Comments on: My Xtracycle mini-van http://austinontwowheels.org/2008/09/16/my-xtracycle-mini-van/ The Online Magazine of Austin Cycling Culture Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:04:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Xmas Xtracycle | Austin On Two Wheels http://austinontwowheels.org/2008/09/16/my-xtracycle-mini-van/comment-page-1/#comment-13613 Xmas Xtracycle | Austin On Two Wheels Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:06:59 +0000 http://austinbikeblog.org/?p=736#comment-13613 [...] up the kids for the ultimate in cargo biking. I have been taking the kids to school most days in this Xtracycle mini-van, but this would be a real test of my commitment to utility cycling and my leg [...] [...] up the kids for the ultimate in cargo biking. I have been taking the kids to school most days in this Xtracycle mini-van, but this would be a real test of my commitment to utility cycling and my leg [...]

]]> By: Jayson Lorenzen http://austinontwowheels.org/2008/09/16/my-xtracycle-mini-van/comment-page-1/#comment-8650 Jayson Lorenzen Sun, 25 Jul 2010 22:50:29 +0000 http://austinbikeblog.org/?p=736#comment-8650 Great idea and write up. I have been looking around at different solutions for biking with kids and this is one of, if not the, most interesting I have seen. Well done! j Great idea and write up. I have been looking around at different solutions for biking with kids and this is one of, if not the, most interesting I have seen. Well done!

j

]]> By: elliott http://austinontwowheels.org/2008/09/16/my-xtracycle-mini-van/comment-page-1/#comment-4580 elliott Mon, 07 Sep 2009 02:32:15 +0000 http://austinbikeblog.org/?p=736#comment-4580 Jimmy Jo Bob, I'll try to write up a more detailed one year later, but all in all it has been great. My kids love riding on the Xtracycle. We are now a 2 Xtracycle family thanks to a Free Radical I won at SXSW, but my wife's only has a stoker bar on the back. This will be OK for both kids in the next few years, but we think our 3 year old is not yet rear to leave "the cage." Our 5 year old rides fine with just a stoker bar every day to school. We used thick PVC which has held up well, but I have to admit to being given some pause based on other comments made about sudden failure (kind of reminders you of carbon fiber!) I am working on a version of this in chromoly steel tubing possibly for sale though my frame building company, <a href=http://violetcrowncycles.com rel="nofollow">Violet Crown Cycles.</a> I'll let you know how things develop. Jimmy Jo Bob,
I’ll try to write up a more detailed one year later, but all in all it has been great. My kids love riding on the Xtracycle. We are now a 2 Xtracycle family thanks to a Free Radical I won at SXSW, but my wife’s only has a stoker bar on the back. This will be OK for both kids in the next few years, but we think our 3 year old is not yet rear to leave “the cage.” Our 5 year old rides fine with just a stoker bar every day to school.

We used thick PVC which has held up well, but I have to admit to being given some pause based on other comments made about sudden failure (kind of reminders you of carbon fiber!) I am working on a version of this in chromoly steel tubing possibly for sale though my frame building company, Violet Crown Cycles. I’ll let you know how things develop.

]]> By: Jimmy Jo Bob http://austinontwowheels.org/2008/09/16/my-xtracycle-mini-van/comment-page-1/#comment-4544 Jimmy Jo Bob Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:30:25 +0000 http://austinbikeblog.org/?p=736#comment-4544 Hi. I realize this is a year old, but curious after a year of use how this is going and what thoughts you have on this mod? Jimmy Hi. I realize this is a year old, but curious after a year of use how this is going and what thoughts you have on this mod?

Jimmy

]]> By: Doug http://austinontwowheels.org/2008/09/16/my-xtracycle-mini-van/comment-page-1/#comment-4080 Doug Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:25:03 +0000 http://austinbikeblog.org/?p=736#comment-4080 (And I hate to have to mention it, but somebody else probably will, so I'll do it first -- Ken Kifer was killed by a drunk driver while riding his bike. This doesn't really affect my argument, however -- it could happen to anybody, no matter what their mode of transportation is.) (And I hate to have to mention it, but somebody else probably will, so I’ll do it first — Ken Kifer was killed by a drunk driver while riding his bike. This doesn’t really affect my argument, however — it could happen to anybody, no matter what their mode of transportation is.)

