New handlebars and brakes on The Packet Boat (Comments: 8)
Author: Jason Crane
Date: 13 May, 2008
Category: Albany, Jason Crane, Xtracycles / Cargo Bikes
I’ve been refurbishing The Packet Boat (Xtracycle) recently with the help of the gang at the Down Tube bike shop on Madison. The two major changes are new trekking handlebars:
And new front and rear disc brakes:
I’m really digging both changes. Those handlebars (which I purchased from Nashbar.com for cheap) give me many new hand positions, which is a big relief on longer rides. I can also grab them down low for more climbing leverage, which I like a lot. When I reach forward to hold the shifters, I’m much lower out of the wind than was the case with my old riser bars. I’m not saying the Boat is aerodynamic, but it’s as close as something nicknamed “The Packet Boat” is likely to get.
The disc brakes, which I also purchased from Nashbar, are a welcome change. Much more stopping power than the old side-pulls, and — from what I’ve been told — more all-weather reliability. Unfortunately, I bought a front-and-rear kit from Nashbar that had a smaller rear rotor than Xtracycle calls for. I also had wheels on my low-end Giant hybrid that didn’t accept disc breaks. So I got a slightly better set of Shimano wheels and a larger rear rotor, and all was well.
8 comments to “New handlebars and brakes on The Packet Boat”