Utility Cycling - xtracycle,xtravois, steer(rake?)angle?

Hope this question is not on a wrong forum.

I have read with interest, any information about lengthened bikes, by way of kits like xtracycle.
then I came across todd cleverchimp's blog about his earlier version of lenghtened-wheel-base bike.
my question is: is there really a problem wth steer (rake?) angle, as far as stabilty is concerned?
does it mean that actually all xtracycle users have stability problem, since their rake angle are standard of a normal bike?

thanks or infos.

You might want to try asking in the framebuilder's forum. It's a question that many would not ever think of.
http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=229

Hope this question is not on a wrong forum.

I have read with interest, any information about lengthened bikes, by way of kits like xtracycle.
then I came across todd cleverchimp's blog about his earlier version of lenghtened-wheel-base bike.
my question is: is there really a problem wth steer (rake?) angle, as far as stabilty is concerned?
does it mean that actually all xtracycle users have stability problem, since their rake angle are standard of a normal bike?

thanks or infos.

please help.

sir moderator, please help me move this thread to the framebuilder forum.
dunno how to do it myself.
thanks a lot

I don't know if I would characterize it as a problem, but changing the rake and the trail definitely changes the feel of the steering. I have an xtracycle and adding the bolt-on attachment caused my frame to tilt back slightly, effectively increasing the trail and giving a noticeably heavier feel to the steering. But so what, I got used to it. Going the other way has the tendency to make your steering wobbly.

I have had my Xtracycle for several years and have not experienced any problems with steering or stability unless it is heavily loaded down with stuff, which is to be expected with any heavily loaded bike. It takes a little bit of time to adjust your riding style for the longer wheelbase. The only difference I can tell between my bike's handling characteristics before and after adding the extention is that I can ride a lot slower with the longer wheelbase. So, in my case, it (apparently) improved slow speed stability. Or, maybe the greater slow speed stabilty is simply my own perception.

Like any other changes you make on your bike, you'll get used to it in no time, even if it involves handling issues.

I moved this thread to the framebuilders forum....

I have had my Xtracycle for several years and have not experienced any problems with steering or stability unless it is heavily loaded down with stuff, which is to be expected with any heavily loaded bike. It takes a little bit of time to adjust your riding style for the longer wheelbase. The only difference I can tell between my bike's handling characteristics before and after adding the extention is that I can ride a lot slower with the longer wheelbase. So, in my case, it (apparently) improved slow speed stability. Or, maybe the greater slow speed stabilty is simply my own perception.


Have you toured long distance using the Xtracycle? Is it better than using panniers, or pulling a trailer? Any noticable effects on your bicycle frame, wheels, etc.?

What PM seattle is describing would be an increase in stability not a decrease, slower stearing response, more like a caddy.

"effectively increasing the trail and giving a noticeably heavier feel to the steering."

Basically, the trail is the difference between the contact point of a line projected through the center of the head tube to the ground, and the point the tire touches. If the back of the bike dips down you get an increase in this distance. In the extreme, if the rear drop was so great the head tube was almost parallel to the ground, the point it projected to would be infinetly out. front for a massive trail. Longer trail where the tire contact remains behind the projection point (trail can be positive or negative), the more stable. More fork offset would bring things back to original specs, but then it isn't a sports car in X-tra mode so why worry?