cheelogoCHEETAH FAQ

Delivery time for a Cheetah
Transporting a Cheetah
DuraAce Components questions
Gearshift levers questions
Using your own components
Magura / Shimano brakes questions
Cat-Oasis drinking system
Bottom bracket types
Bottom bracket drop
Pedal base
Syntace STOPS brakes
Chainring bolt pattern
Chainring and Cat carbon cranks
Cat carbon cranks hardware
X-Fork v Conventional fork (1)
Natascha and conventional fork
X-Fork v Conventional fork (2)
Using another make of fork
Weight of rider
Frame head angle
Frame stiffness
Frame advantages
Frame wheelbase
Frame aging
Frame durability
A-head set only
Headset used
Fork tube diameter
Arm rests adjustability
X-fork with other handlebars
Height of aerobar
Gripshift questions
Bartol system and Shimano or Campagnolo
Bartol system and bottom bracket
9-speed equipment
Using other wheels
Crosswinds and forward thrust
Inertia, Cat wheels and wheel questions
Test rides in Busswil
Where is Busswil?
Does CAT have importers?
UPS + Freight costs
  • How long is the delivery time for a Cheetah ?
    Normally 8 to 10 weeks after the order, depending on current number of orders.
  • How can a Cheetah be transported, e.g. by plane?
    For the initial export, a cardboard box is best. But for taking the Cheetah to races, simply remove the wheels and pack everything into a nylon bike bag. The Cheetah is very light and is easy to carry.

    Shimano and DurAce questions

  • Can I use the new Dura-Ace 9-Speed-Components ?
    The cranks and bottom bracket (bearing) can not be used on the Cheetah because of the excessive size of the DuraAce bb. But this does not prevent you from using the 9-speed system. We offer a 9-speed Gripshift which will work with your 9-speed gear system.
  • Can I use the new 10 Speed components from Shimano or Campagnolo?
    Yes!
  • Why can't I use a DuraAce bottom bracket?
    You can't use any other bottom bracket apart from the one we use, which is the Shimano Ultegra type. The reason for this is that our Ultegra-type bottom brackets are not threaded into the frames but PRESSED in. The hole for the bb is an integral part of the frame molds and this cannot be changed without having to make entirely new molds.
  • What about gear-shift levers?
    (X-Fork) These can be fit to the inside of the aerobar. They are actually frame shifters but they are operated using the middle and ring fingers to turn them one way and thumb/base of thumb for the other way (like turning a key without the index finger). This is a good solution.
  • (Conventional Fork and steerer) I'd prefer shift levers. Is that a problem ?
    No. 8, 9 or 10-speed shift levers can be installed (price increase).
  • Can I attach a downtube shift lever to the left side, for my front derailler ?
    You can mount the shift lever on the aerobar. We don't like fitting stuff on the downtube because it's not very aesthetic and it'd be problematic routing the cable plus you have to shift your position to use downtube controls. But when it's on the aerobar you don't have to shift your position to use it.
  • I'd prefer some of my own components instead of those you'd usually fit to a Cheetah...
    No problem. Just let us know what you'd like, whether you'd like us to get the components at this end or whether you'd send them to us (most components in the USA are cheaper than in Switzerland !) and we'll give you an appropriate quote. Price of the bike would be adjusted accordingly.