]]> By: Doug http://austinontwowheels.org/2008/09/16/my-xtracycle-mini-van/comment-page-1/#comment-4079 Doug Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:20:52 +0000 http://austinbikeblog.org/?p=736#comment-4079 Automobiles are only more dangerous than bikes if you pick the right statistic (singular, I'm only aware of one) to look at. If you look at other statistics, they're more dangerous. The one statistic I'm referring to is the `The Fatality Rate Per Hour' argument, used in http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/health/risks.htm. But safety is far more than simply not dying. I'd rather not break my hip, for example, like Ken has. If you look at deaths *and* significant injuries, and try to be more accurate about how many miles you ride (many people overestimate), driving is safer. Not an order of magnitude or something like that, but significantly. The usual counter to this argument is the increased overall health from exercising, and there's validity to that, but I'm not sure it really fits -- you could get that exercise on an exercise bike too, then drive to work. Exercise AND safer! I'll still be riding, and I'll take my kids with me. I just hate seeing statistics misused to prove a point. Automobiles are only more dangerous than bikes if you pick the right statistic (singular, I’m only aware of one) to look at. If you look at other statistics, they’re more dangerous.

The one statistic I’m referring to is the `The Fatality Rate Per Hour’ argument, used in http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/health/risks.htm. But safety is far more than simply not dying. I’d rather not break my hip, for example, like Ken has.

If you look at deaths *and* significant injuries, and try to be more accurate about how many miles you ride (many people overestimate), driving is safer. Not an order of magnitude or something like that, but significantly. The usual counter to this argument is the increased overall health from exercising, and there’s validity to that, but I’m not sure it really fits — you could get that exercise on an exercise bike too, then drive to work. Exercise AND safer!

I’ll still be riding, and I’ll take my kids with me. I just hate seeing statistics misused to prove a point.

]]> By: amenodimeno http://austinontwowheels.org/2008/09/16/my-xtracycle-mini-van/comment-page-1/#comment-4078 amenodimeno Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:49:06 +0000 http://austinbikeblog.org/?p=736#comment-4078 That's good man, keep it going. That’s good man, keep it going.

]]> By: elliott http://austinontwowheels.org/2008/09/16/my-xtracycle-mini-van/comment-page-1/#comment-3889 elliott Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:28:59 +0000 http://austinbikeblog.org/?p=736#comment-3889 On the Xtracycle, it's best to keep as much weight as possible in front of the rear wheel axle. Too much weight behind the axle makes the bike unstable and difficult to ride. Sometimes the kids sit backwards which puts the weight further forward and improves the ride quality. On the Xtracycle, it’s best to keep as much weight as possible in front of the rear wheel axle. Too much weight behind the axle makes the bike unstable and difficult to ride. Sometimes the kids sit backwards which puts the weight further forward and improves the ride quality.

]]> By: Marie http://austinontwowheels.org/2008/09/16/my-xtracycle-mini-van/comment-page-1/#comment-3882 Marie Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:01:26 +0000 http://austinbikeblog.org/?p=736#comment-3882 Is there any reason why the younger one is in the back? Does it affect handling to put the younger one in the middle? Is there any reason why the younger one is in the back? Does it affect handling to put the younger one in the middle?

]]> By: Xmas Xtracycle | Austin Bike Blog http://austinontwowheels.org/2008/09/16/my-xtracycle-mini-van/comment-page-1/#comment-1147 Xmas Xtracycle | Austin Bike Blog Sun, 21 Dec 2008 04:24:53 +0000 http://austinbikeblog.org/?p=736#comment-1147 [...] up the kids for the ultimate in cargo biking. I have been taking the kids to school most days in this Xtracycle mini-van, but this would be a real test of my commitment to utility cycling and my leg [...] [...] up the kids for the ultimate in cargo biking. I have been taking the kids to school most days in this Xtracycle mini-van, but this would be a real test of my commitment to utility cycling and my leg [...]

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