[Closed] cargo curious......

If your planning to do the School run, Consider something with a Hub gear.

Nothing worse than stopping and finding your in the wrong gear with kids on the back, if going down the hubgear route try the Nuvinci hubs as they can handle lots of torque / suitable for converting to an Ebike

other than that a steering stabiliser, big centre stand, 26" wheels or a smaller rear (low center of gravity)

most of all go and try loads somewhere like Practical cycles or really useful bikes

I wanted a cargo bike a few years ago but in a flat there was no space to keep it. Now im in a house ive just continued to use my tourer with 4 panniers and a basket and not ran out of room yet, even on B&Q or Ikea trips. Id still love a cargo bike but its too hilly on the routes id use it on and I dont think id ever need the capacity 🙁

If you go on to instructables George form gsport has a good one on making a long john bike. He uses a aluminium HT frame and gets so.done to weld on big box section to extend the frame.

yeah i have had that feeling for a few years now stato but when i started running out of space for the shopping on my bike i reverted to using the car.....

ARe there any equivalents to really useful bikes or practical cycles in scotland t1000 ? not seeing much - although probably searchign the wrong thing.

Id love a bakfiets but the cycle paths here are no use for them - the no motorbike gates would prevent me using them 🙁

thebrick .... thats another idea - i have a couple of old steel frames and say cynic al the carbon spoon guys cargo bike.....

but equally i have a decent welder so could probably knock something up - ive seen some nice looking cheapo "mech hanger/disk mount" bolt on drop outs on CRC that could be project friendly....

Dont you have a tandem?

[url= http://www.bikehacks.com/bikehacks/2010/02/cargo.html ]tandem hack[/url]

nah no tandems here , if i had a tandem i wouldnt have a wife 😀

We have tried them many times and "i think" because we both ride in our own rights we do the wrong things at the wrong time on a tandem 😀

Laid back bikes in Edinburgh might be a good starting point (there must be others as well)

My mate had a Kona Ute. He didn't keep it long, he found it so impractical to park in the garage and at work, plus it was "interesting" to turn around, it was quite hard work as well. He now has a 1X1 and an AWOL with lots of panniers, which he prefers..........

the ute does have an utterly terrible reputation for being as flexy as a cooked spaghetti when loaded though i can see why it wouldnt work out for many.

I once saw a race between 2 Ute's with kids on the back past the UN Building in New York, that was surreal.............

My journey to cargo:

Bought an Xtracycle kit, didn't fit dropouts/stays (M-Trax hardtail, heavily recessed dropouts). Was disappoint.

Bought an ex-demo Ute. Squirmed like a weasel when loaded, found the load rack/deck to be too high (29er) and it had a fast wobble at speed that I couldn't seem to address. Loved the geometry/riding position though. V comfortable. Sold it.

Bought a used Dutch bike (Batavus Personal) for about a hundred quid. 3 speed Nexus, 26er, high tensile steel stepthru. Long oversized rear rack, big sidestand, integral locks, dynohub w/stemlight, full guards, puncture-guard tyres. All I changed was the front chainring to something that conquers hills.

Turned out to be a bombproof, reliable load-carrying revelation. I love it so much I find excuses to go shopping. Would pay £500-£600 for a new one if I didn't have this. Or would buy another used one from Marktplaats or somesuch. I also looked at Yuba Mundos but I'm (currently inescapably) a car-user also so the odd long load goes in the car, a longer bike would be overkill for requirements. The Batavus Personal does all grocery shopping, carrying four pannier loads + a rack-pack without so much as a wobble. Its also ugly as sin. Bonus!

I had a Surly Big Dummy for ages (passed on upon moving to Hong Kong). They are expensive, but surprisingly epic.

A small Flickr album with some loads etc. [url=[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/big-dummy-raynes-park/albums/72157605772907273 ]here[/url]:

[url= https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3835/14801774119_414dd0797c_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3835/14801774119_414dd0797c_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

The centre-stand is REALLY important. You'll take passengers [i]far[/i] more than you expect (and it's great!) so get a stoker's bar. It's well worth collecting bungees, straps etc. Nice big tyres are good news. If I was doing it from scratch I'd put dynamo lights on (never got around to this). The Dummy is brilliant fun off-road - see-saws and steep chutes are surprisingly easy.

