Happy New Year, everyone! We hope your holiday season was filled with family, friends and love.

Just wanted to share a great Xtracycle sighting I had during my wonderful, albeit brief, Hawaiian vacation on the Big Island.

We arrived at Kona International to sunny skies, a light breeze and warm weather (sorry mainland peers, we empathized as you survived the ice storms and frigid temps, really).  After getting our rental car and gathering our bearings, we headed toward Kona to pick up groceries before landing at our condo.

After shopping and getting over the sticker shock of island prices (30% more for mostly everything) we were heading out when my family said, “Hey, look! An Xtracycle.”

“What?! Where!?” was my reply.  I grabbed my camera and bolted out of the car to see who was living the Xtracycle Hawaiian lifestyle.

Walking up to the tanned, smiling owner, I introduced myself and my Xtracycle affiliation and asked if I could snap a photo of her and her steed.  Mary-Beth happily obliged, and stood behind her early nineties Cannondale turned Xtracycle.

Originally from Oregon, Mary-Beth had lived in Hawaii off and on for a couple years and practices massage and yoga wherever her travels take her.  On her most recent trip back to the mainland, she found out about Xtracycle and snagged a FreeRadical Kit.  She dug her Cannondale out of storage, had a local bike shop install it and shipped it out to Kona.

Now, Mary-Beth carries all of her belongings and camping gear with her as she explores the Big Island, enjoying her every day adventures in our southern-most state. Am I jealous, only slightly.

Hope your 2009 is divine.  We are looking forward to sharing all of its excitement with you!  Peace, Rick

It’s hard to imagine in our car cluttered culture of today, but before the turn of the (20th) century, bicycles ruled the day. Bikes were, with the exception of locomotives, the fastest vehicles on earth. Among the fastest riders was one of the first black athletes to go head to head with the white athletic establishment. Major Taylor.

The fever around bicycle racing in the late 1800’s can probably only be compared to modern day pro-sports like Football, Baseball, Basketball.  Congregations of tens of thousands of people would amass to cheer on racers as they spun around the velodrome night after night, in every major city in the US. A grueling race called the Garden 6-Day happened each year in New York.  Lapping the velodrome hour after hour, day after day, the top riders covered nearly 2000 miles in 6 days, and by the end of the race were in varying states of hallucination and fatigue. Something of a mix of the horrors of the Roman Coliseum and Olympics drew massive crowds and honed the finest athletes.

American bicycle manufacturing was booming, and racing bikes were weighing in at 20 lbs. Fixed gears were all the rage. Leather chains were common. Come on people, can it get any better than this?

Yes.

This uplifting era of cycling was matched in almost complete contrast by the pervasive racism against which Major Taylor and other blacks struggled their entire life. Nearly everywhere Taylor traveled, he could scarcely forget that he was distinctly an other, as racers and promoters sought to elbow him out of contention (especially as he threatened to trounce white racers on the track). Nevertheless he persisted, commanding new world records year after year.

Reading Major has presented me with an inspiring vision for a time before cars, a time when the bicycle was revered as the perfect marriage of form and function - nothing extra. Nothing missing. A functional object worthy of reverence. An American industry of intense pride and intrinsic worth.

No one could have predicted how successful cycling would prove to be in paving the way (quite literally) for the rise of the automobile. Bicycle racing in particular evolved into pacing experiments with prototype automobiles that ran on steam and were as temperamental as a wild mustang.  As these pace vehicles helped bicycle riders set incredible records, they also began to draw attention of their own - crowds began to fantasize about the speeds attainable by the pace vehicles.  What better way to explore the limits of speed than a race?   Enter: the automobile racing, and automobile culture.

Fast forward one century, it seems we are facing the brutal realities of our obsession with internal combustion and speed.  The bicycle emerges as a hearty source of entertainment, transport, style, pride and adventure, and consequently we are faced with a choice that we didn’t have to make a century ago: can we actively work together to create our communities around the inspiring bicycle as a core mode of transportation? Can we hold the space for the automobile to find it’s rightful place in our portfolio of transportation options, thereby creating room (both figurative, and quite literal) for more community oriented solutions to revive?

