So I've been reviewing my car usage and trying to minimize it where I can. My major problem is trying to get errands done on the weekends when I have my 9 year old daughter. Traffic in my area is psychotic at the best of times and many of the places I need to go are designed for cars to get there so I wouildn't feel comfortable having my daughter on her own bike. So I was thinking, what would be the best way to be able to do my errands (groceries, home renovation supplies etc.) while I have my daughter? The answer came to me...tandem Xtracycle. I'm not sure if it's even possible but an tandem is already designed to carry extra weight (beefier front fork and rims). My concern is that the extra weight of supplies and distance between the wheels would be too much stress for a frame. Add to that the fact that a tandem already has a long chain, turning it into a tandem-xtracycle might be too much to expect.

Is this a crazy idea or what?

Crazy? I don't think so:

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r152/Hastyman/Bike%20to%20Work%202008/IMG_0809.jpg

However, the question I have for you. Are you expecting her to share in the work or just sit back and enjoy the ride? If you want her to share, then you could find a tandem and put some racks and panniers on it and you're set. Just google some touring tandem pics and it'll give you a good idea.

If you're just wanting her with you, the xtracycle isn't a bad choice. They just hop on bike and enjoy the sights.

Check Craigslist in your area if you're looking for a tandem. I see older ones show up from time to time that only need a little work and are generally priced pretty reasonably. Especially the cruiser/city bike style schwinns.

I personally don't think it would work too well because of the already extended length of the tandem. I would get a good solid rack front and rear, then some decent panniers and shop away, or possibly a trailer like the Burley Flatbed. I KNOW that can be done.:thumb:

Aaron:)

According to the people at Xtracycle, tandems have been X-ed in the past; it supposedly requires some finagling, but it has been and can be done.

Depending on how tall the girl is, perhaps one of these: http://www.buddybike.com/News.html or one of these http://www.rad-innovations.com/KidzTandem/kidztandem.html might be good ideas.

I think I misunderstood you. So you want to take a tandem and add an xtracycle to it?

Wow, that would be a long bike. I thought you meant find an old tandem and convert it with bags and such to use like an xtracycle.

If you do this I'd love to see pictures of it.

A tandem plus a trailer for the stuff might be a better choice.

Do you already have a good tandem? If not, a bakfiets might be another option.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r152/Hastyman/Bike%20to%20Work%202008/IMG_0809.jpg



Why bother with a two wheeled Xtra cycle? If it's carrying capacity and real
safety you want/need invest in a front wheel trike as the Dutch do for kids.

While is may not be easy to see but that child in that added on kids seat is death or
injury waiting to happen due to the total lack of protection of the child during a fall
or crash. THAT is why the Dutch use front wheeled trikes with kids.

http://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/frontload.html

(That little girl looks like a sweety. I hope her Dad re-thinks her safety as to
transporting her in the manner he his. )

Take a look here:

Two seater with front footrest:
http://www.surlybikes.com/blogimages/Final1-719901.jpg
http://www.surlybikes.com/blogimages/Final3-715907.jpg

http://johngarrish.blogspot.com/2008/05/some-cool-ideas-for-xtracycle-kids.html

and

http://bikeportland.org/2007/07/25/options-for-the-perfect-family-bike/

and

http://johngarrish.blogspot.com/2007/12/ultimate-bike-for-dads-and-young-kids.html

and

1 mom, 1 young child and older girl
http://clevercycles.com/?p=84

Go for tandem + trailer.

x-tra tandem is loooong, and it must be limited how much you can load on it. If you still want to do it ask in the "Framebuilders Forum". You`d need s t r o n g brakes, she is getting heavyer and is going to change alot. Sitting passiv on a normal x-tra or in a trike does not make sense, and in a short time she might refuse. You pulling everything on your own does not make sense.

Maybe think about what you want to do three yrs from now, when she is on her own bike. You can still enjoy the tandem and she can pull her own weight on it.

Why bother with a two wheeled Xtra cycle? If it's carrying capacity and real
safety you want/need invest in a front wheel trike as the Dutch do for kids.

While is may not be easy to see but that child in that added on kids seat is death or
injury waiting to happen due to the total lack of protection of the child during a fall
or crash. THAT is why the Dutch use front wheeled trikes with kids.

http://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/frontload.html

Those worksmans cycles don't look to be designed for transporting kids. Perhaps you mean something more like http://www.christianiabikes.com/english/uk_main.htm?

While is may not be easy to see but that child in that added on kids seat is death or
injury waiting to happen due to the total lack of protection of the child during a fall
or crash. THAT is why the Dutch use front wheeled trikes with kids.



Oh really... :rolleyes: Gotta love it when the safety nannies start making stuff up to support their agenda.

I guess their huge safety concern is why they're such helmet fanatics too :p

http://clevercycles.com/blog/images/family_bike_1.jpg
http://www.velorution.biz/images/Velorution%20-%20Dutch%20lady%20w%20two%20kids%20and%20face%20paint%20small.jpg
http://www.breigh.com/blogpics/kindfiets.jpg

I wonder if you could even get cables long enough for a tandem Xtra..

Yes, my added on "Seat of Death" is so dissimilar from commercial offerings. The pea pod comes to mind, which is made by a Dutch company, marketed over there as the Bobike Maxi. Actually I prefer mine. It has a lower center of gravity which makes it much more stable. Plus she's too tall for most commercial offerings. This works out great for the times I can't haul the trailer around with me.

Thanks for pointing out my inadequacies as a parent.

Oh really... :rolleyes: Gotta love it when the safety nannies start making stuff up to support their agenda.

