Cargo bike life
March 5, 2016 5:36 AM Subscribe
What haven't I thought of about owning a cargo bike?
It's time to replace my city bike and I'm considering some kind of cargo bike for the task. I don't have a car and am about to move to a place with no car-sharing and limited public transit, so I'd like to minimize the frequency with which I need to rent a car.
My existing city bike has an 11"x17" front rack, which has given me a taste of what it's like to have a halfway decent cargo capacity on a bike. Now I want more, but there are so many options and I'm having a hard time figuring out what's important and what doesn't matter.
If you have a cargo bike, where do you store it? I've been leaning toward shorter-wheelbase options but I'm wondering if this is a mistaken priority. Does wheelbase matter?
What about liftability? I'm used to having to carry my bikes at least a few steps down into the basement, and being able to pick up my bike and turn it around in a tight spot. Does this matter for a cargo bike?
If I buy a bike like this, it will be my only regular-clothes/platform-pedals/non-sporty bike. Do you use your cargo bike this way? Do you curse yourself for buying a cargo bike when you have to ride it across town and you're not carrying a load?
Many cargo bikes seem to be one-size-fits-all and claim to be super-adjustable. I have this idea that I and my girlfriend, who are about 8 inches apart in height, could both use this bike. Is that realistic?
Other random facts that may be relevant: I'm leaning toward front-loaders, either long-john-style (like the Cetma or the Bullitt, although this style is likely out of my budget) or cycle-truck-style (like the Soma Tradesman or Omnium Mini). I won't be carrying children.
It's time to replace my city bike and I'm considering some kind of cargo bike for the task. I don't have a car and am about to move to a place with no car-sharing and limited public transit, so I'd like to minimize the frequency with which I need to rent a car.
My existing city bike has an 11"x17" front rack, which has given me a taste of what it's like to have a halfway decent cargo capacity on a bike. Now I want more, but there are so many options and I'm having a hard time figuring out what's important and what doesn't matter.
If you have a cargo bike, where do you store it? I've been leaning toward shorter-wheelbase options but I'm wondering if this is a mistaken priority. Does wheelbase matter?
What about liftability? I'm used to having to carry my bikes at least a few steps down into the basement, and being able to pick up my bike and turn it around in a tight spot. Does this matter for a cargo bike?
If I buy a bike like this, it will be my only regular-clothes/platform-pedals/non-sporty bike. Do you use your cargo bike this way? Do you curse yourself for buying a cargo bike when you have to ride it across town and you're not carrying a load?
Many cargo bikes seem to be one-size-fits-all and claim to be super-adjustable. I have this idea that I and my girlfriend, who are about 8 inches apart in height, could both use this bike. Is that realistic?
Other random facts that may be relevant: I'm leaning toward front-loaders, either long-john-style (like the Cetma or the Bullitt, although this style is likely out of my budget) or cycle-truck-style (like the Soma Tradesman or Omnium Mini). I won't be carrying children.
Hmm, on reflection it looks like the Omnium and Tradesman bikes wouldn't be terrible to hike up and down a flight stairs, maybe? The Cetma or Bullitt, though, no way.
posted by mhoye at 6:37 AM on March 5, 2016
posted by mhoye at 6:37 AM on March 5, 2016
You might ask around local bike stores to see if anyone knows of other "cargo-cultists" in the area.
I have a Wike trailer because it has space for two kids and groceries, but I can detach the bike and use it as my bad weather commuter bike. There is more weight and perhaps less maneuverability than an all-in one bike, but I gain choices. I can haul them in two parts.
The Wike folds up smartly and I could see stashing this in an apartment even.
Hope it works well for you! Expect to answer lots of questions.
posted by nickggully at 7:07 AM on March 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
I have a Wike trailer because it has space for two kids and groceries, but I can detach the bike and use it as my bad weather commuter bike. There is more weight and perhaps less maneuverability than an all-in one bike, but I gain choices. I can haul them in two parts.
The Wike folds up smartly and I could see stashing this in an apartment even.
