Utility Cycling - Folder on an xtracycle?

Hi folks,

I've been planning a longer trip for a while now, and the insane thought occurred to me, if I had an xtracycle, I could just plop my folder (planning on a BF Tikit, have a Dahon Speed P8) into one side and pack other stuff in the other side.

I can't see any reason why a typical 16 or 20-inch folder wouldn't fit. It's like towing your compact behind your Winnebago, only without the fossil fuel.

Am I crazy? Or is this as cool as it seems?

You're crazy. It's like towing your compact behind your Buick. :)

Am I crazy? Or is this as cool as it seems?

You're crazy. I guess if you like riding your folder more than your Xtracycle, then it might be worth it, but then it might also be worth it to just find a bike you like riding. The amount of time you spend riding around on your unloaded folder will be more than made up for by the time you spend carrying it.

But, hey, whatever makes you happy. And in case you didn't know, you can get an Xtracycle attachment that lets you carry a bike on your Xtracycle. What I suggest is that you carry a second Xtracycle on your Xtracycle. That way if you break down you can just swap bikes. ;)

You could do it, but I mean, a well rounded out Xtracycle is a good bike. It should be able to do anything a folder can, aside from the fact that the Xtracycle has a whole lotta bulk.

Its pretty easy to carry a bike around on an 'X though, I can fit any of the bikes in our house into one of the freeloaders by taking the wheels off and throwing a piece of scrap leather into the bottom of the bag to keep the chainwheel/pokey bits from ripping it up: A folder would be a piece of cake.

Why not just have a folding xtracyle?

Why not just have a folding xtracyle?

Its possible. There are 2 problems though, first being that the 'X is designed for 26" wheels. You can go down to 24" just fine, and the Xtracycle does really well, but smaller than that and you'll run into ground clearance problems, basically it'll be flat ground or bust. literally. There are some fine 26" folding bikes out there which would solve the first problem,

but

Second being, I don't know if there's a really tough 26" folder out there i'd trust for heavy duty use like the 'X demands. Most of the folders i've seen are designed for ~230lbs. The Xtracycle can demand upwards of 350-375, which is above the limitations of some regular MTBs. I would think that a bike like the Dahon Flo would do fine, but there aren't a lot out there that would, IMO.

Forget the folding bike. Turn your snap deck into a skateboard, or for more speed, carry a Xootr scooter, or turn a Xootr Cruz into a snap deck. :)

Forget the folding bike. Turn your snap deck into a skateboard, or for more speed, carry a Xootr scooter, or turn a Xootr Cruz into a snap deck. :)

I like the way you're thinkin', pardner. Great idea...Guess I need to see if my 48" skateboard is interesting in getting tweaked...:D

I like the way you're thinkin', pardner. Great idea...Guess I need to see if my 48" skateboard is interesting in getting tweaked...:D

http://youtube.com/watch?v=dCx345xdjfs

Looks like fun

Nice find, Abneycat! Thanks for posting.

Hi folks,

I've been planning a longer trip for a while now, and the insane thought occurred to me, if I had an xtracycle, I could just plop my folder (planning on a BF Tikit, have a Dahon Speed P8) into one side and pack other stuff in the other side.

I can't see any reason why a typical 16 or 20-inch folder wouldn't fit. It's like towing your compact behind your Winnebago, only without the fossil fuel.

Am I crazy? Or is this as cool as it seems?

Jeeze, cabin fever's gotta be real tough up there this year. Just hang tight there guy. Do what you gotta do to make it through, okay. At least wait till Punxsutawney Phil reports in. I'm praying for ya.

I like the way you're thinkin', pardner. Great idea...Guess I need to see if my 48" skateboard is interesting in getting tweaked...:D

yep, longboards are the way to go, they come off much easier than that vid that was shown.
My wifes

http://www.bikerubbish.com/rubbish/feb2008/rt2.jpg


In action

http://www.bikerubbish.com/rubbish/feb2008/wellthen.jpg


Mine(including nephews)

http://www.bikerubbish.com/rubbish/feb2008/xtra.jpg


You can see them a little better here

http://www.bikerubbish.com/rubbish/dec2007/narrows9999.jpg

I don't think I could pack my Downtube Mini onto my Xtracycle, but the Strida would be okay. My question, though: why would you want to do this?

Hi folks,

Thanks for the responses. I would never have thought of the skateboard mod (I can't skateboard for crap, but it's interesting). The Xootr is something I will also check out.

I realize I should have been more clear about what I'm thinking of. I would be doing the Pacific Coast Bicycle Trail down to San Diego, which I already think is insane, since I'm just a commuter at this point, and only lately seem to have been bitten by a bike fanaticism bug--I had been just planning to take my folder on the bus (want lots of intermediate stops, I'm "monastery-hopping"), and just thought "hm, I could just bike the whole way."

Part of my trip will be staying in San Jose with a friend for a while, where I'd like to be able to do the mixed-mode thing to see local folks, shopping, that kind of stuff. Maybe the "why the hell do you need the folder when you have the Xtracycle" people are right, and I should just slow down, but I like the idea of being able to do more stuff in a day than pure cycling would permit. Thus the folder. I freely admit too that the pure bizarre novelty factor is part of it.

It sounds like a bigger folder (I got the Tikit--gorgeous, gorgeous machine) might not go on an unadorned Xtracycle but I think with the deck attachment it could be strapped on securely.

So, there's a little more insight into my situation. Further suggestions, maunderings, and ridicule are welcome. :)

Oh, and cabin fever? Pfft. The weather has been awesome lately, I'm using any excuse to ride. :D

Wait a sec, if you have a Tikit, why not get a good trailer and tow that with the Tikit? My Xtracycle is only a bit more comfortable than my Downtube Mini folder, but I go a lot faster on the Mini. A trailer full of gear will probably slow the folder down a bit, but it'll still be better than an Xtracycle carrying all that gear plus a Tikit.

Other possibilities: A-Bike, roller blades, rent or borrow a lighter bike for excursions....

It sounds like a bigger folder (I got the Tikit--gorgeous, gorgeous machine) might not go on an unadorned Xtracycle but I think with the deck attachment it could be strapped on securely.


I wouldn't worry about a bigger folder not fitting on the 'X. If you really wanted to do it, a folder would be no trouble. I'll put up pictures of my "unadorned" Xtracycle carrying an entire Full Suspension bike up later if you like :)

Hi again,

OK, wisdom has prevailed--the Tikit is certainly a fantastic bike for my commute and for getting around town, but for touring, well, I don't think it'd be that comfy with a trailer. Seems like I'm better off leaving it at home or in storage, getting a nice touring bike, and just using that. The touring folks seem to agree that utility bikes are great for, well, utility, but are perhaps overkill for bivouacking around the country. At any rate I enjoy the idea of doing more with less, and knowing that at least one guy does some pretty serious trips with pretty modest panniers, I think that's the way I'd like to go. (Thanks Alex!)

Again, thanks for the ruminations & humour, and happy biking. Once I'm settled from my travels, I imagine I will branch out to have an SUB at some point, as I am truly car-free. Cheers!