Living Car Free - Useful Luggage racks....

Hey, this weekend I cycled out to REI co-op and they had a couple bikes that would be good for car-free. This is the first time in the US that I've seen cargo racks that look like they can hold substantial loads. The bikes are set up with fenders and lights too. The only thing missing for my use is a full coverage chain case. I know about extracycles but they seem like add-ons. The bikes I saw were ready to use for transportation from day-one as Hillary used to say. This is real progress. I remember when not too long ago I got a bike from REI for a car-free friend and the best they could do is a touring bike and then add rack, light, fenders and pants clips myself. Actually, you wouldn't expect a recreation oriented business like REI to supply equipment for daily transportation needs, these bikes seem to be outside their charter. But, there they are.

Is this the bicycle?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w9fscYP670

I think REI is seeing a new opportunity, as is Surly. Even my local LBS is now stocking bikes that are clearly meant for commuting. I recall even 4 years ago when I bought my commuter, the best I could do was a hybrid that need a ton of extra gear... rack, fenders, lights, etc. etc.

You can now get a bike that has all that and is ready for commuting right out of the box.

Gwd, I really think if General Motors had a "Forward Thinking" department, they would be in much better shape. They'd soon realize that technologies like the xtracycle ( and YouTube for that matter) are changing the way people think about transportation.

For example this lovely piece of lifestyle proganda :)

YouTube - Xtracycle lifestyle

Don't forget about the Kona Ute and the Mundo cargo bicycle.

RANS has created a new cargo bicycle called the Hammer Truck. It might have been mentioned here before but I haven't seen it.

This is the sales page; http://www.ransbikes.com/HammerTruck.htm.
This is an article by the designer of the Hammer Truck; http://www.ransbikes.com/ITR70.htm.

Gwd, I really think if General Motors had a "Forward Thinking" department, they would be in much better shape. They'd soon realize that technologies like the xtracycle ( and YouTube for that matter) are changing the way people think about transportation.

For example this lovely piece of lifestyle proganda :)

If GM had focused its products and marketing to as narrow a slice of the population as represented in "this lovely piece of lifestyle propaganda" they would have been on the ropes long ago.

Might work for a niche producer of a niche product though.

If GM had focused its products and marketing to as narrow a slice of the population as represented in "this lovely piece of lifestyle propaganda" they would have been on the ropes long ago.

Might work for a niche producer of a niche product though.

You are right, of course. I was having a fantasy about going to GMAC and getting a 0% interest loan on the purchase of an xtracycle.

You are right, of course. I was having a fantasy about going to GMAC and getting a 0% interest loan on the purchase of an xtracycle.
Why not? I heard on the radio they had been giving out those sub-prime loans why not other consumer loans? They could make a nice living off the processing fees and late payment penalties.

The bikes were the REI brand Novara models "Fusion" and "Transfer".

http://www.rei.com/product/774424

The racks look stronger in person than in the web photos. Like you could easily carry an adult back there. The thing is that REI is a recreation company I don't expect to see immediately car-free useful bikes in there. I expect to see some solid bike like the Randonee that you use as a foundation for a useful bike. The bike manufacturers are getting to be like car companies where they produce something you can drive away. You don't need to add fenders and trunk and headlights as add-ons when you buy a car. You add fuzzy dice and crown air fresheners and maybe a bobbling hula girl or pinstiping and a plastic jesus on the dashboard.

You are right, of course. I was having a fantasy about going to GMAC and getting a 0% interest loan on the purchase of an xtracycle.



Why not? I heard on the radio they had been giving out those sub-prime loans why not other consumer loans? They could make a nice living off the processing fees and late payment penalties.

One reason might be that an xtracycle and most other high priced bicycles retain so little $$ value once off the showroom floor, and the market for them is so thin, that they probably are near worthless as collateral for a loan.

One reason might be that an xtracycle and most other high priced bicycles retain so little $$ value once off the showroom floor, and the market for them is so thin, that they probably are near worthless as collateral for a loan.
The more you describe this, the more it sounds like an SUV...

Ok.. I really would probably settle for some parts for my hybrid and a new hitch for the trailer I bought off Craiglist.

Damn, this recession is getting depressing :(