Xtracycle Build Pt5

Xtra-Fun

I finished up the Xtracycle build a few months ago, sorry about the delay in this final build post.

I swapped out my canti breaks for V-breaks. I really prefer the V-breaks – the canti’s were hard to adjust and were starting to become a real pain, but the “V’s” are a pleasure and have great stopping power. I’ve listed my setup for the Xtra below.

Xtra-Set

• 1990 Trek 520 [Trek's touring bike]
• 700c Xtracycle FreeRadical
• Shimano Deore V-brakes
• Tektro Road V-brake levers [curved and comfy handle, great for the Moustache bar]
  
• Nitto Moustache bar
• Cork Handlebar tape [tan with Bullseye amber shellac]
• Hemp Twine [wherever I felt like putting it, so OCD]
• Old Shimano Deore DX Triple Cranks and Derailleurs [drive train]
• Shimano Bar-End Shifters [don't leave home without'm]
• Grip King pedals [the most comfy/stable pedal I've pushed]
• Brooks Saddle
• Bontrager Hardcase tires [BUT I want Pasela TOUR GUARDS]
• Velo-Orange 45mm smooth fenders
• Velo-Orange Retro WB Cage [mounted on handle bar for coffee]
• VO Handlebar to Water Bottle Cage Mount
• Low Down Type 1 Light Mount
• Blaze™ one-watt LED Headlight
• SuperFlash tail light
• Nitto M12 Front Rack
• Wicker Bike Basket

That’s my set-up and I’m stickin’ to it. As soon as the Xtra was complete it was pressed into daily use. I loved using it for my commute because the bags are so cavernous. Laptop, books/files, clothes, lunch and any other incidentals just get dumped in and I’m out the door. This was one of the main reasons I wanted the Xtra. I was tired of trying to find the space for the things I needed to take on the bike. I was equally tired of the time it took to carefully organise everything in the bags so it would all fit. I really love the “dump factor” that came with the Xtra. It’s never full. There is always room to stop by the grocery store (or anywhere else) on my way home instead of heading to the house to drop off my commute stuff first.

We did all the usual Xtra stuff right off the bat; bargain “curb side” shopping, brought home the Christmas Tree, loaded it down with $200 + in groceries, etc… whatever came up we had the Xtra. My daughter started taking the Xtra to the library [never enough books] and we were jumping on it for just about any reason.

I have to admit that as Spring crept in I started riding my other bikes more. Long country rambles, brevets, and quick lite-load commutes saw me reaching for the lighter bikes. Now the Xtra has become just what it was intended to be. My cargo bike – “the truck” fun to ride and endlessly useful. It’s the easy choice when I’m headed out the door with an armful of stuff.

Follow the Build

• Xtracycle Build PT1
• Xtracycle Build PT2
• Xtracycle Build PT3
• Xtracycle Build PT4
• Xtracycle Build PT5

Xtracycle Build Pt4

With the bike striped down and the Freeradical attached it was time to re-attach the brakes and rear derailleur. I’ve never messed with the derailleur before so I admit I was intimidated by just the thought of adjusting it.

Here is were things got silly. I re-attached my brakes to the free-radical… my breaks are canti’s. That’s a bad thing. It’s not like I hadn’t read that I needed to use “v” brakes but I initially thought the canti brakes were “v”  brakes. [STOP THAT LAUGHING] they look like a “v” and all…

There are a couple major issues with this:

1. being these brakes won’t work with the freeradical [I know because I spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to adjust them]
2. I took the super-nifty extra-long brake cable the people at Xtracycle sent me and cut it [way too short]

bummer dude…

I then re-attached the rear derailleur. As I tried to remove the old derailleur cable I pulled my bar end shifter out of the bar end… which tore my shellacked tan bar tape… [are you laughing again?] Once I had neatly ruined the tape I realized I only had to push the derailleur cable backwards to remove it – no need to touch the bar end shifter.

…but wait it gets better…

I ran the cable, cut what I thought was an appropriate amount of cable housing for the derailleur and put the Rollamajig in and slided the cable onto the derailleur – then I drew a blank – I’m not kidding – I couldn’t figure out how the cable was supposed to be “held tight” to the derailleur.

[I would like to pause this ridiculous story for a disclaimer:]
If you have not done ANY of this before, or worked with the above mentioned components then this is all  NEW to you. The directions that come with the xtracycle assume a certain amount of knowledge and most helper web sites out there do the same. I’m in no way knocking them – it would be impossible to give in-depth step by step instructions because of the vast array of bike configurations – I’m just trying to explain my lameness.
[back to the broadcast]

I was disappointed and tired at this point and went to bed, but not before I put the freeloaders on to at least look at what I was supposed to have.

of course I couldn’t sleep and it didn’t take that long for me to remember I had to loosen TWO things to remove the derailleur. I knew I could fix the derailleur and I did but it took awhile to realize I had run the cable over instead of under the freeradical and needed to change it. Once I did that I tightened the cable and the shifter worked great first try. [go figure]

I attached the freeloaders and snap deck and road the thing to work today – Monday – sans rear break.

I have ordered real “v” brakes and brake leavers [I don't want to use the travel agent] and a tandem brake cable. :p

I did get a little discouraged in the middle of this but all in all I only want to learn more about doing my own work, not less. I understand this is pretty basic stuff but it saved me $150 on the install and I gained a greater confidence level regarding my bike’s maintenance. I’m spending an extra $10 on another cable but I don’t care… good times…

Follow the Build

• Xtracycle Build PT1
• Xtracycle Build PT2
• Xtracycle Build PT3
• Xtracycle Build PT4
• Xtracycle Build PT5

It’s Here! Xtracycle Build Pt2

I’ve been busying myself with removing the chain – cleaning the drive train etc…[this is my commuter - yuck]

My daughter was impressed when it finally got here and has let me know she may need to take it with her when she goes to college
“so she won’t have to fool around with a car on campus”. :p

I gave my DH a call to let him know I’m jumping in and he said he’d come help: together we’ve never tuned a bike up before – but I’ve already had some great advice from the blogosphere so we’re good – Steve Miller’s playing and really I’m almost embarrassed at how excited I am.

Follow the Build

• Xtracycle Build PT1
• Xtracycle Build PT2
• Xtracycle Build PT3
• Xtracycle Build PT4
• Xtracycle Build PT5

Xtracycle Build Pt1

My Xtracycle is coming today and I have decided to build it myself. I know there are many who have gone before me…

…but I don’t even have the thing to remove my chain yet… nor do I know it’s proper name. I don’t care – I can follow directions and I can call out “hun! can you come here a sec?” I’m off to the bike shop for the chain puller aparter…

Follow the Build

• Xtracycle Build PT1
• Xtracycle Build PT2
• Xtracycle Build PT3
• Xtracycle Build PT4
• Xtracycle Build PT5

Waiting on the world to change…

I want my xtracycle! That may sound a little childish but whatever.

• We moved to the city
• I gave my car up to my daughter (just turned 16)
• I started doing all by bike (work, groceries, library, social)
• I quickly realized I needed capacity
• I looked around and decided what to sell to raise funds for an xtra
• I sold and shipped the stuff out

I placed the order on the Xtra site Friday afternoon 10/10 – they shipped that day – it’s due here this Friday 10/17. They are West, I’m East.

• I’m gonna build it out myself…
• I’m gonna ride into the sunset…
• I’m gonna change my life…

Maybe you think it sounds grandiose but that’s what I think the xtra can do if you let it – change the way you live your life.

I want Xtra-life…