Cargo Bike Central: Two Bargains on Austin Craigslist

I've been sneaking in some little bike rides lately. And it feels good to be back on the bike. Good enough that it keeps the dream alive to go car-free (or at least much more car-lite.) But giving up the hauling capacity of the pickup would be tough. Giving up the gas station, however, would be downright joyful. So I keep my eyes out for cargo bikes.

This week, I've found two big bargains, and one is even in my price range, both are too far away, though. So, hopefully one or two of you will be closer and in the market to begin your cargo bike adventure.

Big Bargain on a BIG Bike

There are actually two stories here. We'll talk about the bike first. This big ol' workhorse was built by Metrofiets in Portland. Check out the website to learn more. This one has the 8-speed internally geared rear hub. Oh so cool! And it is indeed a $4000 bike (before shipping) if you buy a new one. Be sure to check out the Metrofiets logo - it's not every day you see a winged elephant. At $1200, you will have a hard time finding a better deal, especially out here in Texas.

A whole lot of bike for only $1200!

The second story here is how this bike has spent its life. It's been a carbon neutral carbon-negative company truck for Compost Pedallers in the state capital. If you don't know Austin, it's a place that doesn't really fit the Texas mold. They have a slogan - Keep Austin weird! This is a place that actually embraces a company that uses cargo bikes to collect household scraps to make compost. How cool is that?!! Carbon-neutral transportation used to collect and create a carbon-negative product. If we had a lot more of that, we would not be in the mess we are in. 

Bravo, Compost Pedallers!

(Loving that Surly Big Dummy! The bike - not the young lady)

The Other Great Deal

For those of you who aren't sure you want such a big beast or you're not ready to shell out four figures on a bike, check this next deal out. This one is like a BOGO deal. The bike is an Electra 18-speed cruiser -  a desirable thing in its own right. The cargo extension is an Xtracycle FreeRadical. And it's not unheard of to spend that much money on a used version of either. Yep, $175 is a great deal even if you factor in that this thing is pretty weathered.

The Stuff Mesquite Hugger dreams are made of!

This one has actually been featured on Mesquite Hugger before, and it cost $100 more then, but it was probably in better shape then.

May you and I both find the right tools to go carbon-free and may the Compost Pedallers and bike makers of the world thrive and help us get there.

Lubbock on a Bike: Bike Challenge Update and a Cheap Cargo Bike in Town

Okay, let's get straight to the sexiness - there's a retro cargo bike on the Lubbock Craigslist Bike Parts section. It's simple, strong, and quite a buy at only $100. Act now - it can't stick around long.

Cooler than a shopping cart cargo bike! And already built!

 

As for me and my pedal-powered quest for personal carbon reduction, it's going pretty well:

Blue are the days I've ridden in June. I was out of town on all but one of the white days. It's progress.

 

The new (to me) mountain bike commuter is holding up well. The homemade panniers are holding up with a little tweaking here and there. The legs and lungs are doing better than ever. Most important, the Dodge truck is gathering dust most days.

 

And I am still happier on the days I ride. I may not be saving the world, but it's a pedal in the right direction.

 

May we all pedal something in the right direction!

It's easier...

I struggle with easier.

It's easier for me just to turn on the tap.
It's easier for me just to pay the electric bill.
It's easier for me just to drive a car.
It's easier for me just to pump gas.
It's easier for me just to throw plastic dishes away.
It's easier for me not to save and eat leftovers.
It's easier for me just to ignore the news.
It's easier for me just not to vote.
It's easier for me just to buy a new one.
It's easier for me just to trash it.
It's easier for me just to shop at the big store.

Yes. Those things are all easier.

(Here)

 

It is time to find a new adjective.

It's worthwhile for me capture rainwater.
It's worthwhile for me just to conserve electricity.
It's worthwhile for me to walk, pedal a bike, ride a bus, or carpool.
It's worthwhile for me to choose renewable energy in all forms.
It's worthwhile for me to wash dishes.
It's worthwhile for me to save and eat leftovers.
It's worthwhile for me to follow impactful stories.
It's worthwhile for me to research and vote for my beliefs.
It's worthwhile for me to repair my stuff.
It's worthwhile for me to compost.
It's worthwhile for me have a garden, shop local, or buy used.

