Sunday, October 23, 2011

Oct 23rd Grocery Run

Today Tina and I hopped on our bikes and rode over to sonic for some grub. Tina rode her yellow Sun Cruz 3 speed with Transit-Panniers and a sun-lite front basket. I rode on my blue Yuba Mundo Version 1 with (18 seed) cargo bicycle with an ice chest and rubber made continer attached. After Sonic we rode to HEB to get some groceries for the week.


Frist Grocery Run with Yuba
Interestingly enough I saw the previous owner of my Yuba Mundo at the deli section and then he was right in line behind us in line. So we chatted for some time about cycling in our area of San Antonio and the need to improve the biking here. Currently the city's focus is on downtown and green ways. Load of Groceries 

The small haul:
  • Puppy Pads
  • Fruit Bars
  • Poptarts
  • Deli Ham 1/2 pound
  • 1 lb of Deli turkey. 
  • 16 yogurts
  • 5 lb bag of Oranges
  • 15 bean soup
  • 1/2 gal. of OJ
  • 1/2 gal. of Organic Milk
  • Hot Dogs
  • Chicken
  • Rice
  • Sun Chips
  • Tortilla Chips
  •  TV Dinners
  • Halloween Candy
  • Ball Point Pins
  • Steaks
  • Cheese

Friday, October 21, 2011

Phoebe's Ride

Phoebes Ride by MPR-Photo
Phoebes Ride, a photo by MPR-Photo on Flickr.

Friday evening fun.


My dog's first ride on the Yuba Mundo.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

A Car Free Sunday...at least for me.

October 16, 2011:
I on Saturday night I vowed to sleep in on Sunday as I felt I needed it after a week from hell at work but my miniature poodle Phoebe had other plans. She woke me up at the crack of dawn to feed her her breakfast and as usual when I'm up I'm up. So I decided to check the weather. It was a nice calm October morning so I decided to fly my Parkzone Ember 2 remote control airplane. I wanted to try flying it at the stadium near my house. Instead of taking the car I was eager to ride my new (used) Yuba Mundo (Version 1) Bicycle especially since I just got it fixed the day before.


First Load: RC Airplanes to the Stadium for day of flying

After about an hour of flying (and dodging birds trying to attack my RC plane). I loaded up to ride back home and once I got there I decided I wanted to ride the Yuba more. So I dropped off the RC stuff and took off to the Home Depot to buy some cam straps and bungie cords for the Yuba Mundo. Bicycle parking wasn't available at Home Depot but I found place to lock up right next to the entrance.

1st Stop Home Depot

I needed some breakfast so off the McDonalds I went. Once again some improvised locking of the Cargo Bike. And while I ate I was in full view of the bike.

Breakfast at McDonalds.

The day was going so well I didn't want to stop riding. In fact at this point I wanted to make a day of it complete with a stop at Barnes and Noble for some coffee. I called my wife, Tina, and told her I was going to do some shopping at Target, head over to spectrum sports to make use of the Gym membership by taking a shower and then head over to Barnes and Noble. Since, Tina is an English Teacher and a heavy sleeper she decided to drive over because books after a nice sleep in sounded good to her. We decided to meet at 11am. So I was off to Target. I really was happy to see that Target was bicycle friendly with a bike rack near each entrance. Thinking about it the bicycle rack is the best parking spot since it is literally right next to the door.

3rd Stop Target via Yuba Mundo

After shopping the clearance rack I and getting a nice Office Space t-shirt for $5, as well as some things we needed around the house I rode over to Spectrum to shower and change. I didn't take a photo but Spectrum had bike rack.Sadly Barnes and Noble didn't have a bike rack but a sturdy rail did just fine.

Car Free Sunday at Barnes and Nobles

After sitting for an hour or so we decided to head over the a seafood place for some lunch. Tina hopped on the back of the Yuba and away we went to Sea Island (just through the parking lot).

Lunch at Sea Island

Eventually, we rode over to 1/2 price books then I took Tina back to her car and pedaled home. It was a great day and really nice to see how accessible our shopping destination is. If I had an Ice Chest Strapped to the Yuba Mundo I would have hit up the grocery store for some deli meat and cheese....next time for sure!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Yuba Mundo V1- Update!

Hank the best Bike Mechanic in Texas

Well, It has been a little over one week since I've purchased my used Yuba Mundo Version 1 (18 speed). I purchased it in a non ride-able condition.I did some tinkering during what must have been the busiest week of my career to date:
This past Saturday, I decided to take my Yuba to Hank at Helotes Bicycle Shop. Hank is a collector of bicycles and has been working in the bicycle industry for 40 years. He is the best wrenches I've met. Here is a list of what Hank accomplished today to make the Yuba Mundo ride-able. Cost of shop repairs was a reasonable $30:
  • True Rear Wheel
  • Replaced rear derailleur cable and housing
  • Check Chain (it was good) Just needed oil. 
  • Adjust Breaks 

Yuba Mundo Cat Fan
Here is still some quarks that need to be worked out but Hank didn't have time today to do it, but as it is it is rideable:
  • Replace front derailleur grip shifter
  • Replace front derailleur cable and housing. 
  • Replace headset tracks/bearings...there is some brinelling a.k.a. index steering. 
Somethings to I still need to do:
  • Touch up some paint
  • develop some boxes for groceries
  • Raise the seat a little
  • Add Kickstand (waiting on package from Yuba Bicycles)
  • Replace grips.


