xtracycle tourers?
#2
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,115
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
Well the thing is a bit of a Kludge for a light weight set-up. The other thing is Surly and Xtracycle are bringing out an integrated unit that will be a lot cleaner. Check the earlier thread. Whether this kind of deal makes sense compared to a long wheel base touring design is another mater. There are frame sout there for 50 inch wheel base.
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 272
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Hey Peter. Yeah, I know about the Dummy, falls into the same topic as you said. I posted a couple Dummy related q's over in the Living car free forum earlier.
There seem to be a few tourers here who aren't gunning only for a light weight setup (like me), so I was curious why more people don't talk about xtracycles.
There seem to be a few tourers here who aren't gunning only for a light weight setup (like me), so I was curious why more people don't talk about xtracycles.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 77
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm building an Xtracycle right now and will be touring with it this winter. Hopefully in the next month or so I will be taking a few test trips with it. I will be sure to post a review/opinion here on the forums when I do =)
Ben
Ben
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Dallas
Posts: 498
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
every thing i have read and heard about the xtra has been great....as an around town hauler, but i have yet to hear from some one who has done some major tours with one. I was leaning toward an xtra on my current mt bike for my future tour build but would like to know how it works for the long miles.
#6
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,115
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
The Surly bike is called the Dummy?
There is a guy here who has toured on an Xtracycle, seemed to like it fine. I think he was using it to carry some small dogs while he toured. In most cases I think the Xtracycle is desiged to carry more stuff than we need,
There is a guy here who has toured on an Xtracycle, seemed to like it fine. I think he was using it to carry some small dogs while he toured. In most cases I think the Xtracycle is desiged to carry more stuff than we need,
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 272
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Its called the Big Dummy, should be out summer 2007 if you're interested, info on Surly's blog and in the Live Car Free forum.
Looking forward to your review Ben...what frame are you building it on? Wheelset?
Looking forward to your review Ben...what frame are you building it on? Wheelset?
Last edited by guruguhan; 10-09-06 at 08:04 AM.
#8
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ogopogo's shoreline
Posts: 4,082
Bikes: LHT, Kona Smoke
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Originally Posted by guruguhan
Its called the Big Dummy
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 77
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm building the Xtracycle onto a Giant Iguana ('03) with disc brakes. For the back wheel I'm using a Sun Rims Mammoth 26" on a Hope Pro II running 36 spokes. For the front wheel I think I'm just gonna use stock.
Still waiting on the Xtracycle to get shipped to me. Those guys are SLOW.
Ben
Still waiting on the Xtracycle to get shipped to me. Those guys are SLOW.
Ben
#11
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,115
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
Thanks BP67, I never would have got that reference, I hated that show. To me that name is a huge stinker, but maybe it has great resonance in the culture. I thought LHT was about 80 percent responsible for the sales of that bike - great name.
There is a good picture of the BD without the Xtrajunk. Not saying it's worse thant he XC on a separate frame, but it does have some very hefty stuff solely related to the very hefty rack system. I think I would want to take a Sawzall to it if I was planing on touring with it. Of course that may not be possible without cutting away stuff that is part of the truss system. I hope they bring one out that is more touring specific. Bent forks with all the front rack possibilities and more conventional rear rack stuff like double rear racks.
There is a good picture of the BD without the Xtrajunk. Not saying it's worse thant he XC on a separate frame, but it does have some very hefty stuff solely related to the very hefty rack system. I think I would want to take a Sawzall to it if I was planing on touring with it. Of course that may not be possible without cutting away stuff that is part of the truss system. I hope they bring one out that is more touring specific. Bent forks with all the front rack possibilities and more conventional rear rack stuff like double rear racks.
#12
It's true, man.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: North Texas
Posts: 2,726
Bikes: Cannondale T1000, Inbred SS 29er, Supercaliber 29er, Crescent Mark XX, Burley Rumba Tandem
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#14
Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 29
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I did a short but hard tour with one and loved it. https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/brynandsimon
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 272
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Wow Bryn/Simon, I wasn't planning on offroading with the xtracycle. That's pretty hard-core. I think it's hilarious you/buddy brought a chair. You got to take it easy sometimes right? +1 on the poll
Thanks for the itinerary
Thanks for the itinerary
#16
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 17
Bikes: Mongoose xtracycle
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I did a tour of Australia's Tanami Track in July, logged here (look for the posts entitled "Tanami Travels" - parts 1, 2 and 3 are in amongst other-non-cycling blog stuff. Last part coming soon.), and earlier did a mainly on-road tour around the Wollemi National Park in Australia's Blue Mountains, logged here (scroll down to the last two posts on this page. The post entitled "The low-down on the big bike" gives a summary of how I rated it after the first tour).
Rate it even more highly after completing the Tanami on it.
Hope that helps,
Dave
Rate it even more highly after completing the Tanami on it.
Hope that helps,
Dave
#17
Tuck Fexas
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 238
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Why an Xtracycle instead of a conventional touring bike plus some sort of trailer (e.g. Bob)? What am I missing?
FWIW... I just tripped over -- and spent over an hour reading -- the RidingTheSpine website about the three dudes riding Xtracycle equipped mountain bikes from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Terra Del Fuego (20,000 miles). Fascinating stuff. Makes me want to bike out to New Mexico (nearest point to me) and say hi when they pass through in about 40 days.
FWIW... I just tripped over -- and spent over an hour reading -- the RidingTheSpine website about the three dudes riding Xtracycle equipped mountain bikes from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Terra Del Fuego (20,000 miles). Fascinating stuff. Makes me want to bike out to New Mexico (nearest point to me) and say hi when they pass through in about 40 days.
#18
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 272
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I think your missing the experience of using an xtracycle.
DISCLAIMER: I don't know what I'm talking about.
Pretty much every thread that I've read (in my limited time reading) from xtracycle users used trailers before, and have no desire to go back. There doesn't seem to be a close comparison, stability, and much higher carrying capacity seem to be consistent points.
DISCLAIMER: I don't know what I'm talking about.
Pretty much every thread that I've read (in my limited time reading) from xtracycle users used trailers before, and have no desire to go back. There doesn't seem to be a close comparison, stability, and much higher carrying capacity seem to be consistent points.
#19
Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Balitmore, MD
Posts: 37
Bikes: Giant Sedona LX + Xtracycle and modifications.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I rode from Baltimore to Connecticut this summer on my Xtracycled Giant comfort mountain bike, and I had a great time.
https://gauk.livejournal.com/20395.html#cutid1
The Xtracycle is, however, designed to carry more than you should bring with you on tour, unless you're this guy and you're riding from Vancouver to Moscow. I left home with well over 100lb bike + load.
That said, riding singletrack on tour is mind-blowingly awesome. The X has no extra wheels and tracks like a regular bike. I did 40 miles of the D&R canal towpath with knobbies as part of my ill-advised 90 mile 90lb loaded day. It did get dark while I was on the trail, but I brought lights. A few hours after dark, I nearly hit someone coming the other way who didn't have any lights, a last second handlebar twitch narrowly averted a collision. Try that with a trailer, on loose dirt!
By far the biggest benifit I've notice with the X is the fact that it travels well unloaded, so there's no need to guess whether you'll need a trailer that day. No need to sweat it if your buddy's bike breaks out on the road, just tow him back.
https://gauk.livejournal.com/20395.html#cutid1
The Xtracycle is, however, designed to carry more than you should bring with you on tour, unless you're this guy and you're riding from Vancouver to Moscow. I left home with well over 100lb bike + load.
That said, riding singletrack on tour is mind-blowingly awesome. The X has no extra wheels and tracks like a regular bike. I did 40 miles of the D&R canal towpath with knobbies as part of my ill-advised 90 mile 90lb loaded day. It did get dark while I was on the trail, but I brought lights. A few hours after dark, I nearly hit someone coming the other way who didn't have any lights, a last second handlebar twitch narrowly averted a collision. Try that with a trailer, on loose dirt!
By far the biggest benifit I've notice with the X is the fact that it travels well unloaded, so there's no need to guess whether you'll need a trailer that day. No need to sweat it if your buddy's bike breaks out on the road, just tow him back.
#20
Newbie
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I just bought my xtracycle conversion kit and I'm hoping to head cross country with my xtracycle set up via Lewis and Clark (a little more south) next spring, and hopefully do shorter trips this winter. Are there any other xtracyclers interested? Also Im wondering what the best fork would be. I have a 2006 specialized xc expert. It has front suspension with lock-outs, they are good for commuting, but im not sure if it will keep up on a long tour.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 77
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Maximum weight distributions, according to the Xtracycle manual:
Each Freeloader: 50 lbs
Snapdeck, front of axle: 200 lbs
Snapdeck, behind axle: 50 lbs
Max weight for entire Freeradical load: 200 lbs
Max weight of you + Freeradical: 350 lbs
Each Freeloader: 50 lbs
Snapdeck, front of axle: 200 lbs
Snapdeck, behind axle: 50 lbs
Max weight for entire Freeradical load: 200 lbs
Max weight of you + Freeradical: 350 lbs
#23
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 17
Bikes: Mongoose xtracycle
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I don't know how many litres they hold, but my fully stuffed Vaude rear pannier slotted in quite nicely with room to spare. With the wideloaders, you can rope on heaps more stuff with rope or bungee cords too, the way you can see the 5 litre water container roped down in the photo.
Cheers,
Dave
Cheers,
Dave
#25
.
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Posts: 3,981
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix Comp, Soma ES
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Uncle Dave
I don't know how many litres they hold, but my fully stuffed Vaude rear pannier slotted in quite nicely with room to spare. With the wideloaders, you can rope on heaps more stuff with rope or bungee cords too, the way you can see the 5 litre water container roped down in the photo.