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Utility Cycling Want to haul groceries, beer, maybe even your kids? You don't have to live car free to put your bike to use as a workhorse. Here's the place to share and learn about the bicycle as a utility vehicle.

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Old 08-13-17, 07:22 PM
  #876  
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Not your usual utility frame, I'll grant you, but my ol' Vitus 181 Peugeot PFN-10 makes a very useful commuter and errand bike:



For heavier loads, I prefer my Orient Express:



This one can wear my big, canvas "FastRider" panniers without worrying about heel strikes. I'm contemplating a porteur rack for it, but haven't pulled the trigger yet.


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Old 08-28-17, 11:29 AM
  #877  
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I've started combining fishing trips with my daily ride. He's my Raleigh Passage.
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Old 10-31-17, 11:00 AM
  #878  
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My "Quick run to the store" bike.

An 1980something Schwinn Sierra that I bought new from an LBS that I've put who only knows how many miles on. Currently sporting a HUGE Wald basket.

I know, non-drive-side photo, blah blah
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Old 11-06-17, 07:34 PM
  #879  
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My Yuba Mundo

Sadly, my favorite Local Bike Shop closed down, but I was able to procure the mascot bike. At least something good came from the store closing.
Yuba Mundo by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/33210026@N07/]
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Old 03-13-18, 10:54 AM
  #880  
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Winter Bike with Windshield by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

Winter Bike with Windshield by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

Winter Bike with Windshield by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

Winter Bike with Windshield by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

Winter Bike with Windshield by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

Winter Bike with Winshield by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

Winter Bike with Winshield by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

This is the bike I ride in the Winter, it has a Klondike Studded Tire on front, and a deep tread mud tire rear. Got a flag on a fiberglass pole, a Camera on a selfie stick pole, Coroplast Panniers, a kickstand (!) , LED Lighting System. Most recent addition, a Clear Plastic Windshield. Now that I have a Dremel Rotary Tool, I can cut Polycarbonate, or Perspex, whatever it is, I made it out of a vegetable crisper drawer from an abandoned refrigerator. I photographed this bike from a number of angles, as it is one-of-a-kind, and the equipment is neither store bought nor available on the internet. The air horn is great, and the position of the bottle cages is ergonomically correct.
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Old 03-18-18, 09:08 PM
  #881  
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Very sweet setup. Reminds me of the ironbutt motorcycle riders.



Originally Posted by hotbike
Winter Bike with Windshield by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

Winter Bike with Windshield by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

Winter Bike with Windshield by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

Winter Bike with Windshield by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

Winter Bike with Windshield by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

Winter Bike with Winshield by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

Winter Bike with Winshield by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

This is the bike I ride in the Winter, it has a Klondike Studded Tire on front, and a deep tread mud tire rear. Got a flag on a fiberglass pole, a Camera on a selfie stick pole, Coroplast Panniers, a kickstand (!) , LED Lighting System. Most recent addition, a Clear Plastic Windshield. Now that I have a Dremel Rotary Tool, I can cut Polycarbonate, or Perspex, whatever it is, I made it out of a vegetable crisper drawer from an abandoned refrigerator. I photographed this bike from a number of angles, as it is one-of-a-kind, and the equipment is neither store bought nor available on the internet. The air horn is great, and the position of the bottle cages is ergonomically correct.
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Old 03-23-18, 01:48 PM
  #882  
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Wow, a lot going on there!
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Old 03-24-18, 11:45 AM
  #883  
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Originally Posted by greatplaid
Wow, a lot going on there!
It's worth having a Coroplast™ box on the handlebars , just to have a place for the Air Horn and the Bottle Cages.
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Old 03-26-18, 11:59 AM
  #884  
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Back from the,,, well I'm still here!

In the beginning...

Originally Posted by rdlange
Sold the Royce Union. My 'new' grocery/shopping ride. You can tell I don't have alot invested,in it yet, but it's lighter and a lower step thru. Been in storage awhile. Did a cat food run yesterday. Nobody tried to steal it. Found a gratitude rock.
Now, I've been sick... So I dusted it off, and lubed it up a bit and cruised around, over the fields and thru the ragged parking lots. Not so different after 4 years. Locally, better 'trails' [from/to nowhere] for the players, a few more bike friendly folks, same pathetic bike hostile roads. More warm weather. Figured we deserved new tires.

