Getting Serious About Energy

Over the past two years I've been gradually decreasing the time spent in a car and increasing the amount of time spent on a bicycle. Commuting to my work by bicycle started gradually, first combining cycling with BART, then gradually working to just the bike. So it was just a matter of time before the idea of a cargo bike would begin to take hold. A visit to some local bike shops and some research revealed a few basic choices - Xtracyle Radish, Surly Big Dummy, and Yuba Mundo. Further research indicated that the purchase of a new bike would be beyond the modest financial means of a professional flight instructor. Then a bit of luck came into play - a used Yuba Mundo became available.

Arriving home, courtesy of the very capable Yakima KingJoe Pro 2.

Probably the version 1 Mundo frame.

This early version of the Mundo doesn't have all the features of the latest, version 4. Six speeds instead of 21, no disc brake braze-ons, no braze-ons for a front derailleur, no provisions for mounting some of the other accessories currently available. The first step was a bit of cleaning, polishing, and general TLC.

Both inner tubes had been mounted improperly and the valve stems were chaffed and worn. While replacing the front tube, I removed a handful of gravel from between the old tube and the tire - WTF! The rear tire had been installed with the tread oriented opposite the intended direction of rotation. The Kendra tires are heavy, but still they have plenty of life still in them. The chain was rusted and mostly devoid of lubrication. The headset needed lubing and tightening. With those chores done, it was time for some short, local rides to assess and plan.

Old Seat - not my cup of tea!

Some breaking-in required ...

Clunky ...

Better ...

One feature of the new Mundo frames is a spring device they've dubbed the "defloppinator" which keeps the front wheel from, well, flopping from side to side. Yuba's defloppinator sells for just over $20. My version? About $3.

Not as slick as the factory version, but quite serviceable and useful.

Front and rear 60mm fenders.

Sefras Thunderbolt LED light - USB recharging, 9 hour life, and very bright.

Some tweaking of the rear fender was necessary

Some more upgrades are in the works, but until then I've been using the bike for the purpose for which it was intended - Hauling stuff. A trip for groceries and soon I was pedaling home with about 80 pounds of grub, a mere fraction of the Mundo's 440 pound capacity. With the cargo bags loaded, the bike was surprisingly stable.

All of the tweaks and mods are great fun, but not as fun as riding a cargo bike. It's a different kind of cycling. Slower, but with a purpose and without fossil fuel.

Taking shape, bit by bit.