Cytronex Cannondale capo special offer

[Pedalo]

Just noticed the Cytronex website has been updated (no more toothbrushes!) and there is a Christmas offer on the Capo - £200 off.

The low weight of this bike has certainly grabbed a lot of headlines but I suspect it probably hasn't resulted in many sales - but I'd be interested to hear from someone who does own one.

I sort of like the idea of a single speed bike but I was thinking to myself on my way in this morning that my route is fairly hilly and actually, I do use my gears quite a bit. Perhaps one day I should figure out what the gear ratio of the Capo is and try to do my entire route in a similar gear on my Trek...

 

[HarryB]

Just noticed the Cytronex website has been updated (no more toothbrushes!) and there is a Christmas offer on the Capo - £200 off.

The low weight of this bike has certainly grabbed a lot of headlines but I suspect it probably hasn't resulted in many sales - but I'd be interested to hear from someone who does own one.

I sort of like the idea of a single speed bike but I was thinking to myself on my way in this morning that my route is fairly hilly and actually, I do use my gears quite a bit. Perhaps one day I should figure out what the gear ratio of the Capo is and try to do my entire route in a similar gear on my Trek...

I have tried the capo and it is much better than I expected. Not suitable for very hilly terrain though as the tongxin is not a good hill climber without help from the rider. Not sure what the gearing was but from memory I think my cadence was about 70 at about 20 mph to give you an idea of the gearing . Certainly for the centre of london it makes perfect sense as there are few hills and plenty of stop start traffic, lights etc.

 

[Barnowl]

Tough one. I'm sticking with the Trek. It'll be worthless by the time I've finished with it

Carbon forks and electric motors bother me a bit but otherwise lovely bike.

 

[Pedalo]

I think that the gearing would be too much on the high side for me. If I had infinite money I'd get one for sure as a second bike, but I don't really have the money or space for it and I don't think it's versatile enough as an only bike. My company is about to start the cycle to work scheme from about March next year so I'm thinking I could sell my Trek and buy a brand new bike without spending too much money.
I suspect I'll probably end up getting the Claude Butler Cytronex.

 

[eTim]

Now if only they discounted the Super Six....by £2000, I might be interested

 

[matt-derby]

Capo deal

I saw the Capo deal too, I rode it at Presteigne, was the quickest bike I tried there! Very light too so may help with the hills. Again as said previously, better for moderate terrain.

I'm finding the carbon forks fine on the Claud Butler, am I going to be surprised one day?

By the way, how do you all pronounce Cytronex..? on the gadget show they said Si-tron-ex, am I wrong calling it Citron-ex?

 

[HarryB]

By the way, how do you all pronounce Cytronex..? on the gadget show they said Si-tron-ex, am I wrong calling it Citron-ex?

I am glad you have been pronouncing it like that as well. I think Si-tron-ex is probably right as it has a more techy sound.

 

[HarryB]

Perhaps one day I should figure out what the gear ratio of the Capo is and try to do my entire route in a similar gear on my Trek...

I think large ring and gear 4 feels about right from memory if you want to give it ago.

 

[Pedalo]

I think large ring and gear 4 feels about right from memory if you want to give it ago.

I'll try it - I'm, pretty sure I wont get up the 1 in 9 with that ratio though.

I had been using the fruity pronounciation but I think I heard Mark use the Si-tron-ex pronounciation in an interview. Probably derived from a combination of "cycling" and "electronics".
I quite liked the citron-ex version but maybe it's unfortunate that it makes your bike sound like a bit of a lemon...

 

[Barnowl]

I saw the Capo deal too, I rode it at Presteigne, was the quickest bike I tried there! Very light too so may help with the hills. Again as said previously, better for moderate terrain.

I'm finding the carbon forks fine on the Claud Butler, am I going to be surprised one day?

By the way, how do you all pronounce Cytronex..? on the gadget show they said Si-tron-ex, am I wrong calling it Citron-ex?

I think it's Si-tron-ex as in Si-bernetics, Si-borg and Si-berman.

PS I think the forks probably are fine. Just doesn't seem right somehow.

 

[matt-derby]

Cybercorp megatron

I think I have been influenced by hearing the name of the email virtulaization software 'citrix', plus I think it Si-tron-ex sounds a bit like a transformer robot built by cycorp or viacom, should I expect it to start dancing at the traffic lights or if I leave it on the top of a car park somewhere!

