Re: Rear Luggage Rack Web Site Update

On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 18:10:31 -0700, peter <prathman@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
wrote:

>>
>> Xtracycle have a "gravity advantage juju" located low at the bike's
>> new center of balance. The front of the bike acts as a lever for
>> balancing the load. I guess what I can lift with my legs is my limit.
>
>Yes, but adding the bike weight to that of the load doesn't make
>things easier.  

Sure it does. You can grab the whole thing, bike and all, with one
hand and stand up. That hand is your fulcrum. Lever the load level
with your other hand. Turn 180 degrees. That's simpler than turning
around with a trailer attached to the bike and it blows minds because
it appears effortless.

Off-bike handling is one of the things I'm going to investigate with
the ready-rolled longtails. Believe me when I say it's easier to
carry an Xtracycle than it is to carry a tandem.

>Loads that I can easily lift I would usually carry in
>regular panniers or on a rear rack, so when I switch to a trailer it's
>generally for something pretty heavy.

A bundle of fiberglass insulation is pretty light and won't fit on a
regular luggage rack or into panniers. 
The Xtracycle behaves better than a bike with a regular rack when
there's a table saw strapped on there.
Sure you could haul that stuff with a trailer but it still isn't as
***y as a longtail bike.
-- 
zk