Commuting with tools

chronyx

I want to start cycling to work again. This will mean carrying my tools as well so I would guess another 10 - 15kg...maybe a bit more some days.

I'm not worried about my cycling it, I mean, I can only get fitter

Just wondered what I need to consider on the bike side of things? Uprated rear wheels or heavier duty brakes?

I assume a rack can take that sort of weight...

Anonymous

If youve got a lot of weight on the back wheel id consider getting one handbuilt. Im a bit of a sucker for correctly built and specced wheels (also known as a sad beggar).

A trekking rim something like dt swiss' tk 7.1s should be about right. And 2.0mm spoke width on an xt hub or something laced 3x should be about right. Not superlight but tough as old boots.

andrewc3142

What tools did you have in mind? For my 30 miles I take tyre levers, a tube and a small pump plus one of those pocket multi-tool things, but that's not much weight. Anything I can't fix with these isn't likely to be a side of the road job.

Or do you mean tools as in working tools? If so, Tubus make really good racks, but pricey.

Anonymous

I think he meant tools for work, like plumbing or joinery or something.

andrewc3142

Yep, that occurred to me after I posted. Doh!

chronyx

Heh heh Yeah I'm an electrician so hammers, pliers, screw drivers etc etc.

How much would that cost please Andyp?

nwallace

Having seen my brother (also a sparky) empty his car of tools into the Hall. I think you might need a trailer and rear rack unless you are able to know exactly what you need for the days job.

chronyx

Well I use my toolbox and everything else (drills, levels, more drills etc) turns up with the others in a company van or someone's car!

Jon8a

http://www.surlybikes.com/bigdummy.html

chronyx

That is quite a good idea actually

pete236

Doesn't look too comfortable though! Riding position looks awkward!

RufusA

Personally I wouldn't want to carry 10-15kg of tools on my back. The weight would be uncomfortable over any distance and I would worry about the risk of injury if I came off at speed.

I have seen a chap cycling over Waterloo bridge with a flat bed trailer with a large plastic tool box bungied on that back.

Or:

http://www.cyclexpress.co.uk/.%2fProduc ... ailer.aspx

Rufus.

Gambatte

Think theres another, the Kona 'Ute'.

I actually fancy it

I'll do a 'google'



http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... id=Frogoog

SamWise72

The Yuba Mundo is even cheaper! I don't think the riding position on the Big Dummy is anything unusual - just the long tail makes it look wierd. In the Big Dummy's favour is that it works with all the Xtracycle stuff, but against it, it's expensive, and you can't get one (they're sold out for now). The Mundo is way cheaper, but clunkier....

http://www.thisisloadsbetter.com/

whome

or an Xtracycle kit for any bike
http://www.xtracycle.com/models.php#retrofit
There is a UK distributor I believe.

TheBoyBilly

That Kona Ute looks a good alternative, and excellent brand too.

loadsbetter

Hi,

Loads Better is the UK distributor for Yuba and Xtracycle.

You can get Xtracycle direct from Loads Better.

Good Things in the Dairy, Bristol, has got Yuba Mundo and Kona Ute longbikes.

I hope this helps.

Cheers.

whome

Yeh, the Yuba is cheaper and stronger but also heavier than the Kona I believe. The latest VeloVision has a review.

Anyway, these are all very nice ideas, but I suspect the OP can probably make do with a decent rack and rear wheel as suggested and that would be a darn sight cheaper. Of course a longtail is tempting and he may be able to justify the cost of the basis of needing to carry the tools

hodsgod

chronyx wrote:

I want to start cycling to work again. This will mean carrying my tools as well so I would guess another 10 - 15kg...maybe a bit more some days.

I'm not worried about my cycling it, I mean, I can only get fitter

Just wondered what I need to consider on the bike side of things? Uprated rear wheels or heavier duty brakes?

I assume a rack can take that sort of weight...

How much do you weigh? bikes are very flexible. They are designed to carry more than just twiggys.

You need to decide how much your all up weight is before you decide if you need special wheels. My guess is you don't need to do anything. By the way I weigh 90 KG, and have no problems on any bikes.

chronyx

I'm about 85kg so about the same as you!

dutch rob

The Yuba Mondo is the best for carring stuff. a good load platform with plenty of loading options, a good comfy ride and simple. The Kona Ute is a bit more delicate and the luggage options are more suited to commuting rather than working, if you get me. the big dummy is not available in the UK yet (august possibly). If you want to try both yuba and kona, try the longbikecentre. Xtra cycle is a good option too but mondo is probably best for a work bike.