2008 marked a profound step forward in America’s understanding of the role of race in our society. The election of a mixed race president has shaken up the status quo and opened up remarkable new possibilities for each of us - regardless of our individual backgrounds. The possibility of seeing beyond race hovers on the horizon in a way that was unthinkable a century ago to Major Taylor or his rivals.

I believe that many other tyrannical ideas about ourselves and our future that we have clung to out of tradition, or fear, are also beginning to erode. Perhaps the revival of the bicycle in our consciousness is not just a function of economic constraints. Perhaps there is something bigger at stake than saving money. Perhaps time is doing what it does well: refine.

This holiday season marks a strange and tumultuous time full of uncertainty and hope. I am proud to be in such great company as we work to refine ourselves, our culture, our planet. I do believe we are crafting something of immense chaos and immeasurable perfection to pass on to the next generations. I salute our efforts and yours.

I entreat you to fill up the comments section on this post with victories, personal, community or otherwise that 2008 presented for the bicycle - I’ll start with a few, click on the comments below to see them.

–Nate Byerley, Xtracycle Inc.

Support the efforts of Worldbike and buy a dream build of a Big Dummy. Current bid: $1000 for a complete Big Dummy. Auction ends on Xmas day.

http://www.tinyurl.com/bigdummy

We’re excited to announce that we’re hiring!

Xtracycle seeks a top-notch, experienced Warehouse Manager for our Northern California Headquarters. No phone calls please - email resumes, cover letters, inquiries to info@xtracycle.com.

Warehouse Manager (Inventory, Shipping, Receiving)

Responsibilities include:

Insure appropriate shipping methods are utilized based on the customer, the box quantity, shipping number and time frame.
Insure packing slips are placed in the correct orders.
Analyze sales orders and product for accuracy.
Ship orders using UPS, FedEx, and US postal (mostly domestic, some international). Monitor bulk and single box orders. Insure all high priority orders ship accordingly.
Receive and verify incoming merchandise.
Assessing, managing, and maintaining shipping supplies on hand such as: tape, boxes, bags, shrink wrap, etc.
Support and work with all departments in a positive and productive manner to help the company meet its monthly goals and objectives.
Ability to perform bicycle mechanics, including bike builds, bike maintenance and general overhauls
Must be organized, be detail oriented, and have the ability to multitask.
Perform other related duties as assigned.

Experience: 

2 to 4 years experience in a busy shipping department
Experience with UPS, FedEx, Quickbooks and Excel
Familiarity with bicycle components a plus
Prior bicycle industry experience a plus, preferably as a bike mechanic
Forklift certified is a plus.
Inventory experience a plus.
Comfortable with data entry and ability to type 30 wpm.

Physical Requirements:

Must be mentally and physically fit to work in a fast paced, ever changing environment
Must be able to stand, walk and for long periods of time.
Ability to work under time constraints
Ability to multi-task
Must be able to lift 50 pounds

Resumes via email accepted: info@xtracycle.com (no phone calls please). 

Roll to your next holiday party on your Xtracycle with the gift of deliciousness. This recipe is a fun twist on the common cookie. Modified from this month’s recommended reading, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.

For the visual learners amongst us, visit our flickr set.

Makes four dozen cookies, perfect for sharing!

1. Liquid Bowl: Combine in large bowl, set aside

2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup honey, go local!
2 tbsp. vanilla extract, go fair trade!

2. Dry Bowl: Combine in separate, medium bowl

4 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg, for that holiday flavor!

3. Magic Ingredients: Preheat oven to 350º, shred zucchini

4 cups zucchini, skins on (roughly 3 medium zucchini)
18 oz. chocolate chips or raisins or cranberries, etc.

