xtracycle review
#27
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Originally Posted by atman
This is an assumption made by a non-xtracycle user, and is not true. The longer wheel base means that the xtracycle handles with more stability at low speeds, and having more of your weight on the front wheel makes it easier to recover from skids. The turning radius, of course, is higher, and this takes some getting used to, but a well installed xtracycle tracks excellently.
Rather than less weight on the back wheel, think of it as more weight on the front wheel, making it less likely to skid and dump you over the front handlebars.
As for waterproof bags...well, yes. I was going to pick up a couple of those IKEA yellow bags that are huge and cost a buck for wrapping anything that I can't load into, say, my waterproof dry sack. The FreeRadical is not designed to protect anything, it's like a rack not a pannier.
Rather than less weight on the back wheel, think of it as more weight on the front wheel, making it less likely to skid and dump you over the front handlebars.
As for waterproof bags...well, yes. I was going to pick up a couple of those IKEA yellow bags that are huge and cost a buck for wrapping anything that I can't load into, say, my waterproof dry sack. The FreeRadical is not designed to protect anything, it's like a rack not a pannier.
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I don't have an Xtracycle, but I have a tandem and often ride it by myself. Same issue, only even more so.
I find the stokerless tandem as easy to ride as the single bike except in a few situations:
– Steep downhills need to be taken with more care, especially if the road is bumpy. There is very little weight on the rear wheel, so don't brake too hard while you jump a bump or the rear wheel will skid! That,s especially important if the road is likely to be slippery, because at that time, one should favour the rear brake.
– Climbs in the snow. Actually, that's a welcome challenge. My pedal stroke has become much more even because of that. Call that a year-round benefit.
I find the stokerless tandem as easy to ride as the single bike except in a few situations:
– Steep downhills need to be taken with more care, especially if the road is bumpy. There is very little weight on the rear wheel, so don't brake too hard while you jump a bump or the rear wheel will skid! That,s especially important if the road is likely to be slippery, because at that time, one should favour the rear brake.
– Climbs in the snow. Actually, that's a welcome challenge. My pedal stroke has become much more even because of that. Call that a year-round benefit.
#29
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Originally Posted by geeklpc1985
Try riding up a icy hill, your going to miss that weight on the back tire. There are many reason for waiting your body weight on the back tire.
It's true that hard braking on the flat can cause the rear wheel to skid much more easily than with a typical bike. So you learn to go easy on the rear brake: problem solved.
#30
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Originally Posted by tfahrner
On a regular bike, climbing a very steep grade usually means getting out of the saddle and standing on the pedals, to keep from lifting the front wheel as well as more torque...
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What advantages do you see an xtracycle specific frame (Big Dummy) having over a converted bike? Vice versa?
How many of you have debated between an xtracycle and extrawheel? The extrawheel seems pretty good, and I like that it can be removed/added as needed. I don't know how it compares in the load category though. I've never ridden with one either....
How many of you have debated between an xtracycle and extrawheel? The extrawheel seems pretty good, and I like that it can be removed/added as needed. I don't know how it compares in the load category though. I've never ridden with one either....
Last edited by guruguhan; 10-08-06 at 03:52 PM.
#32
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Originally Posted by guruguhan
What advantages do you see an xtracycle specific frame (Big Dummy) having over a converted bike? Vice versa?
Originally Posted by guruguhan
How many of you have debated between an xtracycle and extrawheel? The extrawheel seems pretty good, and I like that it can be removed/added as needed. I don't know how it compares in the load category though. I've never ridden with one either....
A story just to show the possibilities of an Xtracycle; I took a trip with my son and some of his friends on the C&O and we thought bringing real food would be fun so besides the regular camping/touring gear I also brought a cooler filled with ice and food stuffs on my Xtracycle. During the trip one of the kids racks breaks so I ended up just putting his panniers and sleeping bag on top of my Xtracycle and we kept going. My guess is I had something like 110-150lbs of gear I was caring.
The way I look at it is most single wheel trailers give you enough capacity as a large extended trip backpack. If this capacity will fit your needs and you like the convenience of taking it off then go for it. If you are after something as a car replacement or something like a deluxe RV in the world of bike touring then the Xtracycle rocks.