    BRAKE QUESTIONS

  • Why do you use Magura brakes instead of Shimano?
    We use Magura because of a) their light weight, b) their slim profile and c) because of the place and way they can be installed, i.e. in an aerodynamically low drag position using a straight-through bolt through the caliper, which is not possible with Shimano brakes. Hydraulic brakes are the best because they are very efficient but also "dose-able". There is no transference of operational friction like there is with mechanical brakes.
    Shimano brakes need to be installed on the front of the front fork and in the usual place on the rear. The problem is that the cable of this type of brakes, and the cable drive interferes with the chainwheels and, at the front, it interferes with the frame.
  • Which type Magura brakes do you use of the Cheetah?
    HS77
  • I prefer Shimano brakes. Can I have them instead of Magura?
    The installation of Shimano brakes poses an aerodynamic problem. They do not have the simple "through mounting bolt" of the Magura and therefore require a small aluminum bracket. Shimano brakes are wider, thicker and heavier than Magura - that's why we chose Magura during the development stage - we determined that the Magura hydraulic brakes are so much better. But if you really and truly want Shimano brakes, then ok - Rudi will pull a face and say you're destroying the aerodynamics, but he'll do it - for a price !.
  • How does the CatOasis drink system work ?
    A special plastic bag is inserted into the frame, held in place by a stopper and filled with water. A drinking tube which can be cut to size and shaped is inserted into the stopper.The bags can be removed, rinsed out and re-used.
    It holds almost one litre of liquid.
  • What length bottom bracket spindle do you suggest for a standard width bottom bracket shell ?
    We normally use Shimano pressed-in (pulled-in) sealed cartridge BB-UN71 (107 mm long) but you can use 105 mm. A BB with internal lockring cannot be used. The lockrings are removed when the bb is installed. They are not necessary because our pressfit tolerance is so good (Klein is the only other bike which also has such precise tolerances, they use their own special bb). You can't use Campagnolo because of the bushing that goes with it.
  • What is the bottom bracket "drop" (distance from a horizontal line through the wheel axes to the bb centre) ?
    4 cm
  • What is the pedal width (pedal base) on a Cheetah?
    The pedal base (width between the ends of cranks where the pedals are attached to:) is 13.2 cm (crank outer edge to crank outer edge)
  • Can I use Syntace STOPS brakes on my Cheetah ? They are a hydraulic push button style brake lever for aerobars.
    Rudi has seen them and he thinks you CAN use them. We haven't had any hands-on experience of them, though.
  • What is the Cheetah's chainring bolt circle / bolt pattern?
    130 degrees.
  • How does the chainring work with the spider that I see on your cranks ?
    The fifth hole goes directly on to the crank, thus we can save a fifth "arm".
  • Why is the hardware of Cheetah carbon cranks made of steel and can I replace the steel bolt with an alloy one?
    The steel bolt is made from stainless steel. A lot of torque is transferred through this bolt and alloy would not be strong enough, or it would be too near the limit.. Once the bolt becomes chewed or broken, the crank is ruined. The bolt and nut only weigh 10g. You could tighten up the cranks with steel bolts then replace the steel bolts with alu ones, because the holding strength of the bolts is much less than the tightening strength, as they almost hold by themselves when they are tightened up, because of the taper. We could make you a longer nut but the hexagonal head is very thin and would be quite delicate if made of alloy.
  • What are the advantages/ disadvantages of the X fork vs the conventional fork/steerer setup (weight? aerodynamics?)
    It's both - weight AND aerodynamics. The conventional fork is lighter BUT it needs a stem (which the X fork doesn't) and of course the handlebar is a little heavier. X-fork = 460-500 grammes, conventional fork = 360 grammes without stem. So the entire combination of the X-fork (fork + pads + aerobars etc) is the lighter.
  • Why does Natascha use a conventional fork?
    The reason for this conventional fork/handlebars on her bike is that she wants her hands to be as vertical as possible and not even at a slightly tilted angle, as is the case with the X-fork. (she did not have any problems, but she does have a small medical problem with her wrists.)
