Rear Luggage Rack Web Site Update



On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 21:16:43 -0700, peter <[email protected]>
wrote, in part:
/
>> You can carry the bike with its load still attached.

>
>You must be stronger than I am. If the load is sufficient to warrant
>use of a trailer then I generally can't lift it easily by itself, much
>less with a long bike attached.
>

Xtracycle have a "gravity advantage juju" located low at the bike's
new center of balance. The front of the bike acts as a lever for
balancing the load. I guess what I can lift with my legs is my limit.

It works great with the normal loads I carry on the Xtracycle. It's
really just an impressive stunt that comes in handy when parking.
Surface camber and slope is critical when using a side stand.

>> It can be adapted to carry longer items than most trailers handle.

>
>I tow my 18' boat just fine using a trailer. How long a load fits on
>the XtraCycle?


The same trailer you use for hauling your kids, dogs and groceries?

I've seen long trailers special built for various purposes. A boat
hull, I'm guessing you talking about a kayak or canoe, basically only
need wheels attached amidships and a tongue attached at the bow. Your
boat can be any length.

I've not done it but with the Wide Loaders and stand-offs, eight or
ten foot lumber should be easy. If there was a lot of it, it would
probably have to be equally distributed on both sides of the bike.

Trailers, baby seats and regular luggage racks are in no danger of
disappearing. They work for their designed purpose. Xtracycles and
longtails are here and work for many of those same purposes.

After getting used to its versatility it's hard to imagine life
without my Xtracycle.
--
zk
 
On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 09:02:25 -0700, SMS <[email protected]>
wrote:

>peter wrote:
>
>> Really? My bike with trailer handles the same as it does without the
>> trailer - just slower on the uphills. OTOH, my tandem handles like a
>> truck even if it doesn't have a load, and adding one does *not* make
>> the handling improve.

>
>In terms of handling, you're much better off with a trailer than an
>Xtracycle.


And you've exactly how much experience riding an Xtracycle?

--
zk
 
In rec.bicycles.misc SMS <[email protected]> wrote:
> peter wrote:
>
>> Really? My bike with trailer handles the same as it does without the
>> trailer - just slower on the uphills. OTOH, my tandem handles like a
>> truck even if it doesn't have a load, and adding one does *not* make
>> the handling improve.

>
> In terms of handling, you're much better off with a trailer than an
> Xtracycle. The trailer doesn't really affect handling at all, aa long as
> it's mounted down near the rear chainstays. You're better off carrying
> the load lower as well.


Have you used an Xtracycle? Because that's not my experience. In a
heavily loaded trailer (I'm thinking of a Burly D'Lite), it affects the
handling much more than the Xtracycle. Keep in mind, usually the load
is fairly low on the Xtracycle for cargo. People tend to balance
themselves, so they are easier to handle (per pound) than 'dead' cargo.

Also, braking is safer with the Xtracycle. I've gone down because I
braked on a slightly damp street, because the trailer pushed my rear
wheel out from under me.

--
Dane Buson - [email protected]
A novice was trying to fix a broken lisp machine by turning the power off
and on. Knight, seeing what the student was doing spoke sternly, "You cannot
fix a machine by just power-cycling it with no understanding of what is going
wrong." Knight turned the machine off and on. The machine worked.
 
SMS <[email protected]> writes:

> Doug Faunt N6TQS +1-510-655-8604 wrote:
> > peter <[email protected]> writes:
> >
> >> Many of the BART elevators are just the right length for one regular
> >> bicycle and the trailer fits nicely alongside. A longer bike won't
> >> fit (nor is it allowed by BART rules).
> >>

> > BZZZT, There are no longer any rules about the maximum size bike
> > allowed on BART. Tandems and Xtracycles are allowed.
> > Other places may have such rules, of course.
> > 73, doug

>
> Wasn't Peter referring to the elevators, not the actual train?


There are no rules applicable. Physically, some of the BART elevators
are tight for a standard 'cycle. And taking a trailer with even a small bike
(Bike Friday) into them can be an interesting excercise in packing.

>
> Neither trailers or xtracycles could be taken on CalTrain.


Nor can tandems, according to the rules.

OTOH, if you have a Bike Friday/BicycleR trailer/travel case, the
trailer can easily be converted to a standard suitcase, which is
allowed. And it can be used with 'cycles other than the BF.

But he said "BART". Caltrain falls under my "Other places..." caveat
(unfortunately).

73, doug
 
peter wrote:

> Really? My bike with trailer handles the same as it does without the
> trailer - just slower on the uphills. OTOH, my tandem handles like a
> truck even if it doesn't have a load, and adding one does *not* make
> the handling improve.


