My Mundo Re-Design 4.0 – Slimmer Storage w/ Insulated Cargo Bags, Costco-trip-certified!

 

Well, it’s been about 6 months since I overhauled the storage systems on our Yuba Mundo cargo bike, so–whether it’s a sign of my creativity or a symptom of my inability to leave well enough alone (probably the latter)–I have redone our blue beast, making it lighter and slimmer and (hopefully) just as useful.

The white IKEA plastic bag holders that used to be in back are now up front where a basket would be on a normal bike.  If this is your first time seeing these odd contraptions on a bicycle, then I will exhort you to get a pair of them, post haste.  They continue to be quite useful, no matter where they’re placed, especially with the children riding with me.  Sweatshirts, hats, snack cups, water bottles, bananas, Clif Bars, you name it–if you need quick access to something that’s not huge or heavy, then these long beauties are for you.  Plus, at $1.99, they’re the accessory that gives you the most bang for the buck.

The large pannier buckets I mounted at the rear of the running boards, under the peanut shell child seat (and–before that–up front under the handlebars where the top tube and downtube meet) are now gone.  I took them off when I took part in a 40-mile rac–with my girls co-piloting from the rear deck–a couple weeks ago (a post retelling the tale is forthcoming, as soon as I get some more photos).  I just wasn’t in the mood to put them back on after getting used to riding around without banging into things, especially the basement door frame.  By the way, look how casual my little guy is, taking in the view at Target…the crossed legs crack me up.

Here’s an average haul at Trader Joe’s for us, and it takes up about one of the new bags which, again, are INSULATED!

I realized that I sort of wanted a pair of slings, like the awesome Carsick Designs MONDO SLING (made here in Sacramento!), or something like Yuba’s own GO-GETTER saddle bags…but I’ve heard conflicting amounts of praise for the Go-Getters, and–even though I plan on one day investing in a pair of Mondo Slings–I’m not ready to put two slings on the bike while I still have the three kiddos climbing on and off so much.

So, in the back of my mind, I’ve been half-heartedly keeping an eye out for some large sturdy bags I can plop on and off of the running boards to see how I really like riding with my cargo in those spots, as opposed to up front or way back.

Then, when I had to run into a Whole Foods off the freeway in hopes of avoiding a potty-related accident with our little guy, I spied their large INSULATED MESSENGER BAG, and was sold.  It has a really sturdy strap, puffy insulated lining, and front and rear pockets good for water bottles, snacks and tchotchkes.  The big selling point, though?  They’re $7.49 each.  Yep…I got a pair for under $16.  If I got a pair of Go-Getter bags (and, granted, they have more features and are nice in their own right) I’d be out about $260.  So, I figure I can try these for the cost of 7 cups of coffee and avoid experimenting with something a dozen times the cost.

 

Since I took the big buckets off, I was riding at quite a cargo-carrying deficit for a week, which felt quite strange.  More than strange, though, I realized quickly that I needed to get that capacity back, because there’s just as much stuff to haul as ever with less room than before (as the kids continue to grow like very, very cute weeds).  I had gotten used to riding a bulkier bike (which was totally fine), but I was ready for a lighter riding experience and wanted to be able to just take my cargo and go straight inside the house without repacking things from the buckets or taking a couple armful loads back and forth from bike to home.  As much as I don’t miss driving my car into the garage every day, the simplicity of just going inside as quickly as possible with my bags and three small kids (especially in the cold or rain) was something I lamented a bit.

I took some wire shelving I had laying around the basement, bent it into an L shape and easily fastened it to the Mundo’s running boards with 2 nuts, bolts and washers.  This wire rack keeps the bag from sliding or falling off the running boards with minimal weight and drag.  I added a caribener to each rack as an extra little measure to keep each bag in place.  So far, zero problems with the bag moving.

 

Just in time for us to FINALLY get some rain, (long may it last!), it is nice to pop into the house quickly with my haul.  Also, it’s nice to bring one or both of the bags into a store with me, as needed, without having to repack out at the bike rack.

The first major test of the redesign has been passed: a run to COSTCO.  The other blue bag is, indeed, on the left side of the bike, but you can’t see it with the IKEA plastic bag holders and my tin can music amplifier hogging that side of the shot.  The bags held up great holding a decent-sized Costco load (although, having most of the rear deck free for a big box of stuff helped, too), especially since I had 3 large bags of organic frozen blueberries in there.

And even though (as the above photo can attest) gas is–for now–under $3 for the first time in a long time, I still prefer the $0.00 per gallon cost of riding my Mundo.

