thats a lot of expensive pipes with a flat tyre! 🙂
I'm not surprised it's flat - have you seen the number of tubes!
Titanium, too.
I want one, and a shed to put it in.
That is awesome. Utterly awesome. Thanks Captain!
Have to get to NAHMBS one day...
🙂
BD, here you go;
[img] 
[/img]
There's something about improbably bling utility bikes, made purely for the bike company employees to do beer runs on, that makes me want to kick someone in the nuts. The fact that it looks like a gay designer's towel rail only adds to the effect.
There's something about improbably bling utility bikes, made purely for the bike company employees to do beer runs on, that makes me want to kick someone in the nuts. The fact that it looks like a gay designer's towel rail only adds to the effect.
Which, I think, makes you Mr [b]Dis[/b]agreeable.
Aren't most of the NAHMBS bikes just "we did it just because we could"?
The name may not be entirely what it appears.
You're absolutely right, in that the point of the event isn't to come up with a popular solution to looming environmental crisis. Nevertheless, for me a few of the bikes there are so ridiculously opulent that they cross the line from whimsical to irksome.
[Chuckles at Mr Agreeable]
I sort of take your point, but I reckon if you're going to do what is almost an "arts and crafts" bike then a utility bike is a better platform to do it on than something which is intended to be "performance". A utility, by its nature, is going to be startlingly heavy, and can be fussy and over-detailed in a way that a racer or whatever really can't be.
Aspiration-wise my Dummy is rugged rather than bling, but it has developed on the basis of what works and what makes it more practical. Result is I have a squeaky plastic chainguard. That Black Sheep has a welded ti one. I rather know which I'd prefer. This is one of my favourite slightly OTT Dummys:
[img] 
?v=0[/img]
[url= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/3105227851_e9c38c00e2.jp g" target="_blank">
🙂
That Black Sheep is particularly fugly.
I'm currently looking at how much it would cost to upgrade a Yuba Mundo to hub gears (ideally with a coaster brake) and a dynamo hub...
More here:
[url] http://picasaweb.google.com/nahbshow/20090227Utility# [/url]
Dedicated rabbit-transporting bicycle:
[img] 
[/img]
🙂
The name may not be entirely what it appears.
I have suspected as much over time. A good forum name.
I'm currently looking at how much it would cost to upgrade a Yuba Mundo to hub gears (ideally with a coaster brake) and a dynamo hub...
Mike - I may have been living in a hole for some time (I am in [i]The North[/i], you know), but does that mean you have the Yuba, or is this part of a plan to acquire one?
I can't entirely hate anything that Cycling News describes as "monstrous". But it strikes me that for a lot of these companies it's more about niche-mining, rather than a serious attempt to change the world.
By the way, is that photograph taken at a confusing angle or does that Dummy have a set of Manitou Dorados on the front? 😯
That's gash, I'm afraid. You bunch of weirdos.
I think they are Dorados, yes. Possibly a leeetle beet of overkill.
😉
Mike - I may have been living in a hole for some time (I am in The North, you know), but does that mean you have the Yuba, or is this part of a plan to acquire one?
Still in the planning phase 🙂
I'm looking into the relative costs of buying a Yuba and (eventualy) adding hub gears and/or a dynamo hub/lights vs some other options, like getting a non-cargo bike with the dynamo, etc already fitted.
Mike, I have blanched at the cost of a decent dyno hub, and have been surprised at how well the bottle dynamo on my Brompton works. I'm experimenting with a bottle setup for the Dummy. I'll let you know how that goes...
Even with those forks he must be an extremely smooth rider. Downhilling on a hardtail is unpleasant enough without being drenched in scalding cappucino.
Mike, I have blanched at the cost of a decent dyno hub, and have been surprised at how well the bottle dynamo on my Brompton works. I'm experimenting with a bottle setup for the Dummy. I'll let you know how that goes...
The Shimano dynamo hubs don't seem too expensive, and the one on 'my' Strike Bike works brilliantly so far.
I need to look into how the it works, but I think I could buy a Yuba one year and then buy the dynamo, etc. a year or so later on cyclescheme, so I'd save the tax.
Or, if that's not allowed...
Buy a Yuba.
Pay off the loan.
Buy a dynamo- and hub gear-equipped bike.
