That Cargo Bike Thing (With pics and questions)

[Dual-posted on Mesquite Hugger and 2Wheels Maybe]

Cargo bike obsession - normally, I figure it's just me being an eco-dork. But lately it seems so much bigger than that.

A homebuilt longtail cargo bike

Cargo bikes siren sing to me for a lot of practical and impractical reasons.

The biggest three are

1. I want to do my best to go car-free/petroleum free
2. I want to spread the word (and a cargo bike would invite a lot of questions!)
3. I want to live healthier - both physically and financially.

and a cargo bike should help with all three.

A snippet of the most recent runaway post (by MH standards) post

Number 3 with a bullet! (by MH standards)

Recently, though, a lot of you have been stopping by to check out cargo bike posts. Back in October, I wrote a post about a pretty simple way to build your own cargo bike. Most posts around here have an initial response of twenty to thirty clicks and then quickly die down to a click or two per week or month. And then they fizzle out. But not this one!

A long john / bakfeits / box bike from DIYBiking

 

Nope, that's not the case with this DIY cargo bike post. It's been visited more than 100 times in the last month. For a low-rent blog like this one, that's pretty darned impressive!

A midtail from Benno Bikes

So, what's the deal? Why do you keep looking at cargo bike posts? What's the attraction? No, really - what is it? I would really like to know. And it seems the same for y'all.

A trio of lovely Yuba longtails

So, (Yes, I know - I'm a glutton for punishment.) I put together a little survey so maybe we can a better idea of where this thing is going.

A Schwinn trike from this week's Craigslist

(Not a lot of cargo bike action here in Lubbock)

It's just a few questions on a Google Form. It's nothing personal - no names or emails. I'll leave it open for about 6 moths with a monthly update (on the 2Wheels Maybe blog).

A reverse trike from Urban Tribe (Straight outta Denton, TX)

  

A cycle truck by Virtue Cycle

The Tern (+Xtracycle) Cargo Node folding cargo bike

Turn-key and DIY cargo bikes from Xtracycle

 

So here it is. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts on bikes that haul!

 

The Short Survey about Long Bikes

 

As always, thank you for reading (and for filling out the survey)! May your bike haul you to a better life!

 

PS. Would you like to have your cargo bike stories or photos featured on 2WheelsMaybe? If so, please shoot us an email through the contact box on either blog.



Fossil Free Friday: $500 Simple DIY Electric Bike Formula (The non-sequitur apocrypha)

You're probably wondering why this post? This is the mop up of all the loose ends, or maybe just the proof that the Mesquite Hugger mind is indeed a messy desk.

Answering a few questions:

Why 36 volt/500 watt when we could've easily gone for 48V/1000 watt?

• Well, first, we were shooting for low money, and 48 volt batteries are not cheap.
• Second is the efficiency versus speed issue. 500 watts should let us travel around 20 mph for a much longer distance than 1000 watts at 25 mph (and I've met very few e-bikers who have tremendous restraint when it comes to a throttle or pedal assist.)
• Also, the intended audience is beginning e-bikers who are focused on inexpensive transportation. Fast e-bikes create a lot of new problems - one of the biggest is the problem of speed perception. Car drivers do not expect to see a bike traveling at 30 mph, so they misjudge and cut you off. If you ride a bike at 30 on the street you will have close calls on a regular basis. (You better have great brakes and even better judgment.)

Why choose a cruiser?

Mostly because they are cheap, readily available, and often have just the layout needed for an entry-level e-bike. Also, you want a fat, heavy, laid-back bike for an old guy who is fat and laid back.

Why not a fat bike like the Sondors Original?

Quite simply, the the components are much more expensive and flats tend to be a bigger issue on them than on the more readily available sizes. (And they ride like a tractor.)

Just a bunch of random stuff I did not include in the other posts:

The motor found in the Sondors Thin e-bikes

How to build a pretty killer mid-drive bike for less than $1000

Order this kit (while it's still on sale) and add it to a used mountain bike with really good brakes:

Luna Cycle website

The Schwinn Blackwell dropped in price on Ebay

Can you build a decent-ish $350 e-bike?

Sure, but be prepared to sacrifice the LCD screen, pedal assist, and the advantages of a geared hub motor.

If I'm a glutton for punishment, which bike should I choose for my build?

Drool!

It's all about the jacksons! (Need fixing = run away!)

If I'm a Parrothead, what bike would you recommend?

It has a squawking parrot in place of a horn or bell!

What is the Mesquite Dream Build (this week)?

The cargo bike equivalent of the Karmic Koben S

Benny Carry-On

plus the Bafang BBS

plus the Nuvinci N380

What's your most fervent Mesquite Hugger wish?

That we'd stop fighting each other and fight climate change together.

May your messy desk inspire something better for others!

New Crop of Austin Craigslist Cargo Bikes - Love ya, ATX Weirdness!

Oy vey, these cargo bikes, they keep drawing me back in, but it doesn't hurt to look, eh? For those of you in the area, there are some good deals and some real diversity this month. Enjoy! 

 

Lots of big-haul choices this month!

