Utility Cycling - The post your bike move/bike haul thread

Hey guys,

I am going to attempt my first car-free move this weekend. Its nice b/c I'm moving from the top of a hill to the bottom. I have enlisted a couple friends with bikes to help. We have bikes/racks, but no trailers. I don't have any "big" things, but I do have a couple bulky items. Does anyone have any helpful hints or ideas about things I might be forgetting?

A BMX bike, a dolly, and some ingenuity goes a long way.

When all else fails, you can sometimes carry stuff or roll it down the street on a dolly, I mean in pedestrian mode without using a bike. Feasible range is a mile or two. I've done that once with long fluorescent lamps, and once with a half size refrigerator. With a helper it would probably work with up to queen size mattresses.

I've got a few hints. Have lots of coffee and pastries for your helpers before you start, and lots of food and beer for when it's over. That can make the difference between having fun when you move by bike and everyone feeling like it was a huge drag.

Have blankets out to cover your stuff before you tie it down. It's not really necessary, but sometimes it can hold a mediocre tie-down job together, plus you don't have to worry about stuff flying off the trailer when you're bombing down that hill. You can never have too many bungees. You can never have too many inner tubes to use as tie-downs. Those bungee cargo nets that they sell are really helpful. They come in 2 sizes: bicycle size and motorcycle size. The bike size is great for bike racks and the motorcycle size for trailers.

Some kind of radio or iPod set up that can be fastened onto one of the trailers for music makes it all go by quicker. Finally, if you're crossing any intersections where there's a traffic light or stop sign - you may want to seriously consider corking to keep the group from being split up. I don't want to "officially" encourage you to do something illegal, but I've seen situations where I felt it was far less safe to obey the law and be separated than to break the law and remain in a group. If that does happen, smiling, waving, and expressing your heartfelt gratitude to any inconvenienced motorists is strongly encouraged.

Here's a photo set (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikeportland/sets/72057594080814582/) of a bike move to give you some visuals. Have fun. :)

I've got a few hints. Have lots of coffee and pastries for your helpers before you start, and lots of food and beer for when it's over. That can make the difference between having fun when you move by bike and everyone feeling like it was a huge drag.

By law, I think you are required to have Chinese food when you move in with your partner, or pizza if you move in with friends.

I use an old kid trailer frame with a board across the bottom. It holds 2-4 roughneck totes per trip. I'll post a pic here this weekend so you can see what I'm talking about.

By law, I think you are required to have Chinese food when you move in with your partner, or pizza if you move in with friends.
Oooh, I'm such a scofflaw. Ex and I had Ethiopian for our move-in.


I use an old kid trailer frame with a board across the bottom. It holds 2-4 roughneck totes per trip. I'll post a pic here this weekend so you can see what I'm talking about.
Note to self: First sticky in new forum should be a utility trailer gallery. :D

Ethiopian food, like god, is above the law.

You can rent a dolly or platform cart at U-Haul or a rental store. Rental store may have other cart options.

Great excuse to buy a little red wagon, which you can keep using to haul all kinds of things in the futre.

Oooh, I'm such a scofflaw. Ex and I had Ethiopian for our move-in.


Was it take-away?

Naturally.

Have lots of coffee and pastries for your helpers before you start, and lots of food and beer for when it's over.

Just make sure it's over before the first beer is cracked, or else it will be over.

Hmmm. Injera.

For Chinese, I'd move a lover.
For pizza, I'd move a friend.
For Ethiopian, I'd move an enemy.

Naturally.

All is good.

The move was a huge success! Thanks for the pointers guys and gals.

Did you take any pictures?

Unfortunately no...I really wanted to get some pictures of all my stuff piled in one room at the old place, then a few of us with stuff strapped in every conceivable place and a final one of everything in its new home...but my camera is broken. I thought of using the phone on my camera about half way through the day and took a few pics...none of which turned out at all :(

Rats. :(

I just moved entirely by bicycle with the exception of my gun safe which I hired a professional to get it down the stairs.

