Five Cool Cargo Bikes And The Return Of The Long John
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 04.27.08
Pictured is the Danish Kangaroo cargo bike
After a car-free 1.5 years in the Swedish city of Gothenburg, it had become time to reassess the bike set-up, because a wire basket, back rack and single pannier just didn't seem to be cutting for this rider anymore. When you have to carry every liter of milk, stick of butter and pot of paint either by foot or on your own pedal power, cargo bikes had started to look more and more enticing. That recent weekend in Copenhagen also again made it clear that the Danes are a light-year ahead of everyone (except, perhaps, the Dutch) when it comes to all things urban biking.
So it was timely to see a weekend review in Sydsvenskan newspaper of five cargo bikes - four Danish and one Dutch. The test favorite was the Winther Kangaroo, with a perfect five out of five score, for its easy and secure low-riding handling, a plus for beginners. But the Kangaroo also looks like a kid-hauling bike, whereas the second-favorite Nihola, a classic style seen in a dozen variations in Copenhagen's streets, has a square front box that is slightly narrowed but seems to work well for human or other cargo. And then there's (hit the jump for more review plus a pic of the Long John)
Velorbis' Long John can carry up to 100 kilos
the Dutch company Bakfiets' Cargobike, considered by the reviewers to be one of the most eye-pleasing of the five. The Christiania bike is another classic Copenhagen style and even available in models for hauling as many as four kids, which is one way to continue to be a soccer mom even if you ditch the soccer-mom van. And last, but not least is the Sorte Jernhest, which has nifty back-wheel drive, making it nimble steering-wise but at the same time a little trickier for newcomers.
Prices for these five cargo bikes are a little breathtaking at between approximately US$3,000 (Sorte Jernhuset) and $3,700 (Kangaroo), unless you pragmatically sit down and sort out the cost of purchase, maintenance and (probably) gas for a regular car. Still, a test drive of a Nihola didn't immediately make me a cargo bike convert. In fact, while I momentarily even considered the recently re-released (it first debuted in Denmark in 1938) Velorbis Long John because there are those moments (Christmas-tree shopping and bathroom remodeling supply come to mind) when I want to carry pretty heavy loads, in the end for scrawny riders like me, weight really matters. So the most practical (and least expensive) solution was a new Burley Nomad trailer at about $300. While Burley's trailers for kids never felt secure enough to me when I did baby-hauling, now their lightweight construction is a definite plus. It was nice to dream about a cargo bike as the next step in biking, but it may have to wait till I move to a flatter city - while Copenhagen is, Gothenburg has lots of gentle hills.
See also: Finding A Perfect Tike Bike and Bakfiets: Move it, Move it
There some nice, made in the USA bikes out there
http://organicengines.com/products/the-sensible-utility-vehicle-aka-the-suv/
(about 1900 USD)
OR modify a bike you already have and use
http://www.xtracycle.com/build-your-base-frame-install-p-61.html (under 250 USD)
Or just add a tralier and use only as needed
http://www.tonystrailers.com/cargo/ (650 to 800 USD) - this is a product of Canada, eh?
For Pete's sake, get out there and do something!
I definitely want a hauling bike. I have a bob trailer but it is barely cutting it now. In the US, it would be great to have kid-friendly and large-load friendly bikes.
A bike rider can dream!
====author replies ====
dreaming is definitely a good and necessary thing!
Wear a helmet!!!
I own a Lightfoot Cycles trike that is being adapted for my child. We plan on putting a roll cage and baby seat in the rear of the delta trike. We plan on making the roll cage and baby seat removeable for when I am not carrying the boy.
Some more US-made cargo bikes, made by Center for Appropriate Transport in Eugene (cough), of course. (I say cough because as a Wisconsinite I'm jealous to no small degree.)
http://www.catoregon.org/hpmcatalog.htm
The Long Haul, for delivery services, groceries and children, they say:
http://www.catoregon.org/hpm/longhaul.htm
The Tri-Hauler, which carries up to 600 pounds:
http://www.catoregon.org/hpm/trihauler.htm
====author replies ===
thanks for these! looks like there's a lot available if you know where to look
Francis Cycles are handbuilt in Santa Cruz, California by Joshua Muir...his bikes are beautiful and he makes a killer cargo bike.
http://francescycles.com/
WOW, great information from article and commenter. After looking at all the mentioned sites I noticed all the European made cycles were single to three speeds, or multi gear without all the gizmos on the dérailleur. While all American made cycles were the multi 15 +++ with a mountain of gears coming out of the wheel hub. In any case, Lots of good information. Thanks all
Another site to check out is www.biketrailershop.com. Includes Burly and BOB's, plus some really interesting rear cargo extension concepts called Xtracycles.
I recently had a bike built (steel touring frame) with the addition of the Xtracycle hitchless trailer. Cannot say enough good things about the Xtracycle. Rides virtually un-noticeable, compared to every trailer I have ever towed, has a narrow profile for the best road safety, and holds more than you can imagine. I recently hauled landscaping materials - including a small tree. Eliminates parking issues, no need to mess with hitching/unhitching .... the list of postives is about as endless as the number of miles a person can ride. Can't say enough good about Xtracycle -- it is life changing for anyone who hauls anything by bike!