tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post8494572999832582167..comments2024-03-26T00:14:00.509-07:00Comments on Crunchy Chicken: Bike transportation and haulingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-58658037620220865912010-08-20T12:35:02.358-07:002010-08-20T12:35:02.358-07:00Don't fear the cargo bike! I'm petite and ...Don't fear the cargo bike! I'm petite and had no trouble balancing one. <br /><br />Looking forward to hearing about what you decide to do.Kerrihttp://www.realhartford.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-8219562037153008852010-08-14T10:22:53.656-07:002010-08-14T10:22:53.656-07:00I'm car-free and have a 3 year old. My current...I'm car-free and have a 3 year old. My current set-up is a hybridized mountain bike with 2 panniers and a Cougar Chariot. I found a plastic Pepsi rack that fit perfectly on top of the trailer that a large rubbermaid tote can sit in, giving me lots of room to haul things. I'm going to upgrade soon to an Xtracycle as my daughter is getting too tall for the trailer.Tristinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06626624292292224828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-90050601946588481962010-08-13T09:54:00.885-07:002010-08-13T09:54:00.885-07:00I gave up my road bikes years ago after yet "...I gave up my road bikes years ago after yet "another" driver in a pickup truck, purposely crossed the double yellow line and drove straight at me-sending me into someone's front lawn. Since then I've only ridden mtn bikes-even when taking tours. I just switch to narrower tires.<br /><br />I live in Northern Vermont.<br />As long as the roads are free of ice and snow, I commute kidk4mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-87368329329241152932010-08-11T16:58:03.585-07:002010-08-11T16:58:03.585-07:00I have a cruiser that replaced my old, busted bike...I have a cruiser that replaced my old, busted bike. As much as I like riding it to work, I miss driving my electric golf cart. Long story short, we didn't keep with maintaining the batteries and killed it. Almost argued in public because my idea of replacing the batteries and using it didn't go well (Grandma insists I've never used it... I insist Grandma has flawed memory...aparantly Ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11555211840325397458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-34525388620529609492010-08-11T16:29:13.343-07:002010-08-11T16:29:13.343-07:00Maudi- road bikes are ok for commuting. I'd r...Maudi- road bikes are ok for commuting. I'd reccomend hybrids or touring bikes as they have a slightly wider tire and a little more burly frame that is general better for mixed riding environments and for handling gear like panniers. They aren't too heavy. <br /><br />Everyone has their preferences though so mostly, whatever is going to be comfortable to you is going to be best since youKristijoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15790510053995458172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-58142581954856354022010-08-11T12:41:43.027-07:002010-08-11T12:41:43.027-07:00I have a question regarding the weight of the bike...I have a question regarding the weight of the bikes people use to commute and haul. I was under the impression that using a road bike might be easiest because of the weight. What do most people think? Espcially taking them up and down stairs of subways,lifting to buses, or going to apt. complexes. On the other hand, I see how unstable they can be on the road, esp. when hauling and the way your Maudinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-14011797295009346322010-08-11T11:57:37.936-07:002010-08-11T11:57:37.936-07:00i currently ONLY use a bike for transportation (in...i currently ONLY use a bike for transportation (in and around downtown san diego). i have a rusty old 70's columbia townie. (you have to have a rusty, old, ugly bike where i live because people are always stealing bikes and bike parts). it has three gears that hardly work. i have a basket on the front and one of those racks over my back tire. it works great for groceries but not so great for Samanthahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13778643710669049851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-71626878626422344942010-08-11T06:36:40.310-07:002010-08-11T06:36:40.310-07:00Yay for hauling by bike!
I commute year-round in ...Yay for hauling by bike!<br /><br />I commute year-round in WI on a touring bike and my DH and I share an Xtracycle conversion for hauling (we added the free radical kit to an old touring frame). Of course this means that it's not set up ideally to fit either of us, but boy can that baby haul! We took great pleasure the first couple of years in trying to come up with crazy things to load itLHT Ridernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-27574625688822069752010-08-11T05:50:10.908-07:002010-08-11T05:50:10.908-07:00I remember the giving up my road bike moment -- it...I remember the giving up my road bike moment -- it was sad. But moving on, after suffering with a free longtime bike loan that just wasn't right, I bought a Trek Bellvue and love it, the same frill as when I first got my road bike. It has super integrated racks and other communting features, but might not be good in really hilly terrain, 3 well spaced speeds. Very stable and comfortable. SusanBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-64608995121667414002010-08-10T23:15:18.015-07:002010-08-10T23:15:18.015-07:00I don't own a car and I do pretty much everyth...I don't own a car and I do pretty much everything by bike (or public transport when the weather is bad or I need to go further).<br />I mostly use my normal backpack and the bike basket, but I'm dreaming of replacing my broken luggage rack with a real good one and get those special bags :-)Sonjanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-11071758753471339292010-08-10T22:27:24.752-07:002010-08-10T22:27:24.752-07:00Wow! I'm so glad you got all these comments. T...Wow! I'm so glad you got all these comments. They're very helpful b/c I'm about to buy a bike and I'm not totally sure what to get. The bike I have now is a Trek mountain bike from my teenage years when I was more interested in looking cool than I was in utility. It's definitely not a comfortable bike for be-boppin' around town. I live in bike unfriendly suburbs in a Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05590834468436576998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-66976624489106163632010-08-10T21:08:44.026-07:002010-08-10T21:08:44.026-07:00Thanks for all the links and suggestions everybody...Thanks for all the links and suggestions everybody! I've been busy checking them out. Greenpa - I did come across that site the other day and the choices are overwhelming!Crunchy Chickenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10612320939936593420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-13637787532676484692010-08-10T19:35:18.486-07:002010-08-10T19:35:18.486-07:00We run small errands with a backpack and larger on...We run small errands with a backpack and larger ones with the 2-child-sized Burley. <br /><br />We started the 2009-2010 school year with the then 8-year old on his own bike for the 3.4 mile ride to school and the then 5-year-old on a trail-a-bike, but the smaller child was more interested in riding his own bike pretty quickly. He likes getting "help" on hills, but it's no big dealAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-67690985967825294772010-08-10T19:24:16.064-07:002010-08-10T19:24:16.064-07:00I would love to be able to ride a bike, but my inj...I would love to be able to ride a bike, but my injured knees just won't allow it :-(Amyhttp://www.crazyforthecountry.