Who needs a car for Christmas errands when I have my Xtracycle Minivan

Who needs a car when you have an Xtracycle and trailer?

As has happened the last seven years, this year I waited until a week before Christmas to get a tree. Despite dire warnings from friends of getting a Charlie Brown Christmas tree, things have always worked out. The closest we came to not having a tree was the year all the stores were sold out but we got an unsolicited e-mail from a friend wanting someone to take their tree as they were leaving for two weeks over the holidays and didn’t want the tree to go to waste. I guess it a seasonal leap of faith.

Cutting the tree down to fit travel by two wheels

So, it was with this confidence I decided to go get our tree today by bike. I had thought earlier this week about taking our old kiddie trailer while my wife rode with the kids. Unfortunately, Amy has been sick the last few days, so if I wanted to get this done on two wheels, I needed to do it myself. Undeterred, I attached the trailer to the back of my Xtracycle and loaded up the kids for the ultimate in cargo biking. I have been taking the kids to school most days in this Xtracycle mini-van, but this would be a real test of my commitment to utility cycling and my leg power.

 The addition of the trailer did little to affect the ride quality of this already long tailed bike, and our trip to the local nursery 2 1/2 miles away went off without a hitch. Once we got there, it appeared the dreaded Charlie Brown scenario might plan out. There were only about a dozen trees, 4 ten footers and a motley group of two foot shrub looking specimens. Since the trees are already cut, I figured I’d go with a 10 footer and have them cut it down, especially since the price was already marked down. When the staff suggested I just take the 10 footer as is, they were a bit incredulous as I mentioned I was returning home with my purchase on a bike. They had never seen anyone buy a tree on a bike before.

Getting ready to head home. Yes, it is less than one week until Christmas and we are wearing shorts. Ah, Austin winters.

A few minutes and a few feet later, we had a perfectly lovely 6 foot tree wrapped up and ready to go. I fit perfectly in our trailer with the bungee cords I brought hardly necessary. After a quick spin in the parking lot to make sure everything was secure and riding OK, we headed home, a journey that was mostly up hill. I’m a pretty strong rider, so I rarely need my granny gears. I as thankful for the blessed plate sized gears. So other than a little huffing and puffing, the ride home when well with several smiles and horn honks from spectators.

 So, who needs a mini-van, or car for that matter? You just need the confidence to try it out. Have cargo bike with optional trailer will travel. 

Epilogue

Pulling up to the house with our tanenbaum.

While carrying of my newly acquired tanenbaum went off without a hitch, the actual installation at home was another issue. We decorated the tree this afternoon, and while my two year old daughter favored a certain one square foot section of the tree for ALL her ornaments, the new addition was shaping up nicely. Unfortunately, the tree did not seat properly in its base and while I was writing this story, it fell over. This created quite a mess, but hey, not everything can go as smoothly as utility cycling.

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