flood

Most of Northeast Ohio is under a flood watch today, with the snow we got last week melting from the temperature, and the thunderstorms we got this morning, it is a mess. My commute to work this morning was interesting, with bottom bracket deep "puddles" and the bike path actually a moving part of Rocky River.



The last part of my commute before I pop out back onto roads goes over the river on a bridge (actually I go over 3 bridges), but this is the one farthest down river. That is a lot of lumber in that river. After another deep ford biking, ankle deep in the river, my feet freezing, I took this picture. Soon afterwards, an 8 inch thick log hit the bridges support beam, sounded like a homerun hit off of an aluminum bat. I got out of there quick.

I'm taking a different route home.

cargo bikes

So, I've been looking at replacing my years old Novaro framed Xtracycle with something new. I like having a cargo bike of some sort around for doing my shopping, not having to worry about how I'm going to get everything home. I have a Burley trailer for the littlest one, but putting two in there isn't going to work. And putting a child with a week's worth of groceries for 4 - with a bunch of fresh fruit and veggies just doesn't work. I also ride the cargo bike because it is my most comfy ride for cruising around. Besides not having the money for a new one at the moment, I just can't decide what to get. When I think that I have the answer, I change my mind, or some idea or thought about said decision makes me rethink. Here are some pros and cons of each of the major players - Surly Big Dummy, Trek Transport, and the Civia Halsted. Not listed, because of money issues are the Ahearne Cycle Truck and the Hunter Cycles minicyclecargotruck (my name - although if I had the money, it would be the winner).



Big Dummy

Pros

By far the best choice, been around for a long time, uses the Xtracycle platform, so it has lots of options, a frame designed from the ground up to take a heavy load, wouldn't have to put extra money into it for upgrades right off the bat (just tires and chainrings) nice construction, can still use a Burley trailer and Owen could sit on the rear Snapdeck, off road capable, best for touring, lightweight for what it does, awesome name, and I already have the shirt.

Cons

Most expensive out of the realistic choices, long so its hard to get on or in a car for transportation (touring), steel - so I have to spray the inside, needs a front rack of some sort for small everyday things and a kickstand (which is super expensive), and weird sizing so I don't know what size to ride.



Transport

Pros

Less expensive than the Big Dummy, can carry as much, already has a front carrier, aluminum - less care for the frame, comes with a better bag system and folding side mounts, Owen could still sit on the rear rack, has some cool mounts for a front light, convertable dropouts for rear hub, pretty much a great fit out of the box, and it would be supporting a brand the bike shop I work at carries.

Cons

Has been out for less than 6 months - so it doesn't have a long history yet, if you listen the internet "experts" who have yet to ride the bike they say it is a bad design that won't carry heavy weights very well, needs some parts right off the bat - extra bag, rear disc brake, rear derailleur, chainrings, and wider tires, can't use a Burley trailer - would have to put Josie on the rear rack and that might be trouble with both of the kids up there, but nobody has done that to my knowledge, unknown if it is good for a longer distance tour, and it is really heavy about 50 pounds to the Big Dummy's 35.



Halsted

Pros

The least expensive option, the size is good for storage and any type of transporting, front loading platform - good to carry groceries and daily supplies, lightweight, can use a rear rack and the Burley, best for everyday in town use, and I thing one of the coolest looking.

Cons

Would only be for around town - don't think it would work well for a tour, needs a rear derailleur, front brake, and tires, no word on how it rides - although for tooling around town and to work probably pretty darn good, no place for Owen - but we could use a Trail-a-Bike, and need to carry more than one tube at a time.

Well there it is, no idea what I want to do, or can afford. Time will tell.

not much

Not much going on, have been off of work for the last three days. Not doing much, mostly sitting on my butt and not doing anything physical or constructive.

Baked some bread and made homemade pizza on Tuesday. I find that baking really relaxes me and makes me feel happy. I don't do it as much as I want to/need to.

Not much going on in the bike front, rode Josie to music class at the college, and that was the only time I've touched a bike. Still trying to figure out the cargo bike situation for the coming up years, maybe I'll get down those thoughts today.

I'm noticing one thing I did and a whole lot of "not muchs". Vacations are nice that way. Back to reality tomorrow.

happy b-day

Happy 32nd Birthday Bart.

tool kit

The last bit of the Chester (besides the frame) is what do I use when things go wrong - flat tube, broken chain, loosened bolt. Luckily, tubes happen sometimes - see article on tires here - and accidents do happen, so one has to carry a kit so that you can get back home, important for those all dayers and multi-day trips.



Here are the main bits - on the top a Pedro's Six-Pack Chain Tool +
this gives me a chain tool (duh) and a spoke wrench to help straighten out a wonky rim. The chain tool is needed to break and replace links in a chain. What? Replace links? In a single cog system, with very little in the way to adjust chain tension in the advent of a link or two missing, one might have to replace a small section of chain. I carry about 4-5 total links as well as a Wipperman master link to help me in this regard.

The chain tool itself uses a 5mm hex, and normally it comes with the tool, but I took it out because my the tool in the middle has one. An old school Ritchey CPR, is my favorite of all on the bike tools. Like my ATAC's, I would own 5 of these if I could still find them. A 5mm and 6mm hex, two tire levers, 8, 9, and 10mm closed box wrenches, and a screwdriver, along with a 4mm wrench covers anything that can go wrong. The 5mm can be used for the chain tool, the headset or seatpost binder bolt or brake pads, the 6mm for the rear Phil Wood hub, and the 4mm for the stem bolts. The wrenches for the fenders, and the screw driver just in case I'm missing something. A nice compact system.



Almost the whole kit, tube, tools, masterlink sitting on a Rivendell Burrito Wrap, a scrap of waxed cotton to hold everything together. Missing is the extra hunk of chain, it hasn't been cut because the bike aint built up yet.



All bundled up.



In the corner for the roll. When done it should look like Chipotle's finest.



Done, held on to the saddle's railings with a toe clip strap. The strap is also needed for the pair of Schwalbe Marathons, that tire bead is a massive pain in the ass. Also seen here is the saddle cover from Randi Jo Fabrications, nice way to protect your leather saddle.

Missing is my pump, I haven't decided what way to go with that, a frame or smaller hand pump. Detail - I know that you are at the edges of you seat for that, when I know myself.

Have a good one.