 

 

A Sweet, Wistful Milestone

My three lovely ladies…

I feel like our family crossed a nearly invisible line this weekend…my daughters, specifically.

While most of their bicycling takes place on the back of our Yuba Mundo, our girls still take little trips in our neighborhood aboard their own bikes (which, committed blog readers will recall, have been sans-training-wheels for under a year).  These small rides have been on familiar roads in our little corner of the world, and haven’t involved crossing major thoroughfares or traveling further than half a mile.

Those thresholds have been rolled over, now.  As is the case with many revolutions, this one started with something small: a pair of unplanned, spur-of-the-moment trips that would have been previously undertaken by Mundo or by car.  This weekend, though, the girls asked if they could ride their bikes, instead, and my wife and I (probably looking like puppies that are confused by something new and shiny) looked at each other and found ourselves saying, “Sure, why not?”

The first trip was to our friends’ house for dinner, before dusk (the bikes were driven home later by our kind hosts in their spacious minivan–I’m not yet bold enough to have them attempt night riding).  It was just me and my daughters, and–much like when they first had their training wheels removed and I was running behind them–they held up better than I did.  I reminded them of a few instructions, which they followed (and had already retained), and we made a little three-bike train of sorts into the neighboring community.

I kept twisting around, and talking to them, and they were just smiling and pedaling and smiling some more.  They stopped when they were supposed to, listened to my voice, and provided some sweet commentary as we rolled along (“Daddy, look! That tree is pretty!”).  The contented and proud looks on their faces made my eyes well up.  I was happy, wistful, a bit scared, and trying to not run into anything,  It seems so obvious and melodramatic, but–truly–parenting is filled with rides on emotional roller coasters that you had no advanced warning you were taking.

This trek was both momentous and liberating for them, and–at the same time–just the normal next step in their journeys.  In a year filled with large and small milestones in their growth, this one was particularly profound for me.  Their beaming faces in the fading light made them age a good couple years, in my mind.

The next day, my wife and the girls were excited to take our new-to-us breadmaker for a spin (a metaphorical spin in the kitchen, not an actual spin on a bike–that would be weird, unless you’re a baker who is really averse to driving).  Realizing she needed supplies from the Co-Op, my wife was going to ride there alone before baking began.  But she asked our daughters if they wanted to come along, and they jumped up and down at the prospect.  This ride was daunting, in my mind, because it involved a busier area in which they’d never remotely ridden (although they had taken it many times aboard the Mundo).  But Mommy is more cautious than Daddy when it comes to biking, so I deferred to her judgement (and rightly so).

About 45 minutes later, they bounded up the stairs and told me all about the flour they bought and how they “rode like big girls” to the Co-Op and (you can’t leave this part out) “We got a blueberry bagel!”  Just an aside–I wish I could get that excited over a bagel.  (To be fair, they do have good bagels at the Co-Op).

My wife said that the girls did a great job, and I found myself not being surprised in the least.  They are wonderful girls, smart and capable.  I am often guilty of not trusting them enough, and I hope that I’m not slowing their progression through childhood.  Hopefully I will remember this weekend’s two little seismic shifts and do a better job, going forward, in letting them go forward, too.

COSTCO via Cargo Bike!

A JOURNEY IN PHOTOS

(OK, “journey” is maybe a little strong…)

 

So, this was my first time attempting a Costco run by bicycle.  Why I waited until it was winter, four days before Christmas, and a week before TWO of my children’s birthdays (for which we would need provisions), I cannot say. I was pretty sure the Mundo could handle a decent-sized warehouse load, but I left the kids at home (just in case).

The city is beautiful in winter, even if we don’t have snow. I missed having my little ones with me, but a solitary ride downtown was quite refreshing. Usually I’d have to take the freeway to Costco…thankfully, though, not today.

I love that the bike trail is is right on the edge of downtown. I find that I do so much errand-based riding nowadays that I don’t take advantage of the river and the bike trails nearly enough. Serendipitously, though, Costco is right behind the bike trail on the other side of the river, so today I get to enjoy nature, see the water, AND procure 36 organic juice pouches for a houseful of ready-to-party kindergartners.

I love these old foot bridges that span the Sacramento and American Rivers. This one is parallel to a venerable old train bridge, lending a great timelessness to the area.

