Monday, August 06, 2012

Xtra...

I have become one of them.


(pic pinched from xtracycle blog) I've been struggling with how to commute by bike with Daisy and get supplies and deal with the rubbish condition of roads, poor or aggressive driving and the possibility to take the path less travelled. I'll report back once it is together. At present, we will be moonlander forked in order to run a wide ub for strength and stiffness. I'll run race kings on 700c rims and will use gears and disc brakes. I may fit a front rack. I may not. The beard *is* longer and fuller.

11 comments:

Jason said...

Don't think you'll fit race kings in the xtracycle, 700x35c is about as big a tire that'll fit. Dummy's/xtracycle's are great for moving kids, I do it with 2 kids almost daily..

Plum

dRjON said...

there are spacers available to lift the flat bed bit...hoping they will be enough!

Mike said...

I've had my Yuba Mundo for a few years now and still love it, despite the rather basic components it came with.

Jason said...

The front and rear clearances will be a problem too, not so much the width, but the height of the 29er. Rear crossmember won't allow on my dummy. My 26x2.25" schwalbes are only about 1/2 to 3/8 inch clear. Not sure if the front is different on the xtracycle vs. the dummy, but I think the rears are the same..

dRjON said...

hmmm! interesting! thanks jason...does look like i might come up with clearance issues fore and/or aft...i am holding off building the rear wheel til i get hold of it, so no major issue if i have to go 26"...to be honest id considered that for wheel strength anyway...or maybe 650b if i can squeeze that in..we'll see. the bike this is going on (kelly ro sham bo) already has a pretty steep head angle, so the minor drop of the longer rear end shouldnt cause any great issue...

AdamM said...

I'll be intrigued to hear your thoughts, Jon. Spencer loved sitting in the front-mounted BoBike Mini+ seat on the Stumpjumper, until he grew out of it. Now he will use a rear seat, but isn't too impressed. I'm also struggling as I can't use a rucksack when he's in the seat, so home -> daycare -> work trips become home -> daycare -> home -> work!

I was going to get a Yuba Mundo so that I can ride off road as well as on road, but have been leaning towards an Xtracycle as 1) they are cheaper and 2) I REALLY don't need another whole bike. However, as Spencer seems to dislike sitting behind me so much (can't see, difficult to have a conversation) I'm now strongly tending towards a bakfiets style bike. The other big advantage is they are as easy as a trailer for sun/rain covers, so useable in all weather, whereas the longtail bikes are really only for fine weather (for the kids). I can sacrifice some maneuverability for that. I also need space for the second little 'un due in November.

The only thing I'm wary of is whether they'll outgrow a bakfiets earlier than a long tail, although I've probably got 10 years for that so not really a concern.

dRjON said...

okay. geek out alert: i'm measuring 692-695mm diameter for a 700c with 35c tyres depending on tyre. With a 650b quasimoto on arch rim i'm getting 698mm.

at this point that will be the working plan....pacenti dl31 rim, DT swiss 350 centre lock hub, DT comps with prolock brass nips and a quasimoto, that i might shave down...might leave (it's not the knobbliest tyre!).

Thanks for inputs...as you were.

Jason said...

Jon, I have a set of neo-motos 650b for my tandem, could do a quick check on fit if needed. I think the tandem currently has 650b x 37 top contacts on it now, but I have a set of the 2.3 motos as well..

dRjON said...

i'd appreciate it for sure!

Alex said...

the seat-stays on the frame of my 2007 vintage Xtracycle is pretty narrow as the stays bend in at a shallow angle not like an MTB. With 26" wheels I was running a 2.5" slick in the back for comfort and kerb-ability

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