Every Day Adventurers

***WARNING*** As this is my first blog in a long time it is very intense and dense with information.

Earlier this evening, I delivered Rob’s Big Dummy. Rob is roommates with CEO and co-Founder of Xtracycle, Ross Evans. Mark was going to deliver it, but I figured it would be easier for me since I live in SF and the bike was going to Potrero Hill. Plus I really wanted to ride a Big Dummy setup pretty much exactly how I want to setup mine.

Rob’s Big Dummy is setup with Silver “C” Bars, a Rohloff SpeedHub14 OEM internal hub, Surly Mr. Whirly crankset with a 33 tooth stainless steel chainring, Avid BB7 Mechanical Disc Brakes, Surly Large Marge rims, Maxxis Hookworm 26″x2.5″ tyres, and our LongTail kit.

I hooked up a TrayBien, racked up my Surly Cross Check, and put my crap in the opposing side’s FreeLoaders.  I hopped onto the Big Dummy with my sandals and set off on my voyage. I knew what I was getting into this time with BART.

Last Friday, I rode a Marin S.U.B. home with the same TrayBien proto with my Cross Check on the side.   I won’t lie – BART is difficult the first time you take your Xtracycle with cargo.  I was yelled at upon entering the station – “YOU CAN’T USE THE ESCALATOR”.  I wasn’t even through the gate yet and the BART employee had already yelled at me.  I got to the elevator and had to take off the TrayBien, block the elevator door open with the rear of the S.U.B. because the door kept trying to close, place my Cross Check (still attached to the TrayBien) in the back of the elevator, then pull the S.U.B. inside.  Once on the platform, reinsert the TrayBien and be on my way.  Repeat at Embarcadero… but TWICE.  One decent sized elevator gets you to the gate level (where you put in your ticket), and then another TINY elevator gets you from that level to the street.

Anyway, back to this evening.  I defied BART rules (I always follow them, except in this case cause I didn’t want to disassemble everything) and took the escalator at West Oakland AND Embarcadero.  It was very enjoyable and easy this time.  On my ride from Embarcadero I took a slight detour down Mission/Van Ness to race a few cars.  The highest gear pushing a 140rpm cadence topped out around 26mph.  I couldn’t beat any cars with this gearing.  (Good news about the gearing later on).

I swung by Box Dog Bikes to say hi to my friend John that I race with on Sheila Moon’s Boyfriends MTB team.  While I was waiting at a light I talked to a very nice girl, Tracy, about my Cross Check and how it was a better choice as a commuter/fire road bike than a mountain bike her boyfriend wanted her to get.  I thoroughly convinced her that the Cross Check was her bike.  At Box Dog, two guys from Copenhagen talked me up about Surly in general as well as details about the Big Dummy, Xtracycle and my Cross Check. They were in awe of my Paul Neo-Retro Cantilever brakes. Apparently they have never seen canti brakes – I had to explain to them that they are designed to give maximum tyre (and muddy tyre) clearance. Anyway, I digress yet again.

I went straight from Box Dog to finally deliver the bike to Rob.  Taking the steepest route from the Mission to his place, I took the 18th St pedestrian bridge across 101 and then rode up Kansas St for some steep gear 1 action on the Rohloff. Although I was spinning a decent rpm and going very slow, it was very easy to pedal in the saddle. This is where I finally enjoyed the low gearing on the Dummy.

I believe I have all the details worked out for my Dummy. Rohloff – most definitely. Crankset – either a double with 32t and 42t chainrings or a Schlumpf Speed Drive*. This way I can get the low gearing for the SF hills as well as high gearing for going FAST. I love going fast.  There are two problems with running traditional gearing with derailleurs on the Big Dummy: One – your chain will be rubbing on the tyres when you are in the little chainring if you use HUGE tyres like the Hookworms; Two – You can’t ride one handed, carrying a cup of Philz or Blue Bottle and use your entire gear range (The Rohloff utilizes a single grip shifter to access all 14 gears).

*More details on the Schlumpf Speed Drive – Youtube video of Jeremy Sycip explaining how it works and Schlumpf’s website.

Enjoy the ride.  Love, Jason.

The El Dumbino & Xtracycle combo is performing flawlessly… we haven’t, so far, been able to come up with anything it cannot do.  And after riding it exclusively all day yesterday, I think it’s becoming my favorite ride.  It’s comfortable, rides likes silk, I can carry anything I can possibly imagine, hauling Chloe around yesterday was totally easy and I truly dig the way it soaks up bumps due to its length.  And it’s very interesting how no one can frown at us while we ride by [even Road Weenies smile, and that's saying something].  –LargeFella (www.largefella.com)

Then there is the xtracycle. Sure, it is a frame and cables and some nylon bags, but you know what, there IS a new lifestyle in there! My husband bought it for my birthday this summer and I think it’s the best gift I’ve ever received. I tote my two kids (2 & 4) to their preschool on my way into work with all our stuff, too. I never fear if there’s extra stuff to bring along, our turn to bring a gallon of milk and muffins or whatever. I used to tow a Burley trailer, but it just wasn’t as good (I was always unhooking it because it was a hassle and then not having it when I needed it) and I couldn’t easily talk to my kids back there and they poked at each other sitting in such close quarters. Now we use our bike not only for our daily school/work trips, but also for neighborhood trips to the library, the pool, the store, whatever.

…the Xtracycle shines with it’s bags, which I think are some of the most well-designed pieces of carrying luggage ever invented.