I guess their huge safety concern is why they're such helmet fanatics too :p

http://clevercycles.com/blog/images/family_bike_1.jpg
http://www.velorution.biz/images/Velorution%20-%20Dutch%20lady%20w%20two%20kids%20and%20face%20paint%20small.jpg
http://www.breigh.com/blogpics/kindfiets.jpg

Thanks for finding the pictures I was just getting ready to look for.

We frequently pull a trailer (An older Burley kid version) with our tandem, loaded either with the two dogs or groceries, sometimes both. The captain needs to keep in mind the length when negotiating obsticals, but there are no stability issues.

BTW, tandems DO NOT have a longer chain than "half bikes" at the rear. The long chain is the sync chain between the captain and stoker cranks, which would be the same if you X-trafied it.

145mm is standard dropout spacing for tandem rear hubs. You could probably adapt the X-tra cyle to fit in there, but you'd need to either cold set the xtra to fit the tandem wheel, or you'd need to come up with a standard spaced wheel. The former would be better, as tandem wheels are normally stronger.


Cables: Either make them up from bulk, or there are "splicers" made for coupled tandems.

But overall, I wouldn't do it. Tandems don't normally have any extra stiffness to spare, and already have issues with ground clearance over bumps, and load the front wheel heavier, all of which would become more of an issue if you extrafied it.

Oh really... :rolleyes: Gotta love it when the safety nannies start making stuff up to support their agenda.

I guess their huge safety concern is why they're such helmet fanatics too :p

http://clevercycles.com/blog/images/family_bike_1.jpg
http://www.velorution.biz/images/Velorution%20-%20Dutch%20lady%20w%20two%20kids%20and%20face%20paint%20small.jpg
http://www.breigh.com/blogpics/kindfiets.jpg

These photos were taken in parts of Europe where bicycles are more common , and allowed
for, so any comparison to American cycling and European cycling doesn't wash. :notamused:

Here is my dream bike :love:

Before


http://www.bikerubbish.com/rubbish/april2008/elec2.jpg


After..(minus the not exactly round front tire :) )

http://www.bikerubbish.com/rubbish/april2008/elec.jpg

These photos were taken in parts of Europe where bicycles are more common , and allowed
for, so any comparison to American cycling and European cycling doesn't wash. :notamused:

First off, your concern was what she was riding in. Which is pretty much the same thing those "Europeans" appear to be using. Not everyone over there uses a Bakfiets or other cargo bike to get around in. Now it's the commonality of the item in the public eye and not the equipment? I don't understand.

There's no difference between "European" cycling and "American" cycling. We both move our bikes through space one pedal stroke at a time.

What makes you think bikes aren't common where I live... or allowed for? On my block alone there are 3-4 bike commuters and I can't tell you how many more I see on my every day commute. We have great wide streets, marked bike routes, and people that give me plenty of space when I'm on my bike.

As far as our safety, I probably see less traffic taking my daughter to school on my bike than those "European Cyclist" pictured do on their commute. Plus, bikes are fairly common where I ride with her. It's not exactly like we're shooting down the freeway together gleefully shooting the bird at congested traffic while be blow through traffic lights. :rolleyes:

We live in a great little Urban area just South of Downtown and ride through our old neighborhood a few miles down the road to her school. Now after I drop her off, sure the traffic increases and the roads become more congested, but that's because I'm riding downtown. However, it's not a factor for her at all.

Until more people start cycling and treating it, not as a childs toy, but as a viable means of transportation... bicycles will never be more common or accepted. I'm doing my part and so is my daughter. She's a great ambassador for our cause. More and more people at her school ask me what they can do to start getting around like that. That's how you effect change... by example.

These photos were taken in parts of Europe where bicycles are more common , and allowed
for, so any comparison to American cycling and European cycling doesn't wash. :notamused:


My goal was only to show your statements to be incorrect. Yes, some people use front-wheeled trikes, but to imply that it's due to some widespread safety concern seems unfounded.

I haven't made any comparisons - not sure what you're referring to.

Until more people start cycling and treating it, not as a childs toy, but as a viable means of transportation... bicycles will never be more common or accepted. I'm doing my part and so is my daughter. She's a great ambassador for our cause. More and more people at her school ask me what they can do to start getting around like that. That's how you effect change... by example.


+1

My daughter currently arrives at any event/location within cycling distance in her bobike and will eventually transition onto the big dummy for these trips.

I don't consider myself an advocate, and am not putting her at unreasonable risk to prove some point to anyone. That said, it does make people think and possibly consider options beyond the car.

I live in Europe, and reading about "how they ride in Europe" does`nt make sense. It is like me talking about how they ride in America. I think what you mean is Denmark and Holland. Both SMALL flat countrys. Europe is BIG guys, just like America is BIG.

There is one cargo bike in the nearest town from where I live. Think they bought it for hauling kids around town and down to the lake. If you try using it as a regular bike you`d get muscles like a horse. Hilly area.

I see a lot of kiddy trailers, more every year, and a lot more bikes. I think i bought the first kiddytrailer in the area, my son is now 12 yrs. We got a bike lane last year going all the way to the next town. Peopel use it a lot.

Well, it started with a Dutch comment - then Tightwad went off on a tangent when he was disputed.

I think most are aware of both the size of Europe and the typical bicycle use.

Well, it started with a Dutch comment - then Tightwad went off on a tangent when he was disputed.

I think most are aware of both the size of Europe and the typical bicycle use.

Absolutely correct.

That's why I put Europe in quotes every time I referenced it.