Metrofiets:

 

Those cool kids over at Compost Pedallers are liquidating another Metrofiets (handbuilt in Portland, OR!) If you are serious about hauling on a bike, you can't get hardcorer than this, y'all! This one is $200 less expensive, but it does not have the big box.

Oak Cliff Cargo Bikes:

 

 

Handbuilt on the south side of Dallas, Texas - this is an amazing price for any vendor bike and especially amazing for a handcrafted machine like this one. Have you always dreamed of vending by bike, this could be a great start.

Trek/Gary Fisher:

 

 

This one is my absolute fave from the list. It was built by Trek/Gary Fisher as a longtail cargo bike and has lots of nice upgrades and modifications. $800 - not shabby at all! This model has been discontinued but that sure won't affect how it hauls! (Sigh...)

Yuba Boda Boda:

 

 

Still in the box at $699 - it's a Yuba Boda Boda V2 "People for Bikes" edition - somebody is in for a deal!

 

Longtail Bicycle Build Pt. 1

(Somebody, please stop me!)

 

Me, I've been watching plans, talking to a few welder buddies and reading My Solar Electric Cargo Bike.

 

May you find yours and may it haul awesome and eco-friendly, dear reader!

Fossil Free Friday: A Cargo Bike Relapse

[Snagit, I blame this one on Derek Markham.]

A few weeks back I made a declaration that I was giving up the (active) pursuit of owning a cargo bike. Since then, it's been cargo bike temptation everywhere I look. But I have mostly avoided the temptation to keep looking.

Until yesterday morning, that is.

One of my coffee-swilling buddies asked me if I missed riding my bike this week. (I have. It's been one of those weeks where the bike has not been the right tool for hauling stuff and people about, so I've been driving the old Dodge.) Then he commented that it would be nice if I had a bike that would haul stuff and an extra person - the extra person in this case is a certain eight-year-old that I take to school most days.

I don't think the coffee guys noticed, but a dreamy thought bubble appeared over my head:

[A woman at church once told me that I look like an older, heavier Adam S.

I don't go to that church anymore.]

The dreamy thought bubble contained my default cargo bike -  the Radwagon. There are lots of cargo bikes I'd love to have, but the Radwagon is always that subconscious first thought when cargo bikes pop into the brain. Mmm...Radwagon!

So, I had a little internal talk with myself:

So, I went back to my normal default dreamy thought bubble, and life was good again:

Yes, life was good again until I turned the computer on. There it was -  a Derek Markham article on TH:

Check it out on Treehugger

Derek, what's the deal? Are you the guy who takes a tres leches cake to a weight loss meeting? You're killing me! Why'd you have to pick the Radwagon? Why not a German postal cargo bike like Feargus used? (Much less tempting)

Check it out on CITYLAB

Or maybe something Scandinavian and way out of my league like this:

The Butchers and Bicycles MK1-E

In case you are wondering...

For me, it's pretty simple.

The more I can do on a bike, the less I need a car (or truck), the less I need to burn gasoline, the less I contribute to climate change, and the less I damage the air that all of us (including the eight-year-old) breathe. So, a bike that can serve more purposes is a better bike than one that can just serve a few. A cargo bike is a pickup, a station wagon, a commuter, and a chick magnet. (I came up with that last part because my wife already told me she will not leave me if I start riding one.)

Also, if it can raise my status in the kingdom of nerds, that's an added bonus!

If you want even more reasons, find fourteen of them in this article:



Check it out on IceBike

(Out here in the 'burbs, Number 2 may not apply, but don't let that slow your roll! ;-)

Okay, I can see it in your eyes - you want to know more. Here are some links to help you see what's out there in the cargo-sphere: (In alphabetical order - they are all very cool!)

• Benno Bikes
• CycleTrucks
• Design Logic Bikes
• Juiced Bikes
• Kinn Bikes
• Madsen Cycles
• Metrofiets
• Pedego Stretch
• Surly (Big Dummy and Big Fat Dummy - best names)
• Virtue Cycles (3 very different styles)
• Xtracycle
• Yuba Bikes

May Derek help us all to make some healthier choices! Somebody sure needs to.

PS. Adam Sandler is a few years older than I am! 

A Midtail Cargo Bike Review I've Been Hoping For - Benno Boost

[Yes, I know, I recently said I would stop actively seeking a cargo bike, but that does not mean I've completely quit paying attention to those lovely beasts.]

If you have followed my cargo bike obsession, you know that I've been leaning toward mid-tail cargo bikes rather than the long-tail models after sitting on a Yuba Mundo - it was like sitting on a train; a really long train!

So, I've found myself very Benno-curious and (Yuba Boda Boda V3 curious too).

I was pretty excited last night to stumble upon a video review of the Benno Boost on Electric Bike Review.

[Financial reality check: Yes, I know that a $4,000 cargo bike is way out of my league, but the non-electric version, the $1300 Benno Carry-On, is almost within my financial grasp.]

Read and/or Watch the Benno Review on Electric Bike Review

 

I can sure see this thing as a bike that would fit a lot of needs without being too extreme to make it a good daily commuter. How about you? What are your thought on the Benno?

 

If you're in Lubbock and want to check one out, just hop on over to Austin, Houston, or Santa Fe to visit your nearest dealer.

