Modular Storage

Even though this bike seems to have ample space to carry everything, like a good backpack it needs lots of pockets to stash stuff.

You can see the previously installed black basket on the far under side of the rack. I use this to carry locks, rain gear and most recently a can of white and a can of black spray paint, my one biker campaign against taggers. I had tried to store my tools, tubes and patch kit in here as well. These were all so small that they’d either get thrown out the top on bumps or settle so far to the bottom that they became impossible to find.

The other day while at Home Depot I spied a tubular, red, round container laying on the floor beneath a welder display. I was about to walk past it and I was struck with the idea of mounting it below that cargo deck and stuffing it with tools, tubes, patch kit, bungies, ratchet straps and tie-wraps. Of course tie-wraps were deployed to hold this in place…strong, cheap and they don’t rust.
Of course I had to customize my new storage with stickers from my favorite local places here in Seattle.

This part was less than $10US and fills a real need.

Inaugural Cargo Bike Pilot Profile - Val Kleitz

In what I hope to be a regular feature I'll bring you first person stories of life on a cargo bike. To kick off the series is Val Kleitz. Val is one of the most dedicated riders I have ever met and one of the nicest humans around. We met at the market prior to group cargo bike ride. Ironically Val went to high school in Santa Fe with my girlfriend.

Check it out and let me know what you think and feel free to suggest riders for future profiles.

Daniel

Video on the Wheel

I have been working feverishly on a new video. I thought I'd show you all the gear I hauled last time I shot an interview. I'll have a clip soon.

Daniel

Mulch Run Number 4

Saturday marked the last of my Theo Chocolate Mulch Runs for the early summer. This load is made up of two especially heavy bags weighing close to thirty pounds each. Both today and yesterday I went up Fremont Ave unlike the first Mulch Run where I went up the more gradual, but out of the way Stone Way.

Our garden loves this stuff.

Mulch Run Number 3

This is another 75+ pounds of Cocoa mulch from Theo Chocolates in Seattle. We have been putting it in our garden. I was hoping to get four or five bags on but was only able to get three of them strapped down. To get home I had to climb around 750 feet especially if you factor in the down hill detour to the farmers market.

Early Cargo Run

The year is 1998 and I have just bought my BOB. Mostly for this Thanksgiving trip from Chicago to New Mexico...on the train.

This is one of my favorite "Secret Chicago" locations.

In addition to a weeks worth of clothes and who know what else there is also a small collapsible cooler (a couple of meals for the train trip) and a pack packing kitchen for making hot cocoa in NM.

I really was not so sure I'd get much use out of the BOB. Was I wrong! Everyone should have one in their household. .

Daniel

Bike Polo Bikes

Here is a load of bikes I took down to Mobius yesterday. I found one in the weeds and the other in a free pile. Someone will be happy to have them and I am glad to get rid of them.