Like the illusion of Wall Street, with its vast and powerful investment banks, now shuttered, China too is an illusion perpetuated by the Globalists that gave us the 15,000 mile Caesar salad, poisoned cat food and lead based paint on babies' pacifiers. Like the illusion that money would come from thin air to always push housing prices higher, China has spent a generation pursuing its illusion. Pursuing an unattainable dream to be like the West, while 6000 years of its carefully shepherded top soil blows into the sea.
Joined: Jun 05, 2005 Posts: 365 Location: Portland Oregon, USA
Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 12:02 pm Post subject: My Xtracycle Rocks!
It's the weekend, so I thought I should post something decidedly un-doomer and fairly light.
I just got my bike set up with an Xtracycle. I have two bikes - one used for commuting, and an old beater for when the first one is in the shop. I have a 3 and 6 year old and have been using a bike trailer for hauling them around town. They never really liked the thing and outgrew it about 3 months ago.
I love not having to use our one car for short trips around Portland, but what to do with 2 kids who can't ride bikes in traffic themselves yet?
The Xtracycle is basically a big attachment that fits on the back of your regular bike. It extends the back wheel out about 2 feet. A child seat sits right behind me for the 3 year-old (from Bobike) and the 6 year-old sits horse-style on the board behind her little sister. We tried it out last night and it is way cool. Much easier to handle than the bike trailer, and it comes with really big saddlebags for hauling loads. My biggest concern was whether my oldest would be stable on the back and she really is. She says she feels safer than in the bike trailer.
Explore the xtracycle.com website to get a better picture of what I'm talking about.
The whole package cost me about $500 because I attached it to my old beater bike. Having gotten rid of our second car a year ago, I figure I've already paid for it through car insurance savings.
I highly recommend it as a way to get around, haul things (including kids) and have a lot of fun turning heads!
Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 4:39 pm Post subject: Re: My Xtracycle Rocks!
I got my xtracycle 2 summers ago from DH for b-day gift. He used to bike-commute to school/work years ago. We both saw it as a great purchase for hauling things around, and with the components you can add to it, whether for kids (like the poster above) or hauling lumber from the store (or any long-ish thing like that) there is a component, there are 2 bars that snap in to carry boxes or other large things home.
Best thing is that I still have my bike trailer and I can double-load it if I feel like it..the xtracycle can haul some, and the trailer too.
The one thing I really like is the "down-low glow" flourescent lights. They rock, and since biking in the city is a "contact sport", bikers have a bit of an extra chance being seen so prominently.
I like the idea of the Stokemonkey attachment, however, it is a bit pricey..maybe it will come down some after enough get made? I'm tempted, though!
Right now, we have 10 bikes between us, fold-ables, some expensive bikes and 2 junkers. DH likes old English-made Raleighs, and he has 3 for parts, etc. He may put an xtracycle on his good Cannondale.
Kipchoge (one of the owners) is nice to speak with, and there is a yahoo group for xtracycle owners, folks that will let others come and see their bikes, and take it for a "test ride"/and or see how the system is set up.
Good on ya for considering the kids, I am sure they will LOVE it!! I wish I had this when I was a kid. When I look at the way this was set up, I wonder why no one thought of this before...!
Joined: May 02, 2005 Posts: 3542 Location: On the ball
Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 4:59 pm Post subject: Re: My Xtracycle Rocks!
Interesting bikes. anyone considering such should read their "warning" link, it contains very accurate and important considerations when using ultra light vehicles. _________________ "It's still all about energy!"
Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:28 pm Post subject: Re: My Xtracycle Rocks!
MD wrote:
Interesting bikes. anyone considering such should read their "warning" link, it contains very accurate and important considerations when using ultra light vehicles.
Joined: May 02, 2005 Posts: 3542 Location: On the ball
Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 3:42 am Post subject: Re: My Xtracycle Rocks!
blukatzen wrote:
MD wrote:
Interesting bikes. anyone considering such should read their "warning" link, it contains very accurate and important considerations when using ultra light vehicles.
KILLJOY!!
Not at all. I am going to build or buy one of those babies and add about 1600 watts of solar charged hub motors. _________________ "It's still all about energy!"
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
News
Discussions
Resources
Members
Forum FAQ
Search
Usergroups
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
