Utility Cycling - Xtracycle = Greatest bike ever...

Put together my Xtracycle project yesterday, and wow, just wow... I get all kinds of attention and questions from people about it... I put it on an old Madwagon MTB frame from the mid-90's... I had universal cycles build me up the bomb-proof wheelset as follows...

Salsa Gordo triple box/wall hoops. 40 spoke front wheel, 48 Spoke rear wheel
Brass Nipples
Shimano Tandem bike hubs
DT Swiss super comp spokes
Continental Town/country tires


Few people can say that they have overloaded their xtracycle to the breaking point. The most common faliure is the rear wheel.( understandably) Xtracycle undersells their product with a max load of 350lbs... I shattered that tonight. My buddy Ryan was "surfing" the snapdeck on back, and we took a little tour of downtown. I'm 325, and he's 215... Add to that the 45lbs of cargo already in the freeloaders... Yeah, more than a quarter ton of weight... (creeping up on 600lbs!:eek: ) Gave rides to two drunk chicks(I work at a brewery/pub) on the first night I had it! (Got one phone number;) ) Our xtracycle hijinks were visible by quite a few people at their dinner tables, and it created quite a stir in the resteraunt.:rolleyes: Everybody got a kick out of it, and we were cheered on by nearly every pedestrian we passed...
Anybody who has thought about these should definetly follow through. It handles great, and is a breeze to load up even the most akward crap... RIDE ON!!!

Sounds like a blast, and you ain't kidding about bombproof wheels. Holy crap, that's over-engineered perfection :)

I'm at a point now where I don't ever use my hybrid, which is just a rigid suspensionless mountain bike with skinny slicks on it anyways. If I could afford to find a FreeRadical kit to toss onto it, I'd probably go for it.

I want an xtracycle to bad I can taste it.
I'm trying to decide
1. Put it on my Cannondale f500 that I've set up with an extra set of skinny tire wheels, but then not have a mountain bike any more
2. Put it on my old Cannondale Black Lightning road bike but then not have front suspension or really low gears, and would I like it on 700c wheels?
3. Sell the road bike and put the money toward getting a pre-built Novara xtracycle (but do I REALLY want a Norvara....)
Anyway, congrats on your way-cool bike. Post photos!!!!
Mostly I'd commute and go grocery shopping with it.

Holy crap, a quarter ton gets you MAJOR bragging rights in my book!

I am ordering an Xtracycle kit, and I think I'll put it on a Norco Katmandu frame I found in the shed (heh). I'll have the bike shop look over the wheels, because I hadn't thought of that factor. Thanks for posting your specs!

(Over-engineering is good, says the Girl Guide leader - Be Prepared!)

awesome. Post some pics of your ride!

This bike is no speed demon, but it isn't nearly as piggy as I imagined it to be... I would not recommend putting it on 700cm wheels, as the ride quality deteriorates as the load goes up. I think that Mtn bikes are best suited out of the box, as they are overbuilt frame/componentry wise compared to a road/touring bike... I'm not saying that a heavy duty 700 xtracycle isn't possible, by no means. I think that you are just ahead of the game going torwards the heavy duty aspects/duties of the bike. Cant recommend it enough! Overall, I have about a grand into the bike start to finish. This includes the *gulp* $400 wheelset, and $400 FreeRadical kit. I have replaced brakes, levers, shifter, pedals, saddle, chain, wheels, tires, tubes, grips, cables/housings. The bike runs great, and should do so for a long time... It's now my daily commuter. I am able to now retire my Novara Safari to touring/weekend ride duty. RIDE ON!
Ryan

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j112/inthe10ring/Picture003.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j112/inthe10ring/Picture004.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j112/inthe10ring/Picture001.jpg

This bike is no speed demon, but it isn't nearly as piggy as I imagined it to be... I would not recommend putting it on 700cm wheels, as the ride quality deteriorates as the load goes up. I think that Mtn bikes are best suited out of the box, as they are overbuilt frame/componentry wise compared to a road/touring bike... I'm not saying that a heavy duty 700 xtracycle isn't possible, by no means. I think that you are just ahead of the game going torwards the heavy duty aspects/duties of the bike. Cant recommend it enough! Overall, I have about a grand into the bike start to finish. This includes the *gulp* $400 wheelset, and $400 FreeRadical kit. I have replaced brakes, levers, shifter, pedals, saddle, chain, wheels, tires, tubes, grips, cables/housings. The bike runs great, and should do so for a long time... It's now my daily commuter. I am able to now retire my Novara Safari to touring/weekend ride duty. RIDE ON!
Ryan

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j112/inthe10ring/Picture003.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j112/inthe10ring/Picture004.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j112/inthe10ring/Picture001.jpg

great pictures and bike -- thanks for posting

enjoy

That just seems so cool. I'd never have to drive to work again! (I do now only when I carry a bunch of stuff)

How does it feel going up hill with a load, or even a big big load? Do you die, or just go slower and it's OK?

