I’m with Big Dummy
by Bernie
Since my bike is my primary mode of transportation, I’m constantly getting lines like, “I wish I could ride my bike everywhere I needed to go.”
My usual reply: “You can.” Which is then met with myriad excuses, “But I have a kid. And I do a month’s worth of grocery shopping at a time. And I buy lumber frequently. Blah, blah, blah.”
Anyway, for this year’s Panther City Bicycles PrairieFest display, I decided to show people just how much stuff you can really carry on a bike… if you want to. I packed the entire “booth” on my new bike, the Surly Big Dummy, and rode from the Near South Side over to Tandy Hills Nature Area.
It was fun to watch people’s reactions as I arrived on the pack mule of the bicycle world. I easily got as many double-takes as the Swedish Bikini Team would have if they had been at PrairieFest (they were booked elsewhere, unfortunately).
People were blown away later in the day when I told them that the whole booth had arrived on a single bike, too. It was really rewarding to open up a few people’s eyes to the possiblities of human-powered transportation.
I also really enjoyed telling people that to my knowledge, my booth was the only one that arrived while producing zero emissions (although I did have a legume-rich dinner the night before, so that might depend on your definition of emissions).
The two biggest obstacles to getting people on bikes for transportation are laziness, and a common American misconception that bikes are primarily toys or recreational items only. I can’t do much about lazy people, but hopefully I at least changed a few people’s views of bikes on Saturday.
Finally, a big thanks goes out to my good friend Hasty, who is also a Big Dummy owner, and who built the attachment that made it possible for me to carry a bike on my bike. You rock, Hasty! (By the way, Hasty has a wife and daughter and buys big items frequently… and he does it ALL on his Big Dummy. Take THAT, lazy people!)
Tags: bicycles, Big Dummy, prairie fest, PrarieFest, Surly
9 Comments, Comments or Pings
Don Young
What a great example to set for Prairie Fest attendees. I vote Bernie for Mayor! (The current occupant drives around in an giant, empty SUV.)
Although the award is not yet official, (I just made it up) Bernie and Panther City Bicycles is the top contender for the Prairie Fest Green Prize, given to the exhibitor who best represents the Prairie Fest philosophy of environmental stewardship.
It’s people like Bernie who keep me from abandoning the Fort for greener pastures. His commitment to making the world a better place reminds me that Fort Worth needs us more than we need it.
Hats off to you, Bernie!
DY
Apr 30th, 2008
pete g
I just got a pair of panniers for my bike and they have been really useful. The Big Dummy looks awesome…the ultimate human-powered grocery getter.
Apr 30th, 2008
Hasty
You rock, rock.
“By the way, Hasty has a wife and daughter and buys big items frequently… and he does it ALL on his Big Dummy. Take THAT, lazy people!”
And I’m fat too. Take THAT skinny, lazy, people! If I can do it anyone can do it.
Everywhere is within riding distance if you leave early enough.
Glad the rack worked for you. Also glad you were able to exploit some of the weaknesses that I missed hauling the Cross Check around. I’ll work on that one.
We had a blast there. Gracie loved the music.
Apr 30th, 2008
Cindy Chaffin
This is the coolest thing ever! I was thinking of a big tricycle, but this is much better. Must have.
Apr 30th, 2008
Pete G
I just got back from a ball game and I talked to a lady loading up her two toddlers into a custom made rack on the back of her Big Dummy. She says she goes everywhere with them and has room for groceries etc. It’s nice to know there are different ways to do things.
Apr 30th, 2008
fixedfortworth
awesome… any pictures en route?
May 1st, 2008
Bernie
No, I was riding alone… so no pictures. I’ll have to take a personal photographer with me next time.
May 1st, 2008
fixedfortworth
for sure. I think I saw hasty on his around summit last week.
May 2nd, 2008
Recyclican
Old blog entry, but I thought it deserved to be linked with this blog’s article: http://sustainablog.org/2008/09/10/moving-house-via-bike-seems-like-environmental-practical-friendly-fun/
Sep 10th, 2008
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