OMG i never thought these would be som much fun!
Took me about half a day to build, mostly futzing with brakes and drivetrain.
Still needs a few xtra pieces and tweaks to be perfect.
Still, went into Boulder for the Thursday night ride. Stopped and picked up a bottle of water, a six pack and a bottle of Tuaca for the party. Had a change of clothes (costume for the ride was PJ's, i had mine plus one of those giant cottony bathrobes in the pannier. Plus a pair of bubble machines strapped to the back and a half gallon of fluid. Stopped on the way home and threw some chinese food on the rack (try putting a styrofoam box in a pannier.)
The ride was over 200 people riding slow, in tight quarters road, bike path, alleys and sidewalks. I was able to trackstand at lights, move at a crawl through crowds of people and ride confidently through the throng at speed. A couple guys riding with trailers, i can ride circles around them, I never had to worry about the load shifting, the extended rear getting in the way or anything. I even tried one foot surfing on the deck though not ready for advanced surfing yet.
I can't wait to run errands on this thing! I'm putting some light chain-link in the panniers so i can lock groceries between errands with a little cable lock.
Nothing quite like a new bike and this qualifies...
Pics to come soon.
smurfy
08-19-05, 08:22 AM
CONGRAGULATIONS!!!
With the ever-rising gas prices, thank God that there are at least some Americans who are thinking clearly and discovering alternative means of transportating goods.
I don't have an Xtra cycle but I have a bike that's just begging to be converted into one (I don't think my wife will let me spend the money for one right now). I do have a three-speed bike with one of those Wald folding side baskets on the rear rack that holds a bag of groceries. Best $20 I ever spent on a bike accessory!
Xtra cycles also look cool, too! Can't wait for your pics!
FlatTop
08-19-05, 09:31 AM
I've been wondering about those, they look really good. From your description, the Xtra handles pretty much like a regular short bike? Sounds like a great solution to making bicycles even more useful.
Best of luck with the new ride, and keep us posted, huh?
biodiesel
08-19-05, 09:15 PM
Day 2:
Grocery run.
Normally would have driven 3 blocks just because i'm bringing home a bunch of sodas etc...
Loaded 4 2litre bottles of soda, some fruit juices, a couple big bags of salad, and some sundries. The xtra loaded well enough.
I got on the bike and pedalled off and didn't even notice the added weight. Rode without any balance problems, even stalled without putting a foot down at the crosswalk. Tried to ride a tight circle around a lamp-post for fun. Couldn't quite make it but only had to put a foot down once.
Only time i really notice the weight or length was when i got home and was parking.
Sweet ride. HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY
FlatTop
08-20-05, 03:23 PM
Sounds like you're enjoying the utility of that mod quite a bit!
The longer tail also suggests some custom possibilities...sleek, enclosed bodywork, woodywagon-style panelled sideboards, a good-looking surrey top that can be stowed in a rear compartment...
Okay, maybe not a top. But it does extend your options a good deal farther.
biodiesel
08-20-05, 05:26 PM
I like the woody idea!
I think i'm going another way though. Chain link fenceing cut to the size of the rack to create lockable storage. Little barbed wire for accent (i think i'll have to dull the barbs though...)
Just got tuned up today and hurray! Ride is smoothed out and the rear brake is working great.
Can't surf yet, or manual for that matter. Working on it.
wearyourtruth
08-22-05, 08:31 PM
try letting a 150+ lbs friend ride on the back and tell me how it handles ;) THAT is a workout, at least it is for me
still fun though
biodiesel
08-23-05, 12:53 AM
Well up to a duffel bag of laundry plus soap and a 20 pound care package for my sister. About 60 pounds. I actually out track stand-ed another commuter (really a seated manuver... a track...um sit?) and made a 160ish degree turn into a bike path underpass without wobbling. Even slow manuvering and dismounts still easy.
The uphill was still a bit of work though...
And i think i'm going to skip the 150lb passenger and get a pair of 110 lb passengers!
Stacey
08-23-05, 04:10 AM
Man I hate to sound like a dolt, but WTF kind of bike is this Xtra? Three pages of google and I find nothing bike related.
The xtracycle is a frame addition that extends any bikes wheelbase by 15 inches. It allows tha carrying of large loads by lowering the center of gravity and moving the load behind the heels. It also allows carrying of a passenger and with attachments of surfboards, kayaks etc..
(I should really buy some stock...)
They run about $300 bucks for a full setup, hold around 200-300 pounds plus rider (depending on rear wheel strength) and weigh about 9 pounds.
Me, i'm on again off again car light and wanted the cargo room but didn't want to be hauling a trailer through traffic. On an xtra i can still ride through tight spaces and around traffic (lane split) and park like normal.
Plus i get a backseat for the ladies... :D
Stacey
08-23-05, 09:08 AM
Ah, very cool! Thanks biodiesel :)
SpokesInMyPoop
08-23-05, 12:58 PM
man... i want an xtracycle! gimme :(
Bikemiker
08-23-05, 02:16 PM
man... i want an xtracycle! gimme :(
Me too. I've been wanting one on and off for about two years now. There has been several times when I knew it would be my next purchase... Then something else catches my eye. I have a short attention span :o . It's still on the list though, and this thread bumped it up a few spots again. Congrats Biodiesel, enjoy.
jharte
08-24-05, 06:54 AM
That's awesome. I looked at quite a few pics on the web site. It's crazy what some riders put on that bike!
biodiesel
08-24-05, 12:05 PM
i liked the grocerys, girlfreinds and family shots most.
i'm single and have tried to get some single girlfriends to go riding with me, round town, see some sights, cruiser ride on a thursday...
