Help with XtraCycle build

[darksiderising]

Hi all,

I currently use a trailer and/or panniers for my hauling needs but now I really want to build an XtraCycle. I am going back and forth between a few different options. First off, I am pretty sure, seeing past comments, that I want a 26" bike. However, I really like Cannondale's Bad Boy (http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/08/cusa/model-8BR.html) (Disc (http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/08/cusa/model-8BRD.html) maybe) and wish they hadn't stopped making a 26" version after 2005. I also like Fisher's Cronus (http://www.fisherbikes.com/bike/model/cronus).
I typically ride more aggressive road bikes, so I am looking for something more sporty. I also am unsure, if I get a mountain bike, if I would want front suspension at all. Something with a lockout would be nice if I did get a front suspension bike.

I work at a bike shop and we carry Giant, Cannondale, and Fisher. I don't really like any of Giant's bikes for this purpose. It seems like I like the Cronus. What do you more experienced people think?

Thanks.

[badmother]

26" . Any "longtail" is a working bike, not an aggressive roadbike. Many say front suspension perform different on a longtail, so I`we decided not to try it. Fat tires and maybe springs in the seat for suspension. Low toptube makes it easyer to mount or dismount a loaded longtail. I used a "mixte" offroad frame for my latest.

[sprockets]

I love my Cannondale Bad Boy Disc. I'm pretty sure you can mount 26" rims on it. That being said, I think I'd rather have an old steel framed bike to make an xtracycle out of. I'm planning on doing this to my old Miyata Elevation 200. It's a good solid frame and has been consistently reliable and easy to maintain. It's also a very comfy ride. I like the 700c rims on the bad boy, it's great for getting around town, I have added fenders and a rack to it to make it a useful city bike, though I stil ahve to do something about those handlebars. That being said, I don't think I'd want 700c rims on an xtracycle, I'd rather something with bigger tires for extra cushioning

[yes]

Someone (stokemonkey guy's maybe) with lots of experience suggested that the best configuration for frame / xtracycle was a karate monkey paired with a 26" wheel in the back and a 26" disk wheel in the front.
Here is a write-up for this configuration.
http://bikehugger.com/2006/09/the_bettie_download.htm
You have plenty of room for 2.3" tires. This type of configuration (with the Cronus maybe) might lead to a low bottom bracket, so beware if you are planning on lots of offroad, but id doesn't sound like that is what you are doing. Maybe with a shorter fork, you could run it as a 69er without screwing up the geometry. That would just require a new back wheel for the Cronus.
I have no personal experience with this. It's just something that I have thought about.