4. Combine Liquid and Dry Bowls, mix Magic Ingredients well

5. Spoon dough onto greased baking sheet, flatten

Fills four cookie sheets; using only two requires two batches

5. Bake 10-15 minutes @ 350º

Allow cookies to cool on waxed paper.

Dress warmly and go deliver your efforts to those who could use some love and sweetness in their life.

Read this post if you’re thinking about making your own kid carrier, or are actively carrying passengers on the back of your Xtracycle.

I’ve been wanting to comment on this topic for a while. Here at Xtracycle World Headquarters, we’re privy to news flashes about your fantastic Xtracycle creations, be they bike-based barbecues, clever skateboard combos, or people portaging apparati. Clearly, Xtracycle offers up an amazing platform for portaging stuff and people; it’s a thrilling way to use your bike, to give of your boundless energy (it’s true, I’m on coffee cup number two), but it’s also serious business, from a safety and a legal standpoint. I want to share with you what I know to help you make sure that any kid carrier inventions up your sleeve comply with the law, which I think is designed to keep our kids safe and sound on two wheels.

State laws regulate the carrying of passengers on a bicycle. Local laws may also further regulate passenger carrying, and this message does not attempt to address those regulations. However, on the state level, it seems common that passengers are broken into two categories - those sub 40 lbs / sub 4 yrs old - and anyone over and above either of those thresholds. We’re talking babies + toddlers is one group, and everyone else in another. While I have not read every state law regarding this, but I’ve probably read twenty - I’m speaking generally here, and you should make sure you’re up to date in the laws in your area. Some examples are provided below.

Here’s what a few different state laws have to say about carrying kids:

California:
"If the passenger is four years of age or younger, or weighs 40 pounds or
less, the seat shall have adequate provision for retaining the
passenger in place and for protecting the passenger from the moving
parts of the bicycle."

Rhode Island goes further, requiring that any passenger carrier meets ASTM regulations (industry standard requiring third party testing) - note that Rhode Island also regulates children 6 years and younger, rather than the more common 4.
No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for
which it is designed or equipped, except when transporting a child six (6)
years of age or younger in a rear-mounted bicycle carrier and/or trailer that
meets mandatory and various industry standard specifications as developed by
the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

And Ohio is a little less defined in their regulations:
ORC Section 4511.53 - Requires bike riders to only ride upon the “permanent and regular seat”
attached to the bike and prohibits a cyclist from carrying any other person on a bike except
upon a “firmly attached and regular seat.”

As far as big kids and adults go, the laws are generally a little more open ended:

Ohio says:
[State Law] Prohibits using a bike to “carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped”

New Hampshire:
II. No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.

And California:
No operator shall allow a person riding as a passenger, and no
person shall ride as a passenger, on a bicycle upon a highway other
than upon or astride a separate seat attached thereto.

What do we think about the legality of carrying people 40 lbs + or 4 yrs and older on an Xtracycle?

It seems that state laws generally require a separate seat for which the bike was designed and equipped (generally for folks 4 yrs or 40 lbs or more, with exception). We believe it is safe to argue that the Xtracycle provides such a seat, and that this case is made stronger yet by the presence of devices like Footsies, The Magic Carpet and Stoker Bar. In many ways, this combination of foot rests, seat pad, and handlebar mimics the experience of a child riding on their own bike, or on a trail-a-bike. Of course, your child may be much less engaged without being responsible for balancing themselves or pedaling, so there remains a concern for us about saying that this solution is fully safe. You can acheive further security by using Whatchamacollars to secure your V-racks to your Xtracycle, and making sure your FreeLoaders are properly strapped to the FreeRad frame.