The move was actually easier then using a truck because I could get much closer to the front door with the bike and trailer then I could have by truck.

When I was moving the washer and dryer (same load) and other heavy stuff I did not take pictures because I had a friend helping and I did not want to waste his time.

The trailer is of course the model 96 from bikesatwork.com.http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/bobpicture/pictureforian1.jpg

Outstanding. We could have used you at a memorial service for a local cyclist. A long string of bikes behind the motor vehicle carrying the coffin. Got some black Krylon?:D

Sweet! :)

nice! congrats too...!

Props

That trailer is the coolest thing I've ever seen. :)

I was just wondering how fast you can ride with that, and what difficulties that you came across.

The first thing I did was put the smallest front chainring on my bike that I could. I think its a 12 tooth ring. That is a neccesity for pulling these types of loads. That way I can spin efficiently while going as slow as 4 mph. The fastest I can go on straight aways with a huge load is about 10 mph and on hills it can be as slow as 3 or 4 mph with a monster load.

The largest load I have had on that trailer is about 400 pounds and at that weight you really need to watch the hills. There are some hills that you just cannot turn the crank arms anymore.

I try to avoid hills that are greater than 5% and since I am friends with the local traffic engineer I can find that information fairly easily. I have taken on steeper hills if they are pretty short.

Braking I have not had any problems but I chalk that up to the disc brakes.

The furthest I have hauled a heavy load (300 #'s) was 20 miles round trip with about a 2 hour break in between. When I returned I was very tired and after dropping the trailer off I thought I had bent my frame because the bike felt so weird to me. I think what happened was that I ride with a lean while that trailer tongue is pushing down on my bike and after removing that it felt very strange.

My town is pretty hilly but I think if I lived in a flatter area then I could haul more weight or go a further distance.

Awesome trailer. As it happens I'm about ready to move so if you want a few bucks drop me a line.

That is cool as all get out!!!

Very impressive. You mentioned the tongue weight. Is there any reason the trailer is designed to have so much weight so far forward of the axle? Seems a centered axle would be more suitable. I know you wouldn't want the load lifting the bike.

Meaux

Very impressive. You mentioned the tongue weight. Is there any reason the trailer is designed to have so much weight so far forward of the axle? Seems a centered axle would be more suitable. I know you wouldn't want the load lifting the bike.

Meaux

I think that's exactly it. With a centre axle you would be more likely to put weight at the back. With the current design, you're almost guaranteed to put it forward.

Imagine yourself on a hill and your bike being picked up from the back and being thrown into traffic :(



OP - are those touring bars I see on that bike?

You are THE MAN !!!!


Yes, I am in awe.

Love the bike move. You are hardcore!

I was moving last week, with the help of family and friends - using their cars to transport everything, and had been thinking to myself how I could have done the whole thing (with the possible exception being my queen-sized bed) with a large trailer behind behind my bike, much like you did. Maybe I can buy/build one before the next time I move (hopefully no time soon...) and actually do it. Thanks for the inspiration!

I'll also have to pass this along to my mom who was incredulous but intrigued by the idea when I was musing about it aloud.

The handlebars are trekking bars (+/- $10.00 nashbar) wrapped in brooks bar tape.

Novakane - I hauled my wife and I's queen sized bed on the trailer. I put the frame on the bottom, then the box springs and then the mattress and put one ratchet strap over it.

It never budged and cars give you LOTS of room to pass when you have a queen sized bed behind you. :D

Very impressive. You mentioned the tongue weight. Is there any reason the trailer is designed to have so much weight so far forward of the axle? Seems a centered axle would be more suitable. I know you wouldn't want the load lifting the bike.

Meaux

Ive wondered the same thing but I have always just tried not to second guess the folks at "bikesatwork.com".

It took me a few weeks to figure out that you want to hook the bike to the trailer while the trailer is unloaded and then you can just lay the bike on its side. After loading you just pick the bike up and take off. Before I was loading the trailer and then almost breaking my back trying to hook it up. STUPID!

