Juggler2

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Juggler2

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wahoonc

Tourister,
Where are you located? There are apparently 2 different lines of Schwinns, the ones they sell at the X marts and the ones that are sold thru an LBS. FWIW I have 2 LBSes within about 35 miles of each other that sell Schwinn. One is a combination lawnmower and bike shop, they carry most of Schwinn Cruiser and kids bikes line. The other is a higher end LBS and only carries a few of the Schwinns. I plan to get mine from the lawnmower shop, they carry a lot of the less expensive parts that can be used by utility cyclists. They are also to order anything I ask for, even if it is something they wouldn't normally stock...like the yellow Freddy Fenders Also FWIW the list price on the Classic 3 is around $320.

Aaron

Tourister

Thanks for the info... I live on the left coast, Central Valley... We have a local Schwinn dealer but it is a hole in the wall with at best a couple of bikes in it.. I have been staying away from the LBS on this one because the prices seem so much better at the Xmarts...
That price is a bit of a turn off though.. I was looking for a little bit cheaper... I have a Giant Cypress DX that I really like the fit on and rides great... They offer a steel framed ersion of it with cheaper components for 270.00.. Same with there Sedona (ST) Mountain bike...
Which reminds me, have you seen the new Giant Trans Sport and Trans Send.. Also the new Ralieh Detour Delux ? They come with fenders, rack etc... Kind of pricey though...

ralph12

Here's a bike that is similar to the jaguar at target.com: https://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...sin=B000OV7PSU

ralph12

And another (this seems exactly like the Jaguar, right down to the paint)

https://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...sin=B000A9QAH8

Tourister

That is a 7 speed right ? I that last one is right in my price range.. Have to add fenders, rack etc and change the handlebars I guess... I checked the store availability on it and it seems the local Target has it in stock... Thanks, I will go take a look first chance I get...

Oh one other thing, does it have a steel frame ?...

wahoonc

Tourister,
It is kind of hard to tell from the pictures if that is an aluminum or steel frame. I think it is aluminum. I don't mind paying LBS prices. Usually you get what you pay for, in service and quality. I don't know how much difference there is between the Schwinn at Xmart and the one at the LBS. I haven't seen them side by side. But Xmart seems to sell more Aluminum framed bikes than steel. I prefer steel. Walmart lists a 3 speed mens beach cruiser for $119 by the time you hunt down and get fenders installed you are going to be getting close to the LBS price. FWIW my LBS/Mower shop is going to throw the baskets in for free That is worth about $70 and the Classic 3 comes with fenders. A set of fenders installed is in the neighborhood of $50-60. Plus I get a free 30 day check up (not that I will use it, I do all of my own work) Also by purchasing from a LBS I am helping keep a local business person in business, not sending the money off to support a large corp somewhere else, but that is a personal choice and view.

Aaron

CagerTools

brother get an extracycle. get a bike DESIGNED to haul stuff. Its kinda like buying a car that doesn't have any room in it, or a trunk. It just makes life more difficult if your peice of technology (car or bike) does not have storage space!!

When I got my xtracycle my life changed! SERIOUSLY!!!!!

atman

There exist, in principle, tasks for which a trailer is more suited than an xtracycle. Hauling groceries is NOT one of those tasks! The xtracycle truly shines at this application. The proverbial 50 Lb sack of dogfood? Still room for at least four and possibly six full grocery bags. And unlike the trailer, you don't forget it when you leave for work, or decide after work that you wish you had brought it.

Within days you're used to the new handling characteristics, and that's that. Now you have a new bike that just happens to have room for a passenger and a full shopping cart of groceries, that weighs a measely 10 lb more than your old bike did. You're getting more room on the street, people are staring at your fly ride and asking you about it, and you never have to think about what you want to bring or what you might be picking up, you just do it. PLUS it works with normal bags, so no need for specialized panniers. I toss my camelbak in a freeloader and just go.

pluc

Groceries here is more 8 to 10 bags.

I'd love an xtracycle myself but I can't afford it. Carrying a girl on the back of my bike is still probably the reason #1 I'll get one someday.

CommuterRun

I was having this problem with my SunLite panniers. The way I solved it was to cut a rubberband for each hook from an old innertube. Place a rubberband over a hook. Place the hook on the rack. Run the rubberband under, around and over the rack frame. Place the rubberband back over the top of the hook. Viola, no more self-detaching panniers.

In my experience, this seems to be more of a problem if the panniers only have a light load in them.

atman

8 to 10 bags can be done with Wideloaders and some extra strapping.