It really was the best value and most exciting thing I've bought. There remains a substantial hole these days where it isn't.

🙂

^ Big Dummy w/kayak is a dream I have. Great pic 😀

I bought the bugger on eBay when I was drunk. It was collection only, from Street in Somerset. I lived in Bristol. That was a [i]very[/i] hard 25 mile lug home over the Mendips. top day out.

😀

BigDummy - that link doesn't work.

Have owned a Ute for a few years. It's good for carrying kids as the deck is so long, you can fit a seat or two, foot pegs and a stoker bar. The kids can tuck in behind you out of the weather. It is undoubtedly flexy if you stomp on the pedals but the design and long wheelbase makes it uber comfy, even on rough tracks. It cruises quite well on the flat and is far lighter than a Yuba Mundo or Surly Big Dummy.

It is fine for shopping, I just throw linked panniers on behind the kids. If you don't carry children at all, it can carry quite a bit of shopping in the bespoke Ute panniers, which also fit in a supermarket trolley, handy to prevent overloading.

It doesn't carry anything like as much as a dutch box bike but is far cheaper, narrow as a 'normal' bike and, except from a longer chain and rear brake cable, uses bog standard hybrid parts.

Negatives? Aside from the flex when accelerating, the foldaway centre stand fouls the chain if you run big/big (the 2016 model appears to have fixed this using a spacer) and care is needed when setting off with kids on board as their weight is quite high up. The steering and wheelbase require some acclimatisation but are easier to master than a tandem. I replaced the short stem and 45 degree sweep porteur bars with a longer stem and fleegles and can now ride comfortably for hours.

I'm just west of Glasgow if you want to try it.

Oh, I bought mine in Cathcart.

Here's a pic of the Bug-ugly Bisexual Brute-iful Beast Of Burden (spot the cunning cable lock stowed in the main tube, and a wheel-lock for quick stops). I fitted a Freeload/Thule sport deck on the front for extra stowage. May fit a centre-stand one day but so far no probs at all.

[IMG] [/IMG]

BigDummy - that link doesn't work.

Sorry!

[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/big-dummy-raynes-park/sets/72157605772907273 ]Hopefully that does[/url]

I manage a surprising amount of stuff on a normal bike with a Topeak rack

2 panniers and the Topeak folding crate, which has an extendible handle for wheeling it along and just slides into the rack. That combined with a fold up rucksack for emergency extras means I can buy a fair bit. I don't bother going to the supermarket much in the car (family of 4 here)

Popped to the shop last night and managed loads of stuff - 3 cartons of juice, 2 ltr lemonade, whole chicken, 2 packs of fish cakes, 24 sausages, rack of ribs, about 8 cans, loads of fruit and veg, 9 toilet rolls (quilted natch). Didn't use the rucksack.

It's a little wobbly so only ok on the road, but it's handy being able to use a normal bike. In fact it's stopped me from justifying a cargo bike

Only downside is I can carry two kids, or 1 kid and lots of shopping. These are the only reasons I have left, and the school run is a walk, would be more hassle in the bike.

I had a Yuba Mundo for a couple of years. Because I stupidly only bought one enormous pannier I had to bodge a recycling box to the other side to do a Big Shop, so it got used for that far less than it should. I didn't ever realise the kayak dream, but I did carry/tow a couple of bikes and some dustbins.

Eventually, the cheap parts it came with, to get it under the bike to work limit, I think, started to die and as lots of them were non-standard it was going to be an expensive fix. So, I sold it.

I've now got an [url= http://elephantbike.co.uk/ ]Elephant Bike[/url] which is more practical for day to day riding/commuting and can still handle a reasonably big load.

Id love a bakfiets but the cycle paths here are no use for them - the no motorbike gates would prevent me using them

I struggle to even get my Elephant Bike through these. Seriously* considering buying a battery powered angle grinder.

