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Subject to the tiresome demands of clients and the CRC/Parcelforce time-space event horizon being aligned so I can get some tyres, I shall be spending this morning turning this pile of bits, into, well, an assembled pile of bits.
Dont need Rolf Harris for this one:
🙂
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enjoy the build - one of life's great pleasures - cycling enthusiast building new bike with new bits and then the first ride 🙂
might not be quite better than sex, but it's a very close run thing 🙂
post up a pic of the finished product
Is that a new pair of Jones forks in front of the frame?
trailer, frame and rim colour don't match!!! 😯
have fun!
That's a trailer??? I don't get how it works!
nice 🙂
Is that frame pink? 😉
Someone left their scaffolding in your garden
looks like a bad bike crash.
not really a trailer, but couldn't think how else to describe it
Ah, the FT 'bred comes out of retirement. They can't stay wall ornaments for long, can they? 😉
indeed they cannot mamadirt 🙂
I now have a space on my wall to fill 🙁
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"FT Pink" strato 🙂
All going pretty smoothly (except for the inappropriately named On-One Smoothie headset which has always had apalling tolerances. It's coming out when Ive found a cheap s/h replacement, 'orrible thing)
The karmic gods smile upon me. Parcelforce have come up trumps at 10am with tyres and a rear brake lever, and it's coffee time.
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that xtracycle thing's most peculiar.
The only word I can come up with is 'interesting'.
Bet that single front doesn't last long. Fully loaded round Malvern... 🙂
For a new headset - onone knocking out fsa XL2s cheap in their sale. Get one of them.
Will that thing go round corners at all?
Looking good!
Deadly serious point. You'll manage with the single front ring, but you [i]need[/i] something to hold the chain on. If it falls off outboard, the length of the chain is so ridiculous that it can actually get tangled on the wrong side of the rear wheel. I am not sure how, but it happened to me, and I trashed a rear mech.
🙂
might not be quite better than sex, but it's a very close run thing
You're doing it wrong.
Stoner in ugly bike shocker!
Its an interesting concept, but I can't help thinking that biting the bullet and getting a Kona Ute or similar would be better.
How much do the Xtracycles cost?
Now I'm interested.
I thought it was a trailer......
How much are those things then?
🙂
Get those pansies planted too.
Xtracycle have been doing this for a decade, it works. It is arguably a better cargo system than the Ute, and not chillingly expensive if you've a spare frame. 🙂
[i]might not be quite better than sex, but it's a very close run thing
You're doing it wrong. [/i]
Yep, Zinn is much better than the Park Tools manual.
Rear cable routing looks a bit odd, why not run it through just the top guide on the seat stay, that way it will follow a route similar to the disc hose/cable on the other side.
Looks good tho. Im toying with the idea of one for my pompino but not sure i have the need for it.
The Xtracycle kit is £450, and you can haul a heck of a lot with one - way more than a Ute.
http://www.practicalcycles.com/userimages/procart8.htm
[i]Will that thing go round corners at all? [/i]
Yes, they handle fine. It isn't the nippiest thing, obviously. You have to time corners a little bit differently, but it's not a problem.
For those familiar with the place, I took mine around the skills loop and the "black" trail at Hamsterley Forest last year. I couldn't get round the circular board section of the skills loop without dropping the back wheel off the boards, but it was good apart from that. Off-road, the length gives a lot of stability descending steep sections because you can't really go over the front. It is also very easy to do see-saws. 🙂
Welcome to the load lugging Xtracycle club Stoner!
They are a hoot and extremely useful. Admit it, when you got the frame, it suddenly looked alarmingly big didn't it!
Looking forward to seeing the finished bike and tales of heavy hauling!
Ta daaaaa.
Built almost without incident and vitrually no bodging.
Had to nick Mrs Stoner's inner tubes from her 456 since I could only find dozens of 29"s in the spares box. D'oh!
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First job this afternoon will be a trip to the tip with all the boxes Ive collected.
Nick - 30T front ring, 32/11 cassette. Im hoping its enough. If I need to I will put a granny on.
Cheers BD - I will go and dig out a spare front mech and lash it on.
