An EdgeRunner with stock, cut-down, and super short racks.

Deck Height: How Low Can You Go?

The EdgeRunner has a 20" rear wheel to help keep the weight of the bike and cargo low. This puts the deck inches lower than a Radish, but what if you wanted to get lower? We've tested out all the options between full height racks and super short ones and here’s the full scoop on rack height.

It's been an unusually warm few weeks for us here, and when the weather gets warm people start thinking about carrying absurd loads on their bikes. So just in the nick of time (or not -soon-enough for some) we're getting a shipment of SideCars, Hoopties, P-Racks. The boat docks tomorrow, so we hope to be shipping everyone's pre-orders at the start of April, just as soon as the container clears customs. Thanks for hanging in there!

After the jump: SideCar in use, and SideCar use tips!

Abigail writes, "I LOVE [the Electric EdgeRunner] and am having a blast using the electric assist. My four year-old, last night as we were getting back on the bike at daycare to commute home, said, "We have the best bike in the whole world." And this is a kid who's only ridden it in cold, windy weather!"

Living in Oakland it's (incredibly) rare that we have snow days, but the East Coast has real winters and folks that need a bike that can get them over hill and dale in a variety of conditions. Abigail lives out on that side of the country and has been putting the Electric EdgeRunner through it's paces, carrying her kids all over town and up some pretty incredible hills - the kind of hills where the electric assist isn't an option, it's a necessity.

Keep riding, and more importantly, keep having fun!

The latest Xtracycle Customs creation, dubbed "The Oyster Bike," for Inverness restaurant Saltwater. Metal oyster buckets still to come I'm told. We will update as soon as we get pictures. The Oyster Bike is based off of our stock Radish - with lots of embellishments. Why customize Radish? Well, if you trust this blogger for Bicycling Magazine, the Radish ride is too good to resist. We really do aim to make cargo bikes that ride like, well, your favorite bike.

Cemil Hope, the man behind Xtracycle Customs, is also a finish cabinet maker, and has done several notable restaurant build-outs, including Saltwater, the benefactor behind The Oyster Bike. We now understand that cabinets are just a way to open the door to cargo bikes, but we won't spoil that marketing secret. Check out some amazing pics of the restaurant here. The Radish pictured above seems like a beautiful extension of the simple yet stunning aesthetic of the place.

Cemil says more bikes are coming this Spring, including "the Sunset Bike," "the Surf Bike" and more.

More info at customs@xtracycle.com.

"I use it everyday. Love it," says Mark (above), who may be one of the first SUP-toting Xtracycle-ists we've seen. He's using a Wideloader and Longloader, plus just a bit of pipe foam to get his board to the water - certainly easier than lifting a SUP onto the top of an SUV, and way more fun.

He's out in the Sunshine State, which is rapidly becoming a hotbed of Xtracycle activity. Fuel Free Recreation in Naples, Florida is one of our newer dealers but they really know their stuff and have been great at introducing Neopolitans to the longbilke lifestyle. Check them out at their site.

Alex wrote in to share this Xtracycle conversion of a 20 year old Trek 950, and a bit of his story with this bike and Xtracycle:

"This is my 6th Xtracycle I've built, and I also had a BigDummy that I recently sold to a Big Dummy owner that got his stolen. I've got to say it is the best one yet, using a 20 year old American-built lugged Trek bike that took me from London to Sydney in '95. I am glad to be able to ride it again, it's been watching the longs go by, waiting for his turn. Rides beautifully, no flex at all. I've lent or sold most of my other longs, but there is one particular friend of mine waiting for the edge runner, he doesn't believe the others are stiff enough."
"I've got three kids, but haven't yet had three up, I guess I need a Hooptie? Quite a few grannies have ridden on the back, my oldest is about 85, loved it."

Newly minted Xtracyclist Dennis (left, with the awesome red Xtracycle) chose a chilly first ride with his Xtracycle rig: The BRR!

Now in it's 36th year, the BRR rolls from Perry to Rippey (Iowa) and back again, featuring Iowa beers, bikes, and a complete disregard for the weather. This year kicked off at 14F, which is about 50 degrees below the temperature when most Californians stop biking... Dennis, thanks for braving the weather, and writing to share your adventures!

Local Bay Area rocker Justin Ancheta shows us how to package a Cargo Joe as luggage on an airline.

What's not to love? Salmon + Xtracycle = YUM YUM.

There's little we can do to introduce these guys. They pretty much steal(head) the show:

"At Cape Cleare Fishery we are adding a chapter to the remarkable story of the life cycle of wild salmon; we deliver by bicycle.