[i]*not seriously[/i]

Forgot to say - roller brakes front and rear have also been a surprisingly maintenance/faff free experience. Took a little while to acclimatise so that hairy moments down big hills have reduced with experience. Saying that I wouldn't wish to career down to Lynmouth with a full load and literally flaming brakes . Or would I ... 8)

You can squeeze the motorbike barriers a bit wider with a car jack... So I've heard 😈

But don't go too far or they snap and then the council replace them with a kissing gate and it really makes life awkward.

i was in the garage looking at my stuff last night for a non spending solution at the moment

My donor bike + an old rack i found in the shed + a little creativity to make a front rack + my bob trailer + a box + an ebay motorkit = really useful(versatile) shopping bike (its 15 hilly miles round trip to the shop - and even further to town) for now.

I can investigate cargo bikes again when i have the need to do the school run 😀

One of the couriers in central Manchester uses an electric assist Bullit. Expensive, but very cool. I believe a baking co-op over in Calderfornia use one too and it's quite hilly there!

I manage a surprising amount of stuff on a normal bike

^ this, unless you're carrying small humans, or [i]regularly [/i]carrying massive odd-shaped objects then a normal bike with front and rear racks is massively practical.

4x pannier + a platform/porteur rack on the front is a heck of a lot of room for things and what I use 90% of the time (well 2 panniers mostly, the second set when needed). For the other 10% I use a trailer, all the benefits of extended cargo bike, but with more flexibility.

I will be going cargo once we have little ones though, but probably a long-john style (Bullit hopefully!) rather than longtail.

Kona Ute here, I've had no problems with handling or anything. My wife thought I was crazy when I bought it but now it's adapted to carry the two kids (4 and 2years old) she uses it all the time. Loaded with the two kids I can still fit a weeks(ish) shopping in the panniers.

I now have to try and sneak out on it to even get a go.. Has stopped the need for a second car..

Elephant bike is a very good shout. I'd love a reason to be able to justify one of those, would be incredibly practical

Also the FR8 and GR8 bikes look good. Strangely expensive, but I tried one with my daughter and she loved it

Xtracycles are awesome. I've moved house with one, twice. Have had two adults on the back too.

If I were richer id have a harry vs larry

Elephant bike is a very good shout. I'd love a reason to be able to justify one of those, [b]would be incredibly practical[/b]

There's your reason right there...

I was just looking at Elephant Bikes. £250 for a refurb! I might just do it.

I've now got an Elephant Bike which is more practical for day to day riding/commuting and can still handle a reasonably big load.

I have a Kona Minute fittted with drop bars. it is my go to bike for everything. It has a hamax on the back for the school run which comes off in seconds to make a fast tourer/commuter. Rides well off road loaded and unloaded and is just great fun. Stiff aluminium frame means no flex but with enough post sticking out to make it really comfortable.

And here is the latest n+1
[IMG] [/IMG]

Electric cargo bike, you say? I just built this:

[url= https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7244/26683525673_0bb8335296_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7244/26683525673_0bb8335296_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/GDW3xt ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/cycleologist/ ]Ben Cooper[/url], on Flickr

Been carrying pallets about on it 😉

8freight + electrickery = fun!

Aye, I built a few with hub motors, by making new conventional forks. But 8Freight want to keep the single-sided drums for their electric option, so I've gone for a mid-mounted motor system.

What wattage motor do you go for on a cargo bike like that?

If you want to use it on the road, it has to be within the 200/250W limit.

[img] [/img]

been lusting after one of these.

But what do you build them with Ben 😉

This has got a Sunstar motor - works really well, though had to modify the frame a bit. Talking to 8Freight about how to tweak the frame design.

How about a trailer?
I had a Bakfiets cargo bike when the kids were wee, which was also a great cargo carrier, but sold it once they were riding their own bikes, and now I have a Carry Freedom trailer. It's a simple, but very flexible carrying platform, with a very good hitch arrangement, and can flat pack in seconds if you want to hang it on the garage wall when you are not using it.
It easily handles one of those large 130 litre Ikea storage boxes on a big supermarket shop, and I have also towed long lengths of timber back from B&Q with it.

Had a Ute for a couple of years, after the kids grew out of the trailer.
It was a bit flexy but its not a bike for hammering, more wafting along, at which is is very proficient.
That sort of bike changes the way you think about local transportation. Even in winter, it became the default choice for local runs. We honestly found ourselves finding excuses to use it. I remember losing the back end in the snow one morning, & us all tumbling off into the snow. The kids still laugh about that now. It became known around work as the butchers bike. We had a fund day at work once, & quite a crown gathered around it in the bike shed. Wherever you go folk stop & ask of it. On the road I never had a single bit of grief, it always seemed to bring out the best in people. Its a shame they are not more common.