 

May we find some way to quit supporting the companies so powerfully bent on killing us all for profit. (Hi, Rex, TransCanada, and Energy Transfer Partners!)

A Leaning Cargo Trike, A Confession, and a New (to me) Electric Bike

Okay, I have two cargo bike confessions to make.

The first, and the most pertinent to this post, is that I have never cared much for three-wheeled vehicles, including cargo bikes. It's not a dislike for what they are, it's a missing what they can't do - and that is lean. I love bikes, motorcycles, and scooters the very most when I get to lean while riding. Cornering well on a two-wheeler is an art and a thrill for me. So, each time I've ridden a three-wheeler that doesn't lean, my body and mind have been sorely disappointed.

It's why I lean toward (you know the pun was intended) cargo bikes like the Radwagon, The Yuba Mundo, and the Benno.

So, I thought I'd share with you a three-wheeled cargo bike that does an impressive job of leaning. It showed up on Electric Bike Report recently, and it does indeed look like lots of fun (if you're not sitting in the front getting seasick!)

 link to the video above

For those of you who want lots of details, it's not available yet, it's European, and I fear it will be very expensive. But it is a seriously cool machine...

...and I love the front suspension!

Carqon website - check it out!

Now for the other confession.

I have decided to stop looking for a cargo bike. Yep, I know it's very scandy (Thanks, BB!) but I picked up a new-old e-bike and came to a new realization. It's time to quit focusing on what I don't have. What I do have is one really nice second-hand pedal bike, one really nice second-hand e-bike, two different second-hand bike trailers, and a really crowded garage! I've come to a time when I want to do more with what I have rather than waste time wanting something more. Some day I may end up with a cargo bike, but it no longer needs to be an obsession.

Here she is - a Prodeco Phantom X 500-watt, folding E-Bike.

Yep, it's a very cool bike, especially considering that I picked it up used for a very small fraction of the original asking price. Why was it so inexpensive? Well, the original 36-volt battery pack has a dead pouch or two, so the pack will only charge to 32 volts; this does not impress the controller which demands at least 34 volts. (Low-voltage cutout) That's why there's a silver bullet on the rear rack. It's the battery from the Huff-E Rat, and that battery is doing a nice job on the Phantom.

This is the first bike I have ever owned that has disc brakes and a suspension seat post. They are two luxuries I am enjoying! (But  the cushy seat post feels a lot like having a low rear tire. I will have to get used to that.)  Having 500 watts of power is also enjoyable. The 250-watt setup on the Huff-E actually made me feel sorry for the poor little thing hauling big ol' me around. This motor is a much better fit. (If you're over 200 pounds, go for something bigger than 250 watts.)

That's it for the cargo bikes and e-bikes today. I will keep you posted on how the Phantom is doing. I may even get brave enough to try repairing the original battery. I will keep you posted on that too.

May going green be a good deal, may you appreciate what you have, and may you be well.

As always, thank you for reading this.

News from the Texas Capital: Cargo and Electric Bikes

Austin Bike Farm Website (Lots of cool stuff!)

Recently I wrote about seeing a Yuba Mundo in person in Dallas. I didn't get to sit on it or ride it, but it was quite huge, like really big, like it-might-need-its-own-zip-code type of massive. And that's had me (possibly) looking a little smaller -  that means midtail cargo bikes. My Top 3 on midtails: the Kinn, the Yuba Boda Boda V3, and then there's the exotic Benno Bike. But the only one of those available somewhat locally is the Yuba. Or at least, it was.

A Very Cool Mid-Tail Cargo Bike (Available in Austin)

Very cool bike, but that $4000 price tag definitely scared me away initially

Then I found pricing on the non-motorized version and started looking again.

But then there's the $999 Yuba Mundo V4 and the electrified RadWagon for $1599 plus shipping.

$200 Cheaper on Craigslist! (It's a good thing I've spent all my money on Christmas presents!)

Indeed, it's good to have choices!

An Electric Bike Shop (also in Austin)

While I was poking around the ol' internet looking at the Benno Bikes, I also ran across Rocket Electrics. It's a place that sells mid-to-high-end electric bikes: Easy Motion, Faraday, Felt Electric, Juiced Riders, and Pedego. Some are names that you may have seen here on Mesquite Hugger, especially Juiced Riders. 

Rocket Electrics - Austin

They offer lots of cool bikes. They even rent electric bikes. If you find yourself in Austin, you can rent one and zip around the Zilker Park area. Not a bad way to find out if you want an electric bike or what you want in an electric bike.

Yep, Free Delivery in our very big state - that's quite a bonus

for us Texans out here in the sticks.

So, if you live in New Mexico/Louisiana/Oklahoma, this is not such a big deal, but if you live in my neck of the woods, free delivery and setup in Texas is a pretty big deal (for a mesquite hugger who lives almost seven hours away from their shop.) Texas is a mighty big place!

The next time I'm in Austin, you know two places I'll be stopping by. (Let's hope it goes better than my trip to Small Planet E-bikes in Dallas.)

May you find yourself in a place where green transportation is easily accessible and readily available.