Curious LeTour

The Yuba and the Surly are both super nice looking bikes! I sure could use a trailer like that too.

Gyeswho

Thanks. It is easily my most favorite bike ever.

The rims do need ceramic specific pads because regular brake pads will wear out very quick due to the hard surface. Ceramic rims do have a better feel to them in the wet compared to alu rims. In a downpour, it is very noticeable how effective they are. I've not had the chance yet to see how these specific rims are in the rain, but I'm hoping they are comparable to Mavic's Open Pro Ceramic rims. I got these rims because they were only $30 each and were NOS

The BAW trailer is really amazing. I love how simple and effective it is and the amount of options it leaves for strapping things up is very handy dandy. I bought the largest size one just to leave room for options if I ever need to go XXXL in carrying something.

Abneycat

Here's my new city utility bike, it's a 2010 Globe Live 2, i'll be doing a review on it very shortly. So far, it's been very enjoyable.

I've set it up with a VO leather saddle, bamboo fenders, and a front dynamo hub with hydraulic disc brake. Soon to be added is a shimano alfine with a hydraulic disc brake, and a PDW payload rack painted to match the bike

The front basket on this bike is great. It holds a good amount of weight (limit is either 20 or 25kg), and the handling is pretty good even once its weighted down.

Curious LeTour

Wow Abneycat, sweet looking bike! It's tempting to swap to bamboo fenders on my bike.

Fred Mertz

In Japan, you might as well be driving a Cadillac, hence the attention. But you live there so you get the comparison. Sweet Yuba though.

Sixty Fiver

Went on a food drive last night and hauled in about 500 pounds of donations...

augustgarage

Here's my new Kronan single speed men's bike with the optional front rack. Dropped off some library books and picked up some documents today on its first run (8.25 miles)...enjoying the fat 650b tires.

hvac59

Mesa Runner in Hi-ten flavor................love that wild asparagus too !

FXjohn

I have that same seat...NICE

qmsdc15

You got the BAW 96? You "need to go XXXL in carrying something" and post pics! I think you have a bigger truck than any of us. Nice bike too!

qmsdc15

Claimed capacity seems to be a conservative estimate. I've carried 400lbs with mine.

Ya Tu Sabes

I had long coveted a Worksman Cycles front loader or some other bakfiets-type mobile for carting my two boys (3 and 6) around the neighborhood and doing grocery runs, but the cost was prohibitive. Then, as luck would have it, a weathered old ice cream cart-style trike showed up on Craigslist in the middle of nowhere in far eastern Connecticut, so for two hours of driving and $150 (roughly a $1,000 discount), I got what I coveted.

Of course, the cargo box was rusted beyond repair and the whole thing needed some serious steel wool and oil treatment. I scrapped the box and replaced it with a shopping cart, which I had to set up on 4"x4"s to make it fit right. I added the old handlebar from a stroller for a more comfortable riding position, and voila:



(That's me carting a buddy home after a few drinks.)

Naturally, it's also good for the kids:



And for Halloween, I added a plywood outer wall for maximum trick-or-treating holiday cheer:



Here it is in action, with five tikes:



It's definitely slow, with one speed and low gearing, but I've been using it as my daily commuter for a week (4 miles each way) because my other bikes are all undergoing repairs. It's great because I drop my older son off at school then proceed directly to the office, and if I need to stop by the grocery store on the way home, no worries! Also, I'm becoming a wacky celebrity in the neighborhood where I work.

Luckily, I have a reserved parking spot at my office:



I'm thinking of upgrading to a 3-speed coaster brake wheel in the back, and I'm working on a pair of adjustable umbrella holders for me and the kids. But it's still just about the rockinest bike I've ever owned. Now if only I could convince my wife to ride in it.

HandsomeRyan

Ya Tu Sabes, If you ever find yourself in the greater Washington DC area, I'd like to buy you a beer. Your bike is awesome.

rpf

Hello,

I just wanted to thank everyone who has contributed to this thread. As a non member I have viewed it many times and gleaned excellent information. It has been as useful as it has been inspiring.

I live in Ireland and have managed to make it to 28 years old without a car. I use my bicycles in every aspect of my life from my morning commute through to the evening food shop. I cycle for fun, I cycle socially and I cycle for practical reasons.

Anyway the old regime for carrying a hefty load such as a weeks shopping was to mount a front basket on my old Hercules Utility and then wear a big messenger bag and a back pack and fill all of those accordingly.The Basket for more fragile items and the two bags for everything else, messenger bag on first then small full backpack over the strap to ensure it doesn't slip. I'm pretty fit and a keen hiker also , so I'm used to having a balanced load on my back. But I fully recognise this was slowly killing my back and perhaps not the safest manner in which to cycle.