Having the ability to permanently stow wet weather gear aboard makes a massive difference. Did the usual trick of carting the Wifes slightly drunk female friends around the park a few times. 🙂
A couple of pics below of it loaded with various loads. It almost became a challenge to fit more & more on. Hills are hard work though. 😀

But, the kids grew up & preferred their own bikes, plus I needed the garage space & sadly she was sold. I use an old Carerra Subway these days, with panniers permanently attached, that's very much of the same ilk, but I often hanker after another [i]proper[/i] Cargo bike.

[url= https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5500/9296428131_1b17371a08_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5500/9296428131_1b17371a08_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/fauCcD ]IMAG1282[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/takisawa2/ ]pten2106[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7257/7558582866_80f28fa210_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7257/7558582866_80f28fa210_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/cvVHmf ]IMAG0774[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/takisawa2/ ]pten2106[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8373/8356769127_cf16c14504_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8373/8356769127_cf16c14504_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/dJsCjk ]IMAG0116[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/takisawa2/ ]pten2106[/url], on Flickr

One of these with front and rear carriers?

[img] [/img]

I have one, it's amazing how much you can get in them. Relatively long wheelbase so reasonably stable, and full suspension. Crap brakes can be improved.

road train
[img] [/img]
[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qhfISyfk66I/TgjnxurYxpI/AAAAAAAAJEE/A2Q3M4dEhE0VHr5uXSKv9Aow4SMgvGUSACCo/s640/P1000825.JPG [/img][img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7UJ-D2tTecg/TgjnxmFi5uI/AAAAAAAAABg/b25bsODgUHcdjl2NHCbXtjyNH6GQyZ0zQCCo/s640/IMAG0221.jp g" target="_blank">https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qhfISyfk66I/TgjnxurYxpI/AAAAAAAAJEE/A2Q3M4dEhE0VHr5uXSKv9Aow4SMgvGUSACCo/s640/P1000825.JPG [/img][img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7UJ-D2tTecg/TgjnxmFi5uI/AAAAAAAAABg/b25bsODgUHcdjl2NHCbXtjyNH6GQyZ0zQCCo/s640/IMAG0221.jp g"/> [/img]
[img] [/img]

I like the Inbred, Stoner!

I really fancy an old Post Office bike, like this one:

[img] [/img]

Rod brakes, heavy, slow... perfect! You often see tatty ones pop up on eBay for £50ish. Might look into getting one later this summer. Probably paint it something other than red, though.

[img] [/img]

[url= https://c5.staticflickr.com/2/1266/4693557116_63d36fd17d_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://c5.staticflickr.com/2/1266/4693557116_63d36fd17d_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/89KH1y ]The Beast...[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/cycleologist/ ]Ben Cooper[/url], on Flickr

Duffer - Member
...I really fancy an old Post Office bike, like this one:

...Probably paint it something other than red, though.

Red is for the fast ones used by the telegraph delivery boys. They were positioned strategically around the country like the Pony Express and were known for their speed.

Hopefully you don't believe that nonsense that they were able to send messages through those tiny wires you see strung alongside the roads - they were actually rest stops for migrating birds.... 🙂

http://larryvsharry.co.uk/ - always fancied one of these after seeing lots of them in Copenhagen.

Duffer, take a look at the Elephant Bike I posted up there. It IS an ex post office bike. Refurbed. Sturmey Archer hub and drum brakes. It also supports a good charity.

Slowoldman - i did see that, but i'm after an old one i can tinker with. Thanks! It also looks like a great cause.

well looks like i bought me an free radical - which will be mounted on an old medium long thorn raven enduro i have in the garage (thats useless for anything else because the designers are stuck in the 90s)

it will suit this perfect as with a steerer extension on the bars will be nice and high up front - and it will fit me and the mrs with only the post going up and down. Got a set of marys and 9speed bar end shifters set asside - along with an old set of bomb proof MX comps - a big un on d521 36 spoke rear wheel with 205 rotor - a set of Deore cable disks with avid levers and some fat spesh hemishere semi slicks. All ill need to pick up is a chain and cassette i think - and maybe some bodging to get a front mech on there -after all it was designed for a rohloff hub - who knows my rohloff may end up on there one day but that requires a wheel rebuild for my fat bike.