I’ve been reading a fair amount of Steinbeck this year, and it has me romanticizing life on the rails. I can’t wait to take our girls on a big train trip away from the civilization, where we can soak in the scenery and bask a little bit in the desolate melancholy that comes with chugging through the wilderness and empty flatlands. A train is like a giant metronome whose repetitive locomotion seems so jarring and novel at first because it is at such odds with the modes and means of our frenetic lives. After awhile, though, it lulls us into rhythms and spells we just don’t get on streets and highways. Man, I wish we had a more European or Asian model of transportation in America…I think it would speak to the better parts of our nature if we traveled in synchronicity on the rails, rather than in our isolated and disjointed manner via the almighty automobile. Alright, pontificating is over…for now…

Seriously, Costco’s just off the bike trail (it’s that big light-tan building in the middle). Who knew? (tons of people, just not me, I guess).

Made it. Safe and sound. Behind me are a million parked (or hoping to be parked) cars. You can’t see them, but–trust me–they’re there.

THIS JUST IN!!! Costco doesn’t have bike parking. I know…you’re shocked, too. I had to make due by hitching a lock to this car display. Anybody want to buy a Kia?

No, I didn’t buy CLAMATO for my 6 yr-old’s birthday party. I just felt compelled to take this picture. Who, exactly, says, “Man, this tomato juice is pretty good, but it could use a little…I don’t know…Mollusk?” And, being Costco, it’s sold in two-packs of huge jugs. There are many, many bottles still available for purchase.

So I got out with a full cart (and stuff underneath). Now, it’s time for some serious arranging using the Mundo’s Monkey Bars, Peanut Shell, panniers, hooks, and all the other little things I’ve added, knowing this day would one day come. CUE THE TETRIS MUSIC!

Eureka! The girls’ bench, Baby Boy’s seat, the plastic IKEA containers on the running boards, and hooked bags on both sides of the Monkey Bars were enough to handle the job. I didn’t even have to use my front wheel panniers, meaning that my steering was easier for the ride back. YUBA, you’re always up to the challenge.

Riding home was pleasant and smooth! I had, easily, over a hundred pounds of cargo, but it didn’t make the ride harder (just a tad slower than before, obviously). All told, the round trip was a tad under 12 miles and about an hour in length. It was so much more enjoyable than driving there and playing parking-lot-roulette. And the capper? I left Costco with two dozen uncracked brown eggs and arrived home with the same!

No kid cargo load: 45lbs of dog food, some groceries, and coffee at Old Soul

Instead of 3 kids today, I had 3 errands: get a huge bag of dog food at Smart & Final, pick up a bunch of groceries at Trader Joe’s, and swing by Old Soul for a cup of Sacramento’s best coffee (one of these trips was a little more enjoyable than the other two–guess which one?) Again, the Yuba Mundo was more than up to the task.

Child-seats: you don’t always need children in them to make them useful

3 seats, 3 different loads, 1 successful outing with my special helper.

So, the other day, I was in the in the common situation of needing to run an errand.  But that errand then turned into two errands.  Then the kids took a nap.  But one woke up much earlier than the other two were likely to…normal stuff for parents, right?  The little circumstances of our days are fluid, changing one moment to the next in a way that’s not terribly fascinating, but often logistically-challenging nonetheless.

The second errand I needed to run was picking up a jumbo bag of potting soil at the hardware store.  This is not generally a task I would’ve considered accomplishing with a bicycle a year ago.  The first errand, a larger-than-usual Trader Joe’s haul, would’ve been easy enough to handle on my about-town solo bike.  But adding a 50lb bag of soil and a recently-wakened child to the mix meant using the YUBA.

I’m used to having at least both of the girls on the bike, if not them AND the baby, but it’s always nice to have a little on-on-one time with one of the kids (it’s actually very necessary, and even doing mundane things like running errands with just one “special helper” provides bonding time we don’t usually get when taking care of the children, en masse).  So my little Doodlebug and I headed off to Trader Joe’s to get a bunch of stuff.

**Something I’ve learned riding a cargo bike: just because the bicycle can handle a whole bunch of weight on the back doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t still distribute the weight more evenly across the whole bike whenever I can.  So, instead of removing the baby’s YEPP Mini seat before we departed the house, I kept it on so I could use it to carry the groceries, knowing that the rear of the bike would be carrying a larger and less-wieldy load than usual.  (The YEPP Mini, by the way, is rated to carry 33lbs, and that thing is sturdy).

So we went to Trader Joe’s, got what we needed, enjoyed a pulled-pork taco from the demonstration counter, (I also had a wee cup of French Roast), handed out a couple PRACTICAL CYCLE business cards to some people who wanted know where I got our YUBA, and we headed down the street to the hardware store.