Sheldon - it's still better looking than your maverick.
Strato - routing tidied up - it was flailing around as I hadnt bled the rear brake. Just done it. And if anyone is curious a standard hose from Shimano is long enough to get all the way back there.
According to my spreadsheet (natch) it cost me £140 in parts that I didnt have:
Forks ebay - £11
Wheels classifieds - £35
Tyres & rear lever CRC - £36
Front lever eBay - £10
LX Calipers, Oury Grips On-One - £15
MEch and shifiter eBay - £10
Cassette Classifieds - £14
and £450 for the xtracycle.
that is actually strangely nice
would a subtle chain device be a neater solution than a front mech? it's help avoid trouser/oil interface as well.
Sheldon - it's still better looking than your maverick.
agreed but then so was Jade Goody
Been for a spin 'round the block' yet? The first time out is quite an experience!
the words 'barge like' spring to mind 😉
How does it stop from pivioting around the original axel? other than that i can see huge benifits to a bike like that.
How does it stop from pivioting around the original axel? other than that i can see huge benifits to a bike like that.
It's like this (this is mine)
[url= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3260/2661021483_468eb9cc44.jp g" target="_blank">
The Xtracycle clamps onto the chainstays to stop it pivoting. This pic is 'upside down' so the bit of the Xtracycle pushes down on the donor frame chainstay bridge. It doesn't move once installed
LOL @ MrMW 🙂 Yeah yeah!!
i quite want one of those crazy bikes now! don't know where i think i'd put it...
just been out and its a hoot.
Ive bodged (it wouldnt be a stonerbike if it didnt have at least one bodge) an old D-Lock bracket to act as a chainguide until I can find something a bit better.
Got a quick video of my neighbour on it, just going to stick it on youtube, bear with me...
Looks much nicer now Stoner, well done.
mine goes in here:
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built a couple of weeks ago specifically for the Xtracycle for when it arrived 🙂
here's the video
sorry for lousy quality...
very nice bike hutch!
Nice one, looks cool. Laura wants to know how many wine bottles it'll carry?
probably not enough for her 😆
[thread hijack]
Mike, what time are you turning up on Saturday?
Bacon butties are apparently going to be available.
[/thread hijack]
Right. We're off to the recycling tip with some cardboard and workshop rubbish. If I dont make it back for tea, send a medic and the AA.
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tell Laura that I reckon easily 6 cases, more with the wideloader rails 🙂
Bloody hell - thought that grey thing must be bike stand when I first saw it. How many can you put in a row?
How many can you put in a row
why didnt I think of that? Genius!
nick - hows 8am sound?
Bacon butties sounds like a winner
i like the idea of an xrtracycle road train
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ohhh if I didnt live in a flat with 7 flights of stairs I would be getting me one of them!
Is there support to the rear dropouts too? I can't quite see in the piccies.
Nice work comrade! 😀
Dropout securing (bike is upside down again as it's easier to assemble that way!)
[url= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/2661846958_6f821b464b.jp g" target="_blank">
More building detail pics here http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheesyfeet/sets/72157606127561119/
edit
looks very long to me.
Is a Ute or a bigdummy shorter?
My Dummy was slightly shorter than the Xtracycle built onto a Kona A'Ha. But the A'Ha is a very long bike.
looks very long to me.
that'll be why it's called a "longtail"...
made it back. Brilliant fun.
Top day's work. No where's my beer....?
clearly now is the perfect time to asses it's beer and bbq supply carrying qualities......
Mike, cool, see you then
This is bad.
I have no need for such a bike
A trailer would probably be more practical if I did have such a need, and certainly cheaper
But
I still want one.
If only to lash the box to the side and pootle off to the tip, watching cars crash as the drivers stare at me.
Love it.
🙂
I am like peter.
Mind You I have just bought my rack. Now I need to buy panniers. I have seen somethign very nice just cross fingers my LBS can have it 😀
just got to explore strapping junior's car seat to it securely, (and getting him a helmet I s'pose) and then I can take him shopping...
LOL! I can just see Juan on one of those!
😀
Stoner - Does the £450 include the pannier bags?
