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.

 

 

Too Much Cargo? Too Many Errands? Not with a Mundo

I had a small window of time and 3 errands to run, each involving a decent-to-large amount of cargo.

Decision-time:

Do I just take the car?

Or do I add a 4th errand on top of the mix (getting exercise) and take the Mundo?

Seeing that I don’t also write a separate blog about driving my Mazda around town, you can probably guess what I chose.

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Long story short, here are my 3 hauls:

#1 – A cartload of assorted goodies and staples (including cat food) from Trader Joe’s:

#2 – A couple bags of fresh goodness (including 10lbs of apples, 10lbs of oranges, honey and eggs!) from the big Farmers Market under the freeway:

#3 – One 48lb bag of dog food for our furry little family members, courtesy of Smart’n’Final:

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So, I’m very glad I chose to ride this day.  It always helps my outlook to be on a bike, as opposed to being in the car, sequestered from my environment.  I even ran into a few friends at the Farmers Market, then made some new acquaintances when I parked my Mundo next to theirs.  Here’s a shot of my beast and their nice orange ride:

And here’s a shot of how the groceries fit (prior to the dog food plopping on top).  As I’ve mentioned in other posts, a regular wine box will fit perfectly in the Monkey Bars, and my big green bag is loaded with veggies in the Peanut Shell seat.  I’ve also got groceries in the plastic bucket panniers up front:

 

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!