Looks like you could put some pads (e.g. pipe insulation) on the top rails and strap a canoe down on it with the center of boat over the axle and the stern hanging off.

So the idea behind this sticky is to tell us about your moving by bike or hauling interesting or amazing objects/people by bike. Pictures are highly encouraged!

http://homepage.mac.com/awcg/.Pictures/Bike/Giant/Rug.jpg
A nine foot by twelve foot rug.

Now with a basket up front too.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/diff_lock_cr-v_awd/bongv2064.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/diff_lock_cr-v_awd/front%20rack/frontrack008.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/diff_lock_cr-v_awd/front%20rack/frontrack169.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c346/diff_lock_cr-v_awd/front%20rack/frontrack001.jpg

in case you folks haven't heard, the practical pedal is having a cargo photo contest (http://practicalpedal.com/blog/?p=62).
send in your best pics to win an extrawheel trailer.

For me at least, theres no point, i checked the bikes so far... mines horible.

Thanks for the link, Mike.

Very impressive. You mentioned the tongue weight. Is there any reason the trailer is designed to have so much weight so far forward of the axle? Seems a centered axle would be more suitable. I know you wouldn't want the load lifting the bike.



Ive wondered the same thing but I have always just tried not to second guess the folks at "bikesatwork.com".

Putting the wheels in the rear of the trailer will put a lot of weight on the rear wheel of the bike. That means the rear wheel is unlikely to skid/slip under acceleration or braking. Assuming the trailer tongue+hitch and the bike's rear wheel/frame are strong enough, the rear wheel is the best place to put a lot of weight. (because it's used for power and for braking.)

4' by 4' gaming tabletop...
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l167/Sunstar_of_Cybertron/Images%20for%20forum/oddload.jpg

It was surprisingly stable, although I did walk when we went to pick it up. I could have ridden.

4' by 4' gaming tabletop....

WARHAMMER...40K?

There are lots of wonderful trailers out there. Carrying medium loads (100lbs or so) is pretty comfortable for most people. In fact many parents do this when carrying children. Any child trailer can also be used for cargo (er bikego) such as this one (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60961560@N00/213791186/). For larger loads above 200lbs, you want to be more careful because stopping distance is longer, you can't 'panic stop' if a car doesn't look, and steep hills are very much to be avoided. For these loads trailer mentioned above is fantastic. I built my own (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikeportland/111659896/) out of aluminum as well.
You can view my blog post (http://innovativetransport.blogspot.com/2007/06/how-to-get-hitched-with-your-bicycle.html) or my website (http://www.yourbodypower.org) for more information.

I take it that you live in a relatively flat part of the country? I can't imagine towing some of those loads up one of our Appalachian hills.

Portland had another bike move last weekend. It was wet and chilly but we were undaunted.

Here are a few pics...

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee33/madcat545/dscn1662.jpg http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee33/madcat545/dscn1665.jpg http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee33/madcat545/dscn1671.jpg

The rest of the set can be seen here (http://picasaweb.google.com/reber221/MaskedParadeBikeMove).

Portland had another bike move last weekend. It was wet and chilly but we were undaunted.

Here are a few pics...

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee33/madcat545/dscn1662.jpg http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee33/madcat545/dscn1665.jpg http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee33/madcat545/dscn1671.jpg

The rest of the set can be seen here (http://picasaweb.google.com/reber221/MaskedParadeBikeMove).

Thanks for the link to the pics!

The trailer is of course the model 96 from bikesatwork.com.http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/bobpicture/pictureforian1.jpg

Thanks for posting the URL to bikesatwork.com. Good stuff!

Moved myself into my new office last night.

http://lh5.google.com/kimmitt/R45XWPFGccI/AAAAAAAAAHo/2WEtPVcerTo/s400/PICT0175.JPG

Further discussion at bambootrailer.blogspot.com