Originally Posted by
coffeecake
I've joined your ranks.
Still have to work out some handling issues - I can't drive it with the SO on the back, but if I'm on the back, there are no problems. I think it's due to our differing centres of gravity - we're the same mass. Hope to upgrade to butterfly bars eventually, and some disc brakes.
Got the entire setup from the LBS for $350 (CAD). Donor bike $150 off Kijiji. Radical, bags, deck, etc. all used. New fork, cassette. Tourney derailleur, but the mechanics have it shifting like a pro. Our LBS owner used it as his mobile bike fixin' unit for two years, but he hasn't had a chance to use it for a couple of years so he sold it to us cheap and put it together for us free. Really fun to ride, and Mr Coffeecake and I fight over who gets to pilot it. We both got new touring bikes earlier this summer, but we were way more excited to get this. Of course, my friends and family think we're insane.
Very nice. If I get a second bike next year, it will be a cargo bike. Unless I move to a warmer and flatter area next spring, I'll probably put electric power assist on a it, too. My knees don't handle the hills in the mountains here without complaining. Your friends and family won't think you're insane if speculators in the commodities market keep pushing the price of crude up. You'll be able to handle any errand run, large or small without shelling out a fortune at the pump.