Our neighbor Chris Sanderson is officially famous as of today thanks to an excellent article by BikePortland.org. Chris is Builder By Bike, a one-man contractor who’s been using bikes and trailers as his work vehicles since 2007. He now gets around primarily on the sturdiest bike of its kind, a Yuba Mundo he happened upon in front of our shop.
Commercial interruption: All Yuba accessories are 20% off with the purchase of a new Mundo from now through Feb. 29.
Hauling heavy loads by bike day in and day out has its challenges, especially at first, and many of them are mental and logistical as much as physical. We were curious how Chris operated, so a few weeks ago we emailed him some questions for the benefit of people who want to know if they can do what they do by bike. Millions can, and someday they will. His answers are loaded with good advice, so we’ve pasted them in below. And by the way, “charmed more than anything” is how Chris describes his customers’ reactions when they see him riding up to a worksite on a fully loaded cargo bike, according to BikePortland. We thought that was a nice way of putting it.
Chris can be reached at (builderbybike [at] gmail [dot] com).
Why do you use a bike instead of a truck?
I sold my pickup truck in 2007 because I was tired of the parking tickets I got when I lived in San Francisco. I was also tired of throwing money at a hunk of steel, glass, and plastic that didn’t do much but occupy street-side parking.
After I got rid of my truck, I needed a vehicle to haul stuff for work, so I signed up with City Car Share, and used of their trucks. I noticed too that the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition allowed members to check out a Bikes at Work trailer, and I was intrigued by the idea of hauling stuff with my own legs. So I started using their trailer to haul items for my job as a facilities manager. What I discovered is that a trailer can reasonably haul a lot of stuff and heavy loads!
When I moved up here to Portland, I still had no desire to own a car or truck, so I bought an Xtracycle to haul stuff. As my business began to grow, I built my own trailer to haul tools and materials. I found that the Xtracycle had weight limitations, so I purchased the Yuba Mundo help with the heavier hauls.
I find that using a cargo bike or trailer can be just as effective as using a truck, albeit less time efficient, but even that argument can be debated!. I also find that using a bike is way less expensive than using a truck. If I were to go out to dealership to buy a truck, I’d be looking at spending about $9,000 over the next year to finance it. If I can do the same work off a bike, then why heap that financial liability on myself?
What sorts of things do you build or work on?
I do a variety of work! I do trim and finishing work, drywall installation and repair, painting, tile, window repair, build fences and decks. No jobs are too big or too small. I am a licensed, bonded, and insured general contractor, so I am willing to tackle just about any project.
What’s the most weight you’ve been able to move by bike, and how did you do it?
Last summer, I had to move tools and 1×4 boards measuring 450-lineal feet from the Rebuilding Center to Kenton. I believe that the weight was well over 350-pounds. I moved the materials with a trailer that I built out of an old computer server rack. The trailer is about 7-feet long and 2-feet wide, and it can handle a decent load.
With the exception of a few mild hills, pedaling the materials was not too difficult. I think the biggest challenge was figuring out a route to Kenton that avoided big hills, multiple stops, and chaotic roads – I’m not very familiar with the best routes in that area!
What’s either the biggest, weirdest, or most difficult load you’ve had to do by bike, and how did you manage it?
Recently, I did some work up on SW Skyline Boulevard in the West Hills. I took a load of tools up there, and not not being familiar with the best route, I ended up taking West Burnside. Big mistake! Physically and mentally it was a draining experience. There was no let up on that hill, and I had to stop once to take a five minute break. Worse was the traffic. I had a few angry, impatient motorists honking and yelling at me for occupying the fringe of the right lane. I learned a big lesson that day. Research the best route!
You already owned an XtraCycle and a trailer. Why did you buy a Mundo?
Acquiring the Xtracycle in November of 2010 was a dream come true – I loved the idea of owning a bike that could haul six bags of groceries. When I started my business I banked on using my Xtracycle to haul tools to jobs. The Xtracycle performed well, but it lacked stability as it “fishtailed” under heavy loads. I considered purchasing a heftier bike frame for the Xtracycle to increase the stability.
I noticed the Mundo outside of Joe Bike after I moved into the neighborhood. I walked into your shop, and asked Tess if I could take it for a test ride. She unlocked it, I adjusted the seat, and took off down SE 40th. The first thing I noticed was the stability – this was the most solid bike I’ve ever ridden – and I liked it. My body position on the bike felt just right. I rode it loud and proud, and not uncomfortably hunched over my handlebars. Finally, pedaling the bike seemed to require little effort.
If I was going to continue with my business, I had to get the Mundo. I did not enjoy my rides on the Xtracycle, which was not designed for the heavy loads I put on it. The Mundo is a unified, steel frame design, and it is rated to handle 450 pounds, which is perfect for hauling tools.
