Utility Cycling - Every girl needs an xtracycle

ILTB, you seem like someone who would have an xtracycle. It's the ultimate in useful, utilitarian accessory with complete unpretentiousness. And it's kinda ugly, too. Snobs hate xtracycles.
I can appreciate upsetting bike snobs' equilibrium but don't need an xtracycle to do it. Nor do I need an xtracycle to haul heavy weight.

When I lived in Philadelphia in the 70's frequently pickup up my case beer supplies from a distributer that was about 5 miles from my house. My typical load was three cases (24 returnable bottles/case) of 16oz beer bungeed on top of each other on the rear rack. And my favorite Jewish bakery (Kaplan's near the Ortlieb Brewery) was nearby so I always got a couple loafs of Rye and bungeed them on top. Used My Austrian Sears 3 speed for this task in addition to daily commuting until I replaced it with a new Raleigh 3 speed Sports in 1972 which I used for the same tasks until 1976 when I moved from Phila. Estimated 135 pounds on regular bike with nothing special but a rear rack and bungee cords. And No it is not a good setup for ascending or descending mountain passes but BFD it worked for years in city cycling.

In Germany and currently I use the trailer combo pictured for such tasks, though I am not as thirsty as I used to be. Sure miss that good bread though.

Trailer cost either 40DM or $40 (can't remember which) about 7 years ago; the Kynast 5speed is a free trash (Sperrmüll) retrieval.

Well, what can I say. My link sucks. Here's a screenshot. Really this picture ain't worth all this!

Try this link (http://xtracycle.com/gallery/view_photo.php?full=1&set_albumName=public&id=First_Loaded_Trip1) instead for the P-38.

Holy Big file batman.

Funny though. I don't think I would be comfortable on that. However I'm an upright guy to begin with. Perhaps someday I'll give the darkside a try.

Holy Big file batman.
As big as an Xtracycle and then some.

To each their own…bike, I like my Xtracycle.

I've had an Xtracycle for three years and have enjoyed it immensely as my primary mode of transportation as a commuter and grocery hauler. I had considered getting a trailer instead of the Xtracycle, however, I ride the bike through campus and a trailer would be an impediment with pedestrian traffic on campus sidewalks. Its longer wheelbase allows me to ride much slower in pedestrian traffic than without it.

I like the way I always have the ability to ride to the grocery store or elsewhere to get stuff (it holds eight plastic bags, four on each side) or take stuff home from work and not have to think about a trailer. I have loaded it down with 80 lbs of manure (40 lbs on each side), but it was rather wobbly to ride, even with the lower center of gravity and it wanted to tip over backwards on the kickstand side.

I once started to load about 150 lbs of coarse gravel in 5-gallon buckets onto it with its wideloader frame, but then decided…mmmm… no, this is stupid. Use the pickup truck, let's not be fanatical. Just think about dumping your bike and large load of gravel in the street and looking like an idiot. It's not worth it… So, there are some limitations…Despite pictures of Xtracyclers carrying living room furniture around. (Note: Yes, I have carried many strange objects, including a kitchen sink I bought at a garage sale.)

The Xtracycle simply bolts onto the frame where the rear wheel bolts onto it and clamps to the bicycle frame at the front of the Xtracycle. Chain extensions and longer brake/gear cables are included in the kit. Though they recommend taking it to a LBS to assemble, I had no trouble putting mine together by myself.

The varnish did start to peal off the deck within a week of purchase (immediately following its very first rain shower wetting) and the company said it was a manufacturing defect, offering to send me a new deck. I declined the offer, because I knew this was going to be a heavily-used beater bike and I was going to paint the deck brown anyway, no need for a logo. After I painted the deck brown, one of the deck clamps would not go back on. Apparently, the manufacturer had used a standard thread bolt to attach one of the metric-threaded nuts and the cross-threaded nut and flattened bolt would no longer tighten down. I called the company and they sent a replacement part immediately, and at no charge. The kickstand bolt that came with the kit was standard thread rather than metric and wouldn't thread onto the frame, so I stole an old metric bolt from a donor bike. The company offered to send me a replacement bolt at no charge, but I declined the offer.