Hope it works well for you! Expect to answer lots of questions.
posted by nickggully at 7:07 AM on March 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I have an xtracycle edgerunner, which is my primary bike 5-6 days out of the week. It is used to haul a child, (and his bike) around most days, it also gets all of our groceries (except for a bulk run from time to time), and in a pinch, we use it as a neighborhood delivery vehicle at work. I have on several occasions maxed out the weight suggestion; I really like cargo bikes. I think they're fantastic tools. They're also a bajillion times more comfortable to haul cargo on than on a trailer. I had a trailer for a few years, and in comparison, it was straight abysmal. Cargo bikes are great.
They stopped making the conversion kits, but you might want to look at finding a used xtracycle for a regular frame. The longtail style They carry decidedly more, and carry it much more comfortably than the two bikes you've listed in your budget. The higher end ones you've listed have a completely different geometry, and are really comfortable...but yeah, that price. I've had my eye on a Bullitt for yeeeeaaaaarrrrs. The one-piece longtail bikes on the market right now are a little more expensive than your target, but not by much.
If you have a cargo bike, where do you store it? I've been leaning toward shorter-wheelbase options but I'm wondering if this is a mistaken priority. Does wheelbase matter?
What about liftability? I'm used to having to carry my bikes at least a few steps down into the basement, and being able to pick up my bike and turn it around in a tight spot. Does this matter for a cargo bike?
It gets stored in the garage. Eh, I'm not a weakling, and hauling up stairs and generally lifting it is difficult. They're heavy; they kind of have to be to carry the cargo you're throwing at them. Not having ground-level storage for it (garage, shed, etc) would be a deal breaker for me. Carrying them up stairs is ill-advised. They're almost always built off-balance to sort of anticipate a load. Its kind of a shitty combination of awkward and heavy.
If I buy a bike like this, it will be my only regular-clothes/platform-pedals/non-sporty bike. Do you use your cargo bike this way? Do you curse yourself for buying a cargo bike when you have to ride it across town and you're not carrying a load?
I have my 'weekend' bike, and even though I use it irregularly, I wouldn't give up having two bikes. I kind of have to ride my cargo bike most days, and its not really a 'fun' ride. I mean, its fun but not for riding's sake. If you're okay with your main ride being completely utilitarian, that's legit. But again, they are heavy, and kind of cumbersome by their nature. I loooooove our cargo bike, but its a work oriented love, not a pleasure oriented love. After a couple weeks on the cargo bike, switching over to my small, regular bike makes me feel like I'm riding in zero gravity.
Many cargo bikes seem to be one-size-fits-all and claim to be super-adjustable. I have this idea that I and my girlfriend, who are about 8 inches apart in height, could both use this bike. Is that realistic?
This is not realistic, especially for that heigh distance. Cargo bikes do seem that way, and are unfortunately marketed that way. But they have their limits and some of those limits are not really 'on-the-fly' adjustable items. You're really only getting to play with seat height on most of them. My wife and I are closer in height, and we have found it too much of a pain in the ass to switch it over each time a different rider gets on. Since i'm the primary on it, she has a great deal of difficulty making it work. If a couple people 2-3 inches in height were riding it, you could roll with a seat adjustment, but...jesus, its such a pain in the ass.
posted by furnace.heart at 7:40 AM on March 5, 2016
They stopped making the conversion kits, but you might want to look at finding a used xtracycle for a regular frame. The longtail style They carry decidedly more, and carry it much more comfortably than the two bikes you've listed in your budget. The higher end ones you've listed have a completely different geometry, and are really comfortable...but yeah, that price. I've had my eye on a Bullitt for yeeeeaaaaarrrrs. The one-piece longtail bikes on the market right now are a little more expensive than your target, but not by much.
If you have a cargo bike, where do you store it? I've been leaning toward shorter-wheelbase options but I'm wondering if this is a mistaken priority. Does wheelbase matter?