I used to have a Yakama trailer (similar to the BOB.) While this was a great trailer it had a limit of what it could carry that was way less then what I could haul. I will not go back to using one after having tried an Xtracycle. But to answer your question, I looked at a lot of trailers before I decided on getting the Xtracycle and there really is nothing else that comes close but then again caring over a 60-80lbs of stuff on a bike is not everyone’s cup of tea either so it can be over kill for some people.
#33
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Getting out of the seat is for racerboys. Do enough adverse terrain conditions, and you learn to stay in the saddle, since your butt now becomes a stabilizer of sorts...it keeps the bike aligned properly in the vertical plane to avoid washouts.
I don't see much evil from this on hills though, especially growing up in a hilly area. the added forward weight will allow you to hammer on the hills, instead of waste energy trying to keep the front wheel in place.
I'd like to see if two freeradicals can be mounted to each other.....kind of a bicycle-bus of sorts.
I don't see much evil from this on hills though, especially growing up in a hilly area. the added forward weight will allow you to hammer on the hills, instead of waste energy trying to keep the front wheel in place.
I'd like to see if two freeradicals can be mounted to each other.....kind of a bicycle-bus of sorts.
#34
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My two cents:
I'm going to get an Xtracycle. The reason - I'm normally not going to want to cruise around with an empty trailer clangin' behind me, so I'll take it off. Then, inevitably, I'll end up somewhere without my bob trailer, or whatever and I'll realize that I want to haul something home and I'll not have my extra cargo space with me. That will never be an issue with an Xtracycle.
I'm going to get an Xtracycle. The reason - I'm normally not going to want to cruise around with an empty trailer clangin' behind me, so I'll take it off. Then, inevitably, I'll end up somewhere without my bob trailer, or whatever and I'll realize that I want to haul something home and I'll not have my extra cargo space with me. That will never be an issue with an Xtracycle.
#35
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I'd like to see if two freeradicals can be mounted to each other.....kind of a bicycle-bus of sorts.
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Originally Posted by tfahrner
It's true that hard braking on the flat can cause the rear wheel to skid much more easily than with a typical bike. So you learn to go easy on the rear brake: problem solved.
I simply don't have experience running in the winter yet, but I'll be putting some phatty tires on and trying it out soon enough. I'll let y'all know how it goes: we have plenty of ice and snow here, if not so many hills. I already sense, having ridden both types extensively, that the long wheelbase of an xtracycle is more the kind of balance I want on marginal terrain, and I already "get" how to lean into the rear wheel for more traction where needed.
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Originally Posted by cerewa
I bet you could, and i bet you'd also wind up breaking something because the more distance you put between the wheels, the more stress you put on the middle of the bike.
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How long did it take you to get your Xtracycle? I ordered mine a week and a half ago and they still haven't shipped it (even though they charged my credit card). I also can't seem to get an answer on their 1-888 number.
Ben
Ben
#39
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The 700c kit has been out of stock for a while and should be in now or soon (I also have (another) one on order) so they are probably swamped right now trying to get orders out.
Try emailing info@xtracycle.com if you can’t get through on the phone.
Try emailing info@xtracycle.com if you can’t get through on the phone.
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A backrest for the extracycle (since they have the footsies, seems like a good addition) would be nice. Something simple and lightweight.
edit: errr, I mean xtracycle (sorry guys!)
edit: errr, I mean xtracycle (sorry guys!)
Last edited by guruguhan; 10-12-06 at 09:41 AM.
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It turns out that the Xtracycle people are swamped with orders AND they had some kind of "system failure" -- not sure if they meant with their computers, or their suppliers, or what. But they told me that usually they ship out next day. My order has been 10 days in the queue so far, and they swear it's shipping out tomorrow.
Ben
Ben
#42
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Originally Posted by guruguhan
A backrest for the extracycle (since they have the footsies, seems like a good addition) would be nice. Something simple and lightweight.
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How about just getting a stadium seat and putting it on the snapdeck, with the weight of the passenger holding it in place? I've had no problems padding the snapdeck with a piece of fleece...
Nice that the xtracycle phenomenon is finally blowing up. The Surly frame will be another major step in that direction.
Nice that the xtracycle phenomenon is finally blowing up. The Surly frame will be another major step in that direction.