Xtra Greatness

Posted by laura on May 16 2008 | Bicycle

I’m interrupting my Lima broadcast to put up a couple of photos of my xtracycle, which finally arrived last month. Shiny! Here it is after one of our grocery runs:

xtracycleloaded1.jpg

My daughter was riding on the back – she kept and eye on the bread, which was threatening to jump ship the whole way home.xtracycleloaded2.jpg

It is everything I hoped for – in dozens of configurations (3 big grocery bags + one child, 4 big grocery bags + 1 watermelon, 2 children + backpacks + fireman lunchbox, bags + cookie tins + party paraphernalia…) it’s been a dream every time.

I added the foot pads and am currently looking for a good small tandem handlebar setup so the rider feels more comfortable. My friend Haywood calls it my caddy – I’d better figure out where I’m going to put the subwoofer, don’t you think?

4 comments for now

4 Responses to “Xtra Greatness”

  1. # amy

    that is so cool! i’m glad you put up more photos of it because i was having a hard time imagining where all the stuff would go. the kids must love riding on it!
    can i ask about how heavy it is? would it be hard to ride up a big hill (like um, my hill?)
    amy

    16 May 2008 at 7:04 pm

  2. # laura

    without anything in it, it hardly feels heavier than my plain old bike. longer, and with a bit of drag on a windy day, but it’s very stable and easy to ride. once it’s loaded, it certainly feels heavier, but i just pop the gear down and it’s been fine.

    your hill, however, is a different story! i’m amazed you can walk up that thing, never mind bike.

    so, i imagine you’d have to build your stamina – start with a grape in the back, work your way up to a toaster, then a kid … before you know it, you’ll have that keg in there, no problem. (that’s what you were getting at, right?)

    17 May 2008 at 6:46 am

  3. # Anne

    Very nice. I’m glad you’re enjoying it. I always tell people – if you get an Xtracycle it will change your life. Have fun!

    Tim has some info on our blog about stoker stems here. and here.

    18 May 2008 at 7:00 pm

  4. # laura

    thanks, anne! you’re right about that – it’s already changed my life. and i’m grateful to you and your family for your inspiration.
    i remember reading about stoker stems on your blog – i’ll go and check those posts out! thank you.

    18 May 2008 at 7:11 pm

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