Next time i try to take a girl on a moonlit cruise or a sunset ride over the Golden Gate bridge, she's on the back with a glass of champagne and there's a picnic basket in the pannier. (My ex-girlfriend never did forgive me for making her ride that time...)
It nice to have something that makes riding more inclusive...
biodiesel
08-25-05, 08:48 AM
Finally, here's a couple pics of the rig!
The two pics in front of my apartment are with a duffel bag of about 35 lbs of laundry and a bag of groceries.
MarkS
08-25-05, 10:04 AM
Finally, here's a couple pics of the rig!
The two pics in front of my apartment are with a duffel bag of about 35 lbs of laundry and a bag of groceries.How easy is it to fix a rear flat on this bike?
Sooowee
08-25-05, 10:32 AM
Hey Biodiesel,
Did you happen to attend the Tour de Fat in Golden Gate Park? There was a guy with an Xtracycle and this "cage" thing built up all around his bike. He had stereo speakers all over the thing. It looked like 100 pounds of stereo equipment, tubing, awning.....It was wild! He was like a rolling D.J....
biodiesel
08-25-05, 10:50 AM
How easy is it to fix a rear flat on this bike?
That was my first question when i got it...
Not bad, trouble is the racks are kinda in the way. Unloaded it's easy, pop one side off and easy, otherwise it's a little clumsy. You could invert but anything in the rack goes spilling.
I'm looking at a bipod kickstand then i could pull the rear wheel and the bike would stay standing.
Until then i lay the bike down and pull the wheel out to the side.
lala
08-25-05, 11:10 AM
That looks great! I just upgraded my xtracycle with a new fork and disc brakes! What is the base bike for your xtyracycle?
Dahon.Steve
08-25-05, 11:22 AM
Finally, here's a couple pics of the rig!
The two pics in front of my apartment are with a duffel bag of about 35 lbs of laundry and a bag of groceries.
Beautiful bicycle.
Are you going touring with it? Does it flex down or bob like a suspension seat post?
biodiesel
08-25-05, 11:39 AM
That looks great! I just upgraded my xtracycle with a new fork and disc brakes! What is the base bike for your xtyracycle?
No bob or flex, frame is rigid.
Built on a Novarra Buzz (from REI) with 26" wheels.
No new touring plans yet...yet...
Disk Brakes are awesome! Before i put the xtra on i was doing front wheel stoppies (short ones anyway.) No new tricks yet. Still working on the surfing moves...
rodfrank
08-26-05, 05:51 PM
Re: chain link fence for security of cargo. Go to riderswarehouse.com. they have the metal cargo net ready to go. This is a m/c supplier but they have many useful items for bicycilists.
FlatTop
08-26-05, 08:28 PM
Rodfrank, I can't get that URL to work. Any ideas?
Macha
08-26-05, 10:20 PM
Rodfrank, I can't get that URL to work. Any ideas?
www.aerostich.com
FlatTop
08-28-05, 05:59 PM
Thanks, Macha. They have a lot of interesting storage items.
dynaryder
08-29-05, 01:53 PM
Nice ride!
I'm still toying with the idea of building one of these. What does everyone think would be best to handle a load;26's w/wide tires,or 700's with skinny high-pressure tires?
ryhonrei
09-01-05, 11:49 PM
FUN FUN FUN
....Pics to come soon.
Congratulations. I'm toying with the idea of converting my bike into an Xtra and am looking forward to your pics. :)
SpokesInMyPoop
09-20-05, 10:00 AM
wow... now you should get a bob trailer and haul even more stuff!
So bio... when tf u pickin me up?? I wanna ride :D
MnHPVA Guy
09-21-05, 03:35 PM
I was at InterBike in 2000 when these were first introduced. The crew would ride up and down "The Strip" at night, with 2 guys per bike. One pedaling, and the other standing on the board, "surfing". Anyplace but Las Vegas they would have attracted a lot of attention. Maybe they should have had a boombox blasting out Dick Dale oldies.
I'm taking the concept a step further.
http://bikesmithdesign.com/temp/kt_frame1.jpg will have 2 lives. Eventually it will be a great cargo hauler.
But first it will have a bolted on section of 1.25" square SS tube running over the rear wheel from the center of the rear TT. That will provide mounting, and a wide range of adjustment, for a recumbent seat for my great-grandson. There will be a set of slotted, adjustable length cranks, just behind the seat tube. These will be clamped to bracing tubes yet to be added to the center section. When he grows out of the whole deal, I'll unbolt the tandem stuff and convert it to cargo duty.
The cross tube at the front of the chainstays is about 7" long, and will be the support for a motorcycle type centerstand. Good for loading either kids or groceries. The rear triangle is offset ½", allowing a strong, dishless 20" rear wheel. A 11-34 rear cassette will combine with the small wheel to provide gearing for any load. The fast 2.1"x 20" Comet will be replaced by a 2.3" Big Apple for cargo duty.
Thasiet
09-22-05, 07:31 PM
I must have seen 6 of those things at Burning Man. I wonder how many of them rode in, 10 gallons of water and all...