Can you put those on an electric bicycle? I imagine it would be easy if the electric motor drove the front wheel hey? That would be the ultimate combo for hauling monster loads, getting some assist from an electric motor.

Can you put those on an electric bicycle? I imagine it would be easy if the electric motor drove the front wheel hey? That would be the ultimate combo for hauling monster loads, getting some assist from an electric motor.
Yep, you sure can. I did it HERE (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=4263566#post4263566)
There is also an electric kit called the Stoke Monkey (http://cleverchimp.com/) that will let you retrofit any frame.
The rear wheel is the one that carries the most weight under load and the better wheel to power.

Cool Allen! Thanks for the links.

That just seems so cool. I'd never have to drive to work again! (I do now only when I carry a bunch of stuff)

How does it feel going up hill with a load, or even a big big load? Do you die, or just go slower and it's OK?

No real problems, just gear it down. That's my next project actually. I have a 44t chainring in the front, and a nine speed cassette in back. My largest in the rear is big (at 34t), but It's not low enough for me to grunt a 180lbs drinking buddy up one of the hills between my house and downtown. :beer: Probably going to just go down to about a 34-36t in the front...
It's so much fun to load up with crap! You just start packing it on, and when you go to unload it, you are suprised to see that you just hauled 80lbs of laundry and groceries, and you hardly felt it. :D

Heh, do the stoke monkey+ Xtracycle conversion on one of the new Schwinns that drive the front hub w/electrics, that would be some serious horsepower for a bicycle :lol:

http://www.schwinnbike.com/products/intbikes_detail.php?id=892

Varnish that snapdeck, my friend. Varnish it ASAP, as in yesterday.

Be careful, that bike will change your life. Don't take all the awesome in at once, spread it out. ;)

awesome...glad you love your xtracycle....i think it has changed my life....i'm a photographer and i regularly carry between 100-150lbs of gear with it...here's my rig with some advertising :)

http://www.russroca.com/xtra/xtradvertising5.jpg
http://www.russroca.com/xtra/xtradvertising3.jpg
http://www.russroca.com/xtra/xtradvertising6.jpg

russroca.blogspot.com
www.russroca.com

Haha! Mine looks so ghetto compared to yours! The snapdeck is coming undone, the freerads are faded, one of the buckles is broken and it's partner is taped.

Yeah, mine's abused.

But it takes the abuse like a Nike sweatshop worker!

Putting one together has been on my list since a buddy of mine did a 2 week bike tour with his. And now Surly went and made their new Big Dummie frame. I've been a Surly freak since I got my LHT to build up, but the new frame is a wee bit out of my price range.

Putting one together has been on my list since a buddy of mine did a 2 week bike tour with his. And now Surly went and made their new Big Dummie frame. I've been a Surly freak since I got my LHT to build up, but the new frame is a wee bit out of my price range.

What are the "Big dummy" frames set to be going for?

It's so much fun to load up with crap!

No doubt, before too long, you'll be loading stuff up, just to see if it can be done. It's a great conversation starter :)


http://www.bikerubbish.com/shuttletest/xtracycle/images/gallery/wedding2.jpg

No doubt, before too long, you'll be loading stuff up, just to see if it can be done. It's a great conversation starter :)


http://www.bikerubbish.com/shuttletest/xtracycle/images/gallery/wedding2.jpg

Some photoshop fun?

I've been thinking about getting a freeradical to add to my commuter (old mountain bike, pretty standard setup for freeradical). But here's the thing - as it stands now, about 90% of my riding is commuting back and forth to work with a single pannier of clothes. I generally don't use my bike to haul stuff around (though I suppose I might in the future).

So, for those of you have have one, is the xtracycle setup much of a hassle when it's unloaded (slow, heavy, etc.).

I've been thinking about getting a freeradical to add to my commuter (old mountain bike, pretty standard setup for freeradical). But here's the thing - as it stands now, about 90% of my riding is commuting back and forth to work with a single pannier of clothes. I generally don't use my bike to haul stuff around (though I suppose I might in the future).

So, for those of you have have one, is the xtracycle setup much of a hassle when it's unloaded (slow, heavy, etc.).