What about liftability? I'm used to having to carry my bikes at least a few steps down into the basement, and being able to pick up my bike and turn it around in a tight spot. Does this matter for a cargo bike?
It gets stored in the garage. Eh, I'm not a weakling, and hauling up stairs and generally lifting it is difficult. They're heavy; they kind of have to be to carry the cargo you're throwing at them. Not having ground-level storage for it (garage, shed, etc) would be a deal breaker for me. Carrying them up stairs is ill-advised. They're almost always built off-balance to sort of anticipate a load. Its kind of a shitty combination of awkward and heavy.
If I buy a bike like this, it will be my only regular-clothes/platform-pedals/non-sporty bike. Do you use your cargo bike this way? Do you curse yourself for buying a cargo bike when you have to ride it across town and you're not carrying a load?
I have my 'weekend' bike, and even though I use it irregularly, I wouldn't give up having two bikes. I kind of have to ride my cargo bike most days, and its not really a 'fun' ride. I mean, its fun but not for riding's sake. If you're okay with your main ride being completely utilitarian, that's legit. But again, they are heavy, and kind of cumbersome by their nature. I loooooove our cargo bike, but its a work oriented love, not a pleasure oriented love. After a couple weeks on the cargo bike, switching over to my small, regular bike makes me feel like I'm riding in zero gravity.
Many cargo bikes seem to be one-size-fits-all and claim to be super-adjustable. I have this idea that I and my girlfriend, who are about 8 inches apart in height, could both use this bike. Is that realistic?
This is not realistic, especially for that heigh distance. Cargo bikes do seem that way, and are unfortunately marketed that way. But they have their limits and some of those limits are not really 'on-the-fly' adjustable items. You're really only getting to play with seat height on most of them. My wife and I are closer in height, and we have found it too much of a pain in the ass to switch it over each time a different rider gets on. Since i'm the primary on it, she has a great deal of difficulty making it work. If a couple people 2-3 inches in height were riding it, you could roll with a seat adjustment, but...jesus, its such a pain in the ass.
posted by furnace.heart at 7:40 AM on March 5, 2016
You say you won't be carrying children, but what *will* you be carrying, and how often? I really really want a cargo bike, but I haven't been able to justify it because in a household of two adults it's pretty rare that I have something I need to haul that would fit on a cargo bike but not on my regular city bike with a little bungeeing. Like, there was one time where I had some large picture frames? But honestly other than that I can't think of anything from the last year. Certainly I can get a week's worth of groceries on the bike (and I only have a rear rack and panniers, no front rack).
As dorky as they are, if you're hauling big stuff once a month or less you might be better off just getting an old bike trailer off craigslist/your local equivalent.
posted by mskyle at 7:56 AM on March 5, 2016
As dorky as they are, if you're hauling big stuff once a month or less you might be better off just getting an old bike trailer off craigslist/your local equivalent.
posted by mskyle at 7:56 AM on March 5, 2016
Response by poster: Thank you for all of the answers so far—this is very helpful. A little followup:
I definitely know I won't be carrying this thing up full flights of stairs. I was thinking more about, e.g., my current basement, which has an outside door which is about 3-4 steps below ground level.
I do have another randonneuring-style bike which will be my "weekend" fun bike, which I'd never give up. But it has a pretty aggressive position for riding in city traffic and isn't the most comfortable in ordinary clothes, plus I like it too much to leave it locked outside a bar for long. (Of course, if I buy a cargo bike, I will be spending several times what I spent on my (secondhand) rando bike, so perhaps this is a silly concern.) So most of my in-town riding is on my more upright, fatter-tired city bike which a cargo bike would replace.
As to what I'll be carrying, I'm not sure, honestly. Obviously groceries, but I can carry those fine now with my existing racks and bags. I have notions of finding furniture on Craigslist and being able to get it home without the logistical hassle of arranging for delivery or renting a truck, or going to Home Depot to buy "house stuff." My girlfriend is an avid gardener so there is the occasional run for topsoil or mulch. It's true that most of these could probably be handled with a trailer. But we'll be in a hilly area, descending with a trailer scares me a bit, and also, even in my limited test rides so far, I've noticed that drivers treat you much better on a cargo than a standard bike—something that is really appealing to me as I move from a large and fairly bike-friendly city to a small car-centric town.
posted by enn at 9:55 AM on March 5, 2016
I definitely know I won't be carrying this thing up full flights of stairs. I was thinking more about, e.g., my current basement, which has an outside door which is about 3-4 steps below ground level.
I do have another randonneuring-style bike which will be my "weekend" fun bike, which I'd never give up. But it has a pretty aggressive position for riding in city traffic and isn't the most comfortable in ordinary clothes, plus I like it too much to leave it locked outside a bar for long. (Of course, if I buy a cargo bike, I will be spending several times what I spent on my (secondhand) rando bike, so perhaps this is a silly concern.) So most of my in-town riding is on my more upright, fatter-tired city bike which a cargo bike would replace.
As to what I'll be carrying, I'm not sure, honestly. Obviously groceries, but I can carry those fine now with my existing racks and bags. I have notions of finding furniture on Craigslist and being able to get it home without the logistical hassle of arranging for delivery or renting a truck, or going to Home Depot to buy "house stuff." My girlfriend is an avid gardener so there is the occasional run for topsoil or mulch. It's true that most of these could probably be handled with a trailer. But we'll be in a hilly area, descending with a trailer scares me a bit, and also, even in my limited test rides so far, I've noticed that drivers treat you much better on a cargo than a standard bike—something that is really appealing to me as I move from a large and fairly bike-friendly city to a small car-centric town.
posted by enn at 9:55 AM on March 5, 2016
You said hilly area? Cargo-bikes are heavy, even with all the gears. In my experience, a trailer works better with hills. And I loved my cargo-bike and miss it and am thinking to get a new one.
I once did a camping holiday with my cargo bike in a very hilly area, and I got off and held it back on foot every time there was a steep hill. The breaks were fine, but because of the in-built instability furnace.heart mentioned, you have no idea what can happen. Maybe that would be less of a concern with a Bullit, but as you say, it's expensive.
posted by mumimor at 11:55 AM on March 5, 2016
I once did a camping holiday with my cargo bike in a very hilly area, and I got off and held it back on foot every time there was a steep hill. The breaks were fine, but because of the in-built instability furnace.heart mentioned, you have no idea what can happen. Maybe that would be less of a concern with a Bullit, but as you say, it's expensive.
posted by mumimor at 11:55 AM on March 5, 2016
Best answer: So, I'm a full time bike commuter and would like to have a cargo bike for a lot of the reasons you mention. I also like front loaders and if I had all the money I would get a CETMA. I've borrowed and used a variety of cargo-type bikes, both front loaders, xtracycle-style long tail bikes (like the Surly Big Dummy) and trailers. I encourage you to continue pursuing this idea, but here are some reasons that a cargo bike might not make a great primary bike (and why I haven't sprung for one yet):
1. Storage, as lots of people have noted. In addition to being tougher to move up and down stairs, most of these bikes are basically twice as wide as "normal" bikes. Long tails are the exception, but they're loooong and it sounds like you're less interested in this style. In my case, my primary rider lives in the foyer and a cargo bike would effectively block the front door. This also means it's tougher to bring the bike inside in other locations, which I often like to do for security and weather protection reasons. It would suck if I couldn't lock my bike in an under-cover location during an ice storm because it's 3' wide.
2. Repairs. I do a lot of my own maintenance and own a repair stand. Cargo bikes defy a lot of the expectations of stand design and even my shop-style stand (the kind with a heavy steel plate base) might require extra fittings or a strategic milk crate or two to accommodate a cargo bike. If you're bike-only and getting a car is a hassle, you want to be able to do things like replace a punctured tube or a broken chain with a minimum of drama in terrible weather right before you have to leave for work. Cargo bikes seem like they'd fine when you can fix them at your leisure in the back yard with a beer on a sunny afternoon but are an unnecessary complication otherwise. I think this is a large part of the appeal that fixed gears have to dedicated cycle commuters: there's just less stuff that can go wrong and when it does it's relatively uncomplicated to repair. Cargo bikes are the opposite of this in some ways. If you have a garage (and no car) this may be a non-issue.
3. Car and public transportation compatibility. Cargo bikes are close to 100% incompatible with multimodal transportation: they don't fit on the rack on the front of the bus, they're tough or impossible to get on a commuter train (turnstiles, narrow doors and tight corners, RULES *shaking fist*) and they may not fit on a bike rack or in the back of a car, barring pickups and mega-SUVs. Even if you're moving somewhere with virtually no public transportation, are you ever in a situation where your bike-owning friends are like, we're coming to pick you up so we can all drive to this trailhead, we can throw your bike on the rack? You can't do that with a cargo bike. If you have a catastrophic bike failure 15 miles from home--your rear wheel blows up, for instance--how will you get it home?
4. Traffic compatibility. Cargo bikes lend themselves to a completely different style of riding than "normal" bikes. They tend to accelerate more slowly, and, as noted by other posters, are generally pokier and harder to balance. Coupled with the extra width, you need to do a lot less weaving between cars and riding on the shoulder or in the bike lane and a lot more taking the full lane, cars be damned. Depending on the tolerance of local drivers for bikes, you may encounter more road rage--it hasn't been my experience that drivers are nicer to cargo bike riders, at least in all situations. It's also tougher to pass and be passed when riding with other bikes.
posted by pullayup at 2:21 PM on March 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
1. Storage, as lots of people have noted. In addition to being tougher to move up and down stairs, most of these bikes are basically twice as wide as "normal" bikes. Long tails are the exception, but they're loooong and it sounds like you're less interested in this style. In my case, my primary rider lives in the foyer and a cargo bike would effectively block the front door. This also means it's tougher to bring the bike inside in other locations, which I often like to do for security and weather protection reasons. It would suck if I couldn't lock my bike in an under-cover location during an ice storm because it's 3' wide.
2. Repairs. I do a lot of my own maintenance and own a repair stand. Cargo bikes defy a lot of the expectations of stand design and even my shop-style stand (the kind with a heavy steel plate base) might require extra fittings or a strategic milk crate or two to accommodate a cargo bike. If you're bike-only and getting a car is a hassle, you want to be able to do things like replace a punctured tube or a broken chain with a minimum of drama in terrible weather right before you have to leave for work. Cargo bikes seem like they'd fine when you can fix them at your leisure in the back yard with a beer on a sunny afternoon but are an unnecessary complication otherwise. I think this is a large part of the appeal that fixed gears have to dedicated cycle commuters: there's just less stuff that can go wrong and when it does it's relatively uncomplicated to repair. Cargo bikes are the opposite of this in some ways. If you have a garage (and no car) this may be a non-issue.
3. Car and public transportation compatibility. Cargo bikes are close to 100% incompatible with multimodal transportation: they don't fit on the rack on the front of the bus, they're tough or impossible to get on a commuter train (turnstiles, narrow doors and tight corners, RULES *shaking fist*) and they may not fit on a bike rack or in the back of a car, barring pickups and mega-SUVs. Even if you're moving somewhere with virtually no public transportation, are you ever in a situation where your bike-owning friends are like, we're coming to pick you up so we can all drive to this trailhead, we can throw your bike on the rack? You can't do that with a cargo bike. If you have a catastrophic bike failure 15 miles from home--your rear wheel blows up, for instance--how will you get it home?
4. Traffic compatibility. Cargo bikes lend themselves to a completely different style of riding than "normal" bikes. They tend to accelerate more slowly, and, as noted by other posters, are generally pokier and harder to balance. Coupled with the extra width, you need to do a lot less weaving between cars and riding on the shoulder or in the bike lane and a lot more taking the full lane, cars be damned. Depending on the tolerance of local drivers for bikes, you may encounter more road rage--it hasn't been my experience that drivers are nicer to cargo bike riders, at least in all situations. It's also tougher to pass and be passed when riding with other bikes.
posted by pullayup at 2:21 PM on March 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
The Yuba Boda Boda is a compact cargo bike that I believe could be easier to fit in a bike rack on buses, etc.
posted by jillithd at 4:45 PM on March 5, 2016
posted by jillithd at 4:45 PM on March 5, 2016
If you do decide to get one, you may be able to put a small ramp on the side of the basement stairs that will let you roll your bike up or down while you walk the stairs next to it.
posted by CathyG at 12:11 PM on March 6, 2016
posted by CathyG at 12:11 PM on March 6, 2016
The Yuba Boda Boda looks similar to the Kinn Mid-Tail that's made here in PDX. Lovely Bicycle said in a review that it felt more sporty than most cargo bikes.
There's also the Haul-A-Day, a lightweight longtail from Bike Friday. The frame can be dismantled, and the effective "top tube" length (distance from seat to handlebars) is adjustable to fit a wide range of riders.
OTOH, if you're just thinking about moving the occasional piece of furniture, I would get a good trailer. You can ride a nice light city bike most of the time, and still be able to haul an 8' tall bookshelf. I strongly recommend Bikes at Work trailers. We have a 96A, which is 8' long and rated to carry up to 300lbs, but for most applications the 2'8" long 32A is sufficient. You can get an extension or two if you find yourself hauling long stuff like lumber and canoes. I haven't had any trouble with it on hills - it tracks very well. (Though I am building up a new bike with a drum brake for better stopping power with especially heavy loads.)
Many smaller trailers have light-duty hitches that contact your bike at only one point, or that rely on rubber and springs for flex. They may rotate, slide forward, or try to jackknife if you brake hard with a heavy load on a fast descent. But that's mostly if you try to do something like haul a 70+lb folding kayak through the steepest hills in town... And it's not a problem with Bikes at Work or Surly trailers, which use very robust hitches.
Whatever you end up with, good luck and happy hauling!
posted by sibilatorix at 12:39 PM on March 7, 2016
There's also the Haul-A-Day, a lightweight longtail from Bike Friday. The frame can be dismantled, and the effective "top tube" length (distance from seat to handlebars) is adjustable to fit a wide range of riders.
OTOH, if you're just thinking about moving the occasional piece of furniture, I would get a good trailer. You can ride a nice light city bike most of the time, and still be able to haul an 8' tall bookshelf. I strongly recommend Bikes at Work trailers. We have a 96A, which is 8' long and rated to carry up to 300lbs, but for most applications the 2'8" long 32A is sufficient. You can get an extension or two if you find yourself hauling long stuff like lumber and canoes. I haven't had any trouble with it on hills - it tracks very well. (Though I am building up a new bike with a drum brake for better stopping power with especially heavy loads.)
Many smaller trailers have light-duty hitches that contact your bike at only one point, or that rely on rubber and springs for flex. They may rotate, slide forward, or try to jackknife if you brake hard with a heavy load on a fast descent. But that's mostly if you try to do something like haul a 70+lb folding kayak through the steepest hills in town... And it's not a problem with Bikes at Work or Surly trailers, which use very robust hitches.
Whatever you end up with, good luck and happy hauling!
posted by sibilatorix at 12:39 PM on March 7, 2016
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I've got a Yuba Mundo and - while I love it - it's not going up and down a flight of stairs easily. I don't think any cargo bike will, these things aren't just heavy, they're also awkwardly large. I store mine in my garage, but I'm lucky enough to have one of those.
Do you use your cargo bike this way? Do you curse yourself for buying a cargo bike when you have to ride it across town and you're not carrying a load?
I have a regular commuter bike and then the cargo bike. I love that I can put two kids and a load of groceries on the Yuba, but it's inconveniently heavy for crosstown trips.
posted by mhoye at 6:19 AM on March 5, 2016 [1 favorite]