There's a good article comparing trailers versus Xtracycles over at
"http://www.angusadventures.com/trailers.html", near the bottom
"Trailers Vs Xtracycle".

Of course the best solution is to have both, as each has its advantages.
While the Xtracycle isn't as good as a trailer for hauling cargo, you
can't carry adult passengers in a trailer.
 
On Aug 15, 9:32 am, Zoot Katz <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 21:16:43 -0700, peter <[email protected]>
> wrote, in part:
> />> You can carry the bike with its load still attached.
>
> >You must be stronger than I am. If the load is sufficient to warrant
> >use of a trailer then I generally can't lift it easily by itself, much
> >less with a long bike attached.

>
> Xtracycle have a "gravity advantage juju" located low at the bike's
> new center of balance. The front of the bike acts as a lever for
> balancing the load. I guess what I can lift with my legs is my limit.


Yes, but adding the bike weight to that of the load doesn't make
things easier. Loads that I can easily lift I would usually carry in
regular panniers or on a rear rack, so when I switch to a trailer it's
generally for something pretty heavy.
>
> It works great with the normal loads I carry on the Xtracycle. It's
> really just an impressive stunt that comes in handy when parking.
> Surface camber and slope is critical when using a side stand.
>
> >> It can be adapted to carry longer items than most trailers handle.

>
> >I tow my 18' boat just fine using a trailer. How long a load fits on
> >the XtraCycle?

>
> The same trailer you use for hauling your kids, dogs and groceries?


Same wheels and axle anyway. The rest of the trailer isn't needed to
tow the boat (but can be stowed inside if I have it along anyway).
>
> I've seen long trailers special built for various purposes. A boat
> hull, I'm guessing you talking about a kayak or canoe, basically only
> need wheels attached amidships and a tongue attached at the bow. Your
> boat can be any length.


Yes, mine is a two-person kayak. I don't even need any trailer tongue
- just lash the bow directly to the rails under the bike saddle.
 
On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 18:10:31 -0700, peter <[email protected]>
wrote:

>>
>> Xtracycle have a "gravity advantage juju" located low at the bike's
>> new center of balance. The front of the bike acts as a lever for
>> balancing the load. I guess what I can lift with my legs is my limit.

>
>Yes, but adding the bike weight to that of the load doesn't make
>things easier.


Sure it does. You can grab the whole thing, bike and all, with one
hand and stand up. That hand is your fulcrum. Lever the load level
with your other hand. Turn 180 degrees. That's simpler than turning
around with a trailer attached to the bike and it blows minds because
it appears effortless.

Off-bike handling is one of the things I'm going to investigate with
the ready-rolled longtails. Believe me when I say it's easier to
carry an Xtracycle than it is to carry a tandem.

>Loads that I can easily lift I would usually carry in
>regular panniers or on a rear rack, so when I switch to a trailer it's
>generally for something pretty heavy.


A bundle of fiberglass insulation is pretty light and won't fit on a
regular luggage rack or into panniers.
The Xtracycle behaves better than a bike with a regular rack when
there's a table saw strapped on there.
Sure you could haul that stuff with a trailer but it still isn't as
sexy as a longtail bike.
--
zk
 
On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 11:28:32 -0700, SMS <[email protected]>
wrote:

>
>There's a good article comparing trailers versus Xtracycles over at
>"http://www.angusadventures.com/trailers.html", near the bottom
>"Trailers Vs Xtracycle".


Just below the little blurb that reads:
Warning: Do not attempt to descend steep hills with a heavily loaded
trailer. Learn the limitations on hills with safe run offs.

All laden bicycles require extra braking distance on hills. At least
a loaded longtail isn't going to push your rear wheel out from under
you under hard braking on slick roads. Unladen, it's easier than with
a regular bike to break the rear wheel free under those conditions.

His only gripe with the Xtracycle is that he assumes it's your only
bike and is difficult to convert back and forth.

He does mention its greatest asset which is having your "trailer",
without its inconveniences, with you at all times.
--
zk
 
Zoot Katz wrote:

> All laden bicycles require extra braking distance on hills. At least
> a loaded longtail isn't going to push your rear wheel out from under
> you under hard braking on slick roads. Unladen, it's easier than with
> a regular bike to break the rear wheel free under those conditions.


I've logged a lot of miles (mostly off-road) with trailer-bike and
trailer (Bob), and have been impressed at how easy it is to jackknife,
especially in low traction situations. You can compensate to a degree by
using a lot more rear brake but it's still a real hazard, especially to
the unwary.
 

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