Your design reminded me of this...
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...ess-ute-25.jpg

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...ess-ute-26.jpg

It's called "One less ute" and was built by the guy riding it in the picture.

'Ute' is Aussie slang for 'utility vehicle', what you guys refer to as 'pick up truck'

It filled me with joy to pick my friend up from the ariport by bike.
I loaded my road bike onto the xtra, rode to meet him one L-train stop away from the airport because there is no way to get to the actuall airport without going on the express way.
We loaded his bigass suitcases onto the xtra and reassembaled the Bianchi.
It took less time than it would have if he had cabbed it as it went down during rush hour.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/...8bf304.jpg?v=0

in 20 minutes i threw together my new grocery getter/utility bike.
Mind you she's a work in progress, rear brake line needs to be run, bar tape/grips, wheels serviced or replaced, new tires and a paint job. But she functions for the short trips to the grocery store and farmers market. I also am planning on a rear rack and mounting a nice wooden box to it, along with fenders.

http://web.mac.com/nicholas.tenbrink...s/IMG_2245.jpg

check out Bilenky Cycleworks. http://www.bilenky.com/prod42.html
They make cargo bikes.

Chopped off a milk crate and attatched it to my homemade front rack. Works pretty well for beer run.:D

http://flickr.com/photos/econnofoot/...7606367934360/

Here is mine with my normal load for longer excursions, when empty it can haul a decent bit back from the store.
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u167/sdlm/wbike.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...m/bikecap2.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...m/bikecap1.jpg

Some frame, probably from walmart, I slapped some old mismatched Shimano derailleurs on there, a no name crank, a Cassette & wheel off of a Roadmaster (oh, yes the $64 bike at walmart), got some Falcon shifters, Front fender off of an old road bike (barely fits!). Schwinn seat, speedometer, taillight and bottleholder. I put a rack on it, then drilled some holes through it and took an old paintball case and mounted it with bolts.

All in all, it seems to be quite an effective setup considering there is almost no money invested, I plan on getting some .50 ammo cases and mounting those on the sides of the current box. It seems so simple to put an actual box on it makes me wonder, why are fabric bags so common? I mean, I am new to cycling, but when it rains wouldn't the stuff inside a fabric bag get wet? and wouldn't that problem be compounded by water kicked up from the wheels?

Well, this is mine. All in all, I have about $20 in the project (about $50-ish total): $15 on a new rear tire, $5 on a thift store cooler bag type of thing:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3173/...bb3f0180_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/...818b359e_b.jpg

Looks great, mixte rules!

Wooden box: Just remember not to make it too heavy..

Brake: Is it possible to mowe the rear brake to the coolest place for mixte brakes, on the "stays" between the seat and chain stays? Works best with a centerpull I guess. Thai is one of the really cool things with mixte and would give you a much shorter brake cable with less angels.

Enjoy at: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ighlight=mixte

out and about..

http://www.bikerubbish.com/images/gallery/bike17.jpg

My xtra now with rigid fork and brooks saddle.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3284/...38064b.jpg?v=0

Dump bike I got in the Spring. Finally rebuilt it, definitely not as Raleigh intended but I like it.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3103/...e92b07.jpg?v=0

I love the bikes in this forum. Such a diverse range: from elegant to rough, all built with creativity and resourcefulness for practical daily transport.

Got this one from a guy needing to clear his garage...too many bikes for him, kids and wife. Paid $50, didn't think much of the bike other than it was a nice mountain bike...I prefer road bikes, particularly the touring variety. After doing a bit of research, found in 1996 it sold for $1400. Rides great, hauls my grandson's trailer with ease, and makes a great bike to the store transport. The red thing on the back is a tray of some kind my wife used when she was an art student back in the 70's. Rode the bike 10 miles Tuesday morning, then another two when I picked up my grandson at kindergarten and took him to the park.

The bike is a Gary Fisher X-Caliber with Deore derailleurs.

http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/r...n/DSC00176.jpg

I've been remiss in not posting this over from Foo

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...bluetownie.jpg

I'm trying to work out a different stoker bar rig to handle the two kids tho'. The one we have now is too low, and we need to lower the seat anyway. :o I'm thinking something clamped to the FreeRadical, or a custom snapdeck. *scritches head*

Also It could get ugly in a crash, it could go straight trough a passenger the way it is now!

Great looking, I like the tyres.

Is this ridingposition good for hard work? Just asking.

The handlebars are actually pretty wide, the photo doesn't really show it. We usually have the front kid nestled between the handlebars, with the second holding onto the end of the bars.

Positionwise it takes a little getting used to. You can't really "get up on the pedals" like you can on a mtb, especially w/ a free radical because it'll flex on you. If you're considering a lot of load then I'd definitely give yourself as much gearing as you can (ours is an 8spd hub). I've seen plenty of Xtras built on 3-speed Electras (including many on Bikerubbish) so I'm guessing they fare alright. Perhaps someone else can give some insight as I haven't ridden a 3spd xtra yet.

You won't jump out of the gates like on a "regular" bike, but you'll definitely get there. :D The hardest is right out of a dead stop, esp. if the passengers are little squirrely. :p Thankfully on an internal you can gear down when stopped. If you have a derailleur I'd definitely be more mindful about gearing down at a stop.

Still working on my Peugeot. I just installed 700 wheels. Cetma rack.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...6/CIMG3208.jpg

It gets me to the store, bank, rec center, etc. and back, day or night!

http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox/utilitybike2.jpg

http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox/utilitybike1.jpg

embracing the inner bike hippie:

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...07/rollers.jpg

Just got back from a shopping trip, carrying 6' lengths of bamboo poles, a frozen turkey and other groceries. Lighter stuff went in the backpack, on my back. I need to get panniers. The backpack is just-- argh. :)
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f8...h_DSCN0194.jpg

Or perhaps a trailer? I made one and it has had a profound effect on how I do my shopping. A man machine love affair.

Great looking bike.

New Big Dummy
 

Finally got my BD frameset. It is really an improvement over a FreeRad equipped MTB. Using an Alfine rear hub, Shimano dyno hub w/ B&M lighting, BB7 brakes.

http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/o...nlesar/BD1.jpg
http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/o...nlesar/BD2.jpg

My faithful '76 Schwin carrying a load. The most comfortable bike I have ever owned customized to suit me.

The trailer was a find. It was abandoned in a ditch for weeks in front of a neighbors house until he got sick of looking at it and called me to come get it. It had two flats and was nothing but a frame with a piece of plywood on it. It was otherwise sound. It now sports a bed fabricated from 1X6's. It pulls flawlessly and does not jerk the bike around which surprises me.

This piece of wood probably weighs between 85 and 100 pounds and was intended for an anvil stand. The piece that the anvil is on is in excess of 100 pounds. It's heavier than the anvil which weighs 135lbs. I can't lift it and had to use a system of ramps to slide it onto the trailer.
It doesn't take much to entertain an Oldfool.:lol: