Xtracycle Edgerunner - Initial Thoughts

My human assist system.

I thought I would write a few things about our new bicycle since it is so new on the market and because I have benefited so much from other people's perspective of their cargo/transportation bicycles (I'm assuming other people will somehow find this blog). So, I suppose I should write a little something that will hopefully be useful for someone else out there.

When I was out looking for a cargo bike as an almost-car-replacement, one thing that concerned me in particular is the fact that I'm only 5'1/2" tall and about 105 lbs and a novice biker (I consider myself a novice even though I rode daily when I was in grad school as that was a long time ago, way back in the nineties). There was also some trepidation about my ability to handle traffic (Californian drivers) with two children and, not to mention, the grocery/books I would like to pick up using the bicycle. I felt strongly that I must be able to stand easily and support the bicycle (i.e. it can't be too heavy). 

I considered the Yuba Mundo, the Xtracycle Radish, and (briefly) the Madsen. I never did try the Yuba Mundo though I spoke to Richard of icargobike.com about it and he thought it should fit me with perhaps, if necessary, some adjustments by way of shortening the seat post. As to the Xtracycle Radish, I called up Xtracycle and asked them if they thought the Radish would fit me - would I be able to stand over the highest point of the top tube? The really good people of Xtracycle called me back to try to answer my questions about bike sizing as well as handling. The question was also forwarded to Xtracycle's Nate Byerley, who took the time to reply to my lengthy questions and to tell me that they have a new bike - the Edgerunner - coming out soon and that it has an even lower top tube than the Radish. On top of it, the Edgerunner has a 20" rear wheel that will effectively drop the weight of the children in the back. Edgerunner also has better parts relative to the Radish. In the meanwhile, I tried out Radish at a local bike store (Alternabike in Solana Beach) and discovered - happiness of happiness - that I am able to straddle over the top tube fine. I also tried out a Madsen from someone who was selling hers on Craigslist. I was interested in it because of its low step through and because the bucket can carry more than two children. It is also cheaper since it doesn't need car seat and the bucket provides a bit of wind protection. However, it was an immediate no go as it was simply too heavy and unwieldy for me. I strapped in both children and promptly, even before we got out of the lady's driveway, toppled the entire bike over. It was so heavy I was not able to stop it from hitting the ground. (The children, thankfully, were shaken but unhurt). It was just too big for a little person like me.

In the end, Zoe and I went up to San Francisco to try it out the Edgerunner. It was not quite a long try out and even though I was quite gingerly about it, the Edgerunner felt good and comfortable when I rode it around during the test ride. I also liked the fact that it has rim brakes and that the load sits lower (compared to the Radish). A big reason for deciding on the Xtracycle too (even before trying out the Yuba) is the fact that Nate was just so nice about answering all my questions. It seemed like no question was too stupid (I was rather self conscious about it since I experienced some condescension when I first started shopping and asking questions). So, long and short of it, we bit the bullet and went with the more expensive Edgerunner. 

So far, we love it and I think handling has become easier. Handling isn't hard, but - either because I'm a novice or because I was nervous or both - I felt that I needed to hold the handle bars tight to keep the front from wobbling. This was especially pronounced when I had to peddle hard up a hill. Since then, with more use, I feel less of this wobble but it is still there. Just yesterday, cars had to slow for me as I struggled to make a left hand turn at a junction with an incline. But it is getting better and as it is getting better, I assume it is a rider issue and not a bicycle issue (I would be able to confirm this later).

The Edgerunner has also, over the last month, become less a behemoth to me. It was never hard to ride but it is definitely easier and more natural to me now. It rides like a normal bicycle and is springy and responsive. That said, I have tipped the entire bike over twice now. The first time was when I went to get Zoe from school. I stopped to check to make sure that my sunglasses case didn't fall out of the bags and - for reasons I don't quite know - the whole thing went over while I was straddled over. The second time - yesterday - I was trying to push the bike (with two kids in the back) over a small curb. I was off the bike with both hands on the handle bars. The front wheel is over but the back wheels with the weight of the children on them was stuck. The bike fell on its side as I pushed forward harder. I think the lesson is for me to put one hand on the hooptie and another on the handle bar to better manage the weight in the back.

Finally, the brakes work. They work really, really well. We went down a very short but very steep hill yesterday. I was a little frightened of it. It didn't help that Zoe was begging me to get off the bike and walk it down. I'm glad I didn't as I wouldn't have been able to control the bike if I were off it and without the help of the brakes. Yay to good brakes.

Quite a few people stopped to talk to me about the bicycle yesterday. Mothers, fathers, random cyclists. It gave me hope that perhaps, before long, there will be more and more cargo bikes out here.

I ought to add that it hasn't been easy - physically - getting up the hills around here. Really, before actually riding up the hill, I thought I would overcome it. Now... I waver. Some days, like the little blue engine, I say "I think I can, I think I can." Others.... I can't. But it is getting easier, but I think a lot determination is needed on my part to get strong. Either that or I should start putting aside money for electric assist.

Electric Dreams

I'm seriously considering the electric option for the bicycles (the Gr8, with any luck, might be here in two or three weeks). I have been so, so keen to switch from car to bicycle. Unfortunately, I realize now that those "little" hills here are not so little and that the slightest uphill climb is a struggle. It is near impossible with the kids. I haven't taken the bicycle to run errands yet with the kids because I remember just how hard it was with just Zoe and her school bag. Going to say Trader Joe's should be mostly alright since it is down the hill. But how to get back up? So, for now, our brand new Edgerunner is used a lot less than envisioned.

