Cynthia’s Twigs: About Me
Why should I buy my bicycle basket from
Cynthia’s Twigs?
The
baskets are personally designed by me to be used on American style
bicycles. I have
been selling to individuals and the bike industry for over thirteen
years and have the highest quality bicycle baskets on the market. I give personal attention
to the customer’s needs to determine the right basket for
them.
Do you offer a warranty on your baskets?
Yes,
if for any reason you are displeased with the quality of my basket or
their accessories, guaranteeing your satisfaction with performance and
quality.
If my dog refuses to ride, or is too nervous, can I
return it?
Absolutely.
I
have an American basket from 1995 and need to replace the straps. Do
you sell American leather-like straps separately?
Yes,
they are $5.00 per set.
Are your bicycle baskets just for dogs?
No. Lots of customers use them
for school, grocery shopping, etc. They’re looking for a heavy-duty, strong
bicycle basket to carry their heavier items.
What sort of accessories do you recommend with your
baskets?
That
depends on what you want to use your basket for! If you plan to go bicycling with your dog, I offer
pillows, harnesses, and liners. Since
the basket lifts off the bicycle easily, you may want to use your
basket for grocery shopping, picnicking, and other things. The beautiful liners are
also nice to use when carrying your basket out and about.
What are your prices for shipping to foreign
countries?
I
have limited availability for shipping for foreign countries; if you
live outside the US, call or write for information regarding your
personal shipping situation.
Fitting the Basket On
Will
your basket fit on my bicycle?
To
determine that, see my basket fitting page.
I’m
a student and I’m afraid if I leave my bicycle basket out, it
will be stolen. Can it be stolen easily?
The
European bicycle basket has a handle that you simply lift off and carry
into the store or your class. The
American basket is attached with buckles and is not as easily removed. For an extra measure of
safety, you can use a zip tie to weave through the basket and through
the headtube of the bicycle.
What
is your brace for?
The
brace is a metal support that fits on the back side of the basket to
help support the basket if the basket does not fit well or if your dog
is over 15 pounds. It
helps to distribute the dog’s weight, or the weight of
whatever you’re carrying, keeping steering from becoming a
problem.
I do not have a rack on the back of my bicycle, but
I want to buy a back-rack basket. How does it fit?
You
will need a longer-than-normal (16+ inches) back rack as the basket is
19” long. If
you do not have a longer back rack to mount your basket, I have them
available for $18.95. See
here for attaching my back rack to your bicycle.
Riding With Dogs
What
basket can I buy for my dog?
Small
European Basket: Not
suitable for dogs
Medium European
Basket: Up
to 10 pound dogs
Large European Basket: 10-20 pound dogs
Extra Large European Basket: Can fit up to 15 pounds; can also fit two dogs who
are very small.
Can
my dog see out of the basket?
Most
dogs ride with their haunches on the bottom of the basket and front
paws on the front of the basket to see out. Because of the depth of the European basket there
is no fear that the dog will fall out.
How can I teach my dog to ride in the basket?
It's
easy! See my "how to train your dog to ride"
page for instructions.
Do you have a mesh wire top to hold the dog in?
No,
I prefer to use my basket harness to hold the dog in. I, as well as customers, have found it much
simpler to put the dog in and out with one hand. It’s very difficult to unfasten a lid
and remove the dog while holding up the bicycle.
Will
your harness fit my dog?
My
harness is a basket harness. It
simply fits across the top of the basket. The harness is used in conjunction with your dog
collar or harness, so it does not fit around his body.
My dog only weighs 3 ½ pounds. Can’t I buy the
Small European basket?
No,
because the Small European basket does not fit well on an adult bike;
It is designed more for a child’s bicycle. It is possible for you to carry your small dog in
the American basket. However,
my harness will not fit that basket, nor will the pillow.
What accessories do you recommend for a toy breed
dog?
For
the more delicate breeds, pillows offer a measure of comfort as the
constant vibration of riding can be bothersome to the dog.
I have a Jack Russell or other active dog; will he
stay in the basket?
Active
breed dogs are well-suited for bicycle riding. The constant motion, smells, activity, and change
of scenery are very exciting for them and they love it!
