Cargo Bikes

they almost never come up for sale secondhand, and those that do hold their value extremely well.

I rented an omnium from these guys, was a bargain and great fun https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/294183/#comment13258737

I'm told child-carrier cargo bikes hold their value pretty well - 75-80% or so. But then I've not tried selling mine yet...

Hiring is probably a better idea but then it's cheaper to courier the beer, although I'd miss an interesting ride.

SBC Cycles are stocking Bullitts in London. There is a 200km cargo brevet in sweden this april if anyone is keen.

http://www.sbccycles.com/

Anyone got any pics of normal bike to front loading cargo bike conversions that don't require modification of the frame?

I've enrolled myself in a 10 week welding class and was thinking I could try and build a cargo bike.

I'd be willing to sacrifice my Surly 1x1 to the cause but would prefer to not have to modify the frame if possible. Most of the conversions I've seen have an extended headtube on the donor frame plus a boom running from the bb area, I reckon I could figure out some sort of clamp on the downtube instead of a welded joint for the bb area.

I have a bmx fork, 20" rim, even a bmx frame that I could use to build the front end of something like this,

There was a kickstarter for a cargo attachment for a regular bike wasn't there? Anyone remember the name of it?

Not sure I'd want to be trying to fashion a clamp. I built one using a cheap kona frame off eBay. £40 well spent. I taught myself to MIG weld and just cracked on in the garden. It's still going 4 years on. Will try and get some pics up. Been meaning to for ages.
They're great fun to build and own.

Did you do a headtube extension?

Bb shell on the 1x1 is 73mm. I could face it down to 68mm and do a bb mount like I think the kickstarter conversion (called Lift btw, googled it) uses.

Hmmm if you think you can get the tolerances right and it will be stiff enough, go for it.
I found the whole experience I bit like using a glue gun on metal. I was very much working in a measure once cut twice kind of vibe.
Head tube extension was the first thing I did and was probably my best weld...Pics to follow.

Hmmm, precision is probably not my forte. Just welding the headtube extension and bb boom joint might be easiest eh? Interested to see what you did at the bottom of the headtube extension, did you bother with a bottom headset cup?

Here we go. My hacked kona cargo thing...

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More.

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Yep, welded the bottom headset cup into the bottom of the headtube extension. I cut a steerer out of an old knackered suspension fork then welded this onto a long piece of 1 1/8 pipe to make a mega steerer. This meant I could put the crown race on properly at the bottom.

The first iteration snapped at the key join between headutbe and cargo base when carrying two small children across a park. No damage to the children, but I had to beef up this joint with the brace you can see in the box. Been good since.

The front end is a kids BMX headtube, fork and wheel. I got it out of a skip but these bits were still serviceable so the angle grinder was employed to part it out.

It's flexy as a flexy thing when loaded, but handles the weekly shop or one small child fine. It's best for going to the tip at lunchtime on a weekend. Everyone else queuing in their cars while I slide straight in fully loaded. Some are amused, others clearly fuming.

I'm surprised my welds have held up as well as they have, but I give it a good bounce and visual inspection every month or so. It lives outside in the rain and the cold so it's doing pretty well all things considered.

Nice!

You find 1 1/8 od tubing without too much hassle?

I was thinking one long beam from the bb right to the front with the headtube extension going through it would be the best way to do it. No idea how easy it'd be getting hold of the material to do that though.

I was thinking one long beam from the bb right to the front with the headtube extension going through it

You're probably right. Would need a big bit of steel though to keep the strength when you cut a hole through it. That was my thinking anyway. Working with box section for the cargo part made the welding and lining up easier. Not sure of the merits strength wise.

Think b&q had 1 1/8 tube straight out of the metal section. The star fangled nut is not perfect though. I bodged it in somehow...

Thanks for all the info.

I'm thinking I'll do this class then maybe buy a stick welder that I can use at my parents (there's no power in my garage) so even if I don't get to do this at the class it's definitely getting done soon.

Plan b for the class is either a trailer or a(nother) front rack.

nooo not the 1x1! my favourite bike of yours...

I'm with @platypus here, don't fuck up your 1x1. You've built it up in like 100 different ways and it's a rad frame.

If you still think it's a good idea to use the Surly then you might want to go this route

@platypus, @voxelwise yeah yous are probably right, I'd regret hacking up the Surly like that. I think it's just coz it's been getting very little use recently.

Maybe I'll leave the cargo thing just now and just go full retard on the Hummus...

whispers do it!

it's been getting very little use recently

dibs

If I give the Hummus the Donhou derrière then it'll not be as rideable so the 1x1 will see more action.

Sorry (not sorry).

danggg (I might be getting one from finland tho)

Is there much of a second-hand market for these things?

Ealing Bike Hub used to let you borrow one of theirs for a few days...

Hmm...
http://www.londonbikehub.com/in-your-area/london-borough-of-ealing/cargo-bike-hire/

What I don't understand is why do you want to take a load of beer that way? I expect you could stop by a couple of monasteries and get a good backhaul load!