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-29203402694631935692010-08-10T17:41:36.973-07:002010-08-10T17:41:36.973-07:00I have a Raleigh bike that I use to get from home ...I have a Raleigh bike that I use to get from home to campus and to work. I live in a college town so there are some bike lanes, but because it's Texas motorists just don't like sharing the road. I have a rake on the back of my bike and two collapsible metal baskets on each side of the back wheel. They make my bike kinda heavy even without a load, but I just call it a leg workout.Veronicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15086660683050713126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-73358888379379793462010-08-10T15:48:05.901-07:002010-08-10T15:48:05.901-07:00I mostly commute and otherwise get around on an ol...I mostly commute and otherwise get around on an old Trek mountain bike, but my husband and I share a Yuba Mundo for hauling. Love them both! It's nice to have a lighter bike for the transport that doesn't include kids/ groceries.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16752502341237775324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-78514002482141459332010-08-10T15:13:21.277-07:002010-08-10T15:13:21.277-07:00I have a vintage 5-speed Schwinn beach cruiser and...I have a vintage 5-speed Schwinn beach cruiser and an old trailer that I use for the farmer's market and any other trip that is three to six miles away. Closer than that, I walk, and further I either take the bus or rarely, drive.debmoultonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01227018487979119451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-61742500770152395682010-08-10T13:49:51.262-07:002010-08-10T13:49:51.262-07:00I don't commute by bike. I do once in awhile h...I don't commute by bike. I do once in awhile haul my fat ass on one of my old single speeds to go to the store. I am interested in getting a <a href="http://publicbikes.com/" rel="nofollow">public bike 3 speed</a> how ever. I would also like an electric bike in the future so I could conceivably bike to work. As far as baskets and all that jazz- I have fender baskets on a a handle bar basket Robj98168https://www.blogger.com/profile/12449968557883132353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-51387727717311763342010-08-10T12:46:59.376-07:002010-08-10T12:46:59.376-07:00Some options for folks out there who want greener ...Some options for folks out there who want greener local/usa(Portland) assembled (materials who knows) panniers - like the above mentioned Swift bags: <br /><br />You can make them out of old buckets, like the square kitty litter kind. I have one, very utilitarian. You can buy them from City Bikes or they sell kits now I think to make your own (minus the bucket)http://www.citybikes.coop/Kristijoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15790510053995458172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-35345330477363821752010-08-10T12:13:33.189-07:002010-08-10T12:13:33.189-07:00This post is so timely for me! I just got my hand-...This post is so timely for me! I just got my hand-me-down mountain bike tuned up and started riding it a bit, with the goal of someday using it instead of the car for things like grocery shopping and visiting local parks and playgroups. <br /><br />I've been drooling over Xtracycles, but right now I'm working up the fitness just to pedal me around, along with a one-seat Burley child Sammienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-38195663998947897752010-08-10T09:55:11.323-07:002010-08-10T09:55:11.323-07:00We're one of Portland car free bike centric ho...We're one of Portland car free bike centric households. We have uh, a lot of bikes. Commuters, folders for travel, even a chopper low rider freak bike. <br /><br />My next project is to take my trek MTB, with super low gearing that we currently use for hauling with a cargo trailer and make it into a longtail. Xtracycles are awesome. <br />They are not the only rig out there though. Yubas are Kristijoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15790510053995458172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-79831048150305563492010-08-10T09:35:12.898-07:002010-08-10T09:35:12.898-07:00My husband loves his Surly Big Dummy with the Xtra...My husband loves his Surly Big Dummy with the Xtracycle on it. It's a comfy ride but it weighs a lot. If you're looking for comfort, Electra has some really nice models that are incredibly comfortable. They have one where the pedals are slightly forward so your feet are just a little bit in front of you rather than straight down, and it makes a world of difference.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-90960037925154723292010-08-10T08:59:20.716-07:002010-08-10T08:59:20.716-07:00Bullwinkle, where do you live?
I've seen the...Bullwinkle, where do you live?<br /> <br />I've seen the Madsens online, but never in person, but we've got xtracycles all over the place (including one parent I see with a Free Radical with a homemade sidecar for the kids.) I wonder if it's because we don't have a Madsen dealer that I never see them.Rosanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-22553058392622746492010-08-10T08:25:00.922-07:002010-08-10T08:25:00.922-07:00http://www.madsencycles.com/
Just offering altern...http://www.madsencycles.com/<br /><br />Just offering alternatives... I don't know anything about the xtracycle; I do know several people with one of these.Bullwinklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12765320040505378403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-84876220809672331112010-08-10T08:21:35.796-07:002010-08-10T08:21:35.796-07:00When it was just me, I had a series of random bike...When it was just me, I had a series of random bikes (mountain, road, and comfort) with a rack and panniers. I liked that a lot.<br /> <br />Then, the baby. I've been hauling a 2-seater Burley with just one child in it for the last 4 years. I love it, and it's totally spoiled me for haulage - I can haul 80 pounds of bagged manure, or a child and 4 bags of groceries, or 6 empty 5-gallon Rosanoreply@blogger.com