Will my bike fit an xtracycle?

[CagerTools]

Okay,

So I looked on my tires...and they'res 700 X 40 C....

On the xtracycle website, they say they have kits for tire sizes that are 26" or 700c.

I'm thinking, mine says 700 x 40c....so am I out of luck?

[CagerTools]

also...to any xtracycle owners...do you ever worry of the possibility of someone ripping off your xtracycle? I mean..being 400 dollars, you would think thieves would want to jack it.

I guess I wouldn't be leaving any place other than at university during classes for the day, or at the grocery store or bar. Do people steal these things?

[tfahrner]

a 700c x 40 will be a close fit if it fits at all - there won't likely be room for a fender too. so get a 700 x 38 or so and don't worry. tire sizes lie; you have to try to know.

i have had an xtracycle stolen. i suspect the bike was stripped for parts, and that the xtracycle thing ended up in a dumpster. it was a crime of opportunity, not a planned thing. i don't think many thieves would specifically go for an xtracycle over something more mass-market generic/fashionable.

[CagerTools]

hey thx for the response.

What exactly does 700 x 40c mean?

So your saying I should get new tires that are smaller?

I really want to get the xtracycle, and yes eventually put fenders..and footsies for taking people on rides.

[chicbicyclist]

They probably will have trouble selling an xtracycle than something more generic.

[Hal Hardy]

What exactly does 700 x 40c mean?

So your saying I should get new tires that are smaller?

700 X 40 refers to the tire's diameter X width. The 700 version of the xtracycle will handle up to 35c.

[CagerTools]

I just went to a local bike shop. They had the 700 and the 26'' kit. They said it would work fine for my bike, even when he looked at it and I told him it was 40c....

So what does that mean?

I think I'm going to try to get it online on ebay... is it really that hard to assemble the bike on my own? I mean, it would cost me 45 or so buckaroos to get it done in the shop...

[CagerTools]

Also, the bike shop people didn't even think about adding a fender when I told them. I was like, won't this thing get all nasty and dirty without one? Seems so...

How hard is it to make footsies too? I'm trying to spend as little as possible.

[Thor29]

Xtracycle says that the 700c version will fit up to a 35 and maybe a 38 tire, so you will have to get a skinnier rear tire.

It isn't that hard to install, IF you know how to set up rear derailleurs, install cables, and cut chains. Don't take this the wrong way, but if you didn't know what 700x40 meant, I'm guessing that you'd be better off letting someone else do the work.

Sure, you could make your own "footsies", you could even make your own Xtracycle if you had a TIG welder, tube bender, and industrial sewing machine...

[CagerTools]

lol

yeah, I don't really know what a derailleurs is. i'm guessing its something that keeps the chain on? Or, that guides the chain to the right gear?

I don't know how to cut chains either.

It seems like things are getting expensive. I'm going to have to get my bottom bracket completey replaced first. Then I guess I'll have to get a skinnier tire, then fenders, then the extracycle.

We're probably looking at 600 dollars...

What if I just got a rear rack and put on a milk carton? Are those things stable.

Ugh. I think I'm going to just get the xtracycle.

Now my band wants me to buy a 600 dollar amp to perform. Yeah

[cerewa]

What if I just got a rear rack and put on a milk carton? Are those things stable.

I think mine can carry 40 lbs without any problem as long as the stuff isn't bulky. But what were you planning to carry? I think of a milk carton as more a substitute for a mid-size backpack than for an xtracycle. If you need xtracycle-like capacity for cheap, other options are a large camping backpack or a kiddie-trailer (look for used ones, try craigslist.)

[CagerTools]

Well, I just want something to carry groceries, my backpack, my amp, my acoustic, my girlfriend :), and anything else I guess. The guy at the bike shop said he has an xtracycle and it replaced his car.

[Thor29]

An Xtracycle can certainly carry a lot of stuff. Guitar, girlfriend, 4 bags of groceries... I'd be a bit nervous about carrying an amp though, that really depends on how big it is. A single 12" speaker amp, sure. I've got a solid state Marshall with 2 12" speakers and there's no way I'd strap it to an Xtracycle. It would need a trailer for sure. Or you could make the drummer carry it...

[CagerTools]

haha...yeah i'm not sure what i'm going to do as far as the amp...

[bonutz]

I think I'm going to try to get it online on ebay... is it really that hard to assemble the bike on my own? I mean, it would cost me 45 or so buckaroos to get it done in the shop...

Just make sure you don't get one that was stolen from someone else... :eek:

[CagerTools]

Well I bought one finally...

I got the 700 version, and am in the process of installing it. I have a 700 X 40C tire....and WOW. I am surprised the tire revolves perfectly, because there is probably 1/2 a millimeter on one end, and 2 millimeters on the other.

I'm finding that I can't even attach the tongue of the extra frame to my kickstand thing on my main bike frame. In the instructions it says that...if your kickstand metal peice is positioned underneath the chainstays, then you put the FAP (front attatchment plate i think) on top of the chain stays, and run the bolt through there and through the kickstand peice...secured with a bolt.

The problem is, if I do that, I have to make the bolt run at an angle not perpendicular to the FAP and kickstand... so the thing is angled, and barely makes it through the kickstand peice..

Right now I just have the FAP underneath the chainstays, and the bolt going through...so the kickstand peice is not even involved. My nut is thread really far down the bolt...and actually I had to use a different bolt, with threading on the whole thing instead of just halfway down it.

After 3 hours I only got so far as to install the derailler, the chain, real wheel, and the xtra frame.

I'm concerned because the cable for my derailler got a bit messed up. One of the metal threads got loose, and was winding up around it. I cut it off near the housing, but I fear it will keep winding up...should I be worried about this?

[CagerTools]

Can anyone help me with this?

[tfahrner]

I believe Xtracycle will supply you with a second FAP so you can install without needing the chainstay bridge/kickstand plate. I'm having a hard time visualizing what's going on from your description. As for the derailleur cable, it won't hurt to try with what you've done. If your shifting becomes poor, you know what to do: replace the cable.

[CagerTools]

Thanks, thats what I'm thinking...that I need a second FAP. I wonder though, is this really all that necessary?

I"ll just keep the same derailler cable until things go haywire.