Velma's Mum

[GrannyJen]

Apologies @Velma's Dad

Introducing Velma, my latest steed.

After two glorious years with a Specialised Turbo Como 4.0, and my new addiction to cycling, time for a change.

A more dynamic frame, and more hybrid than street cruiser, Velma is a specialised Turbo Vado 5.0.

The name? Well, I'm often cycling along singing my favourites from musicals, and somehow this bike did not suit the name Roxy.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Looks the business Jen, enjoy

 

[GrannyJen]

Looks the business Jen, enjoy

I've run into an arthritis wall

The SRAM gear change needs a new thumb position, as do the power controls on the other handlebar. Found both to be excruciating to my arthritic thumbs so now adjusting everything.

 

[couplands]

I've run into an arthritis wall

The SRAM gear change needs a new thumb position, as do the power controls on the other handlebar. Found both to be excruciating to my arthritic thumbs so now adjusting everything.

You could go for a wireless shifter and then the controls are more like pushing buttons....

 

[jonr71]

I have a Turbo Vado 4 SL. I take it on some pretty rough terrain and it's really a fun ride. I added Redshift seat post and Stem to ease the ride over gravel. Really great combination. Enjoy.

 

[GrannyJen]

You could go for a wireless shifter and then the controls are more like pushing buttons....

That's a possibility.

 

[GrannyJen]

I have a Turbo Vado 4 SL. I take it on some pretty rough terrain and it's really a fun ride. I added Redshift seat post and Stem to ease the ride over gravel. Really great combination. Enjoy.

I thought hard about the Sl, but then realised that in my last two trips I have done 3 of the top 100 climbs, so opted for Max power. My first three miles have been on flat tarmac but the fun starts next week in Cranbourne chase

 

[sidepod]

Loads of tasty new tech at Eurobike this year.

 

[SusiBus]

We've got two electric Bromptons which fold up amazingly small. We can fit both in the boot of our old Mk 4 Golf Anniversary, and still have room for two airline cases. But the gear shifters with my bendy arthritic fingers and thumbs are a real problem.
Despite all the hype about how well developed Brompton Bikes are, I do feel they have some design flaws, one of them being the gear shifters.

 

[soulstyledevon]

I’ve just been on the Specialized website. The Como SL looks a brilliant bike to stick on the back of the van. Just over 20kg, that’s almost 5kilos less than my current van ebike.

Might mention it to the house accountant, test her reactions….
Sexy little number

 

[GrannyJen]

I’ve just been on the Specialized website. The Como SL looks a brilliant bike to stick on the back of the van. Just over 20kg, that’s almost 5kilos less than my current van ebike.

Might mention it to the house accountant, test her reactions….
Sexy little number
View attachment 96608

The Vado SL is even lighter.

 

[soulstyledevon]

The Vado SL is even lighter.

It’s quite a bit lighter too.
But I just love the drop frame and styling of the Como SL

 

[Skylark2.0]

Looks like it will be great on rough tracks

 

[GrannyJen]

It’s quite a bit lighter too.
But I just love the drop frame and styling of the Como SL

Jo and I have just replaced our original Turbo Como's. Jo has gone for the 2022 Como with a very low step because of her arthritic hips and knees.I can't rate the Como highly enough.

A Nice relaxed urban street cruiser, those wide tyres offer good grip on other surfaces. Prior to 2022 it was shod with Specialised Nimbus Armadillo with a slick road pattern and between us we covered around 3,000 miles without a puncture. The current Como is shod with Specialised Pathfinder tyres, a more aggressive hybrid pattern but still with the Kevlar "black belt" puncture protection.

A tough bike. Mine crashed at 15mph and I just got back on it and rode it. I lost count of how many times Jo dropped her bike getting off it with seized joints. No faults at all with either.The motor is seamless, it's just part of you, reflects your pedalling effort with no drama.

 

[sidepod]

Sexy little number

The accountant or the bike? Both I assume

 

[soulstyledevon]

The accountant or the bike? Both I assume

Would it be weird if I said the bike…

 

[Skylark2.0]

Jo and I have just replaced our original Turbo Como's. Jo has gone for the 2022 Como with a very low step because of her arthritic hips and knees.I can't rate the Como highly enough.

A Nice relaxed urban street cruiser, those wide tyres offer good grip on other surfaces. Prior to 2022 it was shod with Specialised Nimbus Armadillo with a slick road pattern and between us we covered around 3,000 miles without a puncture. The current Como is shod with Specialised Pathfinder tyres, a more aggressive hybrid pattern but still with the Kevlar "black belt" puncture protection.

A tough bike. Mine crashed at 15mph and I just got back on it and rode it. I lost count of how many times Jo dropped her bike getting off it with seized joints. No faults at all with either.The motor is seamless, it's just part of you, reflects your pedalling effort with no drama.

Did you trade in your original bikes? I am curious that you replaced them do soon for such a high spec bike.

 

[GrannyJen]

Did you trade in your original bikes? I am curious that you replaced them do soon for such a high spec bike.

Yes, we did.

In Jo's case it was "same again" but low entry rather than step through. She was finding it more and more difficult to get on and off without gravity giving a helping hand. In my case I loved the Como, still have one, but I'm tending to go further distances on more broken surfaces and wanted something with a more dynamic feel to it.

 

[Skylark2.0]

Yes, we did.

In Jo's case it was "same again" but low entry rather than step through. She was finding it more and more difficult to get on and off without gravity giving a helping hand. In my case I loved the Como, still have one, but I'm tending to go further distances on more broken surfaces and wanted something with a more dynamic feel to it.

Bridle paths off road are so tempting!