Pay off the loan.
Swap parts about to get the Yuba dynamoed-up.
Still in the planning phaseI'm looking into the relative costs of buying a Yuba and (eventualy) adding hub gears and/or a dynamo hub/lights vs some other options, like getting a non-cargo bike with the dynamo, etc already fitted.
I think:
Prioritise buying the Yuba.
Worry about other nice stuff after you've started using it and things have started to wear out.
I've decided I'm going to buy a big dummy. I'm never going to learn to drive monstrous dirty noisy awful automobiles, I'm going to sling my shopping/race bike on the back of the dummy and head off under my own steam, albeit with the assistance of trains for the longer trips ...
ADH, I'm talking myself out of bringing mine to CLIC or Bikefest, but if you're heading London-wards at any point and want to throw a leg over mine just give me a shout.
Cheers
Jon
adh - that's the spirit. I intend to do as Jon has done - build an Xtracycle first and then go for a BD later.
If we have a bike2work scheme again, my plan is to squeeze in a cross bike (for racing next winter) and an Xtracycle for the £1000. Hopefully do-able.
Not sure you could build a BD for £1,000, could you? (Not suggesting this is your plan to acquire the bike, adh, just a general thought).
I'm talking myself out of bringing mine to CLIC or Bikefest
If I get the Yuba in time (doubtful, but possible), I might ride it to SSUK, with my Inbred strapped to the back 🙂
Cheers Jon, much obliged, I'll give you a buzz if I'm heading up to the capital.
OMITN - no CTW here at present. Though now its not just me asking for it ... I'd be happy just to get the frame through CTW. Hell I'm gonna buy one anywhichwayround.
I love those custom timber mudguards, rack and other parts for the Big Dummy that BigDummy has posted up there, they are ace.
I doubt you would get a Big Dummy for £1000, given the frame/forks are over £700 on their own and you still have to buy the Xtracycle V-racks and bags for teh Big Dummy to be any use. Xtracycle first, then Big Dummy later seems the way to go, if you have a donor frame to use. Only annoying thing for me is that Big Dummies are ideal for the use of a hub gear, but you have to use an external tensioner. If they had an EBB it's be perfect. :^)
If they had an EBB it's be perfect. :^)
But could you get one with enough adjustment to take up the slack in a chain that long? I reckon an old mech would be just fine, and you'd still have enough chain wrap on the hub's sprocket.
BD will, no doubt, be along to provide more accurate comment.
Hell I'm gonna buy one anywhichwayround.
Goddammit man, I like your style. 🙂
Zaynan at [url= http://www.zaynan.com/index.htm ]Practical Cycles[/url] seems to be the best stocked and most responsive chap at the moment.
Full build dummines at £1,750. Frameset is now £850 and the Xtracyle gubbins another £210. So you're north of £1,000 even if you've gfot the rest of the build kit in the shed. Alternatively, Xtracycle conversion is £450 if you've a donor bike.
Cheap relative to a car, but the Dummy is not cheap in absolute terms.
Or a Yuba Mundo for less than £700 delivered: http://yubaride.com/utilitybike-store.html
£750 gets you one with nice mudguards and stand.
You're right, BD, cost isn't cheap. But, then, for the car Mrs North owns, the annual insurance costs 50% of that, and that's before running costs....
Mike - I like the Yuba, and I like the cost (I doubt I'll like the weight..!). What I like about the Xtracycle/BD are the "panniers" and the other modular elements that allow adaption. Does the same or similar exist for the Yuba?
How had I not seen Practical Cycles before?! They sell Yubas [i]and[/i] they're in Cyclescheme, so I don't need to mess about getting my LBS to order one in. Thanks Jon!
Mike - I like the Yuba, and I like the cost (I doubt I'll like the weight..!). What I like about the Xtracycle/BD are the "panniers" and the other modular elements that allow adaption. Does the same or similar exist for the Yuba?
There's a Yuba clip-on pannier. There's also big cheap plastic boxes, cable ties and bungees 🙂
There's also big cheap plastic boxes, cable ties and bungees
OK smartar*e. 😉
🙂
Looks like it'll be £10 a week for me to get a Yuba.