Going to fit motor assist to the front as well as its a climb all the way from the city to ours with the last 3 miles being steep when loaded.

Front and rear racks + a trailer on my rove al worked well but aukward loads were still aukward to load due to limited footprint and the trailer needing clearance to turn...... Hopefully this is the solution we were looking for to go back down to 1 daily car.

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/9JzDATJcWscFAxOEdl98z3VTo3eJUu4pLVJqjE8rR6h_S-oeNX38MSg3Juve05ewINdPZ5dZdubfXA=w1600-h900-rw-no [/img]

Getting there .

Bafang hasnt arrived yet though 🙁 was supposed to be here yesterday :@

[img] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/lseRqQfiEM6j8re1C6154det4UJUt52OSVHLWT1toNVb3lPon05tPj949kJ4ehw_Y59xPFlbVXiG7Q=w1600-h900-rw-no [/img]

more features in the dash than my landie 😀

I used to have a Ute but had to sell it when I moved to a place with 10 steps down to get in the front door.

I've recently been lusting over something like the elephant bikes but just found this on ebay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Trade-bike-Trike/322279332167?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D39012%26meid%3Dd57e282f52d64a20885f46ba13133993%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D152263836729

[img] [/img]

"other than that a steering stabiliser, big centre stand, 26" wheels or a smaller rear (low center of gravity)"

I'd agree with the first two - but I've a MINute with 700c wheels, and never noted an issue with being a bit taller...

Never ridden a ute, but the minute (2/3 the deck size) is truly great!
I've had the WHOLE family on it (Me, the wife, and 2 kids!)
I often have the 6 year old on the back, and the 18mth old on a wee ride in front.
The pannier bags are huge and tough, so great for shopping too.

I'm currently looking at dutch style cargo bikes for the wife - she's got a pretty pendleton, but now the baby is less babyish, she's probably NOT going to want to go in the trailer much any more...!

I'll grab a photo of myself and PictonRoad racing our kiddie laden Minutes at the BigBikeBash...!!

DrP

3 wheel cargobikes handle terribly.

Through work I've used a:
Christiania box bike 3 wheeler
and a converted pedicab

would much rather a two wheeler.
two wheelers i've used are:
MCR truck (awful thing)
Bullit bike (awesome thing)

I really want a Bullit. I have absolutely no use for it though.

thats a kona sutra frame

with a 26" rear wheel tick - albe it with a very fat spesh hemisphere semi slick on.

it has a hebie steering damper on tick

it has a side stand atm but im looking into making my own version of haulin colins rolling jackstand

Im not paying 140 quid for the Xtra cycle stand - it needs to be platinum coated for that kind of money.

IMO short of the panniers and the actual freeradical i think that most of the xtracycle componants are very over priced. Id never have bought a new one. (i do understand the concept of low production volume = high price )

example - i fancy some running boards on the wide loaders for passengers instead of the canvas - they are £99. (or $99......in the us) Or i COULD just get a couple of bits of birch faced ply and make my own..... (which i will be although probably not spending out on ply and just using some scrap pine from an old wardrobe)

Or the 40 quid foam pad for the top deck. 1. The wife reckons she doesnt need one and 2. They make scooter waterproof padded seats that fit just fine for a fraction of the cost.

TBH if this one were to break i think id canabalise a couple of frames and crack out the welder or brazing kit to make my own big dummy a like similar to steve of steve-workshop. http://www.steves-workshop.co.uk/vehicles/cargobike/cargobikeindex.htm

The motor arrived yesterday.

Acceleration is brutal -to 15.5mph 🙂 or at least it will once the speed sensors extended today to let it reach the rear wheel.

Glad I bought a programmin cable going to set up a soft start or it'll eat drive trains.

Gonna have to buy a gear sensor though it's like riding a rohloff atm. Stop pedaling let the motor cut out change gear and start pedaling again .

Don't think I'm gonna have any issue with loads. Motors good and strong 🙂

Gotta run errands tonight. Drop off beer bottles and a step ladder at a couple of mates then head in the other direction to go see metalhead. Will see what real world range I get