My next bike building project

penexpers

I think (...hope) I just bagged myself one of these



Going to have a great time building it up, though I think it's going to take me about a year due to the finances of it all. I would really love to put a Rohloff Speedhub on it, but they ain't cheap at all.

beans

I'm not even sure what that's supposed to be...

Nope, another look doesn't help much

niceonetom

it's a cargo bike. right?

cool... but what do you plan to do with it?


oh and where are the pics of your previous buid? :P

Caroline_ie

beans wrote: »

I'm not even sure what that's supposed to be...

Nope, another look doesn't help much

Yeah ... what is this????
Looks like a road bike that had a fling with a Harley ...

Any photos of what a finished one of these could look like?

Chips Lovell

Wow. That's going to be one unique bike when it's done.

penexpers

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Yeah ... what is this????
Looks like a road bike that had a fling with a Harley ...

Any photos of what a finished one of these could look like?

It's a cargo bike. Essentially a bike + trailer in one. It has the fittings for Xtracycle accessories and the rear of the frame can take 200lbs before cracking.

Finished ones look something like this



This is an earlier prototype without the curved top tube.

penexpers

niceonetom wrote: »

it's a cargo bike. right?

cool... but what do you plan to do with it?


oh and where are the pics of your previous buid? :P

It would be nice if the car could be kept for long distances only and the shorter about town trips (including the weekly shopping) could be done on the bike.

beans

Amazing such a thing exists, I had no idea!

I you have the requirement, it would make a very interesting addition - but would it make a good functional every-day bike, I would have to guess not?

niceonetom

penexpers wrote: »

It would be nice if the car could be kept for long distances only and the shorter about town trips (including the weekly shopping) could be done on the bike.

yes, yes, and more yes. this is the way of the future.

penexpers

beans wrote: »

Amazing such a thing exists, I had no idea!

I you have the requirement, it would make a very interesting addition - but would it make a good functional every-day bike, I would have to guess not?

According to reports, it rides just like a normal bike. I don't see any reason why it couldn't be used as a commuter.

blorg

Very interesting. Be sure to post pictures when you are done. Others less willing to go the whole hog would have the option of attaching a trailer to their normal bike, which is easy enough to do and can carry a fair amount. Even a rack can carry a surprising amount although nowhere near the 90kg level (largest things were two 5ft bookcases and a christmas tree, but this is not exactly practical.)

penexpers

Update: Missed the last batch of these frames so I'll get one from the next batch in August.

In the meantime I have started to get other parts for it.

I have decided to not get the Rohloff in favour of a much more interesting looking IGH, the Nuvinci CVP. I ordered it a few minutes ago and should have it in a couple of weeks. Looking forward to it!

http://www.fallbrooktech.com/NuVinci.asp

rp

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Yeah ... what is this????
Looks like a road bike that had a fling with a Harley ...

Na, Harley's are gay. You know, the whole Village People, leather & studs trip.

Any photos of what a finished one of these could look like?

http://tsaleh.blogspot.com/2008/04/its-rolling.html

fish-head

You're all BIG DUMMIES.

Morgan

Here's a nice video of the Big Dummy - looks like a lot of fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-jRz5Vh5yU

You can also convert an existing bike using the Xtracycle kit:
http://www.xtracycle.com/

Also, Kona are bringing out one as well:
http://www.konaworld.com/08_ute_w.htm
That shoiuld make at least one person here happy.

Diarmuid

penexpers wrote: »

http://www.fallbrooktech.com/NuVinci.asp

The weight of that hub is about 4kg. That seems pretty heavy to me, although on that bike weight is not a major concern, I guess.

blorg

penexpers wrote: »

I have decided to not get the Rohloff in favour of a much more interesting looking IGH, the Nuvinci CVP.

Very interesting, continuously variable - not cheap?

Itsfixed

Looks brilliant. I'd love one but its expensive - cheaper to get a secondhand mountain bike and convert it with the xtracycle equipment.

But there's a lovely video on youtube video of the surly big dummy. Practical AND cool, like, dude.

kenmc

i wonder if a bike like that would be less attractive to a thief since they don't look 'cool' enough - lack the "vital" elements like dual suspension, yet having 'dorky' panniers. Although it's probably just as likely to get thrashed though

penexpers

blorg wrote: »

Very interesting, continuously variable - not cheap?

Cheaper than the Rohloff, $450 from Harris Cyclery. It's not readily available in these parts yet.

penexpers

Diarmuid wrote: »

The weight of that hub is about 4kg. That seems pretty heavy to me, although on that bike weight is not a major concern, I guess.

Exactly, weight is not a concern with this bike. I have thought long and hard about this.

penexpers

Morgan wrote: »

Also, Kona are bringing out one as well:
http://www.konaworld.com/08_ute_w.htm
That shoiuld make at least one person here happy.

I wouldn't compare the Ute to the Big Dummy really. I think the Ute is sub-standard for a few reasons

- No Xtracycle compatibility. (I've heard you can only use the Kona bags)
- Limited carrying capacity.
- Alloy frame, flexes easier under heavy loads
- I'm pretty sure it uses 700cc wheels, I think for load carrying 26" wheels work best.

On the plus side, it is about a third the price of what my big dummy will end up costing me.