Missus wants a trike ...................
Discussion
Yes - don't get a delta trike (1 wheel at the front, eg Pashley), get a tadpole (2 wheels, dutch style bakfietsen). The delta trikes are so absurdly tippy, I know people who've ridden them one and got rid. I hate riding them.
In contrast, a tadpole is great fun. My missus doesn't drive (rolled a car at 15 - good effort), so she's always been a keen cyclist. Now we have kids, we've gone through a bunch of cargo bikes so she can do shopping and transport the kids. This is our current solution - massive overkill for most people, but we're at the bottom of a 300m hill (which it'll go up with two kids). Motor in each of the front wheel. Managed 25kph on the flat with two colleagues and kid in the front.
Realistically, she'd be better off with a longtail (something like a Kona Ute, Trek Transport, Surly Big Daddy or a Yuba Mundo.
Practical Cycles are who I'd speak to - http://www.practicalcycles.com/
Good people - great to deal with (no connection)
In contrast, a tadpole is great fun. My missus doesn't drive (rolled a car at 15 - good effort), so she's always been a keen cyclist. Now we have kids, we've gone through a bunch of cargo bikes so she can do shopping and transport the kids. This is our current solution - massive overkill for most people, but we're at the bottom of a 300m hill (which it'll go up with two kids). Motor in each of the front wheel. Managed 25kph on the flat with two colleagues and kid in the front.
Realistically, she'd be better off with a longtail (something like a Kona Ute, Trek Transport, Surly Big Daddy or a Yuba Mundo.
Practical Cycles are who I'd speak to - http://www.practicalcycles.com/
Good people - great to deal with (no connection)
DrMekon said:
Yes - don't get a delta trike (1 wheel at the front, eg Pashley), get a tadpole (2 wheels, dutch style bakfietsen). The delta trikes are so absurdly tippy, I know people who've ridden them one and got rid. I hate riding them.
In contrast, a tadpole is great fun. My missus doesn't drive (rolled a car at 15 - good effort), so she's always been a keen cyclist. Now we have kids, we've gone through a bunch of cargo bikes so she can do shopping and transport the kids. This is our current solution - massive overkill for most people, but we're at the bottom of a 300m hill (which it'll go up with two kids). Motor in each of the front wheel. Managed 25kph on the flat with two colleagues and kid in the front.
Realistically, she'd be better off with a longtail (something like a Kona Ute, Trek Transport, Surly Big Daddy or a Yuba Mundo.
Practical Cycles are who I'd speak to - http://www.practicalcycles.com/
Good people - great to deal with (no connection)
haha great pic, I really want a Kona Ute, no one has them on demo in the UK tho In contrast, a tadpole is great fun. My missus doesn't drive (rolled a car at 15 - good effort), so she's always been a keen cyclist. Now we have kids, we've gone through a bunch of cargo bikes so she can do shopping and transport the kids. This is our current solution - massive overkill for most people, but we're at the bottom of a 300m hill (which it'll go up with two kids). Motor in each of the front wheel. Managed 25kph on the flat with two colleagues and kid in the front.
Realistically, she'd be better off with a longtail (something like a Kona Ute, Trek Transport, Surly Big Daddy or a Yuba Mundo.
Practical Cycles are who I'd speak to - http://www.practicalcycles.com/
Good people - great to deal with (no connection)
Disco You said:
TwistingMyMelon said:
haha great pic, I really want a Kona Ute, no one has them on demo in the UK tho
I'm pretty sure that BikeUK in Bristol had one a few years ago.I contacted the Kona Distribution and they didn't want to know, which is annoying as they seem to almost have given up on the UK, apart from a few bikes in their MTB range. They have some great looking Road, CX, Hybrids and cargo bikes.
I really like my 15 yr old current Kona and would love a UTE, but its deffo a niche bike.
Best thing about having a cargobike is that every ride is training. Did 22km with 450m of climbing on the cargotrike taking the kids to a reservoir on Saturday. Legs absolutely knew about it after. I'm always happy to do the weekly shop if it means I get to lug it back up the hill.
Cargobikes are awesome.
Cargobikes are awesome.