What’s the most difficult thing about doing what you do by bike?
Planning ahead. Hauling tools around town for jobs requires a lot of planning. Since I am not driving a utility van loaded to the gills with tools and hardware, I need to make sure that I have all the right equipment for each job. There have been times when I forgot a certain tool, and then I had to awkwardly improvise, ask the client to borrow a tool, or go buy another one at a local hardware store.
What are the best and/or most enjoyable things about doing what you do by bike?
I love being outdoors. I enjoy the sun on my skin, the wind in my face, and yes, even the pelting of the rain on my helmet. Being on a bike means being in touch and interacting with the elements around you. Each day on the bike is like a new adventure, and I really enjoy the interaction I have with other cyclists on the streets.
What would you say to other people who are thinking of using a bike as their work vehicle?
Try it out! However, I might suggest starting out incrementally. Running a business off a bike means that one will be pedaling just about every day in all kinds of conditions, and I am not just talking about the weather. Some days I finish a long, hard day of work, and I still have to pedal 30 or 45-minutes back home with a full load of tools in the rain, and I just don’t feel like doing that!
I had a recent conversation with a woman who was thinking about doing her landscaping business off a bike. I told her about the great benefits like staying in great shape, saving a lot of money, helping the environment, and experiencing the joy of being outside. We also talked about what a radical shift it is from vehicle to bike. Using a bike means a slower, more intentional way of living, which has enriched my life. However, it also means that it’s less “convenient” than using a car or truck.
Is there anything you want to tell people either about what you’re doing, or about bikes, or about anything at all?
Riding a bike to or for work is one of the most positive things that one can do! The health, environmental, economic, and spiritual (yes, spiritual!) benefits far outweigh the conveniences of driving a car everywhere.
I stay in great shape, because I am cycling everywhere. My blood pressure is normal, I take no medications, and I feel I have more energy and vitality because I bike everywhere.
From my faith background, I believe that it is very important to be a good steward of the environment. I am not totally down on motor vehicles – they have their place. However, I believe that wonton driving habits are destructive to our environment, globally and locally.
I’ve heard that on average one can save $9,000 by not owning a car. That’s a huge chunk of money! Reality is that gas prices and insurance rates will continue to rise in the future. Plus, wages have certainly not kept up with the cost of living, so it makes economic sense to remove the vehicle from the equation.
I find that riding my bike is great meditative time. I get lost in a world of thought-no-thought on my bike, where I ponder intricacies life and my relationships with others, or just think about nothing at all as I focus on breathing and pedaling up a hill.
One would think that, at some point, a builder would have to haul things that are simply too heavy or too big to carry by bike or trailer. Have you experienced this, and if so, how did you handle it?
I did a room remodel, and I ordered 21-sheets of drywall, 14-2x4s, insulation, and drywall mud. I simply could not haul that on my trailer, so I had to have it delivered. The delivery fee was reasonable, and I embedded the cost into the quote. Even if I owned a small truck, I would have had the materials delivered anyway.
I have also used a friend’s truck to move large loads of materials, but it is rare that I’ve done that, since he lives in Oak Grove. I am not adverse to using his truck on special occasions, but I am mindful that my business is called, Builder By Bike, so I make every effort to stick with a bike and trailer.
What’s your typical service area? Do you ride out to Home Depot, or do you rely on hardware stores and other small businesses that are closer in?
I am willing to ride anywhere in the metro area, but my preference is to serve the Southeast and Northeast neighborhoods. However, if I were lord god, master of the universe, I would have a Builder By Bike serving in Southeast, Northeast, and North Portland. I would serve Southeast, and have two employees working those neighborhoods. Obviously, I am not at that point (not being lord god master of the universe) in my business, but I am hopeful for the future. By the way, I am not actively seeking business in Southwest Portland, because of proximity, geography, and limitations to the bike infrastructure (ever tried riding down Macadam?), but I would not rule out going there for work.
I must say that I do not have a preferred hardware store that I go to. I often find myself stopping at hardware stores that are on the way to some of my jobs. I find that it makes more sense to stop at the Ace Hardware on NE Fremont when doing a job in the Cully Neighborhood than going out of my way to Division Hardware, which is more local to me.
What’s it like doing this in the rain and cold vs. doing it in warmer, drier weather?
No doubt, I prefer to ride in warmer, sunnier weather. Who doesn’t? Riding in the rain and colder weather means that I have to plan ahead more. Sometimes I have to pack an extra pair of pants or a sweater, knowing that I will get drenched in a downpour (even with rain gear on!). I’ve learned to live with that, and accept it as a part of my job.