Gambatte

dutch rob wrote:

The Yuba Mondo is the best for carring stuff. a good load platform with plenty of loading options, a good comfy ride and simple. The Kona Ute is a bit more delicate and the luggage options are more suited to commuting rather than working, if you get me. the big dummy is not available in the UK yet (august possibly). If you want to try both yuba and kona, try the longbikecentre. Xtra cycle is a good option too but mondo is probably best for a work bike.

How about a comparison of the gearing? 1st, quick glance, my impression was that the Ute might be better geared for load carrying?

dutch rob

The yuba has 6 gears, well spaced, the yuba 16 gears so you are bound to find one that suits. You cannot load the Ute like you can the yuba, in theory you can upgrade the Yuba to match your locations hilliness and the weight of tools etc. I have moved 19 stone on it..ie an unfit me and coped ok with local hills/slopes. The Ute gives the impression of being more delicate which would be a factor if using it for a cargo bike.

hodsgod

chronyx wrote:

I'm about 85kg so about the same as you!

You will easily get yourself and 15KG on a good quality bike. You could get an Audax or a hybrid. Both should have all the lugs on for guards and rack. Make sure you have a traditional full spoked wheel, 32 is the correct number I think.

chronyx

That's handy. I stripped down my old Hardrock to its component parts yesterday (Very satisfying I must say) and that is a chunky old beast of a frame so by the sounds of it maybe a rim/wheel upgrade is all I need.

Thanks for everyones replies.

yannigr

I carry myself (80kg) + my daughter (20 kg) at the back of my raleigh hybrid (a 10-15 year old steel one) on 700x35 tyres and have no problem except that I wear out rear wheels (spokes or bearings).I f I were to do it again, I would buy an old steel MTB and fit 26x1.5 slicks on decent wheels. Mountain bike hubs are wider so more robusts.

I am not sure that it is worth spending a lot of money on such a utility bike as you won't feel the difference. You can always save the extra cash for a road bike if you feel like having fun at weekends.

Belv

I bet that Mondo is strong - it looks like it's made from scaffolding!

Unless size of tools is an issue, then i don't think it's worth getting one of those long options. Most racks i've seen suggest a maximum of 25Kg load so would be fine with the weight you need to carry. If you are in the position of needing a one-bike-for-everything, and can afford it, i'd consider a Surly Long Haul Trucker frame as a starting point. The rear stays are spaced to accept (stronger) MTB hubs or road hubs and it's solid cro-mo steel.

always_tyred

I commute with tools every day. They drive too fast and never give me enough room.

Surf-Matt

Always Tyred wrote:

I commute with tools every day. They drive too fast and never give me enough room.

Exactly what I thought of too!

Used to commute with a shortback bergen (going to Army training and back) with a similar weight on a normal MTB - it wasn't a lot of fun but it was doable.

meanwhile

chronyx wrote:

I want to start cycling to work again. This will mean carrying my tools as well so I would guess another 10 - 15kg...maybe a bit more some days.

I'm not worried about my cycling it, I mean, I can only get fitter

Just wondered what I need to consider on the bike side of things? Uprated rear wheels or heavier duty brakes?

I assume a rack can take that sort of weight...

If a rack can't take 15kg, it's useless. Bike messengers (at least back when I did the job) like Blackburn racks. They're so strong that mountain bikers have been known to sit on them them to move their weight back for descents.

As for special wheels - 15kg isn't much. Unless you're riding an especially delicate bike, like a 15lb racer with lightened rims, I wouldn't worry about it. And even bikes with delicate rims and frames can handle reasonable weight with the right tyres - skinny, high pressure, shock transmitting racing tyres are the main evil when trying to handle weight on a bike.

Anyway, you're probably riding a mountain bike with fat tyres (because most people who don't post I'm-riding-X are) in which case you can carry about, oh, a ton. It's probably a good idea to put proper medium pressure road tyres on the bike (aka "slicks") because they're grip hard surfaces better than knobblies, and with weight at either end the bike will have worse handling. Carry the weight as low as you can symmetrically. Some people say over the front is better than the back, but I've never tried that.

chronyx

Right on every count there mate - and I fitted some slicks just last week - what a revelation love 'em

Cheers dude 8)