tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post3849461317546871330..comments2024-02-24T06:21:30.987+01:00Comments on A view from the cycle path: Evolution of our XtracycleDavid Hembrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-34343692240119067292011-08-22T16:38:34.586+02:002011-08-22T16:38:34.586+02:00dr2chase: To some extent, I share your frustration...dr2chase: To some extent, I share your frustration with cost. I used to make my own lights too for much the same reasons. It was the cheapest way by far of getting good lights. However, I stopped a few years ago when I saw how the optics on the good lights were going. You can't buy a lens which does the same job because the good lamps don't use a lens but a mirror which gives a very David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-5839538551576853342011-08-22T15:23:01.659+02:002011-08-22T15:23:01.659+02:00@David - My light recipe is two-part.
First, the ...@David - My light recipe is two-part.<br /><br />First, the basic plan is to glue the LED (and symmetric optics) to a piece of aluminum angle. Then, glue a piece of acrylic mirror across the top, and let it stick out a few inches. There's your cut-off, and it also keeps the light out of your own eyes, which is a very good thing. I tinker the mount up and down till there's not too much dr2chasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16320828055999939449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-12365503995777249062011-08-22T13:33:37.518+02:002011-08-22T13:33:37.518+02:00David: Putting the load close to the axis is actua...David: Putting the load close to the axis is actually more important, because of the forward angle of the fork axis. So yes, your handling should have improved.<br /><br />GIF: My bottem bracket's way higher than that of any mountainbike, and I'm not complaining. ;)J..noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-23796070549301143632011-08-22T08:44:44.091+02:002011-08-22T08:44:44.091+02:00Hi All,
kfg: The "hybrid" leaves me baf...Hi All,<br /><br />kfg: The "hybrid" leaves me baffled too. They vary a lot, but most seem to be in effect mountain bikes with a few steps taken towards being practical machines.<br /><br />dr2chase: Sounds like you've a nice bike now. I used to make my own lights too. However, I haven't done so recently because you can't get the optics. I think this is the most important David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-91780742107663266762011-08-22T01:56:51.553+02:002011-08-22T01:56:51.553+02:00Regarding BB height, handlebars width, and knees ,...Regarding BB height, handlebars width, and knees , my datapoint looks like this:<br /><br />I had an xtracycle with low BB (you can do that, depending on how you join the rear end, and the donor frame). The longer bike is a bit more prone to pedal strikes and bottoming out. Do note, the US has little bicycle-sensitive infrastructure -- hopping curbs is part of the daily ride, so a mountain bikedr2chasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16320828055999939449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-79525891700999147902011-08-21T22:05:31.344+02:002011-08-21T22:05:31.344+02:00The only catch I can see with the Dutch handlebars...The only catch I can see with the Dutch handlebars, is the limited width. It shortens the arm, giving you a smaller moment along the fork axis. This can spell trouble when you're hauling heavy loads on the front rack. I used to do deliveries on a cargobike with one of those big rectangular baskets with a canvas top. You could cram a lot of goods in there, but keeping the fully loaded bike on J..noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-4508680777093780052011-08-21T21:13:47.057+02:002011-08-21T21:13:47.057+02:00I think that most people who have "urbanized&...I think that most people who have "urbanized" their mountain bike don't realize how high their bottom bracket is.<br /><br />Regarding your advertising board and smart phones, how much of your sales is local?Slow Factoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12056080802746709323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-65744714430951672692011-08-21T16:17:39.201+02:002011-08-21T16:17:39.201+02:00Nice modifications to your bike. I am considering ...Nice modifications to your bike. I am considering my options for refitting my chain rings and bars. I think I'll keep my triple set though since I occasionally do some bush riding and recently found the smallest ring came in handy when carrying a load on uneven ground. I have already replaced the knobby tires and installed mud guards which have both been great improvements. It's the DutchDavid Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06041580123414270092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-89204482582959331702011-08-21T12:40:16.391+02:002011-08-21T12:40:16.391+02:00Thanks for this! I've got hold of an old mount...Thanks for this! I've got hold of an old mountain bike (no suspension, steel frame) and have been wondering about the possibility of transforming it into something much more practical and comfortable for shorter trips.townmousehttp://cityexile.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-14896572730177330302011-08-21T06:57:56.385+02:002011-08-21T06:57:56.385+02:00More power to you to make your cargo bike more com...More power to you to make your cargo bike more comfy. I do have one concern: you changed out your triple chain ring for a single to gain more speed. Given that you're hauling way more weight, have your knees protested yet? For myself, I would have downgraded the triple to a double, and keep some of the low gears (especially for winter and especially for if the knees protest about the highwaymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275683509495006878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-57976124973148232842011-08-21T03:53:46.187+02:002011-08-21T03:53:46.187+02:00Mine evolved in sort of a big bang when I upgraded...Mine evolved in sort of a big bang when I upgraded to a Big Dummy (reselling the FreeRadical to a deserving soul). It's my main bike, and now (like yours) upright handlebars, with fenders, big near-slick tires, and a dynamo (hub, not sidewall) running very bright homemade lights.<br /><br />I also went whole hog, and added a chaincase, and internally geared hub. It's nice.<br /><br />dr2chasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16320828055999939449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-87318926603140555242011-08-21T00:38:36.639+02:002011-08-21T00:38:36.639+02:00And then there's the "hybrid," an at...And then there's the "hybrid," an attempt to evolve a light roadster from the mountain bike, instead of just making light roadsters again.<br /><br />People are funny critters.kfgnoreply@blogger.com