Every Day Adventurers

A recent post on our Facebook fan page by Andy Zimmerman, founder and creator of BikeWire, caught my eye. At first I thought it spam, he didn’t share anymore info than the link to the beta version of his site, and I clicked.

Turns out, it’s a simple way to connect bicycle riders, those “willing to transport goods” and those “needing goods transported.” You can sign up to be a courier, or request a wire without needing to sign up or create an account.

You set a start location, end location, time frame, load description, trade/price offered, details and contact info. Make a little extra cash, donate your time for non-profits in you area, or just meet new people who appreciate the usefulness of bicycles.

We look forward to offering our cargo bicycles up for use, will be cool to see where and how BikeWire grows.

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One of our custom Big Dummy customers, Scott of Washington D.C., recently wrote to RootsRadicals about his experience riding his longtail in the icy, slick and packed down snow. Take it away, Scott!

So if you haven’t heard, we have been suffering through the Snowpocalypse. Washington DC has had something like 30 to 50 inches of snow during the past week. I haven’t had much of a chance to take the BD out (no snow tires), but have gotten out twice and can give everyone a testimonial of winter longtail riding.

I can say with confidence that the longer wheelbase of my Big Dummy really, really helped in the slippery stuff. I rode once with about three fresh inches on the street and again a couple of days later after the streets had been plowed under much worse road conditions. On the second trip, I carried a small load back from my local package store (two sixers and a half case of wine). The extra weight in the back really locked down the rear end despite the ice, snow and slush. I had next to no tire slippage as I carefully tread my way back home (with bottles cheerfully clinking along the way).

I’m looking forward to getting back on the streets after this round of snow finishes. I think we’ll end up with only eight inches this time.

Scott
Washington, DC

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Raising Funds to Build an Xtracycle Fleet for Urban Agriculture & Farming

People’s Grocery, a non-profit organization based in West Oakland, is raising funds to build their longtail fleet. Xtracycle is matching all donations allocated for their fleet program, so donate today and double your donation!

80% of the world’s population now lives in cities. Urban and peri-urban agriculture is emerging as a more viable solution to meet the fresh produce needs of communities living in urban centers. Whether on abandoned city blocks, rooftops, or aquaponics systems; urban agriculture is a hot potato.

Donate today

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Hello friends and fellow longtailers. We’re looking forward to Supermarket Street Sweep this December 5th, at high noon, and want to get a Team of Xtracycle riders together. While you can bust your ass compete for speed and cargo hauled, we had a blast just collecting food for San Francisco area Food Banks and goofing off on our bicycles.

That being said, we do have a goal, as Team Xtracycle the Haul-aholics, to haul 1 TON of food for the cause. Obviously, we want more than 10 Xtracyclers to participate (10 riders x 200lbs = 2,000lbs hauled, the more we have riding with us the more energy we’ll have to party after wards), so pass along the word and come out for this fun charity event.

Here are some photos here and here from last year’s ride, complete with Gary Fisher cameos.

UPDATE Would be nice to actually have something to act on, no? So, those wanting to go grocery store stampeding with the Haul-aholics for Supermarket Street Sweep can email rick[at]xtracycle[dot]com . But the gist is, meet up at Cupid’s Span in San Francisco (hop off BART at Embarcadero, ride toward the piers and make a right). You’ll see a large bow and arrow sculpture. Thinking a good meet-up time is around 11AM. Last year they ran out of the entry gift, so arrive early if you’re into those sorts of things.

We’ll encounter some hills, nothing too killer if I recall correctly, but get your stretch on. The organizers recommend bringing $15-30 to purchase the food items (to reach our goal this number may need to increase a tad), but you can always buy more to donate. Looking forward to it!

UPDATE

Team Haul-aholic Sign-up Form

Welcome Bay Area Xtracyclers! We’re gearing up to participate (for fun only since we’re sponsoring the event and can’t win anything) in the SF Alleycat Supermarket Street Sweep 2009, December 5th @ high noon! It’s a fun event for charity where we cyclists pedal around to various markets in SF and buy items designated on the race list.

We want to get a team of Xtracyclists who want to pedal at a reasonable pace and haul, collectively, 1 ton of food. So, brushing off the math synapsis, that’s 200 lbs x 10 riders, or 100 lbs x 20 riders. Expect to spend ~$20-40 on food for the event. The race costs nothing to enter, so keep your hemmin’ and hawin’ to a minimum, this is about HAULIN’! So, join the Haul-aholics and have a blast supporting those in need this holiday season. Ride on!

PS We’ll let other, short bikes, come play with us so invite your amigos, sig-others and such to help-a-haul!

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After living in temperate climes for the past five years, I’ve lost a little of my Nor’easter edge. But those RootsRadicals and Tweeters living in winter’y zones are chatting about riding tips regarding cold, wet, icy riding. Nice thing about a longtail, you’ve got a longer wheelbase = more stable.

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