Hi All,
I'm wanting to build up an extracycle, using a free radical, for grocery getting and just bopping around town, but am wondering what I should be looking for in a bike to convert? that is:

Steel vs. Alu.
700c vs. 26"
if 26" front suspension or no.
8,9, or 10 speed issues?

I'm probably going to just start browsing the pawn shops and used listings around me (st. louis), but I'm wondering what I should be looking for.

From my current stable ( Giant CF road, Motobecane Ti cyclocross, and Specialized Al mtb) , the only option is a Specialized Rockhopper Comp (FS+Deore LX grouppo) that 'could' work, but I'm assuming the front suspension would be annoying with the extra weight of the bike hanging on it.

I've got an ultegra drivetrain sitting in a box I could use if I got a road frame, alternatively, should I just get a surly big dummy, radish, etc...

I've tried searching the forums, but haven't found any discussions about what type of bike is 'best' for converting. (I realize this is subjective, but what are the pros and cons?)

Thanks for any comments!

-Alex
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You're correct in assuming the front suspension would be changed. The whole CG of the bike changes, of course. Some people do run the original forks but I think they change the suspension (softer? not sure). Surly makes a fork they call 1x1 which is a suspension corrected rigid fork.

Prevailing wisdom for your questions:

Steel but one of the hardcore xtracyclists "TONE" used an AL bike w/xtra to messenger in NYC
26in
No, but can work
I don't know of any

I'm still lusting after a freeradical and I've joined the rootsradicals group on yahoo groups. Very helpful and friendly people there.

I first used an aluminum mtn bike frame(ridden hard previously) with a rigid steel fork. It felt wiggly under load. Eventually the bottom bracket weld broke. I replaced it with a Surly 1x1 steel frame with a Rohloff hub and 26x1.5 road tires. I originally just wanted a smoother ride but was pleased with how it lowered the standover height so it is easier to balance at traffic stops. The steering is fine, I love my truck. It weighed 45 pounds at the bike shop.

Definitely use the mountain bikes in your stable. You can always convert them back if you want. See how you like it with the suspension. If you don't then replace it with a rigid fork.

I hated the sloppiness of my suspension fork, so I bought a used rigid fork for $15 and moved a high angle stem from another bike.

Yeah, I'm looking to spend as little as possible, so it's the choice between using my mountain bike, and potentially buying a new fork, and finding a cheap but usable mountain bike used...

thanks for the comments!

The way I see it: the all up cost for an Xtracycle conversion really depends on what you're starting with. I started with an early 90s Kona Lava Dome, rigid fork, pretty much perfect in terms of compatibility (rear dropouts 7mm thick, rear hub spacing 135mm, etc... the Free Radical fit perfect).

However, the old bike had cantilever brakes. So I had to upgrade to v-brakes (the Free Rad only works with v-brakes or disc brakes, and if you're doing the rear you might as well do the front too). The original rims & hubs were shot.... New wheelset, with a dynamo front hub for the new Lumotec lights... you can see where this is going, I suspect: Depending on your needs/wants/desires, you may not really end up saving much (or any) money converting an old bike on hand, even if it fits the X kit perfectly. You might find it's just much better off to spend a little more coin up front and go with the Big Dummy... don't know, just sayin'

Would I do it again? Yes! I've gotten more use out of the Kona as an Xtracycle than I ever got out of it as a mountain bike. It's setup just the way I want, and it gets used every weekend to haul our kids down to the beach or wherever we're going. Do I wish I had a Big Dummy? No, because at the end my X conversion still came out a little cheaper than going that route, and for what I need/want it for, it works just fine. But by the time I was done, I did sorta question the whole financial logic of it all...

Steve

Actually, that's a very interesting question: What's the weight differential (putting strength aside for a moment) between a Big Dummy and doing an Xtracycle conversion on an existing bike? ( I believe my rockhopper weighs around 26 lbs I think, maybe less...

You are now in the cargo bike realm. Light is not necessarily right anymore. Make sure your brakes and wheels are up to the job.

The big dummy complete bike runs about 2 grand. You can certainly beat that with a decent mountain bike to convert with money left over for a hub dynamo and other accessories.

Of course this is true - but when you're done, if you have to do like I did (new brakes & levers, wheelset, etc.) - you've bought a lot of components that could as easily been installed on a new Big Dummy frame.

I.e. you could use your old MTB as a donor, bring over what you could to the Big Dummy, and then have a really nice rig that would be less than the cost of a full Big Dummy build, but a better (more rigid, etc.) utility rig than an X conversion. Sell the old MTB frame or turn it into a singlespeed or whatever... just sayin'

Steve

so basically my choices are:
~$600 = Current MTB + Xtracycle ($489) + rigid fork ($65) one bike solution

~$750 = Find-a-Bike ($250) + Xtracycle ($489) two bike solution, still have FS MTB...

