to 260.
I decided to return and was going to buy another flat-bar bike when I was given the opportunity to ride the Super Commuter I eventually bought. It's a terrific bike, but certainly not perfect. There's no suspension or even compliant components. My Domaine had the Iso-zone bars and seatpost (the seatpost is awesome). The Super Commuter? Nuttin.
My first change was the Cirrus Cycle Kinekt 2.1 suspension seatpost. The model I bought was rated to 260 or 250lbs depending on the site you were viewing. I was 260 on the money. Pre-loaded, the spring basically had about 2mm of travel left because of my weight. Cirrus came through with the XL model - not even on the site yet.
Folks, if you are a bit bigger like me and not riding a full suspension bike, this is your answer.
The XL gives plenty of travel without being bouncy or stealing my effort with a loss of efficiency. I can hit the broken pavement or the potholes without my rear end complaining. I actually look forward to longer rides.
Next was the front end and the RedShift stem. They make two models - 6 or 30 degree and a number of lengths. The 30 degree I chose comes in one flavor - 100mm. I was worried it might make steering twitchy but not at all. After a couple of weeks using the stock elastomer setup, I opted for a softer feel. The bars don't try to yank themselves out of my hands on every bump.
Even though I'm riding 3-5 days a week and averaging almost 100 miles a week, I'm not dropping pounds. My gut is shrinking a little but my legs are getting much stronger.
I love the Super Commuter, but I don't think I would be putting the miles on without the ride I get from the Kinekt and the RedShift. I don't understand why Trek builds a 55lb bike with no compliance for commuters, but it is an awesome ride.