All that said, Xtracycle will facilitate the process, and make products that you can trust to be safe, but the ultimate decision to roll “family style” is one that should not be taken lightly. Understand the risks, stay in compliance with the laws, stay visible and off of busy streets whenever possible, and be positive and confident! As a parent of a soon to be two year old (okay, third cup of coffee now) who rides daily on a prototype bike seat solution for the Xtracycle, I am actively engaging these questions. Some days I’m just plain scared to put her and my well-being at risk on the roads - those days we walk, take the bus, or drive. Other days, I find that it’s all I can do to not just keep riding with her up into the Berkeley hills, freeing myself from the regular grid of streets and stop signs.

We are the early adopters, the freedom fighters, the risk takers. I’ve had a few people stop me on the road to lecture me on how unsafe it was to put a kid on a bike (granted my daughter was 6 months), but I’ve had far more reveal a smile of admiration and inspriation from the confines of their car. I’m inclined to trust that we are ultimately adding goodness to the world by getting around safely, as families, by bike.

We support you in finding solutions that inspire you, and liberate you from your car. We also need to weigh in and say that there are established conventions, safety standards, and practices you must follow. We do not claim to be experts in this arena yet, and we entreat you to contribute your knowledge in comments to this post, in emails to us, and within your communities. We are engaging these questions too, eagerly hoping to release a dedicated little-kid/toddler kid seat that’s Xtracycle compatible and darn safe in the coming months. I will keep you posted as this product evolves.

Yours very truly,

Nate Byerley, president

Xtracycle Inc.

Every year the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has their annual fundraiser that is always a good time for all who attend. This year was no exception will all the great people in attendance as well as the great art and consumables.

New Belgium Brewery was on hand handling the endless flow of beer, Rickshaw Bags partnered with us for a donation of a Radish to help the party get started, Askew Grill was cooking up tasty skewers, and more. One of our favorite parts of the event was the silent auction on artwork, bikes and bike related items. We bid on some art and bikes, drank some beer, ate some delicious food and had a great time chatting with friends.

Art by Emily Sevier

The biggest news of the night was that the SFBC hit the 10,000 member mark! This means that about 13% of the population of San Francisco are Bike Coalition members! The Bay Area is a great place to live and this is just another stepping stone away from being one of the best places in the nation to be a cyclist! (We hear that Portland is a little better even with the rain).

Another Xtracycle was on auction at Winterfest - this one from our newest San Francisco dealer, Warm Planet Bikes. A bright red Marin mountain bike was combined with a FreeRadical that we donated to make a great Xtracycle. All of the proceeds of the auctions went to benefit the SFBC.

Marin Xtracycle and other bikes in the silent auction from Flickr

“Classic” Arena Reed Pose at the PhotoBooth. Click to see all the photo booth images.

Real life spin offs of popular television game shows sometimes fall flat on their boob-tube faces, but when a talented group of Bay Area cyclists got together three years ago, they created pure gold.

Taking their cue from Supermarket Sweep (Wikipedia entry link), cycling enthusiasts Jonathan Koshi and Jenny Oh created an alley cat race, Supermarket Street Sweep (SMSW blog link), based on the hit television show. But, instead letting the racers take home their haul along with their prizes, the collected food is donated to local San Francisco food banks.

Xtracycle provided the grand prize, a FreeRadical kit for most points (read: food items) hauled in. About 200 riders showed up for the high-noon staging at Cupid’s Arrow in San Francisco. A beautiful sunny, crisp day greeted them. Once every rider registered for his/her spoke race card and complimentary cell phone holster from Crumpler, everyone received a manifesto of the route and store pickup locations.

Rick at the start:

Depending on the race, points vs speed, a certain number of stores had to be raced to with specific items needing purchasing. Every purchase required a receipt as proof of completing that store. As final instructions were given, racers were let loose upon The City, some taking their sweet time, others sprinting madly into the winter shade of downtown.

Two Xtracycle employees, Jason and Rick, tagged along for moral support. Their group began in hodgepodge fashion, following the stragglers. While friendly, the stragglers didn’t have the taste of blood - er food - in their mouths so Jason and Rick forged ahead in search of more rambunctious racers.

