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two bikes compared

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lucydad:
All,

I have had the new Cannondale just over a week and ridden it four times for a total of around 35 miles.  Just love being on a bicycle again.  Some days, like today I ride both the CD and the V7R.   The comparison is interesting, at least to me, and I am sure many others have their own experiences.



Second ride on the CD at a local packed park with lots of parents, babystrollers, walkers, bicycles and small kids I was on a gravel trail going slowly.  Normally one can maneuver around and call "on your left, right, etc" and people respond.  Simple one would think, but with our huge Asian immigration population:  well a lot of them do not understand English.  And they tend to veer unexpectedly as we normally pass on right.  No so much if from India, China, Vietnam, etc?  Anyway a family of five:  parents, stroller baby and two small boys:   tried to creep around them, and small boy stopped right in front of me.  Had my first emergency stop on CD, skidded a bit, leg out, caught myself before hitting him, and happily did not go down.  The light weight of the CD makes a huge difference.

So it pays to always be situationally aware on the bicycle, just like on a MC.  Similarly I was crossing a major road on the CD.  Stopped, punched the crosswalk button, waited for signal, rode on slowly.  Piles of traffic and trucks and I noticed nobody in the car turn lane could see me.  So, I slowed and got on the brakes just like on the V7R:  sure enough some cager blew thru the red light on the turn and would have hit me on the CD and I would have been little plastic and aluminum bits and blood under the Prius.  Lovely.  

So the MC safety skills pay off on the CD, without a doubt.

Then there is cornering on the CD:  woot the little short wheel base means cornering is very, very quick.  On gravel trail again, a pinhook turn, took it a bit hot (maybe 8 mph) and the bike went into a skid.  Skills again:  relax, use the lane, dont touch brakes and sure enough we made it thru the corner.  And learned a bit about the limits of traction on this particular bicycle.   Complementary again to motorcycle in a skid.

One thing I love about the CD:  "gear up" pretty much means fill water bottle, dress for temperatures (although with the calorie burning lower temps are more tolerable than on MC),  helmet on and gloves on and off we go.  On the V7R this time of year:  right shirt, leathers, boots, Shoei, gloves, check bike out, wheel it out (often requiring moving a car), start up, warm up, and then off.   MC is highly labor intensive compared to CD to roll out.  Often have to stop to fill with fully organic hydrocarbons too.  

Speaking of helmets I got a white and high end CD bicycle helmet.  Ok, good enough, but I wonder how much good it would do if I did go down?  I always wear bicycle gloves though as I have scars from riding as a kid both kinds of bikes.  The Shoei X12 is formidable protection.

Wind on the CD means hard work a great resistance cardio opportunity, but at some point no fun and forget it.  High winds on the V7R are tolerable, but around 30 mph gusts I usually hang it up.  

Summer heat and humidity and sun and mosquitoes and such will be not so much fun on the CD.  I know that.  Early morning rides will compete with the V7R:  out by 7 AM before temps go up into the 90Fs.   I may get some lights for the CD for evening rides though on the bike trails:  no contending with the cagers on the streets makes it safer, I think.  

Ah well crappy roads and gravel and potholes and chasing dogs and dead squirrel guts:   pretty easy to avoid on the CD due to slow speed and very maneuverable.  On the V7R:  heads up and tuned in all the time.  

Which is more relaxing?  Wow tough call there, both have merits.   The quiet of the CD is attractive at times.   Body endorphins spike on the CD also, no doubt.  
The MC takes a LOT more focus and skill in my opinion, at least with local riding.  The V7R:  wow love the speed and cornering and the machine itself, amazing engine and response.  No bicycle can match that in my opinion.  

So, yeah there it is.  Time to finish my lunch, then a short nap then a ride on the CD despite a bit windy.  Every ride gets a bit more comfortable for my body.  I try to do some high speed sprints on every ride to get my pulse up.  Fastest so far on the CD is around 18 mph.  We have a few hills, but nothing to speak of.  So I try for distance.  Checked the CD odometer versus my GPS:  almost identical.  So the 8 mile CD rides are for real.  

Oh, and moving the CD around the garage:  one hand and pick it up.  No so much with the V7R.  

moltoguzzi:
"All,

I have had the new Cannondale just over a week and ridden it four times for a total of around 35 miles.  Just love being on a bicycle again.  Some days, like today I ride both the CD and the V7R.   The comparison is interesting, at least to me, and I am sure many others have their own experiences."

Which one is faster?

screamday:
What kind of oil do you use in the Cannondale??  :BEER:

oldbike54:
Tires ?
 Dusty


Sent from a submarine in Oklahoma .

Frulk:
Lucydad, I noticed you were able to mount that rack without turning your Racers shocks upside down. What's the model and manufacturer's name if you don't mind.

Nice enough to get out and ride today in northern Utah. Close to 50 and sunny. Buddy of mine showed up on his ADV bike at our locally owned coffee shop as I was leaving

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