Hauling an Xtracycle

Hauling Karen's Xtracycle home on the Big Dummy...=-)

A false sense of security...

Toronto Star - Icefield's Parkway Article

click on image to enlarge

My mother sent me this Toronto Star article about touring on the Icefield's Parkway. It was quite appropriate timing as I have several piles of gear in my living room ready for this weekend's tour which will entail a portion of the Icefield's Parkway.

I can't wait to get out there and enjoy the early season without hordes of other park users to contend with...=-)

Jumping on...

Kurt perfects the in flight transfer from long board to Big Dummy...=-)

Acting our age...

Try and stop us...

Spinning & Grinning!

Anna takes the bike path fashion scene by storm with her usual European flair...I guess she wanted to look good for the lads at Bow Cycle...=-)

Scalpel

Picking up Kurt's freshly tuned Cannondale Scalpel from Bow Cycle. I checked out a couple new ones, but the price tags were in the $6000.00 range - yikes!

Townie Porn

Ursula rides the Townie

I love bike shopping with friends - lots of smiles and it doesn't cost me a cent...=-)

RANS Street - Touring Edition

Nanda Holz [Spin Cyclz] setup this RANS Street crank forward bike as a touring machine with moustache bars, disc brakes and a rear rack. It looks awesome - I would love to take that baby for a spin around town. I've been intrigued with how these crank forward bikes handle. They look like very practical machines that might be a great solution for the urban cyclist.

Karen's going Xtra...

Karen dropped off her old mountain bike last night so I could check it over and see if it needed any love prior to her Xtracycle arriving next week. I'm excited to see how the Free Radical conversion process goes and I am also looking forward to having another longtail rider in my neighbourhood so we can haul some ass together...lol...=-)

I'll be posting all the gory details about adding an Xtracycle to Karen's bike on my Big Dummy Blog, but I'll be sure to post a few pics of the finished product here for you.

Karen has already begun scheming about all the car trips she can replace with her Xtracycle rig. Although I think all my bikes are uber cool the Big Dummy/Xtracycle & the Bike Friday Tikit are the ones that are really sparking an interest amongst my friends and associates. I can't blame them - these bikes represent two very different, but equally effective approaches to practical cycling.

Putting the Dummy to the test...

I met up with a Bike Forums member [Graham] after work and we chatted about cargo bikes and the finer points of the Xtracycle concept. It was fun to talk to another avid cyclist. Graham gave the Dummy a spin and had a positive experience. Hopefully I'll have another Xtracyclist to ride with soon..=)

Dos Amigos

Dave and I roaming the bike paths.

Big Dummy Action

Loading up Kurt's C'Dale and taking it to a Bow Cycle for some love.

Kurt pilots the Big Dummy down an icy slope - yeah I live in Canada!!

Little Bike Powerful Kung Fu!

I drive my truck about once a week when I commute to the next town to visit my office. That will drop to zero work related trips per week when I commute on my bike. I think it's funny that my smallest vehicle [Bike Friday Tikit] has become my go to ride for 80% of all my trips and my largest most capable vehicle [Mazda B4000 4x4] sits idle most of the time.

I'm not car free yet and I think I'll keep my truck running as long as I can. Although I don't use it often I do enjoy being able to load up 4 friends + their gear so we can be in the mountains in 90mins. Without a truck a lot of outdoor recreation possibilities would be unfeasible as it's a full day's ride to the mountains on a loaded bike.

Gas prices here are up to $1.26/L [~$4.76/gal] and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. Perhaps I'll change my tune when gas is over $2.00/L and stop driving entirely. The good news is I'm able to take care of all my essential transportation needs on foot, by bike or with public transport. All my driving trips are optional.

I'm a Big Dummy....=)

I've been wanting an Xtracycle for a long time, but when Surly announced the Big Dummy was ready for sale I knew it had my name written all over it - thanks to John F @ Bow Cycle for making it happen. I went whole hog and built up a Big Dummy frame with a Rohloff hub - something I've also wanted to try for ages.

I won't bore you with too many details here, but if you want to know more click here. My long tail adventures have just begun...=)

More Cycle Chic

Photo: London Cycle Chic

Although Copenhagen Cycle Chic is still the ultimate in bike chic here are a few more chic-ilicious sites for you:

• Riding Pretty
• London Cycle Chic
• Chic Cyclist
• Velo Vogue

Do you know of any other chic sites I should be aware of?

Shopping with the Tikit

Touring with the Tikit

I just rec'd a custom 2 pannier front rack for my Tikit from Bike Friday. I'm one step closer to having the ultimate folding bike touring setup ready. Jump here to read more about it.