tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post5654380734372817957..comments2024-03-29T04:01:31.445-04:00Comments on Lovely Bicycle!: Long Term Review: the Bike Friday Haul-a-Day Takes to the HillsVelouriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-90660140784148613942017-01-04T22:40:01.230-05:002017-01-04T22:40:01.230-05:00Am I the only one to smile at the picture of this ...Am I the only one to smile at the picture of this extraordinaire tugging bicycle next to an airplane that says TUGG?Alexander Lópezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08517986861000324855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-50010974101686271952016-10-04T18:59:02.031-04:002016-10-04T18:59:02.031-04:00Stas got in touch with us through his local dealer...Stas got in touch with us through his local dealer and of course we are taking this seriously and taking care of him, building him a replacement frame section. A portion of our reply is quoted below.<br />---<br />Hi Stas,<br /><br />Of your type and vintage Haul-a-day, we have not seen this type of failure. We did see an earlier design fail in this way, but the design has since been modified. I am glad you were uninjured and if nothing else is comforting, at least this type of failure is difficult to result in an injury.<br /><br />Many of of here at Bike Friday use out Haul-a-days as transport of our kids. We are confident enough in the safety of the bicycle to transport not only ourselves but our young ones on the bike.<br /><br />One word of prudence as it relates to all bicycles, not just ours. It is valuable, at regular intervals, to check the safety of the components and frame. We recommend a brake/ handlebar/ stem riser/ and frame safety inspection as often as monthly. This will ensure that if an issue is developing, it is caught at the beginning of its cycle, not the end. As we use our bicycles for more utilitarian and people carrying functions, this inspection becomes even more important.<br /><br />In summary, this is an unusual failure and you should feel confident that the replacement frame you will receive will be safe. At the same time, it is a good idea to incorporate into your routine a monthly safety check of your bicycle.<br /><br />Kent Peterson<br /><br />Customer Service<br />Bike Friday/Green Gear Cycling, Inc.<br />3364 W. 11th Ave.<br />Eugene, OR 97402 USA<br />800.777.0258 (North America)<br />+1.541.687.0487 (World)<br />http://www.bikefriday.com/Kent Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01607372827627527450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-51453876563837573552016-09-19T06:21:11.380-04:002016-09-19T06:21:11.380-04:00I got a Haul-A-Day 3-4 months ago. We loved it! Us...I got a Haul-A-Day 3-4 months ago. We loved it! Used it to haul 2 kids (6 and 3) daily all around Brooklyn UNTIL yesterday the bike literally broke in halves. The outer part of the telescopic frame ripped a 2 inch gash and the front of the bike totally separated from the back. Lucky for us we were stopped at a red light and no one got hurt. Had it happen while we were going downhill at full speed we could have all had serious injuries. I wrote to Bike Friday and hopefully they will investigate this issue as is seems like a pretty serious design flaw. In the mean I feel apprehensive riding another Haul-A-Day with my kids again. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17947924323733098731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-42258870196798378702016-08-26T14:29:37.291-04:002016-08-26T14:29:37.291-04:00I thought you were a sensible young lady.
I usual...I thought you were a sensible young lady.<br /><br />I usually don't count it, because it was all so very odd, but I did win one criterium. There was a fast downhill turn with a nasty oil slick and then it started to thunder and lightning and pour rain at the starting line. I dismounted every one of thirty laps. Two hundred guys started that race and only six finished. The other five had all crashed more than a few times. None of them finished on the bike they started on. The five of them complained to the referee that I had cheated. The referee looked at them and said "You just told me you're as dumb as a box of rocks and this guy you don't like is smart. Smart wins races." Keeps you alive too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-64618171524770509162016-08-26T10:14:55.215-04:002016-08-26T10:14:55.215-04:00The way to do those short grades is to control you...<i> The way to do those short grades is to control your speed from the top.</i><br /><br />This is my tactic also. Some people I've ridden with mock me for it, but I really don't care; I prefer to be mocked for "riding the brake" but alive. <br /><br />(Oh and the oil slick thing is still very much alive and well in present day rural Ireland!) Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-86483099021529163612016-08-26T10:09:13.410-04:002016-08-26T10:09:13.410-04:00I will put up a test ride report of the Urban Arro...I will put up a test ride report of the Urban Arrow, but my experience with it was very limited compared to this bike. Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-73487014533197933722016-08-26T10:07:33.164-04:002016-08-26T10:07:33.164-04:00Thanks, what an interesting read!Thanks, what an interesting read!Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-17276321264811099182016-08-25T21:10:32.414-04:002016-08-25T21:10:32.414-04:00That situation with the short steep hill with stop...That situation with the short steep hill with stop sign and intersection at the bottom is ticklish. Those can be difficult in a car. They are treacherous on a motorcycle. On a bike? In years past, when cars and trucks leaked a great deal more oil than they do now, I would assume there was a big fat oil slick right in front of the stop sign. There often was. So I dismounted and walked as a matter of course. And you seriously do not know that there is not an oil slick. Maybe a '64 VW or an '83 Fleetside went through two minutes ago and left you a gift.<br /><br />The way to do those short grades is to control your speed from the top. And be ready for anything. Having disc brakes will not matter when your tires lose grip. Imagining that tech is going to save you when you approach the stop too darn fast will work now and then, when it stops working you go down hard in the wrong place. And don't even consider carrying children in such a situation. Not on a longtail, not in a bakfiets, just don't do it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-84905884331082093842016-08-25T14:46:17.007-04:002016-08-25T14:46:17.007-04:00Re: Weight, Geometry, and Handling
There was rece...Re: Weight, Geometry, and Handling<br /><br />There was recently an article in Nature about several people's work on the "bike equations". There turns out to be a complex interplay between many factors, and you can't just consider trail in isolation.<br /><br />For example, “A sufficiently forward [centre of mass] can compensate for a slightly negative trail.” Maybe this goes some way towards explaining why heavy front loads can be surprisingly stable.<br /><br />http://www.nature.com/news/the-bicycle-problem-that-nearly-broke-mathematics-1.20281Harry Tnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-22870561783699302462016-08-24T14:17:39.272-04:002016-08-24T14:17:39.272-04:00Heh. I could see the pink. I got a good laugh out ...Heh. I could see the pink. I got a good laugh out of the custom "Good-N-Plenty" colored build. <br /><a href="https://www.bikefriday.com/folding-bikes/blog/uncategorized/a-slick-custom-paint-job-for-the-haul-a-day/" rel="nofollow">A slick custom paint job for the Haul-A-Day</a> <br /><br />I would have loved to see this typeface for the decals. <br /><a href="http://www.jigidi.com/jigsaw-puzzle/91VVPTZC/Pinknblack-from-the-Past-Vintage-Good-N-Plenty-Box" rel="nofollow">Vintage Good-N-Plenty box art</a> <br /><br />As for the rust, can you tell me if the areas that showed corrosion were parts like bolts and such, or on the BF-manufactured components like the fork and frame parts? With so many adjustable assemblies, there is a lot of surface area and open edges that can be affected by moisture & salt. <br />I intend to ask the dealer about this, as we do get pretty strong rain & snow, and there is lots of road salt in use. If I do get the bike, it will stay in a covered 3-season porch for the first year.<br /><br />Oh, and anonymous 12:24 below- yep, you're right about wood sealers. I know better but misquoted myself. ;) I have a little experience with finishing and wood prep.Corey Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15381826721030941179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-27246646474514548942016-08-23T14:39:03.522-04:002016-08-23T14:39:03.522-04:00Many cyclists believe their bikes constitute anti-...Many cyclists believe their bikes constitute anti-gravity boots. On a 7% or a 10% no one is going to dispute that bikes are faster. It is demonstrated daily. In a limiting case like Mt. Washington where times are within 10% whether running or riding a lot depends on who has effective technique. In any case the weight does not get to the top of the hill by magic. The cyclist gets to the top of the hill because the cyclist did the work. All of the work. The work is performed with more or less efficiency, the technical apparatus of a bicycle does not engage a tractor beam from Planet Mordor. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-84308909338345776132016-08-23T08:57:14.237-04:002016-08-23T08:57:14.237-04:00Thanks for the background story on how the Haul-a-...Thanks for the background story on how the Haul-a-Day came to be. I appreciate the in depth approach to bicycle reviews. Looking forward to an Urban Arrow review on these pages! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-55892954070238510592016-08-23T07:16:14.722-04:002016-08-23T07:16:14.722-04:00"My experience (and I believe there is solid ...<i>"My experience (and I believe there is solid research on this) is that it takes less energy to move yourself up a steep grade on a bike than it does to walk it, particularly if you have low enough gearing to move comfortably at slow walking pace and if you can do so seated."</i><br /><br />My experience as well. Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-68966853919571825812016-08-23T07:13:32.729-04:002016-08-23T07:13:32.729-04:00Not intended to be a mystery. It's husband'...Not intended to be a mystery. It's husband's vintage Italian Build No.2 : ) <br />Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-14578335710328974852016-08-23T07:00:10.794-04:002016-08-23T07:00:10.794-04:00No comments yet about that interesting frame in th...No comments yet about that interesting frame in the carrier. All shall be revealed in coming episodes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-60476559849271166152016-08-23T06:37:52.922-04:002016-08-23T06:37:52.922-04:00inviting BF to comment...inviting BF to comment...Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-19055536560831896312016-08-23T06:36:23.632-04:002016-08-23T06:36:23.632-04:00Ha yes, you will now have to wean the kid off carg...Ha yes, you will now have to wean the kid off cargo-bike-passenger mode! <br /><br />There should be a bicycle-centric parenting book covering situations like this. Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-18530362714217993542016-08-23T06:33:11.089-04:002016-08-23T06:33:11.089-04:00Good point! It was not sharp to the touch, but at ...Good point! It was not sharp to the touch, but at speed... well, let's just say I can imagine it used in a creatively gory film scene. Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-20460428641398020212016-08-23T06:20:02.798-04:002016-08-23T06:20:02.798-04:00"If I need a cargo bike, it will be this.&quo..."If I need a cargo bike, it will be this."<br /><br />+1Timnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-4256877826487352952016-08-22T19:39:32.688-04:002016-08-22T19:39:32.688-04:00A quick CAD sketch gives me 41 mm of trail for 2.3...A quick CAD sketch gives me 41 mm of trail for 2.35" tires on 20" (ISO 451 mm) wheels, a 73º head tube angle and 44 mm of fork rake.Francisco de Almeidahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14147944912098034703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-2520533561968572522016-08-22T15:56:27.330-04:002016-08-22T15:56:27.330-04:00If I need a cargo bike, it will be this. A VanMoof...If I need a cargo bike, it will be this. A VanMoof full-step through (the new model that looks like a true Omafiet) would serve similarly well if it had more than 3 speeds, as it can take large rear loads and front loads and still retain the step-through, as with the Haul a Day. I'm hoping to pick up one of these used in several years when I might need it...JPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15098889320808703090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-86240859974652197122016-08-22T09:17:42.530-04:002016-08-22T09:17:42.530-04:00Fill in the Name field, leave the URL blank (it...Fill in the Name field, leave the URL blank (it's optional) and click "Continue."<br />If it still doesn't work, then - alas, blogspot is glitchy from some platforms, apologies!Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-70615934945737479562016-08-22T08:54:14.885-04:002016-08-22T08:54:14.885-04:00Thanks. I think I've tried "Name/URL"...Thanks. I think I've tried "Name/URL" previously and it hasn't worked; I'm not quite sure what it means to be honest, does it require a URL?<br /><br />As to your other points, I agree absolutely on the compatibility of sport (or general leisure) and transport cycling, I'd say that a great deal of sport cyclists are also transport or utility cyclists, but it doesn't always go the other way round! As for boxbikes, no, I have no/very little use for one, but if only I'd known about them when my son was small. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-44015171121434162502016-08-22T05:03:51.125-04:002016-08-22T05:03:51.125-04:00Underneath the field where you enter the text, you...Underneath the field where you enter the text, you should see a box with a "Reply as:" pull down menu of options - where you can choose "Name/URL" or an existing blogspot/wordpress/openID profile. <br /><br />I am one of the many categories of bicycle-riding persons who might find a cargo bike useful. Most other Haul-a-Day reviews out there already focus on child transport and the other activities you mention. The point of this review is to explore the other aspects of this bicycle's potential.<br /><br />For reference, despite my "cycling enthusiasm" I am first and foremost a transportation cyclist who does use a bike instead of a car. I cycle for transport in my ordinary clothing, usually on an upright bike, etc. There is no conflict between cycling as a sport and cycling for transport, one can be interested in both (see: <a href="http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2012/01/sport-vs-transport-polarisation.html" rel="nofollow">Here</a>). <br /><br />If you're interested in bakfietsen, etc., You can read all my posts about cargo bikes <a href="http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/search/label/cargo%20bikes" rel="nofollow">here</a> - starting perhaps <a href="http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2011/12/on-symbolism-of-cargo-bikes.html" rel="nofollow">with this one</a>. Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-27914252356914768512016-08-21T20:23:35.813-04:002016-08-21T20:23:35.813-04:00My son is 5 and unfortunately, doesn't show mu...My son is 5 and unfortunately, doesn't show much interest in riding his own bike so far. Whenever asked, he's reply is "I like riding with you", meaning - on my Xtracycle. The Edgerunner made my kids lazy!!!<br /><br />Interesting that most kids find folding bikes uncool. That's what I had in my childhood. The industry made kids too demanding.<br /><br />My Xtracycle came with hydraulic disc brakes and I can't picture anything else on a bike like this. Going down a 10% grade with two kids and grocery bags you would quickly appreciate powerful brakes with good modulation.bostonbybikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16002562971047930168noreply@blogger.com