Utility Cycling - I've joined your ranks!

You may remember I was looking for ideas for building a trailer.

I came across a stock factory-made one, and I couldn't pass it up. It's made for towing toddlers, but it will be fine for cargo. I'm not sure it will work for carrying a dog or two, but I'm happy for now.

I'll supply pictures soon.

I got it at a rummage sale for $62. I figure it sold originally for hundreds.

My maiden voyage was with this Fuji Cambridge VI which I'm only riding briefly. I plan to sell it. The brakes are NOT adequate for me plus the cargo in my very hilly town. I had to descend very slowly so I didn't accumulate much speed.


http://whatexit.org/tommy/fuji-cambridge/IMG_3305.jpg


I carried about 50 pounds of dog and cat food up the hill I live on. Low gear on this bike isn't all that low, so I trudged at an extremely low cadence, standing on the pedals. It was hard, and I was proud of myself for making it the whole way.

I hope to run to places like the supermarket and Costco with it. It will be fun, and I'll be setting an example for people around here, who think you need an SUV to do anything.

I also hope to tow bikes with it, somehow.

I remember you, the guy with the Greyhounds, right? You don't have to actually own a trailer to be trailer trash. I've considered you one of us all along. Congrats on getting your trailer. Now all you need is a bike capable of hauling it, haha. The five speed Fuji is a pretty cool looking bike, by the way.

I hang out in the Classic & Vintage section of bikeforums. I'm that kind of trailer trash. I have plenty of bikes. About 30. I collect and resell bikes. So I definitely have at least two bikes capable of hauling heavy loads.

The Fuji is kinda nice in its own right. It provides an extremely upright position, too upright for my taste. My hands are almost back to my knees. It makes the steering very light, which some people will like. The bike is quite light, even with the fenders.

Here are my greyhounds, Red and Waffle. They don't normally share a bed. This is a rare moment. Red is about 73 pounds, and Waffle is about 54 pounds. Red is much bigger in every way. He is also less eager to walk or run, so transporting Waffle to the dog park alone may be fine.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=123320&stc=1&d=1256762577

"Now you need a bike..." was a joke, that's why I wrote "haha" after it. I'm not a dog person, but I think it's great that you have rescued those racers and brought them into your home.

Your post about seeing a bum hauling a trailer behind a trailer made me think it might be the answer to your dog hauling needs. Since they don't like to lay together, it makes sense, no? Get 'em on the love train. :)

Welcome to a whole 'nother world, Tom! I hang out on 50+ and C&V too, and these guys have quite the gig going here. Weight doesn't mean anything to them like the lithe C&V bikes. It didn't take long for me to convert my mountain bike to an Xtracycle with this gang for enablers! And like you, I picked up a used Burley d'lite that I'm converting to a cargo trailer.

That trailer will be great to haul your donated bikes or found pieces to and from your shop.

Xtracycle and trailer = unbeatable utility combination,

Yes, I might learn to weld, and if I do, one of my first projects will be to build an xtracycle. I have enough spare bikes to use.

I took a welding class---All I learned is that I can't weld.

I took a welding class---All I learned is that I can't weld.

That's one of the things I want to do when I retire in a couple of years. There's a community college about a mile behind my house. I'm afraid I might find the same results as Jack. :)

I took a welding class---All I learned is that I can't weld.


That's one of the things I want to do when I retire in a couple of years. There's a community college about a mile behind my house. I'm afraid I might find the same results as Jack. :)

It depends what welding process you learn. I would suggest MIG because It's easy and will cover you for pretty much anything you want to do to/with a bike.

The class that I took they made us start with oxygen-acetylene, once you did that, then you got to learn different techniques. I never got past the oxygen-acetylene part. Apparently, it is not one of those things that you can learn from a book.

The class that I took they made us start with oxygen-acetylene, once you did that, then you got to learn different techniques. I never got past the oxygen-acetylene part. Apparently, it is not one of those things that you can learn from a book.

My father taught me to MIG when I was twelve. He, and my uncle, are both very highly qualified welders. I have since MIG welded together anything and everything, including the construction of two 25ft gamefishing boats in plate aluminum, to survey standards.

He tried to teach me oxy-acetylene a bunch of times over the years but I swear I could go through a battleship's worth of steel and still not get two pieces of metal stuck together. :o