Cargo Bikes

I missed that photoshoot :-(

I'm sure that bike will appear in town at some point (I once rode with the Spanish guy on the wooden bike off the same website/CSB).

I wonder how it feels with miles of cables through what must be an alarming amount of pulleys to get it from the steerer to the front wheel.
It seems like they forgot the first part of the Colin Chapman proverb "simply and add lightness."

Does the length of the cable really matter though? I think it's just the amount they're moved by. Fwiw on the douze the steering is great.

Probably not great! We have a Douze with pretty direct/simple cable steering and over winter it needs looking after to keep smooth, especially if you want to minimise play in the steering which generates additional friction due to cable tension. Their steering set-up looks bonkers!!!

€3K is cheap for such a low production volume carbon cargo bike, assume that's F&F only?!

..interesting, cheers!

Agreed. Properly setup, length of cable probably won't matter.
But each added component is another possible point of failure.
And tolerances and efficiency in mechanical systems multiply instead of adding, so theoretically, if you have single set of pulleys with an efficiency of say 0,7, by adding another set of pulleys with 0,7 efficiency you end of with a total efficiency for the system around 0,49.

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/06/cargo-bike-moms-are-gentrifying-the-netherlands/562475/

You deffo want two sets of cables for cable brakes though.

What kind of looking after? Any tips? We're hitting some rainy times here.

Our bike was ridden most week days during the winter so when they gritted the roads salt is an issue on top of just rain. With the steering we kept either end of the cables clean using degreaser and dried. Then would put bike on full lock and apply some light lube on exposed inner cable and do the same on opposite lock. The clean lube will get drawn-in slightly to help prevent corrosion on exposed parts to keep things freely moving/smooth.

Keep an eye on both headsets (steering column & fork) as ours do work loose overtime and not immediately obvious if you carry loads of stuff as everything makes a noise!

I fitted a longer stem (OEM stem was super-short) for an improved position, however our adjustable height steerer was stuck solid due to corrosion! :O In the end I had to completely disassemble the front end of the bike and remove the steering column, once I fabricated some soft jaws to grip the column properly I could apply a decent amount of force to remove the adjustable column! The cause was lack of grease/anti-seize during production/assembly and also the keyway that prevents the column from rotating during adjustment as this creates a perfect path for water to run down. I would recommend put a dab of silicone (or vaseline) over the keyway to help prevent water ingress as our steering column had a reasonable amount of rusty water in the bottom of it as once in it cannot escape.

Mudflap on front mudguard would help prevent dirt/water splashing up onto front frame/cargo area. On the list of things to do... :)

I need to transport 2 korfball posts (http://korfballshop.com/korfballequipment.htm) from Bermondsey to Clapham at some point before next Wednesday evening.

I could stick them in an Uber, but I also really fancy giving a cargo bike a go.

The 2 posts each consist of
1x 25kg metal base, roughly 60cm in diameter, 4x metal poles roughly 75cm in length and a plastic hoop about 50cm in diameter.

I think I'd need cargo space roughly 1.2m x 0.6m x 0.5m . Could half that first dimension if I did two trips.

Are there any kind folk in this thread willing to provide a bike capable of this load in South London?

I've considered London Green Cycles but they're all the way in NW London. Am willing to pay for the hire.

you can rent an omnium from The Red Bike Shop, very cheap
also from a guy on Fat Lama (website)

failing this try to borrow one of the Homebase free cargobikes?

Good tips - cheers. Will look into it.

The Red Bike Shop

This one?

Indeed.

Am investigating the Fat Llama one though - that looks good. It's not big enough to carry the two posts and bases at the same time though, so I'd have to do two trips.

yeah Fat Llama is a great site!
If you want I can give you my discount code, £20 off the rental price?? We both win

London Green Cycles hires cargo bikes.

You can also get a free voucher if you are based in Hackney (Check ZEN Hackney).

I would lend you my Douze but you currently cannot remove the lid of the box (I am getting new hinges next week though).

My mum had a cargo bike built to bring the dogs to the park. With electric assist it takes about as long as the car would, with the benefit of the dog with arthritis being able to hop in and out during the walk. The front panel folds down for easy entry and exit.

1 Attachment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LoVumtR1M4
just watched this, interesting

At the park after picking up some supplies for my classroom.

Rad, DIY?

Yes

Awesome! Great way of doing it

Missed out on a ti Omnium with a rohloff hub last night. I mean how many other people could be in the market for a ti cargo bike last week, 3 at least by the look of it. I was out bid before I even got to submit my bid. Somebody got a good deal.

1 Attachment