The affordability question is real enough for many people; I'd have a hard time justifying it ATM if I didn't have one already. I encourage you to save up! Imagine having brakes on all the wheels of your grocery getter during the Quebec winter.

wahoonc

I have looked at xtracycle and it remains a semi viable option to me. But just the xtra cycle costs more than my entire planned cruiser setup. The other issue remains, you will need a suitable bike to mount it to. The one I have that I considered going xtra cycle with, is marginal at best. (700c wheels, vertical dropouts, aluminum frame) So it may have to wait until I can spring for a the whole assembly, bike included. I really like the ones based on the Breezer...love them internal hubs!

Aaron

MichaelW

Hook and elastic mounts are totally unsuited to serious use and you should avoid them wherever possible. I made do with a cheap set for several years but 10 years ago I invested in some Carradice panniers. These have a Rixen and Kaul quick-release locking mount, a bit similar to Ortleib. This system is far quicker and cleaner to mount and remove and will never bounce off, ever.
Carradice, along with Ortleib are probably the best designed bags you can get for daily use.
The panniers have a large single cavity with one external picket and a generous expansion collar and flap lid for overloading. The canvas is very tough and doesnt flap in the wind but is not heavy. The correx stiffening board is far more practical than various specially moulded bits that heavier bags use. They have a shape designed to give you more heel clearance.

My other luggage system, for carrying small bags of cement, is a piece of 1/4" plywood wired across the rack. I lay the bag on the plank and secure it in place with inner tubes. It rides pretty well and I think the high centre of gravity aids balance.

Raiyn

I believe I'd be far more inclined to use a trailer to haul cement. Perhaps more than one small bag? How much weight are we looking at here?

MichaelW

I would probably use a trailer if I had one and had room to store one.
It was a 25kg bag so just about liftable. The bike handled better than when I carried 2 12kg bags of plaster in each pannier. The high centre of gravity makes a big difference.

Raiyn

Quite a few trailers are collapsible. <shrug> I'm presuming a small flat and no shed?

donnamb 

The Burley Flatbed is light and takes up very little space.

robsuniverse

I may be in the wrong forum, but I want to ask you about keeping your bicycle safe and sound while your shopping for groceries. First and formost in the city, is keeping my bike. I may spend an hour in the store shopping and I want my bike to be there when I come out, or at least the stuff I have on it.

I would like to have bike cages. At least 3 to 6 cages could take up 1 parking space in the lot. I am trying to develop the idea, and I would like some of you to help me with your ideas on this.

I feel more people would go shopping on their bike if they knew it would be safe.

Please tell me what you think.

Have a great day!

wahoonc

Cages can be/are expensive in the eyes of most store owners and I think you may be fighting an uphill battle to get them. The one store I currently shop at doesn't have bike racks and really doesn't have anywhere out side of the parking lot to put them. I lock my bike to the side of the cart corral that is under the front canopy of the store near the entrance. I lock with a Kyrpto cable and a Ulock. The cart corral that I lock to is made up of weld steel pipes set in concrete.

Let us know how you make out...

Aaron

robsuniverse

Thanks Aaron for the reply to the question.

This bike cage idea is a costly problem for sure.

I have seen other fellow bicycle store commuters lock up their bikes to the carts in my area.

But, I still think I can get the city and store owners to help with this some how.

If I could get an investor to donate the materials to build them then I would offer them to the stores for a fraction of the cost.

We need to stop driving cars some how.

Thanks Aaron

Please forum, help me out here, there has to be a way to make my city, bicycle safe.

Have a great day!

Juggler2

Bike cages, no but a bike corral maybe 40' x 20' within 10' tall chain link fence might be doable. Toss in a few bike racks and a security cam...

You would have to come up with a viable way of dispensing a key access to users.

robsuniverse

You know I am thinking along the lines of something similar to dog pens. 3 of them 2ft wide, 8ft long and 6ft tall. Each cage would have it's own locking set up. BYOL-- bring your own lock.

The cages should be long enough to accept the trailer too. If some of you might help with the measurements of your bike and trailer together, I would appreciate it. I am going to solve my grocery woes some how and help the rest of my community too.

I believe a 6ft by 8ft cage would be cost effective for most stores in my area. It could be made out of PVC and chain link fenceing. 4 other bikes could be tied to the corners outside the cage too. A total of 7 bikes per hour or two, which means business for the store. How can you not want more business and help the environment.

What do you think?

Tourister

Sounds expensive once again... Bring your own lock might not work either... People could just leave there lock on it to reserve it for themselves.... Guess you could go around every night and cut the locks of the empty ones :-)