My dad is fond of saying "the number of bikes a person wants is always n+1, n being the number of bikes they already have." I hate to say it but he's right. We have a ton of bikes and there are still others that we dream about. Number one on my wish list--a bakfiets-like bike. If money were no issue, a Bullitt would be my next bike purchase. I think the longjohn style of bike has numerous uses but they are expensive and take up a ton of space. John Lucas, a local bike builder makes awesome and inexpensive one called a Cycle Truck. However, Bromptons, Family Tandems, Bike Friday triples, and more are all in my +1 category.
The Main Rides
The Bullitt
Our most recent cargo bike. The bakfiets design supplements our Mundo longtail beautifully. The difference between the Bullitt and the standard dutch long-john is that the Bullitt is lightweight and speedy, something we can use for longer distance riding. Although there was a couple weeks of adjustment to get used to the linkage steering, at this point we can hop between bikes easily. The rain cover by Blaq Designs keeps the kiddos warm and dry in less than perfect weather. Hopefully, at some point, we'll be able to train our doggy to ride with us.
Our Mundo-Mobile
Newest evolution-milk crate joy!
The Big Rig of all big rigs. A monster of a bike. Replacing minivans around the world (hopefully). Tim at Practical Cycle put her together with the Peanut Shell, disc brakes, deflopiator and even gave me the Stand Alone off another bike just so I could get started. We added a Yepp Mini to the front for Little Brother, and a Go-Getter (that we won for our Zombie photo shoot)! My milk crate is the most fantastic "carry-all"-- it is zip-tied and holding strongly. My orange seat was stolen off my Oscar since it has treated me so well for the past 5-ish years. We rock out to an Acouztic mp3/light which gives us even more of a true "minivan" feel and jealous looks from bikers and drivers alike.
The Sports Car
Our electric bike! This is a used step-through Breezer Uptown EX with 36 volt, long-range BionX power. It was part of Practical Cycle's rental fleet but we snapped it up shortly after going carfree. This is the perfect bike for those days that we're tired, need to go farther than we want, or just don't feel like working hard to get somewhere. The BionX system is a very natural pedal-assist method. Level 1 basically offsets the weight of the system, level 2 gives a nice easy boost, while level 4 makes you feel like you have bionic legs. The Breezer bikes are a fantastic commuter option that comes complete with fenders, rack, and chain guard. The BionX rear rack battery provides a rear light while also powering a bright dynamo-style front light. This is my bike of choice for night-riding adventures.
Jose's Easton Reflex
Jose turned 30 this year and the day before his birthday, we found this bike at Edible Pedal's bike swap. He fell in love with it immediately! I told him to buy it for his birthday but he ended up talking himself out of it. Walking back home, he was kicking himself for not getting it. I snuck away and picked it up secretly. Now, he has this awesome bike! Tim at Practical Cycle gave it a few practical updates by adding fenders and a kickstand. It still needs a rack to be really useful but we haven't gotten there, yet.
The Mobic
I found this simple folding bike on craigslist being sold as a floor sample at a huge discount. We drove out to Mobic headquarters in Fremont for a quick test ride and were sold. This isn't nearly as fancy as my parents' Bike Fridays but it works well and fits into our fleet nicely. It has 6 gears, fenders, and folds in about 15 seconds. Cassidy from Practical Cycle found a small rear rack that fit nicely and we throw on a small Wald front basket on occasion.
My one lament--even though we got the "long" seatpost, I still find it to be a bit short for my liking. I was told that it would work for up to 6'3" ish, but my 5'6" height still feels a bit cramped. I do like a higher seat than most but there is no way a taller person could be happy for long distances. Still, it's a great zippy ride around town and easy to transport. For more info: mobicbikes.com
My one lament--even though we got the "long" seatpost, I still find it to be a bit short for my liking. I was told that it would work for up to 6'3" ish, but my 5'6" height still feels a bit cramped. I do like a higher seat than most but there is no way a taller person could be happy for long distances. Still, it's a great zippy ride around town and easy to transport. For more info: mobicbikes.com
Linus Mixte 3
How awesome is it that I won this bike during Sacramento's May is Bike Month Festival on my birthday?! This is our visitor bike, great for zipping around Sacramento, and going to the Farmer's Markets. Also works for 39-week pregnant tummies. It's a fun and care-free bike. I like to ride it when I pretend not to have children (kidding...kind of...).
The Kids' Rides
The Chariots
We started with a single for Big Brother and upgraded to a double when Little Brother came along. Craigslist.org made them affordable. *We have since resold these trailers for about as much as we paid for them.
The Fire Bike
We picked this bike up for $10 at a garage sale! It's a 16" Specialized Hotrock that Big Brother uses to commute to school each day. It's heavy and has coaster brakes. He loves it because it has flames.
Strider
No pedals, no problem. The best way to teach a kiddo to ride is to skip the training wheels completely. Once they've got the balance, they'll get the pedaling in seconds. Big Brother mastered this bike at age 2, it's time to move it down to Little Brother.
The Back-ups
Oscar the Grouch
Elle's home built bike. Jose put it together using a Nashbar touring frame and a bunch of random parts. It serves me well. This is it's first incarnation with racing bike components. It has been since made more practical with a flat bar and the best granny gear in the world.
Roadie
Also built by Jose using a Nashbar racing frame. Pretty sweet.
The Gary
Old school Gary Fisher, before they were built by Trek. Been stolen and recovered and bashed and loved. Right now, it's looking a bit shabby in our shed, having donated most of it's vital parts to the Raleigh.
A Few Others Yet To Come
This is what our shed looks like all the time. A never-ending supply of projects and parts, waiting patiently.
