New Xtracycle.... :o)
Well I finally got my car sold Monday, had a rush order put on my Xtracycle Freeradical kit, and found a great bike shop that was willing to make time on Saturday to install it while I waited (since I don't have a car and they were 23 miles away, dropping it off and returning later wasn't really an option... The whole install went pretty smoothly, no major issues whatsoever. I then rode it back home. Luckily this was also our weekend for our trip to Costco for our two week supply of staples. So I got a chance to test out the new setup... here are a few pics....
The first three are of the loaded rig, the fourth was the wife's laod that she carried back in her back pack... The worst part were the 30-40mph crosswinds... well really when the crosswinds died instantly while I was compensating, that was the worst. |
4 Attachment(s)
sorry lost the pics along the way
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You DO realize if you need to go out of town, you're left with recourse?
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I am not sure what you mean....
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Without a car, how do you plan to get to work? And if there's a place that's a two to four drive from home, how will you get there?
For most of us, giving up our car is not an option. In Europe, you don't really need one but here in America you do. |
Originally Posted by NormanF
(Post 8492476)
Without a car, how do you plan to get to work? And if there's a place that's a two to four drive from home, how will you get there?
For most of us, giving up our car is not an option. In Europe, you don't really need one but here in America you do. Aaron:) |
Originally Posted by NormanF
(Post 8492476)
Without a car, how do you plan to get to work? And if there's a place that's a two to four drive from home, how will you get there?
For most of us, giving up our car is not an option. In Europe, you don't really need one but here in America you do. |
Originally Posted by wahoonc
(Post 8492590)
PURE BS...there are plenty of car free people in the US that have no need for a car and I suspect many more that have cars and don't really need them. My son has lived car free for the past 3 years. I have a friend that was born and raised in NYC and has NEVER had a car or a driver's license.
Aaron:) |
I've been car free for three years in a place with no public transportation to speak of and no bike infrastructure. Nothing is impossible, there is only your own level of commitment to the idea.
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Originally Posted by breakaway9
(Post 8492927)
Right I know a few people without cars, and it is possible. Like I mentioned above, I can significantly reduce the amount I use a car, which is great, but due to geographical limitations of living in the west, with my lifestyle choices (i.e hunting and fishing) I could not really go car free at this point. Maybe someday in the future (maybe we all will... like it or not... LOL...) but I want to do what I can to make a difference everyday, and rather than plan out exactly how to go car free right now, I though a better action was to take a step in that direction. back to what you were saying, many people can live car free and do, an I commend them for it, whether they are doing it by choice or not, it's not easy to give up that crutch.
I am realistic enough to realize that a sizable portion of the population in the US doesn't have much if any choice at this point in time. However I also contend that many people could do a lot better with reducing car use. FWIW I sat in my living room today and watched an able bodied 37 year old male (wife's cousin) get into his full sized pickup to drive up to the end of the road to get the Sunday paper...a distance of maybe 350 yards...that is insane on many levels. This is the same guy that the doctor told him he had to clean up his act or he won't make it to age 50 because of his cholesterol levels and blood pressure. It is a mindset and people need to change that mindset that plopping their overweight carcass behind the wheel of a car to go distances of less than 5 miles is generally unnecessary, unhealthy and wasteful. Aaron:) |
Originally Posted by NormanF
(Post 8492476)
Without a car, how do you plan to get to work? And if there's a place that's a two to four drive from home, how will you get there?
For most of us, giving up our car is not an option. In Europe, you don't really need one but here in America you do. I hope to be car free some day, but I do have to admit that I like having one on those days when I need to get to work and it is raining buckets from dawn to dusk. |
Originally Posted by breakaway9
(Post 8492069)
Well I finally got my car sold Monday, had a rush order put on my Xtracycle Freeradical kit, and found a great bike shop that was willing to make time on Saturday to install it while I waited (since I don't have a car and they were 23 miles away, dropping it off and returning later wasn't really an option... The whole install went pretty smoothly, no major issues whatsoever. I then rode it back home. Luckily this was also our weekend for our trip to Costco for our two week supply of staples. So I got a chance to test out the new setup... here are a few pics....