🙂
[url= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/2302727334_9f63a547ae_o_d.jp g" target="_blank">
🙂
I WANT!!! (doesn't get, generally)
I want, a long bike (pickup style) but with a chopper front end.
low rider cruising stylee.
not sure cornering is fantastic on those things at the best of times, but nice and stable with a load on?
I like the price of the Yuba, but for what I evisage I'd end up using a cargo bike for the Xtracycle/Big Dummy concept and luggage just seems a little more versatile*.
I think I'd be more interested in a Yuba frameset than some of the parts on the builds that they come with. The wheels and crankset look great for the purpose (although what sort of hubs are they?) but the deraileurs, gears look slightly rubbish and I don't like the quill stem.
*or maybe just a lot cooler?
What's in the back of that, Mike, chickens?
I think I'd be more interested in a Yuba frameset than some of the parts on the builds that they come with.
If the parts last a year or so, I'll be happy. Will probably switch to hub gears eventually anyway.
What's in the back of that, Mike, chickens?
Not sure, just found it on Flickr, but you're just giving me ideas now 🙂
If the parts last a year or so, I'll be happy. Will probably switch to hub gears eventually anyway.
Fair enough. It looks like both the 6-speed version and the singlespeed version use the same frame with the same dropouts so won't matter which one you got to start with. I certainly think hub gears are the low-maintenance way to go for a utility bike, ideally with disc brakes as well, but that's not possible on the Yuba. :^(
but that's not possible on the Yuba. :^(
What's the frame made from? If steel (which I guess it is), then you could have mounts welded on. Bingo!
Not sure, just found it on Flickr, but you're just giving me ideas now
Surely there should be some air holes to let them breathe on the way to market....
We never ended up with any chickens (that I know of*) when I was a kid, but we did have horses, rabbits, dogs, donkeys, goats.... Not sure many of those would have fitted on a cargo bike!
*Sometimes, "friends" of my mother would pass though and leave animals to be looked after over night before their movement on somewhere else....
Yes, it's made from scaffolding pipes 🙂
Sometimes, "friends" of my mother would pass though and leave animals to be looked after over night before their movement on somewhere else....
Was she running an animal smuggling ring?
Was she running an animal smuggling ring?
Not quite. More that they were on their way to be re-"homed"....
The "plot" "thickens".
Did you give them nicotine patches and cleanser?
so what do you guys carry or intend to carry on these bikes (apart from your wives)?
I could see myself getting one as it would save me strapping all manner of things to my back (bicycle frames, wheels, snowboard, 15 litres of tile adhesive, lengths of 2x4, groceries, bike stands), but I don't think the frequency of need can justify getting one - 90% of journies wouldn't require one
Brakes, just to give you a rough idea of how the thing fits in. I have no car (can't drive), and live in a house with a big shed and a garden about 5 minutes ride from the station and an 11 mile commute from work. I use the Dummy for pretty much all my commuting and general mucking about by default, so I'm always on it if I need it. A lot of the time, agreed, it isn't strictly speaking [i]necessary[/i], but it is incredibly convenient.
Jobs include:
- frequently picking my wife up from the station, she really appreciates this
- shopping - I can do a week's shop for 2 of us effortlessly. I probably could do it with panniers and a rucksack, just. On the dummy it's effortless, the bags for life just go into the expandable panniers and the bike's handling is hardly affected by any sane amount of weight
- B&Q trips - I have easily carried enough paint etc for a full redecoration of the ground floor of the house, and can do garden centre type trips etc no problem. Again, not essential, just convenient.
- off-licence - you really can haul as much booze as you feel decent buying, again, easily rather than with difficulty.
- odd stuff - 4 x goods palettes to build a compost bin, 2 x dead bikes to the Recycles, shonky old ebay folder hauled home etc
- Camping - I can carry all the junk for a comfortable trip, while herself can just ride light. Not actually done this yet.
- bulky bits - I often have to commute lugging change of clothes plus books and papers etc etc. All that just drops into my (heowge) messenger bag and it sits into the pannier and just gets pulled out at the other end. It doesn't hurt the handling, is perfectly stable etc.
Today I've had to buy a new wheel, which wants taking home. I won't notice it at all, it'll just be there with no bother.
