My bicycle trailer towing bicycles!

This is my "Bikes at Work" trailer hauling FOUR bicycles (okay, two are frames), and no, they are not all mine!

This is me, and this is my bike.

Here is the text to this short video:

Hi, I'm RJ and this is my bike.

It has flat pedals so that I can wear sneakers, and fenders to keep them dry.

On my handlebars, I keep a little bag for small things, a white bike light to use at night, and an air horn, in case I need to be heard by inattentive drivers. It's REALLY LOUD.

On the back of my bike are two red bike lights and a reflective triangle that help me be seen from behind.

I also have an orange light tube that helps me be seen from the side at night.

On the back I have an Xtracycle that can hold a LOT of stuff!

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There are some things that I always keep with me in my Xtracycle.

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Sometimes I wear spandex when I ride my bicycle.. and, sometimes I don't.

These are bike shoes, and so are these.

These are bike gloves, and so are these.

This is a cycling jacket, and so is this.

It doesn't matter what you wear, as long as you're safe and warm.

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If I can't carry something on my Xtracycle, I use my bike trailer.

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I even ride my bike when it snows.

I just put on some studded tires.. and make sure to dress real' warm.

Now why would I do that?

Well, because all I know, is that when I ride my bicycle, I'm in a much better mood than most people in those stinky ol' cars.

Some of the products seen in this video:

• Planet Bike SuperFlash
  
• Down Low Glow
  
• Bikes at Work bicycle trailer
  
• Surly Long Haul Trucker
  
• Xtracycle
  
• Studded Tires
  
• Safety triangle
  
• Air Zounds bicycle air horn
  

And don't forget, when possible, SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BICYCLE SHOP! ;)

When I have a lot of stuff to bring to work..

..I "drive the truck."

UPS Delivery by Bike!

This was posted on EcoVelo and I could NOT pass up posting it!

UPS Delivery By Bike! Salem, Oregon

Laziness averted!

The other day I had to set up our first indoor team practice for my junior cycling team. I had to haul 2 trainers, 2 rollers, 2 spare wheels, my bike and my laptop.. I figured it would be easy to "cop out" and borrow the Suburban from Debi and Jim. Well, I peeked out the window and-- no Suburban! Looks like my scheme to be lazy wasn't going to pan out.





Loading up the trailer went remarkably smooth. I made a sort of bicycle and blanket layered cake. And once I started rolling down the street in the delicious Fall air, I was glad that the Suburban wasn't there-- because I would have been missing out.

I'm not the only one!

So the next time I move, are ya'll gonna come over with your Xtracycles and Bikes at Work trailers? Introducing the official "Bike Move," a community event.

My two legs

Moved out of my apartment by bicycle. I moved everything from..

bookcases, backpacks, desk chairs and lawn chairs


to books and sidetables and art supplies


to art cabinets

and paintings, shelving and desks

to clothing and the dresser they reside in


my bed

more furniture

bike stuff and a reading chair

and more piles of art supplies.

And a few *bonus* loads:

My roommate's bed and boxspring.

And both our bike boxes.

Did I just move out of my apartment by bike?

Yeah, I think I did.

I was short.

The other day I was loading my trailer (Percy) when a middle-aged man parked his rumbling pickup, lumbered out of it, and then stood staring at my trailer. "Nice rig, ya got there," he smiled to one side.

Now, ordinarily, this would cause me to light up and talk proudly and enthusiastically (not hard to imagine, if you've ever met me for about 5 minutes and said the word "bicycle") about how I use my bike to get around. But something very subtle in the tone of his voice, his posture, the way his eyes studied my trailer stacked full with shelves, a desk and two very large paintings.. something made "Nice rig, ya got there," sound more like "what a cute toy of a contraption ya got there," and I did not appreciate that at all. So, regrettably, I was short with him.

"Yeah. I don't pay for car insurance, car payments, gas, repairs.. Plus, I'm fit."

"Well, there's something to be said for that," he smiled large again.

"Yeah, there is." And I turned away to continue loading my trailer.

Whether that man really thought I was "cute" or not-- I have a bigger theme in mind. Many, if not most Americans still think of bicycles as strictly "recreational" vehicles that you put in the car and drive to the local park to ride. It is the minority of Americans that realize the practical everyday potential of bicycles as transportation vehicles. The time is ripe to change that mindset.

Meet Percy.

Meet Percy.

My new trailer. :)

Percy is named for the cheeky, reasonably experienced yet occasionally overconfident engine from the Thomas the Tank Engine series.

Percy's first load was 3 complete sets of Zipp wheels. I felt like there had to be some irony in there somewhere. Especially since I intentionally kept pace with the male bike commuter in front of me while giggling about how "aero" I was.

If you want to learn more about this quite industrial trailer, check out Bikes at Work.

"All About Bike Trailers" by Wiley Davis @ Practical Pedal, a free magazine)

If you're bike trailer shopping, a haul-aholic, or just plain bike nerd, this is the article to read. It explains the advantages and disadvantages of various designs of trailers, and best of all- the physics behind it. This is for the geeks who want to know why oscillation happens and so forth.

Bikes at Work

I've got one of these babies on order.

This is a trailer made by Bikes at Work Inc. They make and sell trailers as well as run a bicycle delivery service that picks up just about anything from weekly recycling to your household refrigerator. Their trailers are so well designed that the folks over at Pedal People, another recycle-by-bicycle organization use them happily. And soon I will be using one happily, too.

Okay, so I have an Xtracycle- why do I need yet ANOTHER hauling device that carries 300lbs? (For a total of 500lbs, in case you were counting.) Well. First of all, it is another step toward decreasing my "need" for a car. Secondly, I am interested in doing some trial runs of a recycle-by-bicycle business of my own. Thirdly, I also want to start painting & selling furniture @ Farmer's Market and need a way to move it all. Fourthly, even if none of my 'business' ventures work out, point one is still in effect and I can move whatever I need to or want to without having to call for help! And really, I just get a kick out of hauling things by bike.

Build Your Own Bamboo Trailer

A fantastic fellow recently introduced me to do-it-yourself bamboo bike trailers. Yes, I said bamboo.



The folks at Carry Freedom will supply you with free plans to make a bike trailer out of just about anything- bamboo, old shelving, sticks- and there aren't even power tools required. All that they ask in return is this (excerpt from their website):

1. Tell us what you are using the bicycle trailer for
2. Send us photos of the bicycle trailer you build
3. Tell us how to improve the instructions or the trailer
4. Accept that we might post your email on our blog

And also:

This project exists thanks to the quiet dedication of many people investing a small part of their own time money or skill. If you feel you can help in any way, then we will gratefully accept. For example you could:

• Teach others to build the trailer
• Create better ways of making the bicycle trailer
• Email us pictures of your trailer
• Link to this web page
• Use the bicycle trailer you build
• Use your skill or talent to bump the project along
• Bore people at parties about bamboo;)

Not a bad deal at all. And if you'd rather plunk down some cash instead of doing the work, they also make a really smart line of trailers for purchase.