I asked Richard of icargobikes.com about it and he suggested a few options, none of them truly cheap. Cheap is relative of course. Cheaper than buying a new car. Cheaper if one is able to amortize the expenditure over say ten years. Part of me feel foolish. Why did I even think of this? A Prius is a good vehicle. If one (I) really meant to do my part, I should just cut out  the longer drives to say H-mart to buy kimchi.

I'm thinking how hard it is for society to achieve "energy descend." Habits and lifestyle is hard to break. Last year, or is it two years ago now, I used to shower every other day on days I don't work in the garden. Now, I shower every day and I am not as mindful about getting out of the shower in minimal time. I luxuriate some days, even though I know that water is too precious to be used this way. Yet, I am selfish these days. With the bicycle, the idea is that it is a way of helping us achieve a healthy lifestyle (if we are healthy, we won't become a burden on the already overburdened health care system. If we are healthy, we can be useful members of society) and to reduce our reliance on gas, something that we are running out of rapidly. If we all use a little less, perhaps we could save our children from an even worse climatic fate in the future. It is a personal pledge to do something. Going car free is going to be hard. I never did think we can't do it. But now, I wonder if we can. The electric option would help me go car free, but it means we won't be completely free from external source of energy (not counting food as fuel for body of course). But it would help me get away from the car.

Our Bike is here!!!

Our life - or more like lifestyle - changing bicycle arrived last Friday. I expected to blog about it immediately, seeing that I have spent so much energy studying bicycles and pouring over other people's blogs about ditching their cars in favor of the bicycle for transportation. After the initial excitement of its arrival, it was a bit anti-climatic as I started to feel quite ill that evening. On Saturday, Dennis' birthday, I couldn't even get out of the bed. His birthday dinner was cancelled. I was miserable and sorely disappointed that we weren't able to go out with our new bike as part of Dennis' birthday celebration. I felt better on Sunday and, so keen on taking the bike out, we decided to visit the Botanic Gardens. It is about 1.7 miles away and Dennis followed along to make sure we are safe. The ride was exhilarating! I couldn't get up the final steep hill and got off to push. Dennis rode the bike back. Perhaps because he was starting to be worse for wear by that time, he had a really hard time making the ride back (it was somewhat an uphill ride). We figured out that what got me also got Dennis by the time we got home. He went to bed with deep shivers and the rest of the afternoon felt gloomy. Starting from Zoe, then Evan, and then Dennis and I, we have been sick for three weeks now (or by today, four weeks). In short, there wasn't a whole lot of opportunity to take pictures. The bike was also making a metallic rattling sound. Monday morning, Richard of icargobike.com (whom I got the bike through) came back to try to resolve the problem of the mysterious sound. Richard actually came on Saturday (the day after he brought the bike to us) to try to fix the problem, but I was in bed sick. Anyhow, after some power tools and lots of tinkering, Richard solved the problem. I think I wasn't 100% over the flu, but I felt much better and decided to go and pick up Zoe from school with our bike, partly because I was keen on trying our bicycle and partly because Zoe thought I would take her to school with the bicycle and was sorely disappointed in the morning when I told her that was not to be the case (it was cold and very foggy and I didn't buy lights yet).

It took me 40 minutes to ride the 6.3 miles to Zoe's school. It was easy going down Leucadia Blvd. Those disc brakes worked very well! It was alright along highway 101, even along the parts when the road starts to climb, but it was tough when I got to Pointsettia and had to start climbing. I was tired and got off to rest for a few minutes before continuing. The other mothers at the school were quite impressed when I showed up. I think I was just flushed at that point.

It was all good till then. Zoe was a bit quiet when I got her. She was quite pleased with the idea of the bike, but became quiet soon after. I kept asking her if she was alright and she said yes. It took us an hour and forty minutes to get home! Along the way, Zoe looked more and more miserable. I too started to feel miserable when we got to Leucadia Blvd again. It is a straight mile up and I just had no more in me to make it up. I got off the bike and pushed. I was so winded I was worried I couldn't hold the bike up much longer. We got home finally, but I was drenched in sweat and very, very hungry. When we got home, Zoe finally blurted out, "I'm COLD!!!!" I felt her hands and realized she was! I felt terrible. I brought her an extra fleece, but I took her silence to mean she's fine. I should have felt her.

I haven't gotten on our Edgerunner since then because I haven't been well since then (I guess I exerted myself too soon), and because, frankly, I'm worried about having two kids on the bike at once. Dennis was home with Evan when I went to get Zoe that day. I'm worried that I'm not fit enough to have both kids on for such a long ride. I guess my confidence is a bit shaken. But I know too that I must get back on. The only way to get stronger is to practice and to just use the bicycle. But I have to admit that I was a bit down as I realized that I can't honestly tell others (in the area) to go car free or car less until I can use the bicycle with greater confidence and ease.

Still, I'm down but not beaten (or not yet). What with global warming and peak oil, sacrifices must be made. I still think bicycles is the future. And knowing what I know about the wreckage we have wrought on the environment and what this means for future generations, I cannot do nothing.