~$1400 = Big Dummy Frame ($1050) + Longtail Kit ($279) one bike solution and keep old frame for what-if

Thanks everyone... I think I'm just going to convert my MTB, as seems to be the most straightforward thing to do... The Big Dummy Frame is nice, but I can always move up to that later and move all the parts over, or reconstitute my MTB then...

Unless you only plan on only carrying groceries you'll need to add in some or all of the following to your budget:

- wide loaders x 2 = $108
- long loader = $49
- centre stand = $139
- Footsies = $59

That will let you carry quite a wide variety of cargo with your Xtracycle or Big Dummy.

for now just the groceries/commuting/extra person... fortunately, don't have to much to carry around right now, and unfortunately, when I do, it's >20-30 miles in heavy traffic...

-Alex
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I'd vote for finding a "donor" bike and building up an Xtracycle, or going for the BD if you've got the money to burn! I would really miss having a non-longtail bike... a longtail just isn't a do-everything bike, at least for me. FWIW, it's very easy to convert a bike to an Xtracycle -- the first time I did it, it took about an hour, and it's 5-10 minutes now that I know what I'm doing (not counting running cable, setting up brakes, etc.).

Also, I have never felt the need for any of the accessories (wide/long loaders, footsies, etc.), and I use my X for all kinds of random tasks, including running friends over to the train station, carrying big, lopsided loads, etc.

One place I would spend money is on good brakes and good wheels and tires, though (by "good" wheels for an X, I just mean "beefy"!). I spent $50 on a Dimension rigid disk-enabled fork, and a pair of BB-7 disk brakes were another $100 or so (pricepoint). Rhinolite wheels can be had for around $100-120, too, and the Big Apples are another $30/wheel -- but they make a HUGE difference in the ride quality.

I visited Clever Cycles while I was in Portland and talked to one of the owners about Xtracycles. He refused to build up 700c bikes as Xtracycles anymore due to poor handling and clearance for high air volume tires. He actually likes 24" wheels best but builds a lot of 26 inchers.

On the frame issue, if I had a choice I'd go steel for durability.

This is interesting, since my new "dogbike" is built around a 24" detatchable bike, and I am thinking about what to do about wheel size. I`we decided to build it up with the 24" wheels, but was thinking about switching to 26" if I like it and ride it since most of the good tyres is awailable in 26", not in 24". Maybe this is going to make me think twice.

There is alot of good 24" bikes around. Since the kids grow out of them they are really not that worn when you find them (dumpster).

I am currently using a 26" donor triangle. Should maybe switch to a 24", but then since I use a hub gear w built in (back pedaling) brake. Maybe I go to 24" later if I keep the setup.

That needs some clarification: https://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.p...6&postcount=22

For Xtracycles, I tend to like 24" wheels on frames designed for 26", and 26" on frames designed for 700c.

Thanks for the clarification. That makes sense.

Exactly; we are not out to break records or set personal bests for speed. If we want to break any records or set personal bests, it is for the size/weights of loads. Hence, we want the frame and other components to be as strong as possible, and that means (generally speaking) heavy.

I think that I just found an almost ideal conversion bike for the Xtracycle conversion, a 1990 Trek 950. Good grade steel lugged frame w/o a suspension fork. Need to convert from cantis to V brakes on the rear but I picked up the whole bike for $60 at the local Goodwill.

My LBS has also offered me a complete new NuVinci rear wheel at shop original cost. Has anyone gone the Free Radical kit plus NuVinci hub conversion route? If so comments would be appreciated.

I am looking into this as well. I found a deal on a LeMond Poprad disk. I was going to add the free Radicle to that. I read the thoughts on using the 700 wheels. thoughts please on this setup. My thought was that I could use the Poprad as a all around bike to do some trails and family riding as well as club rides. My other Bikes are a TT bike and an old Cannondale M500 that would need everything except the frame forks and bars.

I ride with an xtra, and while I would like a Wide Loader, I have gotten by quite nicely with the stock kickstand and without a Long Loader. I do wanna pick up some motorcycle pegs as Footsies, tho.

I recently built up a Big Dummy using parts from an older mtb I had lying around. I did run into a few problems with parts compatibility: a) bottom bracket didn't fit, b) stem was too short, c) seat post diameter was too large, d) luckily I had a top pull FD, but had to use a shim to get it to fit, and finally e) needed a new longer chain.

So even if you go the route of reusing old stuff, it may not turn out to be a cheap as you might think. Even though my build did turn out cheaper than buying a complete big dummy.

Ask AllenG I am pretty sure that is what he is running on his SUB, along with an electric booster motor. He ended up using the Nuvinci hub because he did not want to risk breaking his Rolhoff.

The Trek sounds like the ideal bike to convert

Aaron

Great thread After seeing the xtracycle last night my husband wants to do this new with a Craiglist purchased bike.

Is it fairly easy to do the xtracycle conversion (I'd be the one doing it)