My new Surly Karate Monkey w/ xtracycle!

[sarahlou]

The DH just put this together for me. What a guy! He even wove the basket that Lou Lou sits in. She loves going for rides and doesn't interfere with the steering at all. It has a Brooks saddle (B67) and Nitto road albatross bars with a softride stem- so it is very cushy to ride. When I took it for the first ride the other night, I rode through the alley on purpose to go over the potholes. I feel like a kid on a bike when I ride!!!

[Aggie_Ama]

Looks like Lou Lou and you are going to enjoy some great rides!! :D

[sarahlou]

This is my commute bike, I have a road bike and a mt. bike too. I was using my DH's to commute this winter because it had 3 inch tyres with studs in them so it was good in the snow and on the ice. He rode his mt. bike so I could ride the surly. I liked it so much that he decided to put one together for me- that way he gets his back! The xtracylce is good in snow and on ice as it gives the bike a longer wheel base so it is less likely to come out from under you- also you can carry a lot of gear (up to 200lbs) which is always handy in Alaska as you need a lot of gear up here. The basket for Lou Lou is just for fun (or if I do any touring with her), she usually runs along side while I mt. bike. But she truely does love the basket, when I pull out the bike she jumps up into my arms to be put in the basket!

[Zen]

Hell yeah!
Lou Lou is no dummy- who wouldn't like being chauffeured in a basket?!
That is one fine ride.

[Pax]

Nice bike! And what a great basket for Lou Lou, such a happy looking pup. :)

[10ch]

Awesome setup. I think feeling like a kid again is the A#1 reason saddle up.

Sometimes I feel like it's our little secret.

[lauraelmore1033]

awww, what a happy dog! I often think it would be nice to have a dog's capacity for joy. There's a guy who rides in my area with his little yappy dog (don't know the breed, but that's the generic term I use for the type...) strapped into a snuggly sack. That little dog yips with delight the whole way. Makes me smile every time I see them.

[mimitabby]

happy new bike to you! have fun with your doggy too.

[annie]

I LOVE it!! How does Loulou like it?

Annie

[farrellcollie]

I wish my 11 yr old 70lb collie would fit in a bag on the front of my bike like lou lou does. I might have to start thinking corgies.

[Trek420]

I wish my 11 yr old 70lb collie would fit in a bag on the front of my bike like lou lou does. I might have to start thinking corgies.

We don't need smaller dogs, we just need one of these

[KnottedYet]

My LBS has one of these doggie trailers on display. Very nifty! Would work great for hauling gear on a long ride, too.

The one we were looking at "accidentally" came off the display stand, and while lifting it back onto the stand we discovered that it is very lightweight.

I'm thinking that with the dogs in the family and the grocery shopping etc., one of these might be more useful than a B.O.B. trailer.

(sorry for the hijack)

[kellichou]

I am seriously in LOVE with these xtracycles! I want one! I want one! They seem SO handy--errands, commuting, whatever!

And your little terrier riding in the basket is TEH CUTE! Sweet ride, thank you for sharing it with us!

[chickwhorips]

you look so good and lou lou looks nice and comfy! i'm jealous. then again i'm jealous of your mt bike too.

[sarahlou]

CWR- we need to go for another ride, Sunday? You'll have to ride the surly around the block to try her out. If you want to commute in the winter it is the way to go in Anchortown.

[chickwhorips]

if my feet aren't to beat up from saturday, we will definitely go for a ride.

[takomacommuter]

my brown xtra-monkey is nearly ready to build. what kind of wheelset are you running? (spoke count/hub/rims)

[pooks]

I love it!

So, did you buy the Surly, then take off the rear wheel to put on the xtracycle?

Also, that looks like the kind of bike/tires my husband would love. He's wanting fat tires.

[sarahlou]

Deore disc brake hub, 32 hole with alpine 3 super-duper strong spokes (like those used on downhill bikes) with Alex 32 rim super-duper wide- it makes tires have a much wider profile- good for cushioning.
The surly comes as a frame and you put the xtracylce where the back wheel would go (it extends the wheel base).