Building A Badass Utility Cycle?
Building A Badass Utility Cycle?
Hi all,
A coworker gifted me a free Trek 4500 from the early 2000s, largely unused in the last many years. It sat in my back yard for a few months while I thought about what to do with it; I've finally made the first movement towards having a badass utility bicycle.
Step one involved knowing that I like a more upright riding position and am not the most comfortable or agile person on a bike (that's nice-speak for "I'm a pretty fat guy" and "I never really rode bikes as a kid so I learned how in my mid-20s and am still not 100% comfortable with it"). So I bought a pair of swept-back handlebars which I then kept in a closet for a month, lol.
Finally I decided to just move forward, so I took the bike to the local bike shop and had them do their inspection, basic needed maintenance, and installation of the handlebars. Now I have something fairly comfortable which also looks kind of neat.
Four more things I have planned to do:
- Add a back rack that I have on an old trashed frame also in the backyard.
- Acquire and add fenders. While it rarely rains here, when it does I'd like to be prepared.
- Acquire and add a front rack, since this is going to be largely for groceries and errands.
- Add a bike trailer, again for groceries and errands.
Other possibilities include a different seat, a handlebar bag in lieu of a front rack, essentially anything else to make it cool and functional.
Do y'all have any recommendations for stuff that might be worth adding or doing to this bike to make it comfortable for someone overweight to commute with and do basic errands and groceries with?
Good on you for doing this project!
It may seem like a small thing, but I have one of those soft bottle holders that hangs between my handlebar and the handlebar stem, and it's just so handy for putting quick-grab stuff in it.
I paid like $15 for it, and it's something I use on every ride, long or short!
Edit: I'm just seeing that you posted a photo of the bike. Looks like you have something similar on the top tube, so that's one less thing to buy! LOL
I am a coffee addict, and I need a bottle holder that can hold my thermos, lol! But yeah, it's also nice for a quick grab.
For someone who is overweight riding a bike, the weakest part of the bike is the rear wheel. If you have issues with spokes breaking or the wheel goes out of true easily, consider going to a bike shop and asking them to hand build you a wheel with a nice beefy rim and a decent quality cassette hub. The wheel might cost $200-$300, but it is worth it to get something solid you can depend on.
Your bike should be compatible with most rear racks.
You have a suspension fork up front, which limits options for a rack there. Sunlite makes a cheap rack that attaches to the cantilever studs that will work but doesn't have a high weight capacity. Old Man Mountain makes very durable racks that attach at the axle, but cost quite a bit more.
Lots of fenders out there that will work, Planet Bike Cascadia fenders are fairly durable and have a good amount of coverage. Whichever fenders you get, you will need a set of p-clamps to attach them to the fork.
Cheap option for a trailer is to find a used kid trailer. Quite capable of hauling all sorts of things. If you go new, a Burley Flatbed or another trailer of the same style will be nicer to use.
Saddles are a very personal thing. What works great for one persons body will be an ass hatchet for someone else. First, ride the stock saddle for at least a few weeks to get your body used to sitting on a saddle. If it still isn't great, try making some small adjustements in the angle or moving forward or backward. If it still hurts, go to a bike shop and get fitted for a saddle. This usually involves sitting on a device to measure your sit bones.
Only other essential accessory is a good set of lights. If you ride at night a lot and hate remembering to charge batteries, consider investing in a dynamo hub and lights.
Have fun!
Thanks! I do have a decent set of lights which are USB chargeable, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to get a dynamo as well. Thanks for the suggestions!
In my experience, fenders/mud guards can be a PITA. After a little while they start to rattle, move around and rub against your wheels, add weight, make it more annoying to lock your bike, etc
I’ve been using “Ass savers” for a few years which are little plastic flaps that you wedge under your seat and they’re great for light rain. I’d strongly consider not adding the full fender setup unless you’re really sure you’re going to be regularly cycling in heavy rain.
Things I would make sure to add:
- front and rear lights
- drink holder
- phone holder
nice idea, there - i might go that route because it is fairly rare for rain around here. i already have front and rear lights, a bottle cage and an oversized holder, and a phone holder so we're in business there!