I had been commuting for a while (~10 years), but occasionally cheat when I have to run errands or if the grocery list exist what I can carry in my bags. Since I never tour I do not have panniers and racks except for my MTB and I ride roadbikes all the time.

When I was in Portland, I visited m friend who has been using the Surly Big Dummy for a while. People love these bikes it seems and he was not the first person that I've heard or read that if they only had one bike, he'd choose the cargo bike.

After seeing him carry a sack of beans and a case of beer and his 10 year old... and riding with relatively ease and balance. I am ordering a BigDummy frame next week and use my MTB gruppo (maybe different crank). I do need to build a set of wheels (40H + disc brakes) and if I cannot fabricate the Xtracycle attachments also get one for the BD.

My friend picked up his brother from PDX airport (10.5 miles from his house) by carrying a folding bike and his daughter. On the way back he also carried his brother's guitar and suitcase.Even if going at 12 mph or less, he still made it under 1 hour. I got stuck in traffic and it took me close to 50 minutes to go to the airport last Thursday (granted the car route was longer)

Except for heavy construction materials, I can do most of my errands using this bike. I think this will take my commuting to a higher level

I did a search on the Big Dummy but of course the BF search is broken. I'd like to hear people's experience on them. BTW, Jenson has them for 663. Not bad.

Here's the results I got when I search for surly big dummy using the BF search.

Yeah ! I made the mistake of just entering the search while in the "Roadie" forum. Heaven forbid that I may have caused the database to fail when I was in the roadie forum looking for a commuter cargo bike that will be devoid of any carbon parts.

I feel like the Bike Forums search doesn't work a lot for me, and when it does, it doesn't work like it us to.

My girlfriend and I are planing on getting a Xtracycle Radish, I would like more to get the Surly Big Dummy, but the price is less, and my girlfriend likes that its called a Radish.

I would love to see the photos of the build you do on the bike,

i think its an awesome idea!
I would buy a big dummy but I definitely have no need for it right now...Well 99% of the time.
Its just my girl and I living together. If we need a tonne of stuff we both ride our bikes.

Also I have no money right now...but someday... i will just have a big dummy nothing else.

I roll with an xtracycle (someday I will upgrade to a Big Dummy). I love it. I have three other bikes that I don't ride because the X is so much fun. I can't wait until I can get my Big Dummy.

I ride a BIG Dummy and I have to say I do love the versatility of the bike when carrying heavy loads. I use mine for pretty much everything except offroad but I might one day. Damn thing is a keeper.

There is a gazzilion of long Big Dummy threads in the Utility Cycling forum, including entire builds from scratch. If I hadn't ordered a touring frame already I'd built a Big Dummy next. They're awesome! Some people toured on these bikes.

Adam

Cargo bikes, specifically Xtracycles and Big Dummies, are things which I seriously irrationally want. Just please post a whole bunch of pictures.

I want a BD. I think I am past the deepest urge/need. My commuter/tourer with kid attachments meets 90% of what I would need it for, and the other 10% I can pretty much do anyway it's just not comfortable.

But I still want one.

Folks How many times do I have to say this but my first search while in the road forum yielded zilch results for "Big Dummy. I had to go to the utility cycling to get hits. Even in the commuting forum, there is not much. The old BF search was not like this. I am using Firefox v3.x with the noscript add-on, so our results may vary. And it you click the link suggested by post #2, it yields no results either. I am going to ask more details on the Utility cycling mega thread on "The Goat". That is a nice build.

