Here's a load from a couple weeks ago. Two guitars, a bag of cables, a cooler of beer, &c. Six miles each way, but the way home was easier because the cooler was empty.

1987 Shogun Prairie Breaker 1 with Xtracycle

Garage door is mid-1970s redwood; re-painted last year.

Seemed like I was the only one with a Shogun, or at least the only one to admit it. Know anything about the brand? My late 1980's Ground Breaker is still going strong.

But why would you slap a coat of paint on redwood? That's just wrong.

I bought the host bike in March from a nice older lady via Craigslist. I'm not sure it was ever ridden much. There was only one mark on the frame, and the little braze-on screws were all in place and not rusty. She also had the owner's manual and the 1987 catalog. I didn't know anything about it before that - all I saw was Japanese lugged steel.

Checked the catalog just now, and the Prairie Breaker I in 1987 didn't have a biplane fork, so now I'm not sure what year this bike was made, though it was originally purchased 7/87. No Ground Breaker in the catalog.

Had to paint the door to cover up the ugly faded brown stain. It was the best we could do.

Heres a Worksman which I set up with electrical assist and pretentiously named it Worksman Porteur Poseur and used for grocery runs and cruising. Obviously I rode it more like a moped. Now replaced and gifted to my son.

Update on the cargo bike.

I've since added a wooden box, stain, and oil-based tractor paint. It's a few weeks old and already completely indispensable. Check the sexy calf!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...argobike10.jpg

I can't break this bike despite genuine effort. Carried over 200 pounds in it several times and the only noticeable effect is a slightly bent steer "push rod". Figures. It's the only part of the frame that's not cro-moly. I'd love to know where the other weak spots lie.

It's amazing how many people are amused by this bike. Men dig the engineering, ladies think it's "neat", young boys think it's "cool", teen girls call it "cute". Frat boys say, "sweeeet bike, dude!", homeless guys give the thumbs up. Little kids go berserk. Mom!...LOOK!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...cargobike1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...cargobike5.jpg

As requested, here are images of the steering linkage.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...argobike15.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...argobike12.jpg

Dude, sweeeeeet bike!:saweeet:

Thank you.

I dig the engineering AND think it's neat.

Lance, how does your design differ from the CAT long-haul cargo bike?

Thanks.

I'm not sure about the exact differences. I rode a long-haul for a while and the differences I've noticed between mine and theirs is length and weight. Mine is longer and lighter. The wooden box style is different.

Also, I've got only one brake and a single-speed drivetrain. My headtube angle is a little slacker.

It's not a whole lot different than any Long-John style bike. Long wheelbase with a low cargo area between the wheels, in front of the driver. Steering bar underneath.

That looks great! I am thinking about going over to a cargo bike, was it a complicated build?

Nope, not at all. The rear triangle was salvaged from an old mountain bike and that eliminated much of the alignment work. Everything else was fun guesswork. The headtube angle, steer tube bends, and steer tab configuration took close attention, but posed no real problems.

If you have the means, I would recommend building a bike like this. It's far more useful than I imagined. Fun to ride, too.

another dummy

I think I will ask santa claus for a MIG welder for christmas!

wow.. that box-bike/long-john is awesome! I wish there was somewhere on the west coast US to get something like that! (for those of us that aren't allowed to weld.. :D ) Pacemakers suck! (kidding.. i love mine)

They're attainable in the US, but barely. There's a shop in Portland that imports them from Europe, and a manufacturer in Eugene, Oregon called CAT produces them as well.

clevercycles.com
catoregon.org

how does it handle fairly steep climbs? decents? its really hilly where I live, and I wonder about front brakes and such.
nice build by the way.

Here's one I'm working on... a new freaktrike called Danger Approaching — thankfully, it's not yet another Xtralight.

http://www.rat-patrol.org/RPOz/image...RatPadPano.jpg

awesome.. thanks for the links. Both of those sites were quite hard to find from just a google search, although i suppose "box bicycle" and "Cargo bicycle" are not that specific. Does anyone have any idea of a ballpark figure for the CAT long haul?

Great questions. Climbing ain't easy, for obvious reasons. The single-speed drivetrain makes steep hills a little difficult, but proper gearing would fix that.

Descents require some control with the brake. I get speed wobbles when I let the bike free-fall. Perhaps the front end is too light, because having weight aboard kills the wobbles and stabilizes everything. I imagine this is common for bikes like these.

I haven't added a front brake simply because I plan to make more modifications. My town is flat anyway, so no immediate need for it.

I've been riding this bike exclusively since building it (ten miles a day minimum) and continue to try to find any weak spots by riding over curbs and weighting it down. So far, no major problems encountered. The frame and design all seem safe and sound.

Next step: Powder-coated TIG-welded cro-mo frame, Nexus internal hub, disc brakes, fenders, chain guard.

I imagine others might want them, too. Anyone?

"PRICE: $2575 with aluminum rack, $2600 with wooden box, or call for quote on fiberglass container version."

More info here: http://catoregon.qwestoffice.net/hpm/longhaul.htm

Great, thanks for doing the work for me.. i guess i didn't get far enough down on that page.

I want one, but with a wedding coming up i don't think the better half will let that fly. Mark me down for the 1-2 year plan though :)

SWEET ride Lance, absolutely rockin! I can't figure out those handlebars you have on there though. They look a little more swept than Mary bars... Do tell, please.

maybe i missed it, but what type of welder did you use for this? tig?
thanks!

I honestly don't remember what they are. Burly (the trailer company) donated a bunch of bike parts to CAT when I worked there, and I think these bars were from them.

Nope. I MIGed everything. Quick and dirty.