DrMekon said:
Yes - don't get a delta trike (1 wheel at the front, eg Pashley), get a tadpole (2 wheels, dutch style bakfietsen). The delta trikes are so absurdly tippy, I know people who've ridden them one and got rid. I hate riding them.
In contrast, a tadpole is great fun. My missus doesn't drive (rolled a car at 15 - good effort), so she's always been a keen cyclist. Now we have kids, we've gone through a bunch of cargo bikes so she can do shopping and transport the kids. This is our current solution - massive overkill for most people, but we're at the bottom of a 300m hill (which it'll go up with two kids). Motor in each of the front wheel. Managed 25kph on the flat with two colleagues and kid in the front.
Might one ask how much that costs? This might be a perfect option for my wife to lug personal training equipment around in once she's qualified, given that she can't drive due to diabetic eye problems.In contrast, a tadpole is great fun. My missus doesn't drive (rolled a car at 15 - good effort), so she's always been a keen cyclist. Now we have kids, we've gone through a bunch of cargo bikes so she can do shopping and transport the kids. This is our current solution - massive overkill for most people, but we're at the bottom of a 300m hill (which it'll go up with two kids). Motor in each of the front wheel. Managed 25kph on the flat with two colleagues and kid in the front.
Kermit power said:
Might one ask how much that costs? This might be a perfect option for my wife to lug personal training equipment around in once she's qualified, given that she can't drive due to diabetic eye problems.
£3kish depending on motor options and extras - we got it from http://dutchbike.co.uk/ - the guy that runs it is very accommodating, so if you need modifications, he is brilliant. He's also the distributor in the UK, so knows the bikes inside out. We've had 2 bikes looked after by him and bought 3 from him.It lugs kit really well - I've had well over 100kg in the front, which was fine on flat Cambridge roads. I've also topped 50kph in it a few times - with the weight ahead of the front axle, it's incredibly stable. I have to admit, I take liberties I shouldn't. It's brilliant fun with my boys in the front.
pablo said:
I had a loan of a Christiania for a while. They are very pretty, but they aren't as obsessive about rust proof components as Azor (the manufacturers of bakfiets.nl among other dutch brands) are, and they spec a steering damper that isn't up to the job. Lastly, the seat tube on the trike is too skinny, and it makes the back end really flexy. Lovely looking bikes, and the hood and box are really nice, but they aren't burly enough for me (and I'm only 70kg).If I had small kids, I think I'd like a Nihola or a Bullet. As it is, my kids are getting bigger, and our Circe tandem and their own bikes are the future. As it is, we've had or kept*
Croozer 737 trailer
Chariot Cougar trailer*
De Fietsfabriek 995
BSP Moederfiets
Madsen Longbike
Bakfiets.NL cargobike long
Bakfiets.NL cargotrike
Bakfiets.NL e-cargotrike*
Circe Helios kidback tandem*
I really don't want to think about what we've spent. I really should have got my missus to learn to drive. Still, n+1 and all that.
DrMekon said:
It lugs kit really well - I've had well over 100kg in the front, which was fine on flat Cambridge roads. I've also topped 50kph in it a few times - with the weight ahead of the front axle, it's incredibly stable. I have to admit, I take liberties I shouldn't. It's brilliant fun with my boys in the front.
It must have some pretty serious brakes!DrMekon said:
I had a loan of a Christiania for a while. They are very pretty, but they aren't as obsessive about rust proof components as Azor (the manufacturers of bakfiets.nl among other dutch brands) are, and they spec a steering damper that isn't up to the job. Lastly, the seat tube on the trike is too skinny, and it makes the back end really flexy. Lovely looking bikes, and the hood and box are really nice, but they aren't burly enough for me (and I'm only 70kg).
The Christiania for families is in Aluminium, so it doesn't rust; I have had a steel Christiania with extended box for many years; children are now ten, eight and six, and with school bags, cello, PE kits, we are talking about a 100 kg load: never had a problem and no other tricycle could fit as much.Thread resurrection.
Check this out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOyunGuPwE0
I want one but the video was posted three years ago and he seems to have gone to ground since then.
Check this out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOyunGuPwE0
I want one but the video was posted three years ago and he seems to have gone to ground since then.
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