Category Archives: cargo bikes

Bikes carrying skis

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Anne | 1 Comment

Tim makes hauling large items look so easy

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Posted in alternative transportation, BIG Loads, bikes, cargo bikes

Tagged bikes that haul, ski, snow, xtracycle

Brompton: It’s a Utility Bike

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Anne | 15 Comments

It’s been a year since we bought our matching yellow Bromptons.

Of all the bikes in our fleet, our Bromptons garner the most notice. Why? Obviously because of the tiny fold. And because they’re matching. And lemon-yellow. And we’re both quite tall and we look a little ridiculous riding them. And so on… basically they are not bikes for the shy.

Quite honestly, at the time of purchase Anne doubted our families’ need for Bromptons: we don’t travel much, we don’t have a shortage of bike storage space at home, and we aren’t big bus riders.

Tim’s purchase pitch smelled like bike lust to her: more of a want than a need.

But his negotiating skills (with Anne not the seller) prevailed and he eventually convinced her. He even pulled out the habitual-bike-purchaser’s classic line: “At this price, if we don’t ride them, we can easily sell them for more than we bought them!”

Anyone heard that one from a spouse before?

And we’re both glad he won the negotiation because in the past year, we’ve discovered so many uses for our Bromptons. Continue reading →

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Posted in alternative transportation, BIG Loads, bikes, cargo bikes, kids, kids' bikes, sustainability

Tagged Bike on Bike, Brompton, carfreedays, Utility Bikes

Learning advanced bike skills. Or look Mom, no hands!

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Tim K | 9 Comments

Maybe some of you parents can relate. One day your kid is on training wheels or a balance bike, the next they decide they can ride no hands.

It starts out simple enough–one hand up for a split second (see “the beginner in the video). Then two (for a split, split second). They start stretching it out. Longer and longer. The wobbles get bigger, and more dangerous because they aren’t going too fast to start out with and usually stop pedaling as soon as the hands come off. But still they wait even longer before returning to the safety of hands on. Eventually, they’ll realize speed is a good thing. It stabilizes the bike. But until they do … yikes.

The boy right now is in the early stretching-out stage. And it scares the crap out of me. Continue reading →

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Posted in bikes, cargo bikes, family cycling, kids, safety gear

Tagged no-hands, paperboy, video

Val’s Memorial Ride and Wake (Labor Day cargo bike ride)

Posted on September 3, 2011 by Anne | 1 Comment

Val (in the hat) at the start of 2008 Labor Day ride at 20/20 Cycle

As many of you know, Val Kleitz was a driving force for the Seattle holiday cargo bike rides. For us, he was the spirit of cargo bikes in general. So it’s quite fitting that this year’s Labor Day cargo ride is honoring Val as a memorial ride.

The Labor Day ride traditionally runs (very roughly) from 20/20 Cycle on Union St. to Cowen Park in Ravenna. Plan on a slow, cargo-and-kid-friendly pace. Make sure you carry enough in the way of food, beverages, and picnic supplies. Just in case!

We’re hoping to see a lot local riders and family cyclists showing support for Val’s memory, as well as enjoying some transportation cycling on a lovely day. As always, a cargo bike is Not Required (If you are hauling yourself, you’re hauling a load!). So come on out and join the pallet.

Details: Meet at 20/20 cycles (2020 East Union) noon Monday. The Pallet leaves at 1:00 and should take about 90 minutes to arrive at the Cowen/Ravenna park picnic shelter. Later Monday night is a wake for Val at Pike Brewery.

More details about both events here….

See you there!

-Tim & Anne

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Posted in bikes, alternative transportation, seattle, bigger than here, cargo bikes, Events, family cycling

Tagged seattle, xtracyle, cargo bikes, Labor Day

RIP: Val Kleitz helped us all stay “rubber side down”

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Tim K | 14 Comments

We got the sad news tonight that Val Kleitz (ie, Bike Pilot, the Instigator, Rolling Jackass, Dreadnought, former owner of Bike Smith, and all around amazing spirit), died Wednesday at age 51.

Val had been fighting cancer for about two years.

If you knew Val, even a little, then you know what kind of loss this is. And if you don’t know Val, here’s a little story.

