Cargo Bikes on Amtrak

It's always been frustrating to me that Amtrak isn't more bike-friendly. Even though the Capitol Corridor train has roll-on bike service, if your bike is any deviation from "standard," it's still a no-go. Car-free travel depends on having continuous alternatives. Trains and bikes are a great combination--trains to cover long, difficult sections and bikes to fill in the gaps, for example. Since my travels often include two small munchkins, our options are even more limited. If we take the train, we depend on getting a ride to/from the station which includes figuring out car seats, or navigating public transport. Just going by bike is limited by safe infrastructure and my energy.

I haven't been riding much the past week due to the heat and a virus that settled in my lungs. Today was the first day in a week that wasn't going to be over 100 degrees. I've been feeling better so we made an impromptu trip out to Davis.

Sadly, today was Doughbot's last day. We lucked out and preordered a bunch of Nutella creme puffs for our picnic. One final delicious beginning to a fun bike adventure. We'll miss these guys but wish them well on their next chapter.

We made our way over the Yolo Causeway. I stopped a couple of times to make some minor adjustments to the bike, tilt up the saddle, raise the handlebars, fill the boys up with snacks. At one point, groups of cheerleaders were practicing at UC Davis. The boys were very impressed.

Mesmerized by the cheerleader practice.

Just as we started heading out towards Winters, the backseat arguing started. I was getting a bit tired and my new Velo Orange saddle was beginning to feel extra hard. I turned the bike around and started following the Davis Loop trail instead with the intention of finding a playground to have our picnic.

Davis does not disappoint in regards to great bike infrastructure, trails, and playgrounds.

As we were playing, my grandma got ahold of us and we headed over there for a post-picnic lunch and bonus fudgesicles. The longer we loafed the more tired I got. Luckily, I had planned on being able to use Amtrak as a backup if I didn't want to pedal the, miserable 16 miles back over the Causeway and through West Sac.

We rolled up just in time to catch the 3:30 train. Just to be on the safe side, I squished the Haul-a-Day's frame down to the 2nd button (the one-size-adjusts-to-fit-all frame can get small enough to be equal to a standard bike's wheelbase). The HaD was still a bit heavy with all the gear and the Hooptie but it was easy enough to get up the small step. The only trouble I had was trying to put it up onto the wheel hook but the bike stood up on its own and I secured it with the cable so it wouldn't topple over.

The last five miles through town were a bit rough on my tush but I managed. Little Brother fell asleep in the last mile. He was secure thanks to the Hooptie and Big Brother.

So after our first thorough Haul-a-Day ride of about 35 miles, I've decided to declare my love for this bike! It's a smooth, zippy ride that carries enough for a day trip and has plenty more room to spare. Being able to hop on the train easily opens up so many new options.

This bike has a very different feel from the Mundo--the Mundo rides like a tank, slow, steady, and totally secure. There's no flex or wobble. On the other hand, the HaD is light and maneuverable but you feel every bump and it's not as self-balancing. The small wheels make for quick and easy starts but it is a more noodly ride. I didn't notice any problem with excessive frame flexing or bounciness but I wouldn't try loading up the HaD as much as I would on the Mundo. This bike is going to be exactly what we need right now.