Every Day Adventurers

Whew, it’s tough keeping secrets, but making new products kinda demands it. One of our latest creations, Hoodie, has kicked around our brains, design tables and bikes for over a year now.

Last June, I got to borrow our solitary Hoodie to put it through some every day adventure pacing. While I couldn’t fit it on my Big Dummy (this current version is not compatible with Big Dummy, if you’re spending that kinda cash, just get the full blown FreeLoaders (plus they’re new for 2010!)), I was able to rock out the company FreeRadical.

2010 Hoodie Color Comparisons, none of which actually made it into production. Hoodie comes in two colors - Redical Red and Graphite Grey

My mission: gardening supplies and sustenance for los gatitos (cats for those not Spanishly inclined). Retrieve and pay for said items, load and lash as needed to my Xtracycle and ride home, event free.

My initial thoughts: lovin’ it. The sleek profile, minimalist style and straightforward features all appealed to me. The install was easy, like a glove. It felt secure, taught and ready to ride. The webbing down the spine seemed a bit over kill. Might be useful to tie things down to, but I can CamStrap more securely off the frame members of my bike or the FreeRadical (Note: the webbing is not on the production version). I’m happy the logo is small and subdued, a nice touch.

This is the Hoodie that Rick tested. That's the understated logo Rick liked, though production Hoodies have even more understated branding.

I thought I may have some issues with the lack of straps a la FreeLoaders, but the large side pockets held my goods with grace and fortitude. I wasn’t a big fan of how low the upper lip came, so we raised the height of the pocket about an 1″+.

Cinching down the pockets was easy and smooth. They held super tight, giving me confidence that they wouldn’t loosen or slowly open.

Since my pocket space was gobbled up by my soil bags, but still had cat food, litter and a lock left, I was happy I brought a CamStrap with me. Attaching to the handle of the FreeRadical, I looped it through the litter handle and over the food bag. I attached the cam end to the rear horizontal bridge of the FreeRad and cinched everything down nice and snug.

The ride home was uneventful. I shook, shimmied and slalomed down the biggest hills I could find, took the long way home, hopped a curb and nothing budged. Me like.

Conclusion: Hoodie rocks. From it’s clean looks, simple operation, nice lock pocket, reflective webbing and other features, I dig it. I know that may be a biased opinion, but keeping it simple has its merit. Another bonus, it’s $75! That, coupled with a FreeRadical, and you’re looking at $364 to fly your every day skies.

Learn more about what Hoodie features and fits at XC.com.

Elaine Nelson just passed the one year mark owning her Xtracycle. We’re happy to report that she’s still in love with her ride:

I love love love being able to carry whatever around town. A change of clothes to work? No problem. A gallon of milk on the way home? Sure! A big bag of library books? But of course, and why not the laptop, too? My personal maneuverability limit is way less than the weight limit, so I’ve gotten nowhere near that so far as I can tell. But that leaves a hell of a lot of stuff that I can carry.

You can read her full recap here. Thanks for taking the chance with our product, Elaine, we’re stoked and glad you’re able to enhance your every day adventure.

Patrick Boone, a Wisconsin Xtracycle rider, submitted a video to CNN’s iReport. CNN asked people to try to live car-free for one day (big leap, but better than nothing) by using their bicycle.

We offered up a store gift certificate to the Xtracycle riders that got their videos selected for the iReport. Congrats, Patrick, and thanks for the quality video and Xtracycle plug. Ride on!

A few weeks ago we sent out a humble request to you, our friends, to help us encourage more riders to get on Xtracycles. Our goal for the month of May was to have another 100 riders, out there, on Xtracycles shaking it like a polaroid picture.

Well, we’re happy to report that as of May 27th we’re up to 70 new riders. Now how many car dealerships can say that! Thank you. Not only for helping us get close to our goal but for riding along side us, in our adventure to get more people out there to experience the lifestyle.

30 more to go!

What we’ve experienced here this month, just confirms what we’re hearing in the news recently – that during the first quarter of 2009 more bikes sold then cars and trucks. Not to say that our industry hasn’t felt the effects of the economy as all sectors have, but that we are gaining ground.

More people are starting to buy bikes, than cars and/or trucks. Aw yeah!

Tell us how your Xtracycle has made a difference in your life. We want to hear about what finally made you take the plunge into the Xtracycle lifestyle and - how it is, now that you’re using yours while riding through the drop off lane at school, with your kids, on your Xtracycle or what you’ve experienced while parking in the VIP parking spots with your Xtracycle at the front door of the grocery store, while the cars circle and circle around the lot looking for that perfect spot.

Come on, tell us.