My build will be XT or LX level parts or the SRAM equivalent, the recommended hydraulic brake system by Surly (if I am not mistaken - hydraulic but not fully hydraulic). Velocity Deep V 36H or more wheels (Phil if I can afford it but at least LX level hubs). And then the xtracycle components with the snapdeck and wide loader. Since I am also trying to train wile commuting ( I have some sort of PT on most of my bikes) - I may actually use an older SRM wired crank and be one of the weird ones to do it. I know, I know... but maybe it will help me to track developing anaerobic strength while doing errands as I am not going to win any speed contests. Maybe force me to just spin up hills instead of standing. I can drop pick up my kids from gymnastics, groceries, small items from the HW store, even attend band practice. No more excuses to use the car or truck if an errand is the order of the day or have to resort to the trainer or night rides just to get some training in.

a lot of content here

or as an alternative bike that lets you put your feet down at a stop without getting off the seat, there is the Rans HammerTruck:
how 'bout 160 lbs of salt:
not bad!
The only real downside is that it's pricier than a Big Dummy and is harder to find in stores. $1995 in stock spec (bare rack only) with a 525 lb rider+cargo weight limit. EDIT: whoa, the stock Big Dummy is $2450 with a weight limit of 400 lbs. Well, once you add the runners, top plate, and such to the HammerTruck it's pretty close to Big Dummy prices.

The Yuba Mundo is another cargo bike option. Heavier than a Big Dummy (high-tensile steel instead of chromoly), but really solid and stable. At $1100 fully built ($575 for the frame and fork) it's inexpensive (for a cargo bike). 440 lb+rider capacity*. Lots of mount points for doodads and custom carriers. I like mine.

* For the pre-built bike, which has a rear wheel that can only be described as "unique". Your capacity will likely be lower with other wheels, but it probably won't matter for most uses.

I think a bike/trailer combo is more flexible and usually a better option.

You can carry more weight, awkward/bulky items, and load/unload without balance issues with a flatbed dual wheel trailer. When you don't need the trailer you can just unhitch it and have your bike back sans all the excess weight.

Hi,

We also own a Yuba Mundo. For us, major advantages were (1) no assembly required (you can save money by having it shipped unassembled), (2) it worked well for both of us despite our differences in our height as opposed to a donor bike for xtra-cycle which would be either too small for me or too large for my wife, (3) price is as the lower end compared to big dummy etc. On the other hand , it is heavy and bulky , some parts are not high quality , big dummy and xtra-cycle based solutions are probably more versatile such that I can commute daily and still park on bike racks in supermarkets etc.

Here are some photos from mounting our home-made panniers:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ulugeyi...7620306922821/

Before I bought my Mundo I was looking at trailers. I didn't find any bicycle trailers that got even close to the Mundo's weight capacity. They generally topped out at around 100 lbs.

That said, I agree that if you only have one bike, a cargo bike probably isn't the best choice (with the Big Dummy working better in that respect than the Mundo).

My Bikes at Work trailer will carry 300#.

Don't forget the Kona Ute. I do the bike/trailer and cargo bike thing. Depending on the load, a trailer is better than the cargo bike. When I have bulky and long items to haul around, I ride the Ute. When carrying boxes I use the trailer. No matter what I need to haul, I am covered. I suggest one have three things: a bike, a cargo bike and a trailer. I know that it will cost a bit but all three will come in handy.

Many threads here:
https://forums.mtbr.com/forumdisplay.php?f=168

Devo takes his all over:
https://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=519016

misc.......
https://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=570891

If you want CF with cargo without spending a gajillion dollars, get an Electra with an xtracycle. I have one and adore it.

I think a bike/trailer combo is more flexible and usually a better option.

I'm sorry, but I really gotta disagree. Trailers are good for extremely bulky items, but for 80%+ of what one might want to carry on a bike -- groceries, luggage to the airport, an occasional passenger, garage sale finds -- the xtra does it just as well. The only thing the xtra does poorly is pizza/sushi.

This is what I want. A pedal powered Utility Vehichle if there ever was one.

https://www.metrofiets.com/bikes/city/#photo3625136599

I commuted on my homebrew xtracycle once - that was enough. With the bike weight being between 45-50lbs - its not something I want to pedal quickly back and forth to work.

Panniers & the top of my rack carry enough for my after work errands, I only bring the longbike out for big grocery and recycling runs. ( 10 miles round trip MAX!)

Just an FYI:

https://cycletofitness.com/index.php?...roducts_id=414

D

If someone offered me a cargo bike, I'd go for an "8 freight."