This is the thing. In terms of pure load-hauling, no, you don't necessarily need it every trip. It's just well worth having. I've always had commuting bikes which tried to be mountain bikes or whatever as well. It's fine, but having a dedicated bike that will carry anything I want to carry is marvellous.
Don't at all underestimate the pleasure of carrying people as well. I basically transport my wife, but have hauled brothers and friends short distances from time to time as well. Xtracycle half suggest that random cute girls will want to ride on the back and maybe make out with you. That hasn't been my experience yet, but I live in hope. It'll also haul 2 kids if that ever becomes an issue.
🙂
brakes - look at it another way: you can have a car capable of carry 5 people and a bootful of stuff, but most of the time you drive it by yourself with a minimal payload. For most people, this is no justificaiton for riding a moped to work and then hiring a van to go to B&Q on a Sunday.
Same principle - own one with the ability to do all those things you list (and more - you can carry bikes on them: I'm thinking that it would be a good way to get my track bike from home to the velodrome). Most of the time you don't need to have the load carryong capacity, but when you do need it, you have it.
Also, there is a tipping point, too, where the car starts to become redundant as there are tasks much better suited to a cargo bike.
C*ck. I wrote my little bit in the time it took BD to write all of that.
Mind you, BD's a corporate tax lawyer and they have *nothing* to do these days.... 😉
I have plenty to [i]do[/i] Tom, but none of it is as pleasant or as pressing as Xtracycle evangelism.
🙂
I have plenty to do Tom, but none of it is as pleasant or as pressing as Xtracycle evangelism.
Ha!
(Glad it's not too dire with you - I think our tax chaps are starting to sweat: they rely on M&A too much, and so are really twiddling their thumbs.)
I'm quite glad I've only just started to think about this as our cyclescheme closes tonight for another year...
If I'd had more time, who knows what irrational purchases I would have made - maybe next year!
brakes - on the contrary. Get yourself a voucher and buy something *useful*.
In all seriousness, certainly for my life, the Dummy has been the most rational bicycle purchase I've ever made.
😀
Jon (BigDummy) describes the use of a utility bike very elegantly. Basically, as I see it (although I don't own one yet) it takes away most of the reasons for owning a car on a day-to-day basis, subject to the distances you need to travel. And while you can manage a lot of what a utility bike can do with panniers and a rucksack, it's a lot less comfortable and probably more effort than with a utility bike.
Oh, and while the Yuba is a steel frame, it has slotted dropouts and [i]very[/i] thick frame tubes so getting a disc mount in there may be 'interesting'. I guess you might be lucky and be able to fit one if it is spaced for a 203mm rotor, assuming there is enough space in the frame for a rotor that big. You'll need to modify the forks as well. Oh, and the BD also has rack mounts on the fork and bottle cage mounts on the frame, both of which are missing on the Yuba. By this point I'm starting to look at the Big Dummy as a more sensible long term option despite the greater upfront cost.
Like Jon, I don't drive. My wife does, so getting things like sacks of chicken food and the weekly shop generally fall to her. Getting a Yuba is going to make it possible for me to do this.
I'm sure that I won't need the capacity 90% of the time, but I need to get a sensible bike for commuting anyway (using my Inbred and Solitude has basically ruined both of them) and the cargo capacity isn't going to get in the way when it's not being used.
If I could, I'd get a Big Dummy, but it's twice as expensive as a Yuba Mundo and I'm a cheapskate 🙂 The lack of disk mounts doesn't bother me for both cheapskate and Luddite reasons.
I think for what it's worth that discs are not essential. If you lived at the bottom of a steep hill or something that would be one thing, but these bikes encourage sonme fairly conservative riding. You tend not to cane into corners and scrub speed at the last second! 🙂
Commuting has ruined my winter trainer. And so, I propose to buy a road fixed for next winter. And a cross bike for racing next season. And a cargo bike.
Having recently bought a track bike, with those additions I would be up to 8 bikes. OMG. 😯
[url= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3028/3019242881_343eb129ac.jp g" target="_blank">
Singlespeed Dummy-Cross. You [i]know[/i] it makes sense... 😀
[url= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3187/2926748656_52db04a92f.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-dummy-raynes-park/sets/72157605772907273/ ]Jon's Flickr set[/url]
[url= http://www.surlybikes.com/bigdummy.html ]Surly[/url]
[url= http://www.xtracycle.com ]Xtracycle[/url]
Pertinent links and a piccy for those stumbling across what may almost be an informative thread.
