Big Dummy Gets Smarter
Jul 03, 2007 · 09:46 AM · permalink
Checked in with Surly Bikes yesterday on the Big Dummy and learned from Dave Gray, the Product Design and Development dude, that new factory samples are en route. Those samples should address much of our concerns with Bettie
- Stand-over height
- Rohloff’able
- Whippiness
- Disc brake compatibility
In my long-term Bettie notes, I’d complained about the stand-over height and whippiness as the two biggest issues. Cargo bikes should drop the top-tube right to the bottom bracket so you can easily step into and out of the bike, especially with a load or kids or both: the latest Big Dummy uses the Instigator’s top-tube design. The whippiness is an obvious problem and inherent to trailers whether attached or not. Any longtail should make that better, and Surly is making it stiff.
Rohloff is a good option, to simplify the drive train. Nuvinci is another.
The disc brake problem came up for us because we’re using Magura’s Gustav for the stopping power on really hilly routes, fully loaded. The Gustav’s need exact tolerances and the Xtracycle just didn’t have them, even after using Magura’s planing tool.
It was great talking to Dave and hearing about the Big Dummy.
word on the top tube. that bites me all the time, especially with the peapod seat attached. as far as the rohloff goes, how is it with loads? i noticed with my nexus 7-speed if the bike was loaded, the hub seemed “abused.” hence my eventual gary fisher / free radical combo.
man i can’t wait for the dummy. i’m ordering as soon as they give the word.
My understanding is that Bettie is built as a 29er but the Big Dummy will use 26” wheels. That presumably helps with the standover height, but do you think that the larger wheels help with rolling over bumps and curbs with less disruption to your load?
Brian,
That’s my concern exactly on the Rohloff, but considering how that’s built it may very well handle the load. I don’t know yet if we’ll build it with the Rohloff, but it’s a candidate. We’re also concerned about Todd’s pausing the sales of Stokemonkey and where that leaves us. We may very well build Bettie 2.0 without the Stokemonkey, but opt for a new drivetrain.
Martin,
Bettie is built with 26 and the Big Apples, which is about a 29er. That presumption is incorrect — well we thought so at the time It does help with toe/foot down when stopping and starting but the standover is still to high with that top-tube. And we wouldn’t have really known that until we started carrying big loads on Bettie.
As a design study, we’re learning a lot with Bettie — as a stoked xTracycle it’s outstanding. Where we need to refine it is in the cargo function and we may very well build up a better cargo bike, like a Bakfeit, if Bettie 2.0 with the Big Dummy doesn’t work.
We’re hoping it does.
The Rohloff works well for off road tandems. I think it can handle a fully loaded dummy without problems.
Thanks Rikard. Our mechanic, the legendary Eamon Stanley, has been pushing Rohloff. I refused it for the Modal, but I think it’s a definite consideration for Bettie 2.0.
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