Utility Cycling - Our Xtracycle is here!!! with pics

Yay!!! It finally all got put together, the long awaited Pea Pod arrived, and we got it last night. So of course we had to take an inaugural spin on it. Here are some pics. I know the baby is strapped in too loosely. In my defense she has never seen anything like the bike seat and was hysterical and terrified trying to get her in. But within half a block she was a full convert, thank goodness! I'm having a few problems with the gears, going to get my friend to check them today, and learning balance is a bit tricky (like I can't do any steep hills at this point and expect to stay upright without emergency hopping off halfway up). I'm picking it up though and hopefully I will soon be a pro.

[pics edited]

I love it! Does the kiddie seat come off easily? (Not that it's unsafe, just wondering if it's permanently attached or not.)

Uhhh... I don't know if it comes off easily! I'm a bike fixing novice. It's the PeaPod which is made to go with the bike tho so I assume it's secure. I think I read somewhere it takes about 5 minutes to take it off? No idea tho.

That's cool. I just hadn't seen it before. I have an xtra and I love it for shopping...you can use a cart at the grocery store!

Ha! Do you mean you take it in the grocery store? Because that would be most excellent.

We went for a ride today and I'm already getting better at hills, thankfully! And just general balance - it seems there is a knack that you just pick up with a bit of practice. Yay!! I love this bike.

Congratulations! That's a nice rig.

Ha! Do you mean you take it in the grocery store? Because that would be most excellent.


No, our grocery store is a bit crowded and the xtra is usually pretty dirty. I use a cart though - it's pretty funny to go through the checkout with a full cart and see the cashier do a double take when they see my bike helmet and gloves. Also I get primo parking as a bike - right by the door. Can't beat it!

Haha! Ye a definite benefit to bicycling to the grocery store, is front door parking. Love it.

The more I ride this thing the more I love it. We went out yesterday around our neighbourhood and I'm getting far more used to the handling and far more confident on both up and down hills. Starting to really feel that 'wheeeee!!!!!' feeling on this bike.

Love the boots. You should consider the wide loaders. I have those on my own longtail and use them more than any other cargo feature.

:)ensen.

Haha! Thanks, about the boots. Wideloaders - yeah they look amazing, and I want the double kickstand too. Right now I'm shocked at how much money I've spent on a bicycle though, and I need to wait awhile before adding to it. But every day that I ride it, I love it more. Such a great bike.

Haha! Thanks, about the boots. Wideloaders - yeah they look amazing, and I want the double kickstand too. Right now I'm shocked at how much money I've spent on a bicycle though, and I need to wait awhile before adding to it. But every day that I ride it, I love it more. Such a great bike.

+1
That is what happed with me, to the point that my other four bikes haven't seen the road since the Xtra showed up. The wideloaders and kickback stand are awesome additions to the Xtracycle.

BTW, that is a nice build. Your daughter looks as proud as if she owned it.

I'd be careful with unstable cargo on those typical kickstands. My kickstands are the full width of my wide low racks so there is never a problem, but a kid squirming around atop a bike with a 12" wide kickstand are tears waiting to happen.

:)ensen.

Love the "stoker" bars.

I'd be careful with unstable cargo on those typical kickstands. My kickstands are the full width of my wide low racks so there is never a problem, but a kid squirming around atop a bike with a 12" wide kickstand are tears waiting to happen.

:)ensen.

Oh definitely. I find the kickstand quite sturdy, surprisingly so, which is good. But I wouldn't have a child on the bike and let go of the bike. I'd like to get the double kickstand but it's so pricey, and I'm shocked at how much I've already spent on this thing so I'm going to wait a bit. But I can see that it would be uber handy.

eta - Oh I see I already ranted on about the double kickstand a few days ago. Doh!

Love the "stoker" bars.

Thanks! Yeah they work well eh? They let her sit upright which I love. I need to get grips for them.