(My favorite)

 

May you find life rather than ease. (Thank you for reading!)

Lubbock on a Bike: Bike to Work Week, Day, and Commuter Nirvana Returns

The next two weeks are big ones for Lubbock cyclists. Already, I have been noticing more and more cyclists on the street. Yesterday I even ran across a smiling woman riding a folding bike on Memphis Avenue. (There's a certain bike-dork-cool in spotting a folding bike actually being ridden.)

The National Bike Challenge is rocking right along...

...but Spencer has stepped it up this year and is kicking my butt all over the street with his 7 miles per day. My 3-day per week commutes just don't aren't cutting it! The  NBC website is working now. (Please join us!)

Week 2 - I have logged 50 miles so far - a few gallons of gas not burnt!

 

Support a local business and get your bike on this Saturday:

Velocity Bike Shop is having a 10th Anniversary event this weekend.

Next week has two big bike events.

The whole week is National Bike to Work Week. Next Friday is Bike to Work Day. Mark your calendars!

Bike to Work Week - May 16-20

Bike to Work Day - May 20

Check out all these places that ENCOURAGE people to ride. 

Next Friday!

 

My favorite poster - Santa Cruz

Cedar Rapids invites you to Bike to Lunch with the Mayor

 

(Can you imagine that with Lubbock Mayor Glen Robertson?)

 

My favorite part:

The following week begins my favorite bike commuter season because summer is here and we will finally see the Last Day for Lubbock Independent School District - May 27 Wooooohooo!!! Yes, Bike Commuter Nirvana begins. It's a time when the town's population drops by 20,000 (college students head home) and a time when stressed-out parents and hormone-filled teens are not distractedly driving to the neighborhood schools. Yep, I can start using better routes that pass dangerously close to schools. Birds will sing! Flowers will bloom! The commute will go from Mad-Max intense to Cinderella-with-the-birds blissful. Yep, I am excited!

May your commute be healthy and peaceful for us all!

A Little Green List for St. Pat's 2016

Nothing native here grows without thorns

 

You have to know that the Mesquite Hugger staff loves any day where going green is a requirement (if you want to avoid the dreaded pinch.)

 

St. Patrick wants you - to go green!

 

In honour of the patron saint of Ireland, why not pick one green step to make before the wekend ends?

 

• Replace one car trip with a walk, a bike ride, or (at the very least) a car pool.
• Recycle or upcycle something headed for the trash.
• Plant something.
• Replace an incandescent bulb with an LED.
• Take a reusable cup when you go to a place that serves in disposable cups.
• Build a rain barrel
• Build a composter
• Hang a load of clothes up to dry
• Join the CCL.
• Plan for Earth Day
• Test drive an electric car
• Tune up your bike.
• Avoid meat for a day or (at least) a meal
• Go a day without buying anything
• Turn off the TV/computer/cell phone and do one productive thing in that time
• Pick your own green thing to do! 

 

Everyone can use a little St. Patty humour!

 

May the luck of the Irish be yours when it comes to healthier choices!

 

PS - Let us know what you picked!

 

 



Personal Carbon Reduction: Transportation Intro



From this great infographic

 

Step 1 (Pun intended.)
Let's start simple on the transportation. In most cases, the simpler the machine, the lower its carbon cost. If you want to go ultra-low carbon, start with a good pair of shoes. Range and speed may be low, but you can't beat your literal footprint for lowering your carbon footprint. I do more and more walking these days and find it to be therapeutic as well carbon neutral. And it helps me to stay more connected to what is happening in my neighborhood. [If my destination is within a mile, I try to walk.]

 

European Cyclist Federation (Carbon)

 

Pedal-Power
The next step for me is a plain, old bicycle. Super-low carbon footprint, improved health, improved budget, and a wider physical range (than walking) combine to make a bike a great way to get around. You can easily buy a quality used bike for less than it costs to buy one tire for most cars. [If my destination is within three and half miles (and I am traveling alone) I try to take the bike. In truth, I love to bike.]