Sunday, October 9, 2011

I'm still in shock I'm a Yuba Mundo Owner! Pinch me.. am I dreaming.

Yuba Story - For my Bicycle Blog

My Yuba Story:
Some followers of mine might know that I’ve been riding my Sun Cruz 3  speed to the HEB near my house (HEB is a grocery store for all ya’ll non-Texans). This started around August 2010. I mostly do it to save on gas and CO2 emissions. I’m a hefty sized good ol’ Texas boy and I’m already slightly exceeding the maximum load on my aluminum framed beach cruiser then add 30-40 pounds of grocery on that… well… no issues so far. 

One day in about April 2010 I said “I wish I could carry more on my trips to HEB…” so after some internet research I was very interested in riding a Sun Atlas Cargo Bike that just came out. It retails for around $550-$600. It’s a typical long tail cargo bike that is “xtracycle aware” meaning it uses some of the xtracycle accessories. After chatting with Sun dealers (JB Importers connected bike shops) a shop in Corpus Christi was going to order one for me at a cost of $500 unassembled… but it involved a trek of 200 miles by car to get it. So I never placed the order. After doing more research I was leaning toward an xtracycle conversion or a Yuba Mundo. Kona Ute didn’t interest me too much and the Surly Big Dummy was out of my price range. The xtracycle Radish was given some slight consideration. So I started to save my dollars.
In late July 2011 an ad popped up on Austin Craigslist for a used Xtracycle conversion kit for $250 with deck, bags, etc. I was in San Angelo, Texas at the time and called. I was just about willing to drive across the Texas hill country way out of my way back to San Antonio to buy it, but during the conversation with the guy selling it say he was selling it because he bought the Kona Ute (an alternative to the Big Dummy and Mundo). Considering this guy ditched the xtracycle conversion for a dedicated design spoke volumes to me. So I narrowed my list down to the Sun Atlas Cargo and the Yuba.

One day in June 2011 we decided to take a road trip up to Austin to visit my bro-in law. While there I stopped in at the Peddler’s Bike Shop and test rode a Version 3 Yuba Mundo… It was awesome and the only reason we weren’t smiling in the photos we took that day was the 110 degree temperature of that day. The Shop owner offered a great deal … $1,000 out the door with all the accessories he had in stock only problem was I didn’t have $1,000 for it at the time and still don’t! Wasn't about to go in debt either. Later that week, I requested some literature from Yuba Bicycle via their website but instead I got a personally call from the CEO of Yuba Bicycles. He had some questions about the blog I rode about my experience at Peddler. The fact that such personal attention was give to me meant a great deal to me; combined with the fact they they’re focus and purpose for the Mundo was to help developing nations it seems like they are on the right track.

I’m an elementary teacher so around August my attention was school. I’d my bike for more causal rides with friends but I started to notice more bike on my commute to work. So my interest was peeked yet again for a utilitarian style bicycle. This past weekend I was able to ride in 2 group rides. While driving home after the 2nd ride I saw something I’ve never seen in San Antonio before a Yuba Mundo… heading the very same HEB I shop at! I was excited and followed the cyclist, saw what he looked like then found a parking spot and literally ran into the HEB searching. I wanted to see the man living my dream! How long has he been doing this? What was his thought and opinions on the Yuba? So many questions? I was filled with excitement. 

In chatting with Robert (the Yuba Rider) he mentioned this wasn’t his first Yuba and he had one that he wanted to put on Craigslist but didn’t want to deal with the annoying calls and emails from scammers (I know what he means). So I chatted with him and hear the price which was very reasonable so I told him to consider it sold providing it was in some what a good shape. He said it would be great if he could have it out of his garage that day and I was eager so I went and looked at it. Both tires were flat; some paint nicks were on it, etc. He used it as a daily commuter rain or shine! After looking at the Blue V1 Yuba I handed him the cash and loaded it up on my Hollywood Sport-rider 4 rack (yes it's a beast of a rack and can handle the weight of the Yuba and then some!)
So in what seemed like a whirlwind adventure I’m now a cargo bike owner. The blue Yuba needs some TLC but I think I’ll have it rolling soon.
Here is a list of things I’ve check over so far that need to be done and the cost was so affordable I can afford to do the repairs many of which I will do myself.
  • 1. Order a kick Stand (contacted Yuba with some questions)
  • 2. Grease hubs and freewheel (Yuba Freewheel Tool ordered!)
  • 3. Install New Inner Tubes and Slime
  • 4. Inspect tires and decide if I need to order some Schwable Big Apple Kevlar Tires.
  • 5. Replace rear reflector/Install head light and tail light
  • 6. True rear wheel and check front.
  • 7. Adjust breaks front and rear… might put a disc on front if I think I want swap out the fork…
  • 8. Clean Chain/possibly replace
  • 9. General tune up.
  • 10. Rear Deck
  • 11. Straps for tie down
  • 12. Remove surface rust and touch up paint.
  • 13. Ride!
I’m happy. 

Talk about being at the right place at the right time!

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Friendly Spot Yellow Box Bike Repair Station

With cycling growing at an exponential rate in San Antonio some local businesses are cashn' in. The Friendly Spot Bar in the King William district installed a yellow box which a vending machine with bicycle repair parts. It really is refreshing to see something so progressive as the yellow box!