I have to say I find it hideous and dont really want one, but I can understand those that do because I have an urge for something most people find hideous...
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yep.
£450 covers the frame extension, the vertical frames and the snap deck. The nylon sides and straps (they're not panniers as such, but rather slings in which you can carry stuff/bags). Also comes with long inner cable, some brake cable too, and a rollamajig for the back end and some extra 8spd chain.
The disk caliper mount comes out at 203mm when you stick a normal 160mm IS calliper/mount on it so you need a hefty big rotor (thanks mick!).
Other than that I just put some fat cheap (£8 each) 26" road tyres on some cheap but strong rimmed wheels and away you go...
Now I'm doing sums.
My SS Inbred would be perfect for this conversion
I've got some tough spare wheels, a spare casette and chain (I take it I need 2 chains?), some 1.95 slicks and some spare risers to replace the flatties (I think...)
So I could flog the SS's wheels and the Rebas on it, (which has got to be £200 worth combined) buy some cheap rigids and a few other bits like a front mudguard and I'm in for under £300!!
Oh nooooooooooooo. I can feel it in my bones........
😉
PP - that is how mine started - doing mental arithmatic while reading someone else's xtracycle thread 🙂
It's like a contagion... 🙂
if you're running 8spd then there's extra chain in the box.
TBVH I cheated and have used a new 8spd chain, with the extra 8spd links in the box on a 9spd cassette and it's fine.
Do not tempt me peter 😉
but do you know that 300£ if you organise yourself in advance will take you mrs poddy and both motorcycle on the train from paris to Nice 😉
There's a fantastic and growing cargo bike/longtail niche on here.
You all need to get back and check out [url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/very-very-excited-cargo-bike-content ]Miketually's thread on his recently purchased (and crashed) Yuba Mundo[/url] and Big Dummy's various posts, including his most recent on [url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/big-dummy-resprays ]nice looking Dummies.[/url]
It's my intention to invest in something similar as soon as the OK is granted by the domestic credit committee.
as soon as the OK is granted by the domestic credit committee.
LOL!
😀
Juan , we've looked into the train thing before. As far as I can see you have to book it in Paris, at the station yes? How much is it?
TBVH I cheated and have used a new 8spd chain, with the extra 8spd links in the box on a 9spd cassette and it's fine.
Surely not? That's tantamount to witchcraft on STW isn't it?
Black Magic! Burn him!
😉
Well you could book it in any station 😉 so lets say you know a nice friend living in france and willing to do it for you it should be very very easy 😉
I paid 130€ for mine,but IIRC it was because I got a refundable ticket.
Let me investigate shall we 😉
made it back. Brilliant fun.
Fair play - when I saw that loaded pic up there I thought you'd never get it moving 😉 . Looks good - I want one (but the chances of getting it out of my street are not great).
I'm now running the idea past Mrs Poddy......
Stoner that is one odd looking bike, but as with all things a bit odd, it is strangely appealing. Hmmmm...what can I sell to raise funds, anyone want a couple of house trained kids?
[url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/apr/23/tricycle-christiania-trikes-eco-transport ]Piece about Trikes by Tim Dowling in the Grauniad[/url] 🙂
clearly now is the perfect time to asses it's beer and bbq supply carrying qualities......
Here's my newly complete Dummy on duty as convenient barbeque and booze carrier and general chopping board last weekend
[img] http://picasaweb.google.com/krankelbear/UntitledAlbum#5327896732029384210 [/img]
[url= http://picasaweb.google.com/krankelbear/UntitledAlbum#5327896732029384210 ]clicky[/url]
can't see it but I managed to get charcoal and beer in normal panniers on friday 🙂
i also carried a pair of Pace RC41s 45 miles in my panniers on tuesday 🙂
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How are you getting on with the Adventure Racks? What panniers are you using?
Adventure racks are fine now theyre innertubed and ziptied in place - had a tendency to jump out before. No panniers or deck yet - I'm going to make my own - freeloaders and snap deck seem pretty darn expensive at current exchange for a bit of ply and some nylon bags... plus i didn't really want xtracycle emblazoned in big letters on the side.