 

[jerrysimon]

I have always called it Citronex

At the end of the day I don't mind what they are called, they are great bikes albeit fitting a niche requirement.

Regards

Jerry

 

[Pedalo]

I think large ring and gear 4 feels about right from memory if you want to give it ago.

I tried it and as expected didn't get very far at all! While I like the idea of the sporty lightweight bikes and would buy one as a fun second bike if I could justify and afford it, my main use really is for getting to work. I'm sure a honking great pannier and mudguards would ruin the sleek lines of the Capo!

So for now the grand plan is still to simply update to the Cytronex Claude Butler when the cycle to work scheme kicks in at work next year.

Unless I change my mind and spot something else before then of course!

 

[Pedalo]

...albeit fitting a niche requirement.

I think the single speed versions are definitely niche and I suppose electric bikes in general are somewhat niche right now but within that I'm not sure I would describe the Cytronex concept as niche.

I'd have thought that bikes that don't look electrified, ride like a normal bike when you want, provide great assistance up most hills and against headwinds and allow you to get to work on a bike without being sweaty ought to be pretty mainstream.

 

[jerrysimon]

My Cytronex fits my niche requirement perfectly

When I say that what I mean is like you say it does not look like an ebike, "almost" rides like a regular bike unpowered and I see it as more assist i.e. I always start cycling before I engage assistance.

Your probably right though, for many that is probably essential not niche.

As an asside I have been reading A2B back issues now that I have signed up. Its interesting to read that Mark got a really hard time when he announced this bike in one of the fixie forums.

I guess fixies and "e" don't sit well together for many.

Regards

Jerry

 

[Mark/Cytronex]

It did think the lemon freshness was an interesting idea, but the name comes from "Cy" as in "Cycle" and "tronex" as in "electronics".

Pedalo - I agree, we have a 1 in 9 slope arround here and the Capo is a bit overgeared for it, although the system is different to yours, it can be done, but really the single speeds are aimed at cities like London. I have cycled the Capo in London several times now and I must say it is the bike I would choose for this use. The December issue of Wired compared several bikes on a London commute. Ours was obviously the only single speed and I think you will find the result interesting. You can download the PDF on our home page - just click on the Wired logo or graphs:

Cytronex Electric Bikes - Electric Bicycles with Hidden Power Assistance

It is true that I did get all manner of abuse when I posted on the London single speed and fixed gear forum, which initially I was a bit taken aback by but then found amusing, particularly when we found that we had an astronomical amount of hits on our website that day!

 

[Barnowl]

It is true that I did get all manner of abuse when I posted on the London single speed and fixed gear forum, which initially I was a bit taken aback by but then found amusing, particularly when we found that we had an astronomical amount of hits on our website that day!

I've been on that forum and total abuse seems to be a right of passage

PS Got the replacement part next day. Many thanks

 

[HarryB]

Not that I am into generalisations but from riding around London I think they are the most arrogant lot on the road.

To tell what I think is an amusing story (as only a pride was hurt). Having arrived at one set of lights first (because I was the quickest off the previous set). I waited at the red and this annoying fixie came along side and refused to put his feet down (I now realise he must have had cleats). So he was going backwards and forwards next to me with the front wheel at all sort of angles. As the lights went green for some reason he rode straight into me. Because he couldn't put a foot down went straight over in the middle of the road. He wasn't hurt which is the main thing but there was all sorts of abuse about how I had tried to overtake on the inside. I think he thought it was his right to be first off the lights, personally I don't think there is much of a contest between a single speed and electric bike.

 

[jerrysimon]

It is true that I did get all manner of abuse when I posted on the London single speed and fixed gear forum, which initially I was a bit taken aback by but then found amusing, particularly when we found that we had an astronomical amount of hits on our website that day!

Mark yes I read that too which means someone was interested despite the response.

People usually respond strongly when they feel challenged or threatened. It can be hard not to take it personally if your in the firing line. For myself when I now feel challenged I try not to respond in defence, but rather try and dig deep to find out what it is exactly that I feel challenged about. It amazing the baggage you can dig up when you do

Regards

Jerry