Utility Cycling - Big Dummy Questions.

I'll probably order one today or Wednesday.
I hope to commute 16 miles empty,drop a 40 lb load on it for another 5 miles.
(once a week)
OK for a local winter bike?
I plan to use it mainly local for shopping I guess.
Mebbe I can get some idea of what I may also need as I plan on just
ordering the basic model. Thanks in advance.

Umm,never mind. I'm heading down the lbs to do the deal.
Sorry I posted so quick.:)

What kind of a load is it? I love mine.

What kind of load do you want? ACK ACK ACK!!! :)
It is a bulky load. I used to haul it with a rubber duffel bag/shoulder straps.
A picture would better explain the bulk.
My lbs only sold one before with a kid trailer for a family.
A dedicated pedaler himself the lbs owner remarked how smooth the dummy cornered and rode.
$2495 plus $175 in tax. excluding the ground shipping from Minneapolis.
Be here in a week I guess.

I did not know about extracycle or dummies until I saw these forums.
Haven't seen any around here. Today answered a lot of what if questions
when I took it for the first spin around the lbs parking lot.
AWESOME!!! This bike went beyond my expectations.
I had a repro 56 Schwinn cruiser with wire baskets for errands.
I gave it to some one who really needed it. Novarra Fusion filled in the interim.
Took it to the local park for a quick 6 mile ride and a one mile singletrack circuit.
30 lbs? rides like 20! This is gonna be one well ridden bike. Thanks BFers':)

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?p=5611898&posted=1#post5611898

Asanacycles, it took me a whole week to read that link.
On Mothers' day I planted some tulips by my parents headstone.
8 am and there were dozens of people tending to thier parents.
Well, I did get 200 dummy miles the first week.

I did not know about extracycle or dummies until I saw these forums.
Haven't seen any around here. Today answered a lot of what if questions
when I took it for the first spin around the lbs parking lot.
AWESOME!!! This bike went beyond my expectations.
I had a repro 56 Schwinn cruiser with wire baskets for errands.
I gave it to some one who really needed it. Novarra Fusion filled in the interim.
Took it to the local park for a quick 6 mile ride and a one mile singletrack circuit.
30 lbs? rides like 20! This is gonna be one well ridden bike. Thanks BFers':)

Glad you like it, Bat22. What kind of hitch rack are you using in the photo? And is it stable for the Big Dummy? I've considered this approach for some time now, but after measuring, it appears the bike is just a smidge wider than my truck. Which is ridiculous, in a Big Dummy love sorta way.:love:

Still, interested in your impressions...

Thanks!

I use the xtra sport hitch rack from performance. At work now, no pictures.
Seems well engineered as it will flex a little during the drive to handle road shock.
The two bike version will hold a tire cradle for each end of the bike.
The cradle will slide along a horizontal bar to accomodate bike length.
The cradles had to slide to outboard limits to fit the Dummy.

I use the xtra sport hitch rack from performance. At work now, no pictures.
Seems well engineered as it will flex a little during the drive to handle road shock.
The two bike version will hold a tire cradle for each end of the bike.
The cradle will slide along a horizontal bar to accomodate bike length.
The cradles had to slide to outboard limits to fit the Dummy.
That rack looks identical to my Hollywood Sport Rider II. Prolly the same thing rebadged.

Dan, I believe I saw your rack and it is the same type. I got the xtrasport to haul a schwinn
balloon bike. The Schwinn would beat on a four bike hitch rack. I consider my newer rack a
good buy. I strip the bags off the dummy so my turn signals get seen.

Never had disk brakes before. Park Blue Book recommends removing brake pads
before a bike wash?
Isopropyl alcohol to clean rotors.
LBs sold me Finish Line rotor/drivetrain specific degreaser.OK
Imagine I can pass the chain through a Pedros' chain machine kit.
Normally I use the wax type lube for summer.
Lbs talked me into Finish line Wet Lube.
I'll try anything...once.

Noticed the missing crank arm cap and bolt when I got back from the LBS
yesterday. Not enough preload in the torque? Then back again..Dang!

Noticed the missing crank arm cap and bolt when I got back from the LBS
yesterday. Not enough preload in the torque? Then back again..Dang!

A similar thing just happened to me after taking my 1-day old Big Dummy to the local bike store. I'm sure the cap (pretty sure it's just the cap, not the bolt) fell out on the ride to the store, to get the disc brakes adjusted. Ugh. Now we can't locate a cap that fits, so my barely ridden Dummy is sitting in the bike store till we can find a suitable replacement...

Andrew

It's really cosmetic. There's nothing in there that needs to be protected. The bearings are in the cups on the outside.

It's really cosmetic. There's nothing in there that needs to be protected. The bearings are in the cups on the outside.

Yeah, was just informed similar by the bike store. I'll finally have her ready to go tomorrow morning. Suhweet!!

Andrew

28 mph down a steep hill on the unloaded BD. Hit the rail road tracks on the
bottom. BLAM.. snap deck pops off, left frame pops out of the front holder.
I run back to the tracks to wave off a van heading for my snap deck.
Parts from other bikes are strewn there also.:)

2 pair watchamacollars arrived today. I remember reading about a
coin trick. I can't remember where the thread was?

28 mph down a steep hill on the unloaded BD. Hit the rail road tracks on the
bottom. BLAM.. snap deck pops off, left frame pops out of the front holder.
I run back to the tracks to wave off a van heading for my snap deck.
Parts from other bikes are strewn there also.:)

2 pair watchamacollars arrived today. I remember reading about a
coin trick. I can't remember where the thread was?

How do you have the straps for your freeloaders routed? If you follow the instructions on the Surly site (http://www.surlybikes.com/spew19.html) these straps should hold your h-racks and freeloaders firmly to the BD regardless of the snap deck.

To keep your snap deck in place you can use toe clip straps or webbing with fastex buckles to secure it.

Here is the info on using a coin to help install the whatcamacollars. (http://thelazyrando.wordpress.com/2009/05/06/installing-watchamacollars-on-a-big-dummy/)

Geez, I missed the info on the surly page. I claim diminished mental capacity.
All my spare time has been spent in the saddle. Going through the guilt, pleasure,
guilt phase. Guilty to roll out, happy to be rolling, guilty about the honey do list.
I finally looked a the BD yesterday. The lower frame straps were threaded in reverse.
Fixed them and then added the watchamacollars. Painted the fenders olive to kinda
match the frame, added creamy fat franks.This week I may have the time to
dye the free radical bags pumpkin, sort of.
Vic thanks very much for the link. It sure was timely as the watchamacollars showed up the next day.

Changed the color of the free radical bags for commuting.
For nylon cordura I ran the bags through a washing machine to eliminate the sizing.
From the arts and crafts store I got acrylic paint and textile medium to mix with.
Brushed the paint mix on and the first coat did not take too well.
I didn't like using an iron to heat the material up..pre paint.
Laid the bags out on a hot asphalt drive way in the sun.
After warming up, I rolled the 2d coat on,which went much smoother.