Then, about a year later, one of the strap clips disappeared. I called the company for a replacement, and they sent me a fistful of plastic clips at no charge. Other than the manufacturing quality control issues which the company claims to have addressed and corrected, I have had no problems with the Xtracycle. I am very happy with it.

After three years of all-weather, year-round riding, the deck has significantly delaminated. Definitely not marine plywood. Everyone recommends sealing the deck before ever taking it out in the rain. I plan to replace the wooden deck with a thick, clear Plexiglas one that I scrounged while dumpster diving. Huh. It fits exactly. Neat.

The Xtracycle certainly turns heads since I am the only one in town. I frequently get a "cool bike, man" from kids and strangers and occasionally an (intoxicated?) coed asks for a ride on the back. I also get a lot of curious strangers who stop me and ask questions about the bike. That's why I carry these little cards from Xtracycle that I give to people who ask me lots of questions. The bike is definitely a crowd pleaser.

No pictures yet, wait until I put the home-built lights on. And, no, I don't work for Xtracycle.

To each their own…bike, I like my Xtracycle...
Thanks for the interesting write up on your Xtracycle. I found it far more informative than a pitch from a salesman or starry-eyed enthusiast.

Frankenbiker, what is the purpose of the deck? I never quite understood why it was made of wood to begin with and not metal like a normal bike rack so you could get creative tying things to it. So a wooden deck that looks like a skateboard? Why?

Frankenbiker, what is the purpose of the deck? I never quite understood why it was made of wood to begin with and not metal like a normal bike rack so you could get creative tying things to it. So a wooden deck that looks like a skateboard? Why?
I'm guessing here but heres my idea of the reasoning:
The Snap Deck is marketed as a seat for the Xtracycle not a load placement. A piece of plywood would be cheap and easy to shape in to a somewhat rounded shape to make the seat more comfortable. For a low volume product other choices like plastic or metal would require expensive tooling like moulds or dies to get a similar shape.
Maybe as their volume picks up they could look into a more durable material and invest in the tooling if necessary.
As for hauling large loads I think I would trust the BigDummy a little more than a conversion. Most bikes are no designed with the type of loads you can put on a Xtracycle in mind. I would expect there to be considerable flex in the system making the bike a little difficult to control. I know what happens when I put a large load in the panniers on my bike or have a larger stoker on my tandem. A two wheel trailer like the WorkBike trailers are probably your best solution for a heavy load with human power but I think a long bike would also do an admirable job.
Craig

@ Diane

The snapdeck clips to the frame and is very easy to remove, almost too easy. I have had it pop off when both sides have been loaded down with heavy stuff that spread the frame outward. It appears to be more ornamental than functional. I think it is more of an artistic "California" style accent than a functional part of the frame. I would have prefered if the snapdeck had been made from recycled "fake wood" manufatured from old milk jugs, but then that's the environmentalist in me speaking.

CBBaron is right about the flexing and stability issues with the Xtracycle. If I had to move 80 lbs of manure or 150 lbs of gravel again, I would use some sort of trailer that had it's own braking system for safety.

Legally, the snapboard is not a seat and the cops could write a ticket if there was a passenger on the back. Only a bicycle designed to accomodate two riders can have two riders. It would have to have foot rests and handlebars behind the first seat to be "legal" as a tandem.

Legally, the snapboard is not a seat and the cops could write a ticket if there was a passenger on the back. Only a bicycle designed to accomodate two riders can have two riders. It would have to have foot rests and handlebars behind the first seat to be "legal" as a tandem.
Doesn't Xtracycle sell feet rests for the rear passenger to make it a "legal" tandem?

Yep, they have "Footsies" for rear passengers. I've seen handlebars that mount to the seat post for the rear passenger as well, but I can't put my finger on the web site right at this moment. Mostly the handlebar for the rear passenger was so a small child could have something to hold onto. However, sitting on the wood deck may not be the most comfortable ride. You can also mount infant/child seats on the back.