Utility Cycling - How much can you carry with two wheels?

Here is a link to some photos, most of which answer this question.
http://onliner.ws/2007/04/09/idiotskaja_chelovecheska_logika.html

It's crazy what you see around the world, especially in the southeast Asian countries. I do feel bad for those little piglets the back of the 110cc motorbike.

i thumbed my way through thailand and cambodia last summer....it changed my life. The generosity, ingenuity, and hospitality of the people i encountered is something ill never forget and something requiring more than a lifetime to repay...

You live by your means and do what you have to do, that's the short of it. It's easy to forget for most of us. Including myself.

I'd rather carry this:

http://i17.tinypic.com/42ld45l.jpg

I'd rather carry this:

http://i17.tinypic.com/42ld45l.jpg
She's sitting a little too far away, maybe a little closer and down a little..;)

i thumbed my way through thailand and cambodia last summer....it changed my life. The generosity, ingenuity, and hospitality of the people i encountered is something ill never forget and something requiring more than a lifetime to repay...

Same here. We may have passed each other somewhere, though I didn't get to experience much of Cambodia and I only saw 3 other cyclo-tourists on the whole trip. Most of my trip was down the Andaman Sea from Chumphon to Ao Nang.

I agree completely about the people. There's a reason Thailand is called the "Land of Smiles." I couldn't believe how friendly people were, and how willing they were to make basic pleasantries a part of the experience. I must have had well over 1000 people yelling "hel-lo!" to me in their sing-song way as I cycled by. It was so nice.

I remember at one point I was at the top of a small hill in that ridiculous heat, waiting for my riding partner to catch up, and I had grabbed a bandana out of my handlebar bag to wipe my brow, and some guy in a little truck coming the other way stopped and just handed me a cold bottled water gratis that he had bought, smiled, and went on his way like it was nothing. I've never had anyone here in the US do anything like that. I tried to say thank you, "Kawp kuhn krahp," but I'm not sure if I got it out okay enough for him to understand very well. My Thai is pathetic, but about to get better.

Sort of on-topic, one of the things one sees a lot there is almost whole families on these little motorbike things (they are too small and underpowered to be called motorcycles, but the Honda Wave is popular there, for reference). The max I saw was 5 people on one motorbike, and it was common to see old ladies on the backs of these things holding babies in their arms while riding side-saddle. I can't imagine what people would think of that if they saw it here.

it was common to see old ladies on the backs of these things holding babies in their arms while riding side-saddle. I can't imagine what people would think of that if they saw it here.


http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41307000/jpg/_41307940_britney_203b.jpg

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41307000/jpg/_41307940_britney_203b.jpg

Put her on a motorcycle and you're almost there. :)

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/8631/wwwonlinerws05xp2.jpg
This one has my vote for the best.

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/8631/wwwonlinerws05xp2.jpg
This one has my vote for the best.

Yeah, in the future once the car economy has crashed, we will be doing this to sell our cars for scrap metal!!!

Yeah, in the future once the car economy has crashed, we will be doing this to sell our cars for scrap metal!!!

Turn it into bikes!

Turn it into bikes! Nah... AFAIK, cars are made of cheap steel... would make for crappy bikes.

I've read in several magazines and books that an average bicycle can carry ten times it's own weight. I doubt there are many other vehicles that could do that. I know a 4000 pound truck certainly couldn't carry 40,000 pounds in the bed. :o

She's sitting a little too far away, maybe a little closer and down a little..;)


I couldn't agree more :)

My Electra can carry up to 600 lbs. Much more than that it starts popping spokes.