It’s a small thing, to be sure, but I prefer shopping in a grocery store that has hand-drawn signs referencing Monty Python scenes whenever I have the choice.

Doodlebug and I had a nice time in the hardware store (almost any place can be a destination worthy of at least a modicum of anticipation and excitement with a young child–especially a place that has birdfeeders, a wall of kitschy keys waiting to be carved, numerous powertools, and an old-timey popcorn machine dispensing honest-to-goodness real popcorn).

After browsing and munching, we got our potting soil and I loaded it on the rear “Peanut Shell” seat (Doodlebug was sitting in the front one, right behind me and within tickle range).  I made sure to use one of the bungee cords I keep on the back of the bike to sufficiently anchor the floppy bag to the seat.  It worked like a charm.

We made it home easily, enjoying some tunes along the way in the afternoon breeze -the (The Avett Brothers: “The Carpenter” if you’re interested), and–soon enough–the girls were planting sunflowers and herbs with Mommy in the garden.

Not very long ago, I would’ve just jumped in the car and handled these errands, probably by myself.  On this day, though, I got some exercise, some sweet time with my little one, and a little more social interaction than I would have gotten otherwise…all for the cost of about 30 extra minutes.

I’ll pay that price any day.

Trekking to Trader Joe’s

One of our most common trips (and needs) is that of most families: grocery shopping.  We go through bananas, milk and yogurt like you wouldn’t believe (especially bananas, which never seem to stay as ripe as you’d like as long as you think they will).  Hence, our almost-daily ride to Trader Joe’s.

Our MUNDO chilling out in the breezeway at Trader Joe’s. We run into many cyclists and other shoppers who are always amazed to see 3 kids on a bike (not unattended, of course). We’re here practically every day (seriously).

I’ve found Trader Joe’s to be a great antidote to the slog of hauling kids to a big supermarket for a number of reasons:

• With a much smaller, brighter and creatively decorated store, it’s considerably easier to keep children engaged and harder to lose track of them.
• There are no soda, candy or toy vending machines at the entrance and exit, no questionable magazines or over-the-top sweets flanking you at the checkout stands, and no toy aisle.
• There are usually, however, children’s shopping carts, coloring pages, children’s raffles, a store mascot to find for a prize, and some sort of children’s dress-up or riding or exploring station.
• The general atmosphere and genial tone of the employees and customers (especially as compared to those at a typical supermarket) lend themselves to creating a much calmer and enjoyable shopping experience.  My kids are just as prone to boredom as anyone else’s, and they actually look forward to going here day after day (which, granted, may also say something about how exciting Daddy is…)
• Every Trader Joe’s has a demonstration counter with little plates of treats (oatmeal with blueberries, mini tacos, yogurt, chili, macaroni & cheese, veggie wraps, you name it) and free coffee (that’s actually pretty good).  That’s hard to beat, especially when you’re in full-blown errands-mode.

There are times when you need a healthy snack for the kids, (maybe one for yourself, too), and some real coffee. Getting those AND getting your groceries in a relatively hassle-free environment? Two birds, one stone, Friends.

Basil Pesto Linguini with Arugula Salad? Don’t mind if I do! (Courtesy of Amanda, helming the kitchen)

 

I know that this may not be everyone’s favorite store or first choice (or even a nearby option–I’m sorry if you’re reading this and it’s a moot point I’m making, but hopefully there are some ideas here that can apply to other shopping and errand needs you have!), but–I can tell you as someone who has gone to Trader Joe’s about 4+ times a week for five years or so–there are many benefits to coming to this most kid-friendly of grocery stores (especially if you need an outing that can actually be productive).  I know many people for whom making the big weekly grocery store trip is the bane of their parenting existence…in this case, breaking it up and going to a more manageable store can make a world of difference.

There are definitely some things you can’t get there that you would at a bigger store, but they also provide some creative ways around what may be more traditional shopping lists.  (And, as a stay-at-home parent of three in a family where our lone income is provided by a public school teacher, I can attest that it’s very possible to shop there primarily and not break the bank).

Plus–for bikers–it tends to be quite bicycle friendly, considerably more laid-back, easier to get in and out of, and…

The Yepp Mini seat can slide right into the basket area through the front bar. It rests naturally there and the angle is good for baby.

Not having to unstrap and unbuckle baby boy from his bike seat (let alone a car seat) is awfully convenient, especially with two other fast little ones at my side.  I love the Yepp!

betcha didn’t know that their smaller carts can securely fit a bike seat, huh?