Every Day Adventurers

Every Xtracycle has a different effect on the life of the person (or people) using it. Sometimes the effect is profound.  We thought we’d share this letter we received from Liam Daly.  The photo is his as well:

Dear Xtracycle:

• I love you.
• Six years ago I bought a FreeRadical with freeloaders and wideloaders.
• I was living in car-centric Kansas City, and Xtracycle changed my life.
• I quickly told people that the FreeRad was the best thing I ever bought.
• Four years ago I moved home – to Ireland – with my XtraCycle.
  
• I work for myself as an artist, a painter. There is no canvas, no frame, no entire art show, that my xtracycle has been unable to carry.
• In 1992 I did a solo cycle through 10 countries from Ireland to Turkey.
• In 1996 I did a solo cycle through 24 US States from Boston to San Diego.
• I wish my bike had been XtraCycled back when I did those and other long-distance tours.
• Starting on July 1st, I am doing a solo trip of 2-3,000 miles around all 32 counties in Ireland, painting pictures for people who shelter and feed me. Those people are finding me online: http://paintingtour.com
• I posted a gallery the other day of 24 photos of my XtraCycle carrying various loads. A national newspaper saw it (Irish Independent) and interviewed me for a feature on cargo/utility bikes.
• I know of 2 cases in Ireland who have bought XtraCycles based on my witterings on Twitter and my blog.
• Six years of heavy use, American Midwest weather, and Irish rain, have taken their toll. It’s a long time since anybody could read my snapdeck or called it a skateboard.
• I still routinely tell people that XtraCycle is the greatest thing I ever bought. Because it still is.
• But most of all, I love you.

Thanks and best wishes,

Liam Daly

Here is an inspiring bit of news featuring an Xtracycle outfitted with electric assist to give the rider a little Xtra get up and go.

Bike based lifestyles take center stage as more people look for ways to beat rising gas prices, have more fun and get in shape at the same dern time!

Go Green & $ave $ome $erious Green with Xtracycle!

Jennifer Dederich, co-owner of Portland Pedal Power, talks about using the Xtracycle Heavy Duty (HD) FreeRadical for her bicycle powered delivery service and business promotion.

The HD can handle 350 lbs of cargo, mounts to most 26″ mountain bicycle frames, accepts rim or disc brakes and can fit a 29er rear wheel.

We’re looking forward to more tests from PPP and our other Heavy Duty FreeRadical cargo bike testers, the Stomparillaz!

Video and Editing done by Jon Garcia of Lake Productions with camera work by Lauren Pollock.

Check out some prototype photos on XtracycleGallery.com

Read the Riding the Spine review of their HD FreeRad.

the family steed

As most Xtracycle owners know, doing more with your bicycle and less with your car instills a feeling of independence like no other.

Your ability to tackle the day’s requests of errands, tasks and trips by using your bicycle and your own power instead of pollution causing, money draining automobiles builds a self-reliance that only grows with time.

So, I totally relate to Michael’s enthusiasm about his wife stating, “I think I’d like to get an Xtracycle.”

While I’m happy to hear that another American is thinking about using our cargo bikes, I’m more excited because I know what a positive impact owning one will have on her life.

Irene, Michael’s wife, I’m sure already knows about the benenfits of cargo bicycle ownership, her husband rocks out on a Big Dummy already. But, just as my wife knew of the benefits and utility of my cargo bike, she didn’t quite ‘get it’ until I built up her first Xtracycle this past fall.

Normally I’m the one who hauls her, our groceries, our laundry and other tasks of substantial size because my Xtracycle is easier to access and it’s what we’re used to. However, recently I went away for a trip to see my grandparents and Alicia, my wife, was stuck with laundry duty. Instead of lugging it piecemeal to the laundromat by short bike, she utilized her FreeRadical and finished the task without hassle or inconvenience.

On our nightly reconnect by cellular, she proudly informed me that she tackled the laundry using her Xtracycle. I asked how it went and she said, “Piece of cake!” :) She’s using her Xtracycle more and feeling empowered by the capability of her steed, and I’m excited to see her sharing the same sentiments that I felt in my first months of Xtracycle ridership.

—

Read Michael’s full post on why they’re going car-light and upgrading their family to a two-Xtracycle family.

My wife and I live in a small apartment with five of our bicycles living with us. The first moment of zen came when I realized I was tall enough to store my lighter road/mtn bikes horizontally against the ceiling, but my Big Dummy still took up a commanding amount of square footage.

We recently shifted the rooms around and need that precious footprint to be reduced. Problem was, I need to store the Dummy on it’s tail, but maneuvering a wheel-less Big Dummy like that was bound to scratch and damage the rear bridge tube. What I need were some casters to allow me easy positioning and storage of my Xtracycle cargo bike in a vertical position.

I sketched up a design diagram, chatted with Ross about some potential pitfalls, and dove right in. Was a bit hasty about the initial two prototypes, but finally ironed out my issues with the third version.

Now I can easily bring the bike inside, hold the rear brake, lift up the wheel, TailWheels make contact, and then I push on my MagicCarpet with my knee while still holding the handlebars to get it into full, mobile and upright position.

It’s also been a boon for use on BART and elevators. No more scratched paint or dented tubes!

Ride on!

View more detailed comments for TailWheels on flickr.