You are reading a single comment by @BrickMan and its replies. Click here to read the full conversation.
  • I think it depends on how you need to carry loads. If it's occasional big loads (supermarket/taking stuff to the tip/etc.), then a trailer is fine, but if you're going to daisy-chain various errands, then having a shopper/utility bike you can just sling stuff on is helpful. I think the appeal of the Omniums is that they feel nippy when unloaded or with moderate load? For me the max load on the minis would be an issue, plus they're a bit nice/pricey to leave locked up around town. Since I got rid of my bakfiets, I've been meaning to get an Elephant Bike (refurbed Pashley Pronto/PO bike), which should cover 95% of my shopping needs at a fraction of the cost of a posher cargo bike.

  • If you get an Elephant bike refurb (they are decent BTW, we got a basically new one that had been painted and new tyres/tubes/cables fitted for £325 delivered, insane value for money), plan on changing the gearing. Ours was ambitious, even for flat towns like Cambridge you'd never use 3rd gear. Changed the rear sprocket to the largest available for a Sturmey 22 or 24t from the fitted 18t, a new better chain (KMC B1 or Z1eHX), and fitted the metal Sturmey 3s thumb shifter instead of the plastic one.
    Things a tank, does everything that average joe/juliet is going to need from it, goes to work (slowly), doesn't get stolen, lives outside all year round without issue, has huge F+R racks, comfy. Slow though, even unloaded, its a plodder.

  • is it a pain to get spares for elephant bikes? i seem to recall some of the bits are proprietary to the post bikes they're upcycled from.

About

Avatar for BrickMan @BrickMan started