 

Next, I'll throw a curve with a gas-powered motorcycle, scooter, or moped. While most of them burn considerably less fuel than your average car, many of them also emit a lot more harmful gases than your average car. So, yes, you will burn less fuel, but you can do a lot more environmental damage by riding one. We'll talk more about gas-powered two wheelers in the near future. [I am not ready to discuss my scooter addiction, but I ride a lot less these days.]

 

Bike vs. Car ($$$)

 

So let's talk about petroleum-powered cars.
Cars (and light trucks) are often the most convenient, luxurious, and destructive way to get around, especially in a suburban setting like Lubbock. They are also very expensive - taking up at least 30% of the budget in many American homes. If you are looking to reduce your carbon footprint, dependence on the car is going to be one of your biggest obstacles, and cars are deeply ingrained in our national culture. Take some time and think about it. How prominent is the car in your life, your budget, and even your self image? Is it worth it? (Ouch!) [I drive my little worn-out truck a lot, and I cringe each time.]

 



The Space They Take - Car, Bus, and Bike (Space)

 

Petroleum-Powered Buses

Buses are funny things in the eco world. As a single vehicle, a bus has a pretty ugly carbon footprint until you hit the "divide" button on the calculator. If there are 30 people riding the bus (instead of driving 30 cars) the carbon footprint looks pretty awesome. With a bus, it's all about numbers, and when you have enough riders, a bus is a pretty green machine. [I need to ride the bus a lot more. Since Lubbock buses have bike racks on the front, riding the bus is a great way to ride a bike during extreme temperature days. I can bike to work in the morning on 100 degree days and ride the bus home in the afternoon heat. The opposite works well on really cold days.]

Mother Jones Carbon Cost Graphic

 

Jet Travel

Ouch! It's truly astounding how terrible jet travel is for the well-being of the planet and the organisms that hope to continue breathing. We have to find a better way. [It's really rare for me to fly, and I am okay with that.]

Electric and Hybrid Electric Vehicles
If you've read this far, you are probably wondering about the electric vehicles that show up so often on the Mesquite Hugger posts. Well, you're going to have to wait - I am saving those for another PCR installment.

 

 May we find our way with as little carbon spent as possible.

 

 

 

 

Shopping Cart Cargo Bike Follow-up (Instructables!!!!!)

  Some lucky Austinite got a bargain at $60!

Mesquite Hugger readers tend to be excited whenever we post about various ways to haul things on or in bicycles. I have to admit that one of the harder parts of riding a bike daily is figuring out how to transport stuff. A little while back we posted an article that highlighted a shopping cart bike for sale on the Austin Craigslist that garnered a lot of attention and a bit of inspirational drooling. And why not? When was the last time you pushed a cart around a store? They are amazingly useful for hauling stuff, but they are not really built for distance, speed, or real-world surfaces. Bicycles are normally not built to haul much stuff, but they are well adapted for speed, distance, and rough surface travel. And every mad scientist/maker/tinkerer/wierd-person-with-a-welder-and-a-junky-yard knows that when you hybridize two good things you come up with one truly great monstrosity! If you don't believe me, sit down and watch a movie marathon on the ScFi channel some time.

This town (Lubbock, TX) is severely lacking in mad-scientist hangouts - especially since Rusty moved across town - so I have been hanging out on Instructables a lot more. And Instructables is a great place to be further inspired by other mad-scientist types. There are even a few shopping-cart bikes over there:

Cart Bike by zieak

 

This one has been on Instructables for a long time, but the tiny wheels always scared me away.

Instructables Homemade Cart bike

 

This one is pretty sweet. The builder cites being inspired by the other two that are featured here.

Matte Resist's Cartbike

I have a feeling that this one was the original inspiration for everything else on the page. If you like going off on tangents, do some searching on the author/builder Matte Resist. I hope to read more of his writing soon.

Shopping Cart Furniture!

 

(I threw this in just because this post gave me the tangential excuse to feature another cool Instructable)

May your peanut butter get together with your chocolate and make a great cargobike peanut butter cup!

PS. Some local guy posted an olla Instructable recently. Check it out if you are really bored.

Lubbock on a Bike: National Bike Challenge starts today! ¡Yo soy un LUNA-tic!

The National Bike Challenge begins today, and I am excited! From May 1 to September 30, I will strive to ride a bike as much as possible. I will strive to lose weight, build muscle, lower blood pressure, save money, create less air pollution, create less noise pollution and generally line the world (and humanity) better.