The first three are of the loaded rig, the fourth was the wife's laod that she carried back in her back pack... The worst part were the 30-40mph crosswinds... well really when the crosswinds died instantly while I was compensating, that was the worst. |
Nothing wrong being car-free. I've found that I can do without a car for my shopping errands. But because I live in a small town, being completely car free isn't possible. If I need to get to the big city, I need a car to cut down on the travel time. That's two hours away by car. Sure, a cargo bike gives you a great deal of freedom for short trips but it will never completely replace a car as a long distance means of transportation. Where I live, there is no public transportation at all.
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I do agree its now possible to have an active and healthier lifestyle close to where we live. For most of us, a cargo bike more than fulfills the dream of getting things done and having fun doing it. The car can be gradually relegated to bad weather and long distance tasks where a bicycle is simply not practical to get things done in a short period of time.
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I found carrying home a couple of bags of groceries was possible with the Xtracycle bags. I wish they were more spacious and could swallow up more. Are there any huge zippered panniers that could completely replace the Xtracycle bags?
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Originally Posted by NormanF
(Post 8492476)
Without a car, how do you plan to get to work? And if there's a place that's a two to four drive from home, how will you get there?
For most of us, giving up our car is not an option. In Europe, you don't really need one but here in America you do. i regularly travel Monterey, Ca to LA, Ca. with The Big Dummy... (use Amtrak and/or ride/tour... etc) one of the key components is to locate yourself within 5 miles of all your resources. i suppose its about choices... not everyone has the luxury to make those choices. (i guess) |
Originally Posted by NormanF
(Post 8493530)
Where I live, there is no public transportation at all.
quite possibly, I'd move (if the option was available), and more than likely I'd let the City Counsel know why I moved. |
Its not a problem if stores are within a few miles from home. Anything a small town doesn't have can be ordered nowadays online.
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Originally Posted by Sturmcrow
(Post 8493151)
Congrats on being awesome! Also, you must really trust your LBS to have them build up a bike and immediately take it on a 23-mile ride. Then again, those with little choice have an easier decision to make.
Originally Posted by NormanF
(Post 8493578)
I do agree its now possible to have an active and healthier lifestyle close to where we live. For most of us, a cargo bike more than fulfills the dream of getting things done and having fun doing it. The car can be gradually relegated to bad weather and long distance tasks where a bicycle is simply not practical to get things done in a short period of time.
Originally Posted by NormanF
(Post 8493612)
I found carrying home a couple of bags of groceries was possible with the Xtracycle bags. I wish they were more spacious and could swallow up more. Are there any huge zippered panniers that could completely replace the Xtracycle bags?
Originally Posted by AsanaCycles
(Post 8493698)
one of the key components is to locate yourself within 5 miles of all your resources.
Originally Posted by NormanF
(Post 8493726)
Its not a problem if stores are within a few miles from home. Anything a small town doesn't have can be ordered nowadays online.
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Man, I'm just loving the idea that a person who doesn't own a car can't either rent one or call a taxi.
Seriously, the level of self-righteousness, too! Like the guy hasn't thought this through, despite the fact that he clearly is in good enough shape to ride a bike 35-40 miles home. Either a libertarian or a McCain voter. ;) |
Sorry, 23 miles, heh. And I've been lusting after a Stokemonkey for a while now.
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Originally Posted by kimmitt
(Post 8494553)
either a libertarian or a mccain voter. ;)
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Originally Posted by Kimmitt
(Post 8494554)
Sorry, 23 miles, heh. And I've been lusting after a Stokemonkey for a while now.
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Originally Posted by AsanaCycles
(Post 8493716)
a place without public transport, would not meet my criteria for living.
quite possibly, I'd move (if the option was available), and more than likely I'd let the City Counsel know why I moved. Aaron:) |
Congrats on the new Xtra. I didn't think it would be so great when I bought one but it far exceeds my expectations. Now if the people who make those bus racks would get it through their heads about recumbents and longtails....
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