Landing at Safeway, a gathering of Sweepers had already entered the Pleasanton-based supermarket chain. Parking their bikes outside, Rick and Jason went in to catch the frenzied purchasing and item hunting going down. After about 6 photos, Rick was reprimanded by store secruity despite his pleas that this was all about the charity. Haters.

Outside, away from the glare of store security, the duo ran into Gary Fisher, stylishly dressed up to match his De Fietsfabriek, who was racing for the shear joy of it and to give back to the community as well. Gary and the three of us latched onto a raucous group of fellow cyclists that were mostly Jason’s teammates from his mountain bike an cyclocross teams - Murphy, May, Ted, Derrick, and more. Once fully loaded with that store’s haul, off they went in search of the next locale.
This process repeated itself four more times, with the hauls becoming progressively more voluminous and hefty. A few beers at crucial stops helped ease the burn, but what’s life without a little friction now and then?

Gary Fisher and racers:

The finish line was at Rickshaw Bagworks factory in the Dogpatch. Racers dropped off their completed manifesto to Jenny, snapped their photo in the “photo booth” tent and then proceeded to tally their haul under the watchful gaze of race volunteers. After the official beauracracy was completed, soda, snacks and beer were consumed but happy, tired and friendly faces.

Congrats to all the riders, winners and organizers! Looking forward to an even bigger turnout next year!

Jason at the finish:

“Dirty” Dave - Winner of the SMSW 2008:

Most of us will be with family or riding out bikes the next four days, but we know a lot of people like that whole Black Friday [link] thing, so we decided to give you all a present!

Friday and Friday only! 20% off all the components we sell. Also included in the 20% off sale are the DryLoader DryBag as well as the ShowerCap. Even though we’re in California we hear it’s “winter” in other parts of the country. We’re not quite sure what this means, but some people tell us that it rains and snows!

Happy Thanksgiving. Save some Tofurkey & yams for us.

We’re aware that one of the resources we’re using more and more of as a company in the distribution of our products is cardboard. Radish, our new complete, comes in a box that’s nearly 90 square feet in size once unfolded. We love these boxes - they protect Radish incredibly well, they are renewable (though certainly at a cost to our forests) and thanks to our graphics team, they’re damn stylish. All that said, the question remains - what do you do with this resource once it’s done acting as the skin between your stuff and UPS?

One option that happens to be seasonally appropriate, is sheet mulching. An outgrowth of Permaculture philosophy which prides itself on creating useful systems (think stewardship) rather than toiling away (think calloused farmer hands).  No offense to farmers, or calloused hands, both great things, but if you’re short on time, being a steward rather than a farmer means more home grown veggies per unit toil.  First, start with some land.  Good old fashioned earth.  Don’t go making it look all pretty by removing stones and twigs and pulling weeds.  That my friends is called work. Instead, lay down cardboard, newspaper, anything biodegradable and low on fat content. 

• Next, cover the cardboard with one to two inches (2.5 to 5 cm) of peat moss, peat moss substitute or other moisture holding organic material.
• Layer several inches of organic material such as straw, leaves, grass clippings, or garden waste on top of the peat moss.
• Continue to alternate layers of peat moss and organic material, until desired depth is reached.
• Water until the garden is the consistency of a damp sponge. 
• Regularly increase soil level by introducing large amounts of mulch and compost to your garden and sheet mulched area. Essentially, bury the organic matter, build up your garden, restrict those weeds and still have time to get in a mountain bike ride.

How does this save energy?  Well, every municipality it seems can justify picking up cardboard streetside, taking it to a recycling facility that will turn it back into pulp.  It’s great, cardboard has a kind of Cradle to Cradle life cycle.  But all of that transportation and processing spills carbon into the atmosphere.  Hence, an argument in favor of keeping your waste local, and even better, using it to help grow oxygen emitting green things.  Like radishes.