Please join me, so you can strive for and reach some similar goals.

The National Bike Challenge

May we pedal our way to better!

PS - If you are in the Lubbock area, consider joining Team LUNA-tic. More info at http://www.ourlubbock.org/

Instructables Minipost - Get out your bike and your mad scientist tools!

Any excuse to feature a dog wearing goggles - link below

The weekend is almost upon us and I was thinking that you've had the winter blues lately, that you need to get out and do something, and snagit, you need to work off some of that winter weight! Here is a little inspiration to get you and your weenie dog back out in the garage and eventually back on those not-so-mean streets!

Bike Blinkers!

Bike-Powered Meat Grinder!

Another Hot Rod/Rat Rod Trailer!

Add a wooden bike basket!

A bicycle sidecar!

A bicycle sidecar for your weenie dog!

May you and your dog soon be riding stylishly and cleanly past the mean and evil gas stations of the world!

Bonus post link: The previous rat-rod bike trailer post

Tiny Post: The perfect vehicle(s) for tiny house people?

Really, I saw a Lloyd Alter piece on TH that made me want to share my favorite print ad of all time with you: (With a little vaguely artistic license)

 It makes your [tiny] house look bigger.

The article is actually about a tribute ad that promotes bicycling and does so beautifully.

Chained to work.

May small, simple, and effective be your beauty.

The Lloyd Alter Treehugger article: Ad promoting cycling to work looks very familiar

Lubbock on a Bike: The Local Paper Supports Cyclists and the "Niche"Speaks

Last month, our local paper published an article in which the mayor referred to bicycle infrastructure as a "niche issue". Apparently, I am not the only Lubbock cyclist who took issue with the piece. Last week, a group of cyclists held an informal meeting with city representatives to discuss the need for better safety options and come up with plans for the future. And I am (guardedly) optimistic.

Lubbock Cyclists Mobilize to Address Bike Safety Concerns (January 14)

Our View: Improving Local Bike Travel Could Be Good for Lubbock and Tech (January 6)

Road Rage: Lubbock Cyclists Decry Lack of Safety (December 13)

May you cycle safely, save money, lose weight, lower your blood pressure, and care less about gas prices. And may your city support you in all of that!

Bonus links - a few more MH posts on the topic:

Lubbock on a Bike: No Love from the Mayor

Lubbock on a Bike: National Bike Challenge in August

Bicycle Friendly America: How Bike-Friendly Is Your Town?

Finding a Bike Rack in Lubbock

A Very Quick Post about an Upcoming Lubbock Bike Ride

Bike to Work Day 2014: Bring it on, Lubbock!

 

Lubbock: Striving to Be a Suburban Urbanite

The Urban Tech events of the last few weeks have had me thinking.

 

"Suburban Urbanite." It kind of rolls off the tongue. Say it out loud and see how it fits.

We live in a place where it is easy to be fat and lazy. (And, yes, I resemble that remark.) When your car is parked very few feet from your kitchen and you can get a pretty good parking space at the grocery store, or the mall, or the superstore, or the doctor's office; and gasoline is pretty cheap... When it's freezing or roasting or dirt is blowing, but you have sealed windows plus central heat and air at home... When drive-thru-window burgers and tacos always come with fries and 32 ounce sodas, and they are cheaper than cooking healthy for yourself... When you can see the game so much better and in much more comfort from your couch than from the stadium... When your politicians can convince you that everything is alright in the world by starting statements with, "I am no scientist, but..."

I am very fortunate to live in the center of our town. Within a very small radius, one can find almost anything needed for daily life. As much as possible, I try to keep my travels close, to walk and ride the bicycle when I can. And I feel better when I do. And my weight has dropped a little. And my blood pressure has definitely dropped. And I find that my thoughts are healthier when I am moving than when I am sitting or driving. The dogs are healthier and less destructive when we walk them regularly. And the do-it-all smartphone is less of a temptation/distraction when I am in motion. And I am tired enough to sleep at night. And I am not a scientist, but I know that we are producing carbon monoxide much faster than our trees and ocean can absorb it, and it's deadly stuff. So the more I walk and ride and choose healthier, the less I am contributing to our decay.

So, here I am in the burbs striving to take advantage of some urban advantages without the downsides: the population, the pollution, the crime rates, the higher prices. And, to quote Mickey Rourke in The Barfly, "It's not that I don't like people, it's just that I feel better when they are not around, yeah..." And I am choosing to live healthier in the hopes that a few of you will too.

Another MH post about living in the middle of Lubbock: How far do you live from _______ ?

Tiny Post: Fun with Bike Racks

So, there I was in Taos checking out a cool bike rack to share with all of you, but I really needed to have what the young'uns are calling a bio break these days. After the break I came back to snap a pic, but I had to wait a while. The bike rack had become a playground. After a few minutes, a father figure said, "That's enough! Let's go." Kids scampered away, and I snapped the pic.

So today I am checking out a blog entry about a family that has two cargo bikes and no car, and off to the side I notice a link to Kids on Bike Racks. I clicked on it, and now I am smiling.

May you click onto a smile today too!

Pedal Power: Cool Alternative Uses for Bicycles

So, I was checking Treehugger this morning and ran across something very cool - a bicycle-powered centrifuge. Such a powerful and empowering idea from something so very simple. You can read about it here: Student invents low-tech bicycle-powered blood centrifuge

So, it got the old brain to rolling around the other ideas floating around the internet about bicycle-powered machines, and I hoped you'd be as inspired by the ideas as I am. Enjoy!

Generator

Ice Cream Bike

Laundry

Elevator

Water Pump

Lawnmower

Water Purifier

Boating

May your brain and your legs power us into a healthier world!

PS. Many of these can be found as projects on Instructables!

Lubbock on a Bike: I am 2097th!

With apologies to my wife and co-workers who have had to endure my sweaty self...

The National Bike Challenge finished a few days ago. I finished 2097th out of 47,099 in the U.S. Woohoo!!

That's me back in 1978 - the last time I was involved in any competitive cycling events.

And I am very thankful to have been a part of it! What started as little more than a whim turned into a daily part of my life. And it did not involve spending lots of money - it actually saved a fair amount. It did let me know that I am happier on days when I ride. Work is better, home is better, there is more hope, and there is more resilience. I lost 14 pounds and I have a lot more stamina in getting around Thank you, League of American Bicyclists!

I rode every single day in September - who knew this out-of-shape old guy had it in him?

That's either me or Dark Helmet from Spaceballs.

Another thing the challenge did for me was serve as a reminder of how much I love bicycling and have for most of my life.

May you find your challenge to keep you moving, to make you and our world much healthier.

Lubbock (Street) on a (Rented) Bike: Fort Worth

Don't Blame it on the Rain, blame it on the National Bike Challenge. I found myself in Fort Worth again this weekend and did not want to break a twenty-eight day streak of daily biking. So I busted out the debit card and rented a bike from Fort Worth Bike Sharing for a two-mile ride. Be sure to check out the video on the link to see how it's done. As I usually do on a bike, I had a great time. I even found Lubbock Street and grabbed a quick snapshot to share with you.

It was a very heavy duty bike with a disk front brake and a 3-speed Shimano Nexus hub. I have wondered if a commuter could be happy with a 3-speed. For me, the answer is yes. It had built-in lights, a basket and a rear rack. It even had a built-in cable lock. It was easy to ride and the very broad range served me well both uphill and downhill - so strange to ride in a place with noticeable elevation changes.

what it costs

I must say, it's a very cool system and I hope to take advantage of it the next time I am there. There are a few bike-share stations near the Trinity River Bike Trail, and I can't think of a better way to see a beautiful part of Fort Worth - well, maybe in a canoe, but I have not yet spotted the canoe share rack in the area. So, I will stick with the plan for the weekend that Tech plays TCU. Maybe I can sneak away from the football fans and have a leisurely cruise in a peaceful place.

If Lubbock had a bike-share setup, I'd seriously consider an annual membership. Having a sturdy and comfortable bike at my disposal with multiple drop points would be great. If you are in Fort Worth - or any place with a bike share, give it a try!

“It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.” Ernest Hemingway

May your pedal your way to health and prosperity!

Bonus Link: http://www.bikefriendlyfortworth.com/