Xtracycle: Footsies?

[KnottedYet]

Do you gals with Xtracycles carry passengers? Do you have the "Footsies" footrests on your Xtracycle? And how hard is it to pedal with a person on the back end, really?

I'm thinking it would be nice to be able to haul a passenger once in a while, but don't know how feasible it really is.

[sarahlou]

I can easily pedal my husband around, he weighs 155 lbs. We don't have a foot rest as such, but do have the attachment for carrying wide loads on one side. He has had a passenger who weighs closer to 200 lbs. and he carried him through the snow on a winter trail without a problem.

[sarahlou]

oh yeah... did you know that surly is coming out with a long wheel base cargo bike and Kona is meant to as well- so that you don't need the xtracycle- but you may want it if you want variation in your wheel base.

[KnottedYet]

Darn, I just bought a new Kona today!!! (no, I'm happy with it)
The LBS told me about the Surly, but not about the Kona. For right now, the regular wheelbase is good cuz I might be commuting by bus with the bike. (gotta fit in those racks). Can't spend more money until I make some more.

[sgtiger]

Here's a picture of the Surley Big Dummy (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/242/448420598_4ac22c43da.jpg?v=0). And here's a link to a review (http://www.point83.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3763&highlight=dummy). It's seems pretty cool, but if I had the money I think I'd get a Bakfiet (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cleverchimp/434059436/). But, alas, I'm broke so I guess it's moot.:rolleyes: ;)

[sgtiger]

Oh, I almost forgot there's the long-tail cargo from Sasha White (http://bikeportland.org/2006/10/04/vanilla-goes-long-with-new-xtracycle-frame/#more-2241).:cool: Mmm... Vanilla! Yum! Yum! Now to go find me a sugar daddy. :D I'm sure DH wouldn't mind, especially since he got me into this bike thing in the first place.;) :p

[sarahlou]

I thought you might like to see the xtracycle in "load mode". I flew in last night from a work trip and my husband and dog picked me up and he peddled us home- probably around 5 miles and bags+dog+me about 160 lbs. He wants to get an assisted motor for the surly! But managed to ride the whole way.

[sarahlou]

oh, I forgot to add that there was a 25 mile/hr. head wind!

[KnottedYet]

Here's a picture of the Surley Big Dummy (http://farm1.static.flickr.com/242/448420598_4ac22c43da.jpg?v=0). And here's a link to a review (http://www.point83.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3763&highlight=dummy). It's seems pretty cool, but if I had the money I think I'd get a Bakfiet (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cleverchimp/434059436/). But, alas, I'm broke so I guess it's moot.:rolleyes: ;)

The review by Aaron Goss ( www.rideyourbike.com ) you linked has me thinking maybe I should wait for a Surly Big Dummy? He's such a proponent of Xtracycles that hearing him say he likes the Surly *more* makes me nervous...

I can't find Kona's long-wheelbase hauler, does anyone have a link for that?

And, ooooh, that Vanilla.... prettier than the Surly.

Sarahlou - That has GOT to be ONE OF THE COOLEST bike pictures I've EVER SEEN!!!!! Oh, man, I *want* an Xtracycle (of some sort)!! What kind of bars do you have? Are those Nitto Albatross? Man, that is a great picture!

[sarahlou]

Yes, those are Nitto road albatross bars (although they're called road, they take mt. bike shifters and levers), they are great, super comfy and I have a softride suspension stem which makes bumps no problem (and even kind of fun!).

My husband tells me that the kona long wheelbase bike is in the works but not out (he heard this from a Kona rep) and that they will make there own accesories, not use xtracycle.

Get a long bike! They're great!

[KnottedYet]

Is the join between the Xtracycle and the Karate Monkey solid as a rock? or does it flex around a little?

The bike I'd be putting the Xtracycle on is an aluminum frame (Kiddo fell in love with the steel Smoke and now it's his bike, so I'm back to the aluminum Dew) and I worry the aluminum won't take the strain or flex of an Xtracycle and will fail.

Sure do love those Albatross bars. I like a narrower grip, so I'm thinking about a Nitto Dove. I'll have to see what comes of that...

[mimitabby]

great picture, Sarahlou!

[fatbottomedgurl]

All this just renews my desire for an xtracycle! I wish they didn't cost so much! But once I can start riding bikes again I think I will do the math on saving gas running around town and convince myself that it is money easily recoup'ed.

[sarahlou]

I haven't noticed any flex where the xtracycle joins the surly. I'll have to ask dh if he thinks there is any, but I don't think there is.

[KnottedYet]

Can you ask him what he thinks of an aluminum bike frame with the Xtracycle? I was asking my LBS guys today, and they didn't think it was a good idea, that steel would be better.

I agree, steel is my favorite frame material, but the bike I have to make into an Xtracycle is aluminum.

I wrote to Xtracycle to see what they say.

(my other option could be switching the components from my 700c Dew to a 700c Surly or Soma frame or just buying a SECOND Kona Smoke for me.)

I waaaaaaaant one.

[Zen]

Sarahlou, that dog is too much! Gotta get him a helmet and some goggles, maybe a scarf :p
What a great photo!

[KnottedYet]

Wrote to the Xtracycle guys, they said the Kona Dew would be fine as an Xtracycle. Aluminum is ok. I would just have to change the tires down from 38's to 35's or less.

Ooooh, yeah....

[Jenerator]

http://www.kona.cz/galerie/16/0283.jpg

From a discussion on MTBR Forum: http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=321895

If I needed a new bike, I'd take this one for a test ride, but with xtra bikes in the garage, I'm thinking and xtracycle is also in my future. (Just don't tell DH - he thinks I'm on a bike diet)

[KnottedYet]

pant, pant, pant....

<got some serious bike lust going on!>

Which will be out for sale first, Kona or Surly?
http://www.surlybikes.com/blogimages/Green-Big-Dummy-008_lg.jpg

I wouldn't kick either out of my garage!
(the pic is Surly's "Big Dummy" and the guy has it set up with monster huge tires. I've seen pics of the first prototype from Surly, and I thought the frame on that one was prettier.)

I've got both Kona and Surly bikes already, and have the warm-fuzzies for both; but I think I like the looks of Kona's Ute a bit more than Surly's Big Dummy.

BD is designed to be compatible with all the Xtracycle accessories. Does anyone know if the Ute will be compatible at all? Or if Kona will have the same range of goodies for the Ute as Xtracycle has?

Oh, I should stop... there isn't ROOM in my apt for another bike!!! Stop me now! :eek:

[DirtDiva]

Send SKnot off to college early. ;)

[Jenerator]

I like the promo photo of the Kona, but I think the BD looks a lot more robust, which is what I think would be needed for a cargo bike. The little bags on the big Kona cargo frame don't instill a lot of confidence that it's built to haul loads. I also don't know if the Kona will accept the Xtracycle gizmos, but the BD was built specifically around Xtracycle stuff.

Another cargo bike option - bamboo
http://duck-rabbit.ldeo.columbia.edu/bamboo/Photos_files/DSC01258.jpg

From the Bamboo Bike Project (http://duck-rabbit.ldeo.columbia.edu/bamboo/Home.html)

[northstar]

Sarahlou, that picture is AWESOME! :)