My earliest memories of Val are tied to fast road bikes and hot pink Lycra spandex, circa 1990.

Continue reading →

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Posted in bigger than here, bikes, cargo bikes, news, sustainability

Tagged RIP, Seatttle, Val, Val Kleitz

Bike Pool to Soccer Practice

Posted on September 30, 2010 by Anne | 8 Comments

This is most likely the last year I’ll be able to shuttle two kids on the Xtracycle. (sniff sniff) I don’t know what Tim has been feeding them, but the wee ones have grown. They are simply getting too dang big to shuttle around.

And now they have friends.

And it’s not just their size, it’s their energy. They’re all squirmy and excited and silly. And they laugh and joke and eat lollipops. And sometimes they bonk each other with their helmets.

I have to say, I’ll miss this era. There’s nothing quite like hauling squealing kids on a bike.

But I know my Xtracycle kid-shuttle days are coming to a close.

And the kids must ride their own bikes to soccer practice.

(I promise to keep hauling the balls and cones until they are big enough for their own cargo bikes)

– Coach Anne

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Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, cargo bikes, kids, xtracycle

Tagged bike pool, bikes, coach, kids, soccer, soccer mom, xtracyle

Transitions: from kids as cargo to kids as riders (a new series)

Posted on July 5, 2010 by Anne | 11 Comments

Like many parents around the world, we have embraced using bikes instead of cars to haul our kids around the city. It’s been 3 years since we built the Xtracycles and started using them for everyday transportation.

First Ride, August 2007

Wow, 3 years already? How did that happen?

It’s been a great run: we’ve learned so much, met some fantastic people, laughed and smiled a lot….and developed some beefy quads. We wouldn’t go back to our short-distance car driving ways for anything. We’re hooked on bikes.

If you read Car Free Days with any regularity, you already know that. I don’t want to talk about the benefits of cargo bikes.

I want to talk about growing kids and what to do about them. Because while we were out enjoying cargo biking, our kids have grown.

A lot. Continue reading →

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Posted in bikes, cargo bikes, kids, kids' bikes

Tagged cargo bikes, Family Cycling, kids, riding with kids

Please Stand with Haiti

Posted on January 15, 2010 by Tim K | 12 Comments

*updated with cider stand info below:

Thanks to Tom of Bikejuju for raising awareness of the situation in Haiti and specifically promoting Paul Farmer‘s Partners In Health (PIH) and their Stand with Haiti campaign as a worthy place for donations.

When I was in graduate school and working in an undergraduate library, “Mountains Beyond Mountains“ by Tracy Kidder was the required “Common Book ” for all UW freshman. Me, as a good librarian, and Anne as a member of the extended campus community, chose to read along. It wasn’t long before we found ourselves touched deeply by the story of Haiti, Farmer, and his organization PIH. Continue reading →

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Posted in bikes, cargo bikes, extravehicular activities, news

Tagged cider, Greenlake, Haiti, Partners in Health, Paul Farmer, Stand with Haiti, xtracycle

Bike Dates … with Friends in other cities

Posted on June 11, 2009 by Anne | 18 Comments

We like visiting Portland, not just because of it’s bike culture, yummy food and modern architecture, but also because we know some great people in town.

Last week, Tim and I got together with some of my college friends for dinner and beers as part of a long weekend (without children!). We went to college a while ago so these really are old and super fantastic friends. As always, we had a great time catching up and sharing stories and cutting loose with them. Even us semi-old people need to do that from time to time.

Mitch, Julie, Vincent, Anne and Tim enjoying dinner and beer at Seraveza. Photo by Jennifer

Since our kids were at home with grandparents, we were the only couple that didn’t have to worry about relieving babysitters and picking up kids and putting them to bed etc. So naturally when our friend Jennifer had to leave early to pick up her kids, we offered to be helpful and give Vincent a “ride” home.

As most of you know, our four wheels are not of the usual variety but since we ride practical city bikes, an extra passenger was no problem. Continue reading →

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Posted in alternative transportation, bikes, cargo bikes, dates, PDX

Tagged beer, bikes, biking with friends, friends, portland