Be well...
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Old 04-16-18, 06:32 PM
  #885  
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Upgraded my Yuba Mundo with a electric motor.
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Old 06-30-18, 11:07 AM
  #886  
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Old 07-01-18, 10:31 AM
  #887  
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318_Bike_Coroplast_Fairing by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

Oh, wow, I forgot, the Non-Aerodynamic "Box" has been replaced by a new Fairing... I built the Non-Aerodynamic "Box" in response to people who had to ask "how much?" and then complained about the price quote... With the Non-Aerodynamic "Box" (that I rode for 6 years) , NOBODY asked about the bike , so there were No Complaints about the price , LOL....

Now people are approaching me again and asking about the "Vehicle".
I usually say "I spent more on LED Lights than the bike is worth".

These are the Rack and Panniers under that Fairing:

Model 318 by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

Method of Joinery • Seizing by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

Method of Joinery • Seizing by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr
The rack is made of old aluminum hockey sticks and strapped together with fiberglass epoxy seizing ....


Model 318 Faired Cargo Bike by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

Demonstration of Luminosity by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr
With the LED Lights, photographed in a dimly lit room.
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Old 08-24-18, 02:31 PM
  #888  
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Got this bad boy for free from my neighbor. It'd been hanging in his garage unused for 10 years or so. I cleaned her up, threw the old Schwinn rack and milk crate on the back, swapped the seat post/seat, and re-taped the bars. Now my new grocery store/skatepark cruiser.
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Old 09-18-18, 08:52 PM
  #889  
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E-porteur

I've got 5,000 miles on this steed, and I just discovered this subforum! I love taking pictures of my hauls even though I don't have anywhere to put 'em, so here's a few.

Super proud of this build, took a while and eventually replaced my car.

Probably the most special thing is that due to the front load bias of the bike's geometry, aka low trail, I can put 50lbs on the front rack without the steering becoming unsafe. Heavy, but not floppy.





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Old 10-19-18, 10:22 PM
  #890  
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Hotline, are those track lights on the front rack?
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Old 10-20-18, 06:22 AM
  #891  
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Originally Posted by ocsawdust
Hotline, are those track lights on the front rack?
Aye , yes they are . Using LED version of the MR16 Halogen.
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Old 10-29-18, 09:31 PM
  #892  
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2013 Surly Big Dummy, 2x8 Gearing (22, 32x28-42). TerraCycle Idler Kit, Cetma Cargo Half Rack.





2013 Surly Big Dummy
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Old 12-31-18, 09:35 PM
  #893  
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Not as hardcore as some of the amazing machines in this thread, but here's my latest dog chariot: a 2010 Globe Live 2, which I bought for my father and his dog, but he never used it and regifted it back to me a few years later. The Jtek bar-end shifter is the best-shifting bike I've ever ridden. And Nena digs riding on it just as much as my old shih-tzu Angel (RIP).
Next step is a 7800 crankset and outboard BB, so i'm not pedaling like a bowlegged cowpoke.









Alfine 11 hub with Jtek bar-end shifter, Shimano XTR brakes with Tektro levers, and a 52cm wide bar to fit around the dog's compartment.
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Old 01-02-19, 03:47 PM
  #894  
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santas sleigh

my love.. she's not fancy or hi tech but strong as i need and perfect for getting the job done and feeling like pure happiness while doing it
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Old 01-05-19, 03:58 PM
  #895  
LorenMiranda
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Originally Posted by DQRider
Not your usual utility frame, I'll grant you, but my ol' Vitus 181 Peugeot PXN-10 makes a very useful commuter and errand bike:



For heavier loads, I prefer my Orient Express:



This one can wear my big, canvas "FastRider" panniers without worrying about heel strikes. I'm contemplating a porteur rack for it, but haven't pulled the trigger yet.


what basket is that on your orient express? I could use one
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Old 01-05-19, 08:42 PM
  #896  
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Originally Posted by LorenMiranda
what basket is that on your orient express? I could use one

That's the Portland Design Works "Takeout Basket", and the rack is their "Loading Dock". It's been a great combo, and now it lives on my Specialized Sequoia:


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Old 01-15-19, 05:34 PM
  #897  
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Back to me powered again

I removed the "e-" from my Yuba Mundo and I am liking it a lot better.
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Old 01-20-19, 06:30 PM
  #898  
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I picked up a Kona Ute and love it so far! I’ve got a couple young kiddos and my 5y.o. Loves to ride on the back. We can pack up his bike on the back and ride to a local rails-to-trails. Once there he can ride until he gets tired and then pack up and hop on back.

Still a “newbie” on the forum, so will update with pics once I hit 10 posts.
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Old 01-20-19, 08:18 PM
  #899  
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The Type Ten. The latest iteration of Type 10.




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Old 02-13-19, 12:59 AM
  #900  
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Originally Posted by hotbike
The Type Ten. The latest iteration of Type 10.




Oy vey you must be a ham radio operator. Nice whacker bike.
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