Utility Cycling - Shifting the Xtracycle to a larger frame

Perhaps I should post this to the Commuting thread since I never carry more than 30 pounds...but this forum seems to have more 'savvy' on the Xtracycle...


So my 03 Giant 21" MTB steel frame was always a little small for me at 6'5" but it wasn't until my wrists kept hurting that I considered getting a larger frame for the Xtracycle to create a more upright riding position. For recreational riding, I'm on a Surly LHT with stem riser, compact double gearing, clipless but the Xtracycle has been my commuter for the 8-mile daily round trip to work for the past year.

Found a 62 cm new Crosscheck frame on Craig's List and bought it. Now the conversion:

Nexus Inter-8 internal hub w/ 42-tooth front cog (have never had an internal hub...)
Nexus 8 Twist Shifter (don't really like twist shifters but what is the alternative?)
HubBub bar-end adapter to mount the shifter on Nitto Moustache bars
Truvativ 175mm touring cranks with BMX studded flat pedals

Shimano MB 2200 front wheel with 32-spokes
Rear wheel = tandem, hand-built rim & spokes because of spoke breakage (I'm 230 lbs)
Armadillo 700 x 25 mm tires (max width the brake adapter will take)

The Xtracycle frame was originally 26" for the MTB but the XCheck takes 700cc tires so will have to use the Mavic Brake Adapter on it. Or so the helpful tech at Xtracycle informed me. Other than gettting the rear brake to work, there shouldn't be any other problems.

Brooks B-17 seat (or may try a Brooks Flyer).

My LBS is pricing this stuff for me. What have I missed?

thanks,

Woody

What have I missed?

thanks,

Woody

I will take the 50+ views with no comments as silent acquiesence that this rig is gonna work. Your tacit agreement is appreciated.

cw

My xtracycle on a fuji touring bike fits a 700x32 marathon plus in the rear. Yes I have to deflate it to get it in there but it'll go in. I know armadillows are taller though but a 25 seems pretty small. I have the brake adapter that xtracycle sells.

Are you just doing a 1x8 (no FD for a double/triple). Just looking for missing stuff. I was thinking of doing a 1x8 myself since it would be nice not to have any external shifting apparatuses and minimize maintenance on my utility bike but I'm probably going to hold off until I really break what is there since I dont' ride my xtracycle far since I have a seperate commute bike now for my 40+ mile rt commute.

My xtracycle on a fuji touring bike fits a 700x32 marathon plus in the rear. Yes I have to deflate it to get it in there but it'll go in. I know armadillows are taller though but a 25 seems pretty small. I have the brake adapter that xtracycle sells..

The tech at SpeedGoat said that they would only guarantee that a 700x25 would fit the brake adapter. Good to know that you're using a larger tire. Yes, I think 25's are a bit too narrow for my commuter-cruise - 32's are what my 26-inch tires are now and they give a much nicer ride. I'm not sold on Armadillos completely but mine have given such great service and proven highly resistant to flats and I HATE changing flats. And on this internal hub, that appears to be even more of a pain...maybe I'll try Marathons and see how they do. They certainly seem highly regarded among BF participants.


Are you just doing a 1x8 (no FD for a double/triple). Just looking for missing stuff. I was thinking of doing a 1x8 myself since it would be nice not to have any external shifting apparatuses and minimize maintenance on my utility bike but I'm probably going to hold off until I really break what is there since I dont' ride my xtracycle far since I have a seperate commute bike now for my 40+ mile rt commute.

That's quite a commute: 40+ miles RT! You have my complete admiration...:thumb:

Yes, I'm going to just go with a 42 front chainring for simplicity's sake. On my current MTB setup, I'm only ever in the largest ring and then use only the 3 or 4 largest gears in that one. So I guess we'll see if this simpler setup works. Typical rides around here are made difficult by the wind & not by the terrain.

Although this may be expensive enough that I'll be forced to try to build it on my own. Yes, yes, there are many who tout building one's own but my technical skills lag far behind my desire to just ride the bike. It would probably turn out like my plumbing skills: 3 trips to the hardware store and several hours later, I just call the plumber to repair my repairs. :eek:

I'll post again as this starts to come together...

cw

I rode a non-xtracycle Nexus 8 roadbike conversion for a couple of thousand miles. I went back to geared bikes, primarily because I had to change a couple of rear flats in the dark, cold, winter. I found it to be a mojor PIA.

I also ran the bike with nitto moustache bars, hubbub and twist shifter. I would not reccomend this set up as the cable connection angle to the shifter makes the first 3-4 inches of the moustace bar unusable, unless you want to wrap or place your hand on the shifter cable. Moustache bars also need to be at saddle height or higher,otherwise, I have found they can give just as much wrist pain a sa flat bar.

I rode a non-xtracycle Nexus 8 roadbike conversion for a couple of thousand miles. I went back to geared bikes, primarily because I had to change a couple of rear flats in the dark, cold, winter. I found it to be a mojor PIA.

I also ran the bike with nitto moustache bars, hubbub and twist shifter. I would not reccomend this set up as the cable connection angle to the shifter makes the first 3-4 inches of the moustace bar unusable, unless you want to wrap or place your hand on the shifter cable. Moustache bars also need to be at saddle height or higher,otherwise, I have found they can give just as much wrist pain a sa flat bar.

oh, lawdy, now this is just the kind of info (especially about the moustache bar) that I needed to know...I can get the bars even with the saddle height (probably) but not having the ends of the bar available for holding is unacceptable. Might as well get a perfectly adequate Breezer-style handlebar and be done with it.

The other configuration for the Nexus 8 besides the twisty shifter is the Alfine Rapidfire trigger shifter that is like a regular mt. bike trigger shifter (except more expensive). My gut feeling about all this is that the internal hub may not be worth the investment, especially because we don't get much bad winter weather here. In fact, we hardly have winter here at all, it's the summers that will kill the unwary around here with the heat & humidity.

Why I don't just replicate the configuration of the Surly LHT onto the CrossCheck is a nagging thought that I may listen to....thanks for sharing your experience, fender1

No problem! FWIW, I wanted to like/love IGH bikes so much that the conversion was my third attempt at using one for my primary commuter. My first was a Nexus 7, second was a Nexus 8 (Red Band) and third was a Nexus 8 (Red Band). The hubs worked fine but geared bikes are simpler when things get difficult IMHO.

Also if you are still building your "mechanical knowledge base", go with what you know. Having to figure out how something works to repair it, under pressure to get home after a long day at work, is no fun. :thumb: