NYC Bike Snob

...I don't want to ride around playing loud music (the San Jose Bike Party was one of the worst experiences of my cycling life), I don't have a boat (are kayaks the "fixies" of the high seas?), and I have no need for an inconveniently long singlespeed.

I do, however, want and need to carry crap, and the Big Dummy immediately proved to be very capable in this regard. In fact, I was surprised to discover that it soon seemed indispensable to me. I used it to procure foodstuffs...

...Most useful of all though is that the Big Dummy has greatly simplified picking up bulky items such as monkey brides and circus peanuts (Vito loves circus peanuts) from my shipping hub...

Read the full review here.

Cog And Chain

...I have to mention the Xtracycle V-racks and Freeloader bags that came with the bike. They are, quite honestly, amazing. I’ll talk about some of the alterations I’ve made at the end of the review, but I love just how much stuff I can cram into these bags! From 100 pounds of recycling to a week’s worth of groceries to my daily office cargo (laptop, clothes, and lunch), the Freeloaders hold it all with room to spare. The bags are easily adjusted for cargo size, and, with the addition of other Xtracycle accessories, they can carry other bikes, kayaks, ladders, and much, MUCH more!

With all of that room for cargo, I was anxious to get the bike on the road and find out how it handled. While it’s definitely not as responsive as my track bike or XC racing mountain bike, I was surprised to find that it was still a lot of fun to ride. I didn’t notice the extra length as much as I thought I would. In fact, within a few days, it felt as natural as a regularly sized bike.

Emphasis added

Read the full review here.

Commute By Bike

An amazing thing happened this morning. A commute that would have normally been by car was instead taken on a bike...

This morning I had several things I needed to get to my office that were out of the norm. I had a couple big textbooks, my normal bag full of goodies (computer, power cord, etc) and a new coffee pot in the box. This would have normally resulted in me taking my car to the office as the bike I’ve been using lately has no where to store all that cargo. On the Surly Big Dummy everything fit easily.

Read the full review here.

More than two years in the making, the Big Dummy stands to transform your life in profound ways - a production Longtail that's fully compatible with all your favorite Xtracycle accessories. No retrofit, no fuss. Just get on and go.

Surly's Big Dummy is an investment in Every Day Adventure, what with its rock solid chro-moly construction, integrated disc brake caliper protection and integrated foot supports for a passenger. The top tube was gently curved to make it easier to get on and off your fully loaded two-wheeled steed. Furthermore, the Big Dummy will tolerate tires up to 2.5" and 4 water bottle cages, for expedition style adventuring.

The Big Dummy frame is yours to build up as you please. Fatties and C-bars? Slicks and mustache bars? Whatever your style, the Big Dummy can handle it. Or if you prefer a pre-built set up, buy the whole kit n kaboodle.

What's the ride of a fully integrated Longtail like? Well, the difference between a FreeRadical and a Big Dummy can be most easily summed up like this: you may miss a little of the cushion, but you won't miss any of the flex when loaded. The Big Dummy has been proven on trans-continental off-road touring expeditions, and here on the streets of Oakland. It's a beast.

The Big Dummy DOES include a 2007 LongTail Kit.

Read more (and more) about the Big Dummy frame and full build kit HERE, at Surly's site.