Technically most of this is vintage so I just thought I' share it. Just got it built up a few days ago - studded continentals and all. I've already carried 50 lbs of dogfood and rock salt home from the grocery store, including riding over sheets of ice to get there.

It's awesome!

Brilliant! I assume you have posted it in the utility bikes forum too - if not, they'd love to see it.

There are so many neat conversions of old mountain bikes into longtails. I'm seriously tempted to give it a go, but taking one up and down the stone steps to my cellar in Frankfurt could be a problem.

That's pretty friggin' awesome. I want one! I just can't find a 23" or bigger steel MTB.

it's actually not as heavy as you might think.

Good idea on the utility forum. I posted it there as well. Also the winter cycling, and commuter forums too

Here's one. Crazy high price, though.

https://chico.craigslist.org/bik/2165493946.html

I'll point crazedlist.org at the Midwest and see what comes up.

I might be able to help you with that. How do you feel about rust?

Here's a 21" Kona in St. Louis. The Konas I rode from that era had pretty long top tubes so fit kinda big. Might be worth a test ride at least. (EDIT: Ooops, it's aluminum. Nevermind.)

https://stlouis.craigslist.org/bik/2177509581.html

I'm a life-long lover of steel, but since I found my Trek 4000 in the trash, I've found I don't mind aluminum MTBs so much. When you're running 1.5" or bigger tires you don't "feel" the frame so much.

Factor in that you'll generally save 5-10 pounds going with a 1998 MTB over a 1988 MTB of the same level and a newer one might be worth considering also.

IMO MTBs peaked in the mid 90s, for the type of riding I do. They got really light by then, but it was before most of them were designed for long-travel forks, so I like the geometry.

Not scared in the least!

And I'm not opposed to aluminum, but I know there are cool, lugged MTBs out there.

This one has shown up on my CL every now and then for about 6 months. It's a Jamis Dakota. Fillet brazed, I think. I just wonder if it isn't too small.



Sorry for the threadjack, Brian.

Oh, lugged also? I'll keep my eyes peeled. My favorites are the Trek 900 series and Bridgestone MB series.

Eh, I realize beggars can't be choosers.

I've seriously been considering getting one of those (xtracycle kits) and building it up with a vintage MTB...perhaps the MB-1 I have in the shed out back...

I have an 80's Trek 950 frame & fork with a stuck & sawed-off seat post and a bottom bracket that won't budge. It doesn't look too bad on the outside, but there may be some internal rust.

I think it's a 23", but I need to double check...

Here's a 930. If it wasn't 2 hours away from me, I'd check it out. I think I'll prod the seller for pic, though.
https://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/bik/2202462829.html

can we change the thread title to "ColonelJloyd's 23" MTB search"?

no but seriously, I love this setup. In the summer time I'm going to spend the $40 on the 700c conversion for it (or maybe just run a 26" rear) and bolt it to a Miyata road bike I have and run it with drops and smooth fat tires. The Giant's tt is too giant to run it with drops, which I much prefer riding.

Brian,
I'm not familiar with these kits. How does the rear brake work?

the kit that you bolt on takes a ubrake or a disc and you just run the cable back to it.

www.xtracycle.com
it's the freeradical kit.

You could run drops in that stem with the stem facing backwards and you'd likely wind up with a similar reach to the hoods as you currently have. You'd be limited to 25.4 drops, but there are a few around. Dunno how many take barend shifters, which I assume you'd want.

actually, that would put the drops entirely too close to me.

thinking about it again I guess I could do something like this again



but honestly, this bike is just a dog and feels really slow to me. I think the xtracycle on my miyata would feel a lot more natural to me. We'll see. That said I do like the current setup, we'll just have to see how comfy it is on longer rides. I might also try trekking bars.

I've been looking at the XtraCycle, the Big Dummy and the Kona Big Ute to possibly become a new heavy hauler... The big dummy looks cool, but I never considered that with XtraCycle you can use a vintage frame

yeah plus it comes out much cheaper using the freeradical if you already have an mtb to bolt it to. isnt the bigdummy around 1800?

Jeez maybe complete it is but I'm pretty sure the frameset is like 750 or 800 ....still not cheap. Whats the freeradical, like 200?

I already have a long wheelbase cruiser...I love the way it feels. I can only imagine its pretty nice on a more road-ish bike as well.

oof its 950 for the F&F and 1850 for a complete big dummy.

The radish is kinda neat https://www.xtracycle.com/cargo-bicyc...argo-bike.html

and wow there are a lot of options for the Freeradical now!
https://www.xtracycle.com/cargo-bicyc...o-bicycle.html

Did you get the ClassicCargo version brian?

This is a great thread if you have that DIY ethic...

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...uilt-xtracycle...

I once borrowed a friend's Surly Big Dummy for a trip to the beer store. Easily packed two cases of beer and two bags of ice in the saddle bags with room to spare. Everyone came out to watch me load the beer and drive off. Perfectly stable ride.



Hey, Surly has a trailer now!

Here's my fantasy cargo bike, the 8 Freight:



If you offered me the choice between a new hetchins, and that, I'd be in a real quandry.