{"id":384,"date":"2011-04-08T23:21:00","date_gmt":"2011-04-08T23:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ssgc.co\/2011\/04\/cargo-bikes\/"},"modified":"2011-04-08T23:21:00","modified_gmt":"2011-04-08T23:21:00","slug":"cargo-bikes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/singlespeedgoldcoast.com\/2011\/04\/08\/cargo-bikes\/","title":{"rendered":"Cargo Bikes"},"content":{"rendered":"
I’ve had an interest in cargo bikes for a while and was inspired by this company<\/a> to write a short article on what’s available for us here in Australia.<\/p>\n

The owner of Cargone Couriers<\/a> sold his car and bought a cargo bike to do his courier runs on. You have to love anyone who sells his car and replaces it with a bike. So let’s celebrate the cargo bike in his honour.<\/p>\n

First thing you need to know about the cargo bike is that you should call it a bakfiet. Reason being is it will make you look like a pretentious wanker to your friends, but a pretentious wanker who knows more about cargo bikes than they do. Go ahead now and lord it over them with your worldly bicycle knowledge.<\/p>\n

Next thing you need to know is they’re crazy popular in Holland but will make you stand out like a streaker at a cricket match in Australia. I’ve seen one on the Gold Coast and one in Bangalow and that’s about it.<\/p>\n

I don’t own one yet but sincerely wish I did. They’re on a long line of bikes I intend to own one day when fortune smiles on me. So, with no serious intent to actually buy one I have been casually pondering the opportunities available to purchase in Australia over recent times. Here is some of what I’ve learned.<\/p>\n

First up is Cargo Bike<\/a>. If you Googled “cargo bike’ to get here you no doubt already visited www.cargobike.com.au<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cargo Bike sell a neat looking range of tricycle cargo bikes. Tricycle cargo bikes are generally cheaper and more accessible than their two-wheeled brethren. The problem for us Gold Coasters is you’d by unlikely to pass over the appalling Southport Bridge without incident. The shared footpath\/bicycle path is barely big enough to two normal bicycles to pass. If one of those bikes happened to be a tricycle cargo bike you’d be totally stuck. The bridges over Chevron and Isle of Capri and even worse. On Isle of Capri a cyclist can’t even pass a pedestrian without the pedestrian pressing themselves up against the rail. The road is the obvious choice but if your bike is half the width of a car and you’re relying on the dopey Gold Coast drivers to avoid you then you’re gambling with too much to lose. Lumbering across an accident hotspot like the Southport bridge with a wide load is not something I’d do for kicks.<\/p>\n

If you can cycle around the Gold Coast without crossing a bridge (maybe you live down the southern end) and are desirous of some cargo bike options, consider this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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The Cargo Bike MkI. That means it’s a “mark one” . Wow, see you’re learning things already.<\/div>\n
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A cargo bike for $595. You have to be kidding. It has six gears (which you could ditch…more power to the single speed cargo biker!), what look like drum brakes front and back and some yucky looking plastic pedals (but its $595 dude!). Paint your company logo on the side and you’ve got the best rolling advertising on the Gold Coast. I guarantee you’ll go no-where without people staring. Bung in an esky and become an ice-cream vendor. Bung in some kids and you can ditch the car.<\/p>\n

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The MkII is a fully appointed cargo bike with v-brakes and seat-belts for the kiddies. Cargo Bike says:<\/div>\n
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Great family cargo bike with the extras requested from our first model. Better handling and braking, plus added bonus features including rain cover, lights, padded kids’ seats and locking brakes. Smaller front wheels give the bike better stability and the in-hub gears make changes smoother. Will manage hills better than the Mark 1, and the added reflectors and child steps make this the choice of those with small children.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n
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What would you call your second stab at cargo bikes? I present, the Mk II.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

It sells for all of $1165. (I’ve bought frames worth more than that.) They also have the same model but with a 7-speed Nexus hub. For a single-speeder 7 gears should be a luxury, even when hauling two screaming children and a week’s groceries up a hill.<\/p>\n

Next up, in order of Googling, is Cargo Cycles<\/a>. (I have to say that many of these players weren’t even on the market last time I looked. The growing number of companies in this field must mean that someone is buying them in Australia. Or they’re indulging in a quixotic episode that will soon lead to financial failure…)<\/p>\n

They have two main bakfiet models, the Shorthaul and the Longhaul. They’re both two-wheelers, which have to be more fun to ride and will get you more places on the Gold Coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Cargo Cycles Shorthaul.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The Shorthaul has drum brakes, Nexus 7 speed rear hub, and room for two (apparently small) kiddies and is $1,599.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Cargo Cycles Longhaul<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Cargo Cycles’ Longhaul is the same as the Shorthaul except it’s longer. You could fit the whole family in there. Rip out the seats and you could stash a surfboard and your wettie no worries, with room for a six-pack on the way home. Hell, you could take both dogs and your girlfriend along for the ride. It costs $1,699.00.<\/p>\n

Next up is the Gazelle Cabby. These have to be one of the premier cargo bike in Australia. They’re certainly distinctive for it’s tarpaulin cargo box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Gazelle Cabby<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The Gazelle Cabby<\/a> attracts a premium price, at $3,000. The problem is, once you’ve checked it out all other cargo bikes seem somewhat less attractive. It has the biggest range of accessories for any cargo bike in Australia, including covers, seatbelts, baby seats…and looks pleasingly absurd naked:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Naked Cabby. Tee hee.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

And a filum with people making it look like pleasantly light work carting around two extra people on a bike:<\/p>\n