Yup, thats basically exactly what I did to secure the old handlebar to make it into a support.

Wow, I imagined a cutoff wheel in an angle grinder slipped behind the crank arm. I WOULD like to see a picture of what was left after all that effort

I've been mainly lurking on this thread, but I had to express how happy this thread makes me. This picture in particular.

Thanks =)

I wanted to add my personal touch. That pic is in fact, my very first ever weld.

Is there any particular reason you did not extend the cabling and mount the rear shifter on the bars up front?

Hi there,

Been digging around trying to find variations on the DIY xtracycles and was wondering if you still had access to the photos in the original post? Right now there are just blank spots and captions.

I work in various community bike shops and I can't tell you how happy we are to have something to do with all the full suspension MTBs that come our way. Usually we just send them to the scrap yard for pennies on the dollar to avoid the landfill. This will be a much better use!

I would love to see them, too.

I'm loving this thread and all the threads on utility bikes.

So far I have collected an unknown 26" girls mountain bike in purple and black on trash night a couple of weeks ago. Marked "Pro Class Outrider". I was going to black over most lettering to theft-proof it and make it read "ass rider", but that doesn't fit me and I don't need to explain that to the neighbors...

I stripped that bike to it's frame last night. I kind of felt bad because was working pretty well. It needs internal cables for the shifters and pedals. And a degreasing.

I also picked up an old, rusty, Murray bmx bike tonight. Gray with peeling camo stickers and flourescentorange/pink trim. It's handlebars froze stuck 45-degree to the right. Used PB Blaster, 80-90w gear oil, and cable/chain wax to free it all up. Front tire is flat and the chain is 'lumpy'. It has cool orange/pink apehangers though.

Please post photos of the back end of your (non-welded) longtail homebuilts so I can learn how you all fastened/connected everything since I don't have access to a welder. If I can get everything bolted together right the first time, then I'll just have some welder melt everything together properly. That way I won't have to pay them to BUILD & weld the beast.

I can't wait to get a cargo bike on the road. I hate driving one mile in the Element to Lowes to pick up 2 x 40lbs bags of water softener salt every two weeks. And I'll use it a LOT more than that.