What's an Xtracycle? It's a thingie called a Freerider that bolts onto your existing bike. Once installed, your bike is transformed into an Xtracycle— able to haul people and things with unlimited possibilities. It looks pretty too. Maybe that's why Dang liked it from the get-go. She says it reminds her a little of the work bikes she grew up with back home in Thailand. I know I've always wanted a bike that could haul a load. The bonus offered by the Xtracycle goes farther than hauling a butt-load of stuff. The Xtracycle is just plain fun and that makes it something more than a work bike. It's really what the Xtracycle factory says it is. It's a Sport Utility Bike — an SUB.

Since that first day two years ago, my Xtracycle has changed the way I ride and the way I live — all for the better. For starters, my cycling experiences once were a wholly separate activity from my domestic life. Overnight with the aid of the Xtracycle, my sedentary partner began to share my bike life with me. For the sake of my partner, I started out with baby steps.

First it was short trips to the library and the supermarket. The Xtracycle preformed perfectly with plenty of room for books and groceries. Then bigger steps. The Lance Armstrong Ride for the Roses Expo and Criterium was the Xtracycle's first real exposure to crowds. The wife accompanied me on the Xtracycle, passenger style. The races were exciting, Lance won, blah, blah, blah — but I couldn't wait to leave so we could ride the Xtracycle some more.

Then it changed the way I get to work. The Xtracycle is more visible than my previous commuter bike and it hauls anything I need for a day of work. Sure, it's a little heavier but somehow I've learned to commute with a more laid-back attitude. Instead of fighting it out with the cars, there seems to be a larger comfort zone around me now. And in the heat of summer when the going gets Texas hot, not hauling a heavy pack of clothes on my back is particularly liberating.

All my gear rides on board the Xtracycle and I never seem to run out of room to strap on more stuff. I don't sweat as much, I stay cooler, my gear doesn't get all sweaty and the weight distribution is better. No more essentials strapped to my body. Because the rear wheel has been moved backwards about 15 inches, there's more room for bulky items and they no longer catch on my heels while pedaling.

In a town like Austin where driving and parking a car near public events is nearly impossible, the Xtracycle gets you in close and it gets you there with a full compliment of stuff. More than once I've attended public events while packing a full load of food, drinks, blankets and chairs. Whether it's 4th of July fireworks or Eyore's Birthday party, it's a pleasure to attend public events absent the long walk from the parking lot to where the fun is. I don't need no stinking parking lot and getting to the event is half the fun.

Call it showboating or call it sharing a love for cycling, it's all good. The wife sits on-board enjoying the scenery while I haul both our asses down the road. After many years of cycling alone, I am finally able to share the bicycle touring experience with my non-cycling better half. Suddenly mama is into cycling and wants to get a tandem. I'm not so sure. I'd have to go easy on a tandem — for her sake. With the Xtracycle I can hammer as hard as I please without burning-out my "stoker."

Some have suggested I try the Xtracycle for an extended bike tour. But I'd rather do something slightly different. I call it urban cycle touring. For a guy like me who chafes at the idea of burning gasoline to get to the starting point of a decent bike ride, urban cycling is a perfect fit.

Here's the routine: Pack a picnic lunch and a change of clothes then leave suburbia. Do not head for the shopping mall. Steer toward downtown with a friend on-board the Xtracycle. Spend the afternoon in the park, check out a museum, go out to eat, see a movie and enjoy the city without burning gasoline. That's urban cycle touring. To those of you who ride skinny tire bikes each weekend, I've got good news. Urban cycle touring involves less traffic and more civilized amenities than plying the country roads. With suburbia and shopping malls as far as the eye can see, urban cycling is much more enjoyable than trying to find a safe road to bicycle just outside the city.

It seems like everywhere I go the Xtracycle attracts attention. It's sort'a like having a cute or interesting dog; everyone suddenly wants to strike up a conversation. I've had kids chase me down to check out my wheels. Soccer moms have remarked at the Xtracycle's hauling utility. Good ol' boys have admired the construction and style. Even some east side teenagers, "Yo, dog! Chilly bike!" I just smile and tell them it's an Xtracycle.