From the Land Down Under comes another tales of Xtracycle happiness and utility. Take it away, Bruce!
Dear ,
The Xtracycle you sent me has been up and running for a few weeks now, and has become indispensable in our family transport options.
I’ve installed a 200w Bafang rear hub motor, which makes the steep hills around here manageable, even with big loads. It’s been particularly useful when the local roads have been damaged in the January flood rains. It carries loads of stuff, including our weekly Foodconnect delivery to Mt Nebo, 11km of steep mountain roads away, and transporting our 6yo to and from play dates.
It’s a good quality bit of gear. I’ve used the disk brake mount, which requires a 203mm disk which really gets cooking on the long steep descents around here. I think it will save rims and reduce the risk of heat blowouts. I’ll be interested to see how well pads, calipers and disks last, as I’ve never had a bike with disks before.
Thanks for getting it to me last year. I think if people knew how useful the Xtracycle was (especially with a motor), you would sell heaps more of them.
Emphasis mine
See more of Bruce’s Xtracycle cargo bike and explore more Cheeky(ness).
Rider of the week: Longtail commuter Riley Merline | Tucson Velo
Riley is a longtime cyclist, loving and riding his Gary Fisher hardtail for over 12 years, but recently upgraded his utility by adding an Xtracycle FreeRadical conversion kit.
The impetus for the upgrade was the dreaded, “I wish I didn’t have to carry everything in my backpack,” syndrome. Now, Riley doesn’t have to fret about what he can/can’t carry during his commute.
Congrats on the lifestyle upgrade, Riley and thanks Tucson Velo for the profile!
Ride on!
While working on this bike another snowy bike came in with the same problem, and so it went the whole day. Alexis and I pulled and flushed at least 15 cables yesterday. The problem is that Amsterdam bikes live outdoors, rain or shine. Tiny amounts of water drip and condense into the cable housings. On good quality bikes the cables are stainless steel and the housings are lined with polyethelene or another low friction plastic so the water doesn’t make much difference… until the thermometer goes below the freezing point. Then the cable freezes inside the housing. Usually it creates enough friction that pulling hard on the brake lever will overcome the friction, actuating the brake but the brake’s return spring cannot pull it back… thus locked brakes.So here’s what you do to fix or prevent a frozen cable:
- 1. Let it thaw.
- 2. Remove the crimped end cap and make sure the end of the cable isn’t unwound or damaged. If it is either rewind, shorten or replace the cable as necessary.
- 3. Remove any kinks in the cable so that it can easily be pulled and reinserted through the housing.
- 4. Pull the cable out.
- 5. Seal the nozzle of a compressed air pistol against the upper end of the housing and blow everything possible out of the housing.
- 6. Seal the dispenser straw of a suitable light oil against the brake lever end of the housing. It might be necessary to pull the housing cap to do this. We use a generic multipurpose oil with teflon but just about any light oil should work fine. Don’t use “dry” type lubricant because it won’t displace the water for long.
- 7. Spray the oil into the housing until it begins coming out the other end. [Dont't forget to put] a rag at the brake end of the housing to catch the oil coming out at great velocity.
- 8-9-10. Thread the cable back into the housing, readjust the brake and crimp a new end on.
This fix is valid for any brake or gear cable but I’m basically assuming the bike has roller brakes here. Drum brakes can pull their own freezing tricks and rim brakes simply aren’t suitable for storing outdoors and riding in snow country. Now the techies can ask me why I didn’t write anything about disk brakes.
Read the Full Post at Bakfiets en Meer » Blog Archive » Frozen Cable Time Again.
Electra Townie Xtracycle Cargo Bicycle Conversion
A year of researching, dreaming and reading about Xtracycles finally came to a head: Urbancommuter’s family just joined the Xtracycle family! Welcome to the fold.
I rode the electracycle the next morning. Hauled my 3 kids to school. They absolutely loved it. That to me, seeing them having a blast is worth more than anything. I have never stopped riding the bike since I installed the conversion kit. It was really a great choice for having to invest in one. I get to ride my bike more and get a good quick heart rate boost. I love it. Emphasis mine
Read their whole Xtracycle cargo bicycle buying and installing experience at Go Bike Trip.
We sometimes take for granted those we love. We especially take for granted the things that perform, without fail or complaint, the myriad of tasks we request/require of them.
Maybe it’s due to them being an integral part of our lives. They become a constant, blending themselves into the day-to-day making. We can’t see their importance because they’re always there, never leaving us in the lurch.
Take some time, like Derrick did, to thank those around you that support, enhance and brighten your every day.
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