So with all of that (potentially useless info to ya'll) in mind I thought I would start rigging my Utility Bike to perform a little better and dispense with the need for an array of bags to be worn by me.

This Hercules Commuter SA x3 speed will be the base machine. It seems, to my mind, perfect for the job in respect of it's frame shape, materials and build. I'll be running a porteur rack for the front, I'm undecided about the rear of the machine as yet.

So for now I thought I'd bung a photo of the base machine up and perhaps some more as it evolves into a more efficient cargo lugging machine. This may take me some time as I only have very basic bicycle maintenance skills but I am fortunate enough to have some friends with the time and skill to guide me and allow me to make mistakes and show me how to correct them along the way..

The Hercules : (N.B the saddle has now been corrected and replaced with a B17 brooks)




There are some beautiful , imaginative and incredibly useful machines displayed in this thread, i've learned from it.

Cheers.

Curious LeTour

hvac59, I like that water bottle setup that is on the handlebars of the Mesa Runner. Where are those types sold? I have an old bike that I'd like to put one on.

calamarichris

Ha--I never really thought of my '10 Globe Live 3 as a Utility Bike, because I got it mostly as a dog taxi.
But the few times I've had to carry heavy junk, (cases of paper, cases of wine, printers, loads of groceries, and a gargantuan, old TV to the recycling place once) it's performed remarkably well.
It's just like Abneycat's above, except it has a belt drive and rear hydraulic brake. (The brakes are stronger than stink!)
They had to order it for me, because they didn't have any in my size, but I was relieved when my 2010 model came, because the 2011's aren't nearly as good looking, and they have an aluminum rack, instead of the wooden one on mine.








Been riding it since August and it's been nearly* perfect in every way.

*
~the belt drive makes a faint crackling sound when pedaling, but the belt tension has remain unchanged in ~2000 hilly, hilly miles
~the OEM beach cruiser handlebars made me feel like a human parachute, so I swapped them for some Nitto North Road bars
~the gearing is just a little too low (apparently wasn't intended for use with clipless pedals.) I bought a larger, Gates belt sprocket, but it will not fit with the existing belt guard.
~the bike is too pretty to change anything. I want to put on faster tires (Conti Sport Contact Urbans in 700x32) and my trusty old Brooks saddle, but the existing seat, grips & tires all match so well, they've made me a slave to fashion.
~the AXA frame lock mounts a little too low & far back on the frame, so my cuffed work pants will occasionally snag the key, which is only a minor annoyance.
If you have a heavy load (or a smallish dog who hates being left at home), this is a great bike for it.

-holiday76

vintage mtb + xtracycle + studded tires

freediver

Since we're talking studded tires, I guess I need to post mine as well.

lecoursier.sf

My Work Bike

2006 Big Buzz by Novara (REI)
Only original parts left on this bike are the headset (replaced bearings) and seatpost clamp. Here we go:

Aluminum frame with Salsa La Cruz fork (steel or as I like to call it, "Messenger Carbon Fiber!")
Thomson Stem and Seatpost
IRD Ti fly saddle
Titec Hellbent Riser Bar
Avid FR5 brake levers
Avid BB7 Disc Brakes (best thing ever!!!)
Sram X0 shifter (a little bling)
Sram x9 derailleur
Sram Rival Complact Crankset, Salsa "single" chainring, 9spd hollow pin Sram mountain chain, Sram 9 spd mountain cassette, Third Eye Chain Watcher, Salsa Crossing Guard
XT Centerlock Disc Hubs (160mm rotors) laced w/DT Swiss spokes to DT Swiss Disc only rims (exact make escapes me, I know they no longer make this rims)
Cetma 5 RAIL (Thanks Lane@cetma!!!)

In this picture, I am running a 42x11-32 9spd setup. Since then, I have redone the drivetrain with a 44x11-32 setup. I prefer this setup for city/urban riding (no chain suck).

Bottom line... This bike is how I earn a living. I love it.

shipwreck

My KHS Expedition, in Ute mode.

Got both baskets and planet bike rack at one of those auction house places, Very cheap. Everything else is put together from old parts.

neilfein

^ When I saw the first picture, until I scrolled down, I thought you had all that wood mounted onto the bike!

irwin7638

Here's my latest creation. I liked the mixte I rode last year so much I decided to invest in a Soma frame that actually fit. I think it's going to be a great "grocery getter."

https://simplecycle-marc.blogspot.com...and-mixte.html

kingfish254

Here is a great notstalgic 1950s dutch video with some cool utility bikes in it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HgLqts3qJs&NR=1

jdswitters

Well done, especially the beverage rack.

owenfinn

Took the Mundo for a spin around Yokohama last night.