Actually much quicker than I anticipated. I'm not saying that you are going to average 20mph, but I am cruising at a very comfortable 13-15 MPH as pictured above. About 10-12mph with a 150lbs+ load. (Not accounting for hills;) )

Some photoshop fun?

No, man. That's how you load the Xtra.

What are the "Big dummy" frames set to be going for?

Upwards of $800 (http://aebike.com/page.cfm?action=details&PageID=30&SKU=FM3068)

I'm so looking forward to pretending to get one, all the fun of specing out components, imagining the things I'd do with it.

Upwards of $800 (http://aebike.com/page.cfm?action=details&PageID=30&SKU=FM3068)

I'm so looking forward to pretending to get one, all the fun of specing out components, imagining the things I'd do with it.

That's about the place I'm at. Since it showed up on the blog I wanted one and then saw the $$. Maybe in a year or two since I just finished grad school and the lenders want their money back :(

I'm not asking this to be pugnacious...I really would like to know:

How does this beat out a simple trailer? I would think that stretching out your drivetrain like that and putting your drive wheel so far behing would weaken power transmission and give you all kinds of energy loss through flex that a trailer wouldn't.

I've been thinking about getting a freeradical to add to my commuter (old mountain bike, pretty standard setup for freeradical). But here's the thing - as it stands now, about 90% of my riding is commuting back and forth to work with a single pannier of clothes. I generally don't use my bike to haul stuff around (though I suppose I might in the future).

So, for those of you have have one, is the xtracycle setup much of a hassle when it's unloaded (slow, heavy, etc.).

Not at all. In fact it's wierd riding a bike without one now :)

Here's a vid that I took of my loading my bike onto my bike and riding with it on there. It's kinda big so if you are a dial up person, it probably isn't worth your time

http://www.bikerubbish.com/videos

Yep, you sure can. I did it HERE (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=4263566#post4263566)
There is also an electric kit called the Stoke Monkey (http://cleverchimp.com/) that will let you retrofit any frame.
The rear wheel is the one that carries the most weight under load and the better wheel to power.
I'm shamelessly copying AllenG's "XtraLite" as I've seen them called. I found a Giant Lite in the St. Paul, MN area and picked it up last weekend. The folks at Xtracycle said I could expect the Free Radical in about 30 days, so I've got another 3 weeks or so to wait.

Mine will be loaded with 2 child passengers and/or groceries with my wee little wife as the pilot, so the assist will ensure that it gets used over the car. If you are able to find a Giant Lite and try it, they are impressive. I hand it over to neighbors to take it for a spin, and it puts smile on every face.

No doubt, before too long, you'll be loading stuff up, just to see if it can be done. It's a great conversation starter :)


http://www.bikerubbish.com/shuttletest/xtracycle/images/gallery/wedding2.jpg

Nice bike tray. I'm hoping I can mount my Yakima lockjaw trays to wideloaders somehow to take the kids and bikes to the school for two wheel training. The playground is better than the driveway or street.

Upwards of $800 (http://aebike.com/page.cfm?action=details&PageID=30&SKU=FM3068)

I'm so looking forward to pretending to get one, all the fun of specing out components, imagining the things I'd do with it.
At that price, I think I'll continue to pretend I'm getting a Gunnar (http://www.gunnarbikes.com)to pull my Yak trailer. I got the Yak used for about $100. My trusty Trek 930 pulls the Yak fine. It isn't sexy like the Free Radical and I won't be picking up any girls, but it is practical.

The Big Dummy is cool and it does have a certain appeal..

When the lease ends on my Miata, I'm seriously considering going 100% car free for a few months. That would easily pay for a really nice bike.

I'm not asking this to be pugnacious...I really would like to know:

How does this beat out a simple trailer? I would think that stretching out your drivetrain like that and putting your drive wheel so far behing would weaken power transmission and give you all kinds of energy loss through flex that a trailer wouldn't.

Trailer= PITA... You can't haul people on it. It's a pain to ride in heavily congested areas (i.e. my downtown area, where my work/school is) with a trailer like a bob. Tough to try and thread in and out of telephone poles and people. There is the possibility of the trailer wanting to jack-knife in an emergency stop situation. While you might not have to have the bob trailer on all the time, you never know when you are going to need it. With my luck, anytime there would be a need, the bob would be in the garage, and not with me on my errand. The Xtracycle works out well as a pedi-taxi, for hauling girls around campus is an important duty.:D There isn't nearly as much power loss as you might think, belive it or not. I was very suprised when I first started to pedal around. YMMV.

Trailer vs. Free Radical depends on you intended use too.

