$20 magic utility bike conversion
07-23-14 | 11:47 AM
#1
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, 86 De Rosa Pro, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
$20 magic utility bike conversion
OK....over the top title to lure you in.
IMHO utility does not have to equal capacity do bring home a months worth of groceries and some times the focus on that level of capacity may scare people away.
Utility is simply using bike to get something practical done..which almost always means having some carrying capacity
A super simple, cheap way to do that for most bikes (excluding front suspension which no one needs unless they are really mountain biking) is to add a front basket
for a bit more than $20 bucks (ok 25 with tax maybe) a simple way to to add carrying capacity is to put on a front basket
a good example is wald 1392 1392 Front Basket - Waldsports
I just paid $20.95 plus tax
Totally easy and practical
here are pics of it on my Torpado....fast fun utility. Note I use the quick release to attach....not recommend by wald, but has worked for me.
IMHO utility does not have to equal capacity do bring home a months worth of groceries and some times the focus on that level of capacity may scare people away.
Utility is simply using bike to get something practical done..which almost always means having some carrying capacity
A super simple, cheap way to do that for most bikes (excluding front suspension which no one needs unless they are really mountain biking) is to add a front basket
for a bit more than $20 bucks (ok 25 with tax maybe) a simple way to to add carrying capacity is to put on a front basket
a good example is wald 1392 1392 Front Basket - Waldsports
I just paid $20.95 plus tax
Totally easy and practical
here are pics of it on my Torpado....fast fun utility. Note I use the quick release to attach....not recommend by wald, but has worked for me.
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Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can.
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can.
07-23-14 | 07:16 PM
#3
aka Tom Reingold
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Bravo. Frugal, practical, and handsome!
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
07-24-14 | 03:54 AM
#5
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 16,853
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From: On the road-USA
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
No basket love around my place either...
Aaron
Aaron
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ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
07-24-14 | 04:35 AM
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,285
Likes: 1
From: Kherson, Ukraine
Bikes: Old steel GT's, for touring and commuting
OK....over the top title to lure you in.
IMHO utility does not have to equal capacity do bring home a months worth of groceries and some times the focus on that level of capacity may scare people away.
Utility is simply using bike to get something practical done..which almost always means having some carrying capacity
...
IMHO utility does not have to equal capacity do bring home a months worth of groceries and some times the focus on that level of capacity may scare people away.
Utility is simply using bike to get something practical done..which almost always means having some carrying capacity
...
I want a cargo specific bike, but I'm already bursting out of the limited storage capacity I have with a commuter, tourer, and an off-road bike (& my ladies three bikes of the same classes). Luckily, I've always been able to handle all the cargo I need to with a converted MTB (old rigid with long chainstays) with good racks fore and aft, and occasionally a board strapped to the deck of the rack to increase its size a bit to secure larger loads. In my experience (a year as a cargo courier, in addition to many years carless or car light), often just lashing or strapping a board to the top of your rack increases the surface area enough to lash down oversize loads.
I wholeheartedly support cargo-specific bikes, but it's nice to see the other end of the spectrum here!
07-24-14 | 11:22 AM
#7
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,491
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From: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, 86 De Rosa Pro, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
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