Sammyboy

So, I'm selling my car. My wife is keeping hers, (we have a 2 year old, and are trying for another, so though she's willing to do lots by bike, we'll need motor transport, and I don't think I'd like to do without altogether at this stage). I, however, have a job that involves travelling all over the country and staying away from home a lot, so I'll be using my folding bike on trains, carrying all my eqpt and clothing in various clever bags, and using my Blackberry as a satnav to get me round new and unknown areas. Although I'll be doing it far more, none of this is new to me, and I don't have any questions about it.

What I would like to know is a bit more about the Yuba Mundo. I'd like, when I'm home, to feel like I can still do all the local jobs that I would do by car, when the wife is out in our remaining car. Partly this is for practicality, partly just that I want to do less by car. I know the Mundo is heavy, but that doesn't worry me too much - it's pretty flat round here, and as a 240lb guy, I'll be half the possible payload on my own! I like that it has really big well designed bags, I like that it has the wide-loader aspect of the Xtra built in, and I like that it'll transport me, another adult, a kid in a child seat and still some other stuff besides. Here, however, are my questions:

1) I gather that the Peanut Shell kiddie seats make it impossible to use the big bags. How easy is it to remove and refit them, and with one in position, can you use regular panniers behind?

2) How easy is it to lock this bike? I have a gold standard U lock, but it looks to me as though the side frames would make it hard to lock the rear triangle Sheldon Brown style on this bike. Would I need a big heavy chain too?

3) Does anyone know whether the bike has clearance for Schwalbe Fat Frank tyres? This is partly for durability, and because I really trust Schwalbe, but honestly, it's at least as much because I think the bike would look awesome with cream balloon tyres

4) It looks as though the seat pad is easy to install and remove; can you use it with a Peapod, to carry an adult and a child? And does it impede the fitting of the big bags, or other panniers?

5) Has anyone used a child trailer with the Mundo? I realise that's starting to sound excessive, but I can imagine it being useful sometimes, and if you have the trailer anyway...... Is there anything about the design that makes fitting a trailer hard?

If there's anything you think I might be missing, I'm interested to know. I think realistically it'll be a few months before losing the car saves me enough moolah to consider the Mundo, but I want to lay my plans ahead of time....

Sammyboy

I'm going to cross post this in the utility bike forum....