😀
I agree with Jon, disc brakes are not essential.
Although for me, they align quite nicely with my desire for a internally geared hub and full length 'guards for minimal maintenance to go with the cargo hauling.
[url= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/2989061431_e3a010c94f_d.jp g" target="_blank">
It can carry kids too 😀
*Wanders in late to the party*
Xtracycle user here (inspired after seeing BD's)
[url= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3165/2661849918_cf2507c30d.jp g" target="_blank">
I'll admit I don't use it everyday, but it is soooo useful. Does all the things BD says it does. Mine is on an old Trek frame and is, I will admit, a bit flexy, but is all adds to the charm. I've transported all sorts on with mine, for reference, below is what I'd consider a 'small' load
[img] 
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24 cans of wife beater this side and..
[img] 
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3 wine boxes this side
[img] 
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and both sides.
Click the first pic for more pics of the build.
It's something of a conversation piece too - lots of people ask about it.
Braking is courtesy of normal V's (XT) and it's fine.
I'd recommend one anyday - a very sensible purchase that pays for itself by allowing me to go do stuff that I'd normally use the car for.
24 cans of wife beater this side and..3 wine boxes this side
Didn't BD have a theory that Xtracycles are mainly for carrying boxes of Stella?
I reckon you could get 4 crates either side and another 4 crates on top. That's 12 crates in all, 'pose it'd weigh a bit!
I am now convinced of what my redundant Inbred is going to become.
Now Im just planning a small "bike garage" at the front of the house for a bike and Jrs trailer, but by the time I build it I might as well use an extra cycle and kid seat for the weekly shop....
fantastic.
Oh god, I just priced it up and its not a lot of money...
Better speak to the wife 🙂
Just need to build a nexus/alfine into a big rim and ive got pretty much all I need! Eeek!
Stoner, that's what I'm intending to do with my Love/Hate. Xtracycle kit plus a steel rigid fork and an Alfine rear wheel. EBB for chain tension, job's a good 'un. 😀
DO IT!!!
I didnt know a love/hate had an EBB.
Ill just use a spare tensioner.
Forgot I need to get a steel fork too.....
I've got bouncy forks on mine ('cos they were in the garage) and they work OK
bouncy/rigid isnt the problem.
Its that the Stoner fleet is now entirely 29er except for the redundant Inbred hanging on the wall 🙂
Disc brakes may not be essential but my Dummy weighs 48lb without any cargo - it'll carry 190kg including me. I love the cable discs on it - even more now there are 203 rotors on there. Bit like a tandem really - v's don't really cut it if you want to stop sharpish.
Mocha. We demand pictures of your Big Dummy. Sort it. Unless you were Sheffy on the old site? In which case please repost.
😀
I've not weighed mine. I'd have guessed 45-50...
I'm coming round to the idea of discs on a commuter. I always thought it complete overkill, when the cantis on my commuter/CX/winter hack/tourer bike work so well.
But I've turned the rims concave in about a year and I have to change brake pads every month in the winter. OK I'd have to change pads, but it takes less time than faffing with cantis, is less filthy dirty and wouldn't have to occur so often.
For that reason, my bigdummy will have discs.
So far there are two buttons in the bigdummy saving pot.
I'm coming round to the idea of discs on a commuter. I always thought it complete overkill, when the cantis on my commuter/CX/winter hack/tourer bike work so well.But I've turned the rims concave in about a year and I have to change brake pads every month in the winter. OK I'd have to change pads, but it takes less time than faffing with cantis, is less filthy dirty and wouldn't have to occur so often.
Yep, same thing happened for me, henve why my fixed wheel commuter has a disc brake on the front wheel. Low maintenance for the win!
I would like a Big Dummy, but will almost certainly start with an Xtracycle.
Mocha. We demand pictures of your Big Dummy. Sort it. Unless you were Sheffy on the old site? In which case please repost.
+1. Get those pictures up here. 🙂
The (48 spoke) wheels are in motion for getting a Yuba Mundo 🙂
Now the important question: Kawasaki Green or Carrot Orange?