  • What is in your opinion the best way to go as far as the fork/steerer set-up goes?
    The absolute optimum in aerodynamics is the original Cheetah with the X-Fork. That's why it was designed the way it is. The bull horn type handlebar is more conventional, more traditional, but not as radical or aggressive as the X-fork. But for some people, the X-fork takes some getting used to.
  • Can I use a different fork if I get a frame set up for a conventional type fork ?
    The steering head tube must have a uniform (not conical) inside diameter of 30mm. The reason it needs to be cylindrical is because the top bearing will be somewhere in the top third of most standard forks, so it has to be 30mm all the way through.
  • How heavy can a Cheetah rider be ? And how tall ?
    Try to keep it under 120 kg (264 lbs), fellahs! As to height: We have riders over 6 ft. I think the tallest is about 6' 4"
  • What is the best frame head angle?
    A head angle of 72 could make the bike "nervous". After all the development, we found that the best handling is with 70° which, with a top tube of 56, gives a wheelbase of 102 cm. 70 balances the handling very nicely, it gives a stable ride in a straight line and is still agile enough to tackle any "slalom" course, thanks to the very direct, stiff handlebar/stem connection. With the 70 and its very stable straight-line behaviour handling, it is still very agile. A customer *can* have a 72 head angle (or 71 as a compromise) if he/she wants.
  • Do you have any figures re the stiffness of the Cheetah frame ?
    Bottom bracket stiffness is between 110 and 125 Nm/deg. Steering head torsional stiffness is between 68 and 76 Nm/deg. Our frames, with 1,2 kg basic weight, have a bottom bracket stiffness similar to the 2 kg heavy Centurion frames. This is why they love a good climb.
  • Why do you believe the Cheetah is better than other frames?
    Aerodynamics: Tested by Tour to be superior to the Lotus and other aerobikes
    Rigidity: better than conventional frames such as Klein Quantum Pro
    Weight: Lighter than the best conventional frames, and half the weight of the Lotus.
    Price: Cheaper than the next nicest (in Rudi's opinion: the Klein Quantum Pro).
    Excellent equipment
  • Does the Cheetah have a shorter wheelbase than other frames?
    No, the Cheetah has a longer wheelbase than conventional bikes. Normal bikes have between 97 and 99 cm wheelbase. The Cheetah has 102 and also the chain stays are quite long compared with other bikes. (But it doesn't make any difference to the alignment of the chain.)
  • Will the rigidity of the frame reduce as the frame ages?
    No - that's the great thing about carbon. Steels tend to age because of the results of UV light on the metals, but carbon doesn't. Actually we could bury one now in a muddy field and it'd still be perfect in 100 years time. (This causes a bit of a problem when we get rid of cut-off oddments of carbon fibre. You can't even destroy them by high-temperature fire. Only thing the local trash center can do is put the oddments in a crusher and shredder and hope that the blades don't "go" first !!)
  • How long will the frame last if they are used regularly ?
    We had them tested at the Aachen Institute of Technology for twice the normal testing durability. After 2,000,000 "load changes" there was no change whatsoever in the strength of the frame or the components.
  • Does the conventional fork take A-head set type bars only?
    Yes.
  • What kind of headset can I use, say, on a frameset ?
    Any 1". We usually deliver the headset with the frame, because you're not going to get such a good headset anywhere else (It's Rudelli Italia)
  • What diameter of fork goes into your headtube?
    Normal 1"
  • Are the armrests adjustable ?
    They are not adjustable forwards or backwards because this is not a critical measurement, i.e. you can rest your arms nearer the elbows or the middle of your arms etc. You can adjust them a certain amount higher e.g. by using thicker arm rest pads.
  • Can I use other handlebars on the X-fork ?
    You cannot use any other aerobars on the X-fork, they must be the CAT ones, because of the way they are fit. The specially angled brackets fit to the top outer ends of the X-fork and the ends of the aerobar are inserted into these brackets. The aerobars are specially made so that the angle etc. fits the brackets.
  • X-Fork: How high is the aerobar above the headset?
    It's custom-made and custom-sized. The handlebar/steerer (straight part) is normally 25mm below the level of the aerobar.

