Rans Force 5

Quoted message said:

Does anybody out there have any real world time on a Force 5? I see on the
website they were due out in March. Have they actuallly hit the streets
yet?

Mark,

Yup, yours truly recently completed a 650+ mile trip from Iowa to
Canada on an F5. Not one problem (even a flat) during the ride.

The climbing ability on an F5 is outstanding. It's as close to a DF
as I've ever experienced. (Although a DF can still outclimb a bent
given equal rider ability.) The dual wheel design is the key.

One of my other bents is a V2, and I've always been pleased with it
(logged thousands of miles on it), but the F5 just blows it away
climbing.

My F5 is not stock however. Randy (Schlitter of RANS) graciously
agreed to make a 700c wheel mod for me, so my F5 runs with dual 700c
(x 23) wheels rather than the stock 650c wheels.

The jury is still out on whether this has made the bike faster. I'm
still working on dialing in the most aero position, and RANS simply
does not have the selection of riser and handlebars needed to
customize the fit for each rider.

One of my riding partners has a Bacchetta Corsa (with M5 seat) fully
dialed-in and can consistently out-roll me. We have yet to do a full
suite of roll-down tests between both bikes (e.g. swap bikes, repeat
multiple times, then average), but so far the Corsa (with 650c wheels)
*seems* to be slightly better.

Overall though, the stock F5 XP is slightly cheaper than the Corsa and
is an excellent bike - I highly recommend it.

-JohnC

John,

Quoted message said:

My F5 is not stock....my F5 runs with dual 700c

Glad to hear it. That was my first thought when it came out.

Some Strada/Corsa(s) have also been set up with 700's. Sadly, the
Aero's chainstays aren't long enough to allow it.

If only RANS had done it back in 1995, when I suggested it!

http://rowvelo.com/images/700-700VRex.jpg

Quoted message said:

The jury is still out on whether this has made the bike faster....so far the Corsa (with 650c wheels) *seems* to be slightly better.

Depends on many variables. Are your wheels and fork as aero? If he
is more laid back, or heavier, he will out coast you.

Even with all else being equal, the Corsa may have an edge. The boom
is shorter, meaning the rider sits further back/down between the
wheels, than on the F5.

Warren "big wheels are better since 1995" Berger