Trailer has some advantages. Cheaper. Easy to connect and disconnect. Loads go at a very low center of gravity. The loads don't seem to make any real change in my bikes handling. Not at the speeds I ride at. I have no idea how a loaded trailer would handle at high speed. Unloaded my Trek gets flighty above 25mph and downright scary at 30. I never go over about 20 with the trailer hooked up.

For me, not having the trailer at work isn't an issue. I don't need it for my every day commute. I've starting commuting with a rack and 3 bags. That's plenty of room if I want to stop and grab dinner on the way home.

If I do need the trailer it isn't a big deal to hook up.

I don't have a free radical, so I can' really comment on one. It does appear to solve some of the trailer's shortfalls. There are all sorts of loads that wont fit on a Yak. Locking the trailer is a pain. It usually takes a u-lock and two cables. Getting the load secure is always an adventure in bungee. The yak just isn't cool. Mine is kinda rusty and ugly.

I do like the way a long wheelbase bike handles. I take our tandem out solo just because I like the way it handles. I'd jump at a used Big Dummy frame for say $300 -- $820 is a reasonable price really. Just more than I can afford..


And you don't need a kickstand with a trailer:

http://userwww.service.emory.edu/%7Eafisch2/bike/P1010012_edited.JPG

I'm not asking this to be pugnacious...I really would like to know:

How does this beat out a simple trailer? I would think that stretching out your drivetrain like that and putting your drive wheel so far behing would weaken power transmission and give you all kinds of energy loss through flex that a trailer wouldn't.
I use a Burley Flatbed with my other bikes and used it on my Giant Lite before I added the Xtracycle to it. The biggest advantage I've had with the Xtracycle is I'm able to haul much longer and more cumbersome loads. I'm also a photog, light stands and tripods overhang the trailer too much for it to be of much use.
The Xtracycle with an heavy load does make the front end twitchy and you do not have that problem with a trailer.
They both have their advantages and disadvantages.
I haven't noticed much of a drop in power to the rear wheel, but I am using an assisted bike.

http://homepage.mac.com/awcg/.Pictures/XtraLite/XL3.jpg

Legot,
Glad you like the Giant, I think you are going to be happy with it. I can carry more on mine than I can in my Miata by far.

How does my Xtracycle beat a trailer?

1. It's conveniently always with me so if I want to spontaneously go to the store from work, I don't have to go home first.

2. Riding on campus sidewalks and dealing with heavy pedestrian traffic is easier than if I am pulling a trailer.

3. I don't have to keep remembering it's back there when making turns or allowing for side clearance.

I can fit eight bags of groceries on it (nine if you count the trunk).

Regarding power transmission:

I have had no problems with any power loss due to the longer wheelbase. In fact, the longer wheelbase makes the bike more stable and I have found that I can ride it effectively slower than pedestrians can walk. I sometimes freak out the students in front of me when in heavy pedestrian traffic and they look back to see me slooooowly moooving aloooong behiiiiiind them as they plod to their next class.

I'm not asking this to be pugnacious...I really would like to know:

How does this beat out a simple trailer? I would think that stretching out your drivetrain like that and putting your drive wheel so far behing would weaken power transmission and give you all kinds of energy loss through flex that a trailer wouldn't.
If there is any elasticity in the chain it is not noticeable on the X. There are problems with trailers if they are over loaded that is to say 40-60lbs in a trailer or an X, not much difference but start to get more then that and the trailer will start fighting back against the bike due to the lack of stiffness and/or center of gravity pivoting issues.

I've owned a Bikes at Work (the 64" model) trailer for just about a year and used it to haul all kinds of stuff the 6.5 miles between our place in town and our rural property (soon to be home). The B@W is great, just great. Having said that, the second I learned of the Xtracycle (a couple of days ago), I was sure it would only be a matter of time before I would get one. To be honest, the Xtracycle probably should have been bought before the trailer. Don't get me wrong. I really like the trailer and would advocate it over every other trailer design I've seen.

Inthe10ring nailed the problem with a trailer: You don't always have it where you need it. This is especially true if you are bike commuting. There have been many many times that I've wanted to haul something back from work or the farm, or wanted to pick up some stuff on the way home from work, but didn't have the trailer. I would gladly pay the price of a slightly slower bike to make 90% of these unplanned hauls possible.

The B@W trailer definitely fights back a bit while turning and loaded. Even when empty, you know its there, especially if you've got a RubberMaid bin on it (one is all it takes). But having a flat-bed trailer that you can center a load on is wonderful when you want to haul a couple dozen 2x4s, a large amount of manure for the garden, a bunch of rocks to build a foot bridge (still working on that), a flock of ducks, or 150 pounds of feed for the ducks.