    GRIPSHIFT QUESTIONS

  • Can the Gripshift be installed on a standard road bar?
    Yes, it's perfectly standard, apart from the fact that we also offer it in a 9-speed version. How does the 9 speed gripshift system work?. Is it located on the aerobars on the tubing that is inclined towards the apex of the aerobars, or on the horizontal tubing of the bars?
    It depends on which steerer you get. For the X-Fork it's on the inclined tubes pointing towards the apex, for the normal steerer it's on the little bullhorns. Can the 9-speed Gripshift it be adapted to 10 speed?
    Not yet. We need to make new innards for it. People who want 10 speed get thumb shifters.
  • Does the Bartol work with Shimano or Campagnolo?
    Shimano: Yes
    Campagnolo: No, because Campagnolo have smaller chains.
  • Bartol System on the Cheetah : Is a wider bottom bracket required?
    No. You may need to slide the bottom bracket to the right or the left, which is done by pulling one crank off, putting a washer between the crank and the frame and then pulling the bb by screwing the mounting screw (which fixes the crank to the bb) in. Of course you can also just change the chainrings, so if you've not bought a Bartol yet, make sure you get them without cranks !

  • 9/10 SPEED SYSTEMS


    As mentioned above, we use the Ultegra adapter type bottom bracket. The DuraAce 9-speed bb won't fit but this doesn't prevent one from having 9 or 10 -speeds because this is only a question of the sprocket cassette (group) at the back, the rear derailler (Shimano/DuraAce on the Cheetah) and the gear change system. The Cheetah derailler works with both 8 and 9 speed. The 2 chainwheels at the front work perfectly with 9 or 10 speed. A 9-Speed Gripshift can also be retrofit ok. 10-speed Gripshift is not yet available.
  • What about using other wheels ?
    Firstly, Cheetahs are built for 26 inch wheels only. You can not fit 28 inch wheels.
    There are no restrictions on the front and rear hubs, tyre size should be not over 20mm. Our front fork normally has holes instead of slots and the wheel screwed in using 2 recessed Allen screws which are completely flush with the fork and create no extra drag, which a quick release would do. If a client prefers slots for a q.r., we can do this at no extra charge.
  • Do you think that, in view of the surface area of the CAT wheels in a crosswind, I would be better off with a Mavic Cosmic, Zipp Z1 or similiar?
    The surface area is deliberate, because it is exactly this surface area in the correct shape, which provides forwards thrust in wind conditions, when you get used to harnessing the side force, thus using the wind to your advantage. This is exactly the same way that the sail of a racing yacht works.
    If you don't like the feeling that that gives (i.e. if you can't handle it), then you fit a normal front wheel, with about 14 spokes and not too deep a rim and you will have no side-wind effect whatsover, absolutely none. It is only the front wheel which "pushes you about", but it's also the front wheel which gives the most forward thrust.
  • What is the inertia of CAT wheels ?
    CAT wheels are lighter than other carbon wheels, so they also have less inertia. The hub/rim ratio is about the same as others so there's no more inertia to overcome than on other wheels. This is not actually a factor to be considered, as you only need to overcome intertia when you're accelerating. Once you have your speed up, the intertia has nothing to do with total resistance because it remains a constant.
  • Do you have any plans of making a 700C size Cheetah in the future?
    Definitely not. We don't make Penny Farthings either :-)
  • Is it possible to mount the magnet for my cycling computer on the trispokes?
    No need - our wheels have a magnet built in :-) You can't see it from the outside. It works on both sides.
  • Can I test ride a Cheetah in Busswil ?
    We may not have a Cheetah here which will fit you exactly, but we'll do our best. Just let us know in advance.
  • Where is Busswil ?
    In NW Switzerland, 95 km SSW of Basel (Bale), 7 km SE of Biel-Bienne, 30 km NW of Bern and 2 km to the north of Lyss. Accessing Busswil by road has become much easier since the motorway section N5 opened in April 2002. Precise instructions can be sent on request. Biel, Lyss and Busswil have trains stations for express trains, only slow trains stop in Busswil.
  • Do you have an importer in the USA or elsewhere ?
    Aim /Norton Bicycle Co. in Japan sell Cheetahs. Otherwise we sell direct to customers in order to speed things up and to avoid higher costs. We have close, very friendly relationships with our "family" of customers and find that the best way to do this is to deal with customers direct instead of through dealers.
  • What would it cost to send a Cheetah to the USA ?
    Airfreight to an airport with "Consolidated" facilities costs around $200 net. Customs and handling charges would be added at your end. "Pre-paid Freight" tends to be cheaper than "Freight Collect". You can save yourself the delivery charge by picking the bike up from the airport, but let a freight handler do the paperwork. Freight sent to private addresses tend to get through simpler and cheaper. We also send bikes by UPS. Although shipping by UPS costs more than airfreight, the customs and delivery paperwork at the customer's end seem simpler, faster and cheaper. (We just sent a complete bike less wheels but with a second fork and handlebar to Australia and it cost 302 SFr by airfreight to a consolidated airport, it took 5-6 days to get there).
    Frame sets can often be sent using the Swiss P.O.'s own express service, "EMS", which is a bit cheaper than UPS and just as quick. This depends on whether we can make the box small enough without compromising protection.