Utility Cycling - Found the Xtracycle load limit

Carried 3 bags of mortar mix yesterday (60 lbs each) on the Xtracycle. It was fine until I got to the hill with an 18% grade. I couldn't stand up and pedal because with all that weight, the rear was too wonky. I pushed it up one block and I really appreciate gearing on a bike now. It was nearly impossible to push it up while I could have easily biked up if I could have stood up. I wonder if the stiffer frame of the Big Dummy would have worked. There are two in town (8,000 population) so maybe I'll try it. By the way, in our small town there are also 3 Xtracycles and 3 Bikes At Work trailers. I wonder about utility bikes per capita.

crackerdog: How were the bags secured? I have hauled similar loads on my X, and have found that the configuration and stability of the load can make an extreme difference in the handling of the bike. When I was loading cardboard (often waterlogged) for recycling, I found that the top heavy loads that resulted made it almost impossible to stand up, but I have been able to move similar payloads of firewood with much less trouble, due to the rigidity of the load and the ability to lower the center of gravity. It's also fun to gear the bike down so that you don't have to stand, but you're probably already thinking about that.

Two bags were in the freeloaders and one was on top of the board. I have to mess with the front derailer to get a 24 tooth chainring on it and I haven't tried messing with the old freewheel cluster in the rear yet. I think it was the third bag on top of the board that did it.

Yep, load height makes a difference with a long tail. Low is good, high = squirrelly steering.

You may not be able to get out of the saddle with a real big load. The front end may be just too twitchy, and rocking the bike back and forth, as one does while standing on the cranks, can bring you down.

I could not get some of my bigger loads up my big hill without my cheater motor allowing me to keep my butt in the saddle.

Having a very low granny gear is always good with cargo bikes. And nothing wrong with getting off and pushing if that is what it takes to get it to the top of the hill.

Another factor at work here is that the FreeLoaders themselves have quite a bit of sway to them; not a problem for most loads, but not ideal for extremes. Firmly strapping the load to WideLoader racks (formerly known as H-Racks) will help to stabilize the whole system. The "lightening" effect on the front end definitely makes things a bit dodgy, too. It can be combatted somewhat by leaning well forward and geting body weight over the front wheel, which does take practice (I usually forget about this effect because I have an exceptionally heavy front end, with a basket that I can't seem to leave empty).

I've been trying to find wide-loaders but no joy so far. I did literally go over the load limit. I weigh 200 lbs last I looked and the load was 180 lbs which is 380 and the instructions say 350 is the limit. It was strange but the next day a friend was helping with this brick wall I'm building and he swung by the store on the way over and picked up only 10 bags and his wheels were just about rubbing. You would think a vehicle that weighs 40 to 50 times more, would be able to carry more than just over 3 times my bicycle. Cars are a failed experiment.

I can stand and peddle while carrying 90 lbs on my rear rack/panniers... Climbing a half mile long hill twice a week with a full load of groceries got me very good at standing and peddling without rocking the bike.

Just takes some practice!

I can stand and peddle while carrying 90 lbs on my rear rack/panniers... Climbing a half mile long hill twice a week with a full load of groceries got me very good at standing and peddling without rocking the bike.

Just takes some practice!

Though 180 pounds is significantly more than 90!

I suspect that if I have the fortune of buying or making an Xtra I'll be carrying around my 130 pound GF fairly often. I may have to put gears on that bike, as I think it would be tough to carry a large load with a singlespeed.