Ultimate Cargo Bike
 

So I've been thinking about how to make the ultimate machine for shifting stuff. Someone on the C&V forum has converted one of those huge Wald baskets into a Porteur style front rack, and that made me think, what about an Xtracycle, or more likely either a Surly BigDummy, or one of the ones Kona has in the pipeline, with a porteur rack, and a lowrider front rack (which might foul the stays for the Wald, meaning spending for a more expensive porteur). The other idea I had was, what about putting a FreeRadical on this, from Pashley....

http://www.pashley.co.uk/cms/products/main_16.jpeg

Very interesting thought. With an Xtracycle, I personally would want a 7 or 8 gear hub, although BAH may well disagree with my opinion. Do you know if the Pashley could at least have a 3 speed hub?

The Pashley comes with a 3 speed, and would be easy to upgrade to a 7 or 8 speed. The problem with it is that it's expensive, at £600 or so. There are similar bikes made in India and China, albeit single speed and with rod brakes, which ought to be much cheaper.

Ultimate, yes, to me though it might seem a bit overkill. I am glad my Xtracycle has a 7-speed internal hub. But if you insist on low-gravity in the front, here's the American version that would certainly mate up with an Xtracycle. I believe Worksman can configure just about any hub you would want on the rear (except maybe they don't stock Rohloffs :)

http://www.worksman.com/images/basket2.gif

If you insist on carrying the big loads up front and in back, Worksman has something there as well...

http://www.worksman.com/images/reardelivery.gif

Lots of options for configuring Worksman bikes, and always a fun site for the cargo-bike minded to visit:

Worksman Bicycles

Worksman is all about 'cargo' but their main focus is industrial cargo use. As far as special hubs
etc. you can get anything you want as long as Worksman has an industrial market already.
Rohloff hubs are not an industrial item so the choice is single speed,3 speed, or 7 speed. Period.

IMO, in America, Worksman IS THE ultimate cargo bike. Built like a tank and will carry more than
you can pedal.

Now I realize the Worksman bikes are made for industrial purposes, so it's not a criticism of the company or quality of their bikes at all - but they're so ugly! :( What I really like about the Pashley is how aesthetically pleasing it is. I guess I'm shallow... :o

Ultimate Cargo bike:

http://www.workcycles.com/workcycles...kfiets-420.jpg
http://www.workcycles.com/workcycles...kfiets-420.jpg
http://www.workcycles.com/workcycles...kfiets-420.jpg


nuff said.

oh and this should be in UTILITY/CARGO CYCLING and not in "car free"

Those are real beauties, Bushman. And be patient, we're working on it. ;)

Hey! Hey! Wait a minute Here!!! Worksman ARE beautiful cargo haulers they are so
robust and manly!! :D:D:D

Ya ought to see my tricked out Worksman PAV trike !!!;););)

i know :) i'm all excited and my exuberance is besting me..... dont mind me (i'm always a bit surly int he morning before that first pot of java)

:p

That thing is a beaut. I guess I should've qualified with "Ultimate cargo bike that still looks a bit like a bike!"

What is that; a velo coffin?

Well, there could be a secondary market for velovampires on tour.

Only for midgets:rolleyes::p

I have a friend in the Netherlands that has one of those...belonged to his grandfather who owned a bakery. They used it to deliver bread to the local restaurants. I am sure there are other uses for them too.

And Bushman, I agree those things are drop dead gorgeous.

Aaron:)

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that thing pictured above (post#7) is a bicycle hearse.

Hey, everybody, let's write in our wills that we want to be transported by pedal power after death! Heehee.

nope :) that is a locking Tradesman toolbox 4' x 5' .

in the new year i'll be dropping the coin ($5000 here in BC, Canada to bring one in) on that very model, with an additional $2000 upgrade for a custom built bull low Slumph drive on the BB and a Rohloff rear hub , with drum brake.

You realize we'll all find you and hunt you down if you do not post pics when the time comes, don't you?

You are going to have to go with a disk brake on that Rohloff, they don't make a drum brake version as yet.

I have a question: How do these things work on big hills?! Seattle has a LOT of hills, and I'm wondering how one could get a big load over Phinney Ridge, for example. This is a serious question, BTW. Last spring I borrowed a truck to haul science fair projects across town, but I would have preferred to transport them by bike...

I stand corrected on the drum brake. The drum brake is only available on the rear if you go with a singlespeed setup. So looks like disc brake on the back if i go with the rollof, and smaller drums on the front.

as for hills, low and slow baby! spin spin spin spin. Let the gears do the work. When descending STEEP long hills, alternate the brakes (front, rear, on off, repeat. ) this lets the brake shoes cool and prevents brake fade.

the most i have carried in a borrowed cargo bike (Workman) was 500lbs. Going up hil using a 20 front 34 rear cog was actually quite easy. Going down i had some brake fade, but as soon as i pumped the brakes it went away. The hill was about a 15% grade, long and curvy.

These could be yours for only 2000 crowns.

http://www.guloggratis.dk/modules/xp...6_520_1100.jpg

http://www.guloggratis.dk/modules/xp...2_520_1100.jpg

Random Thoughts.....
 

Overall I prefer the bakfiets-style (the long-johns).

....The problem with the delivery bike pictured is that the cargo floor (inside the basket) isn't as low as it could be, and if you need to carry anything heavy, it's best to carry it as low as you can get it.

....The Xtracycles don't impress me much because while it definitely does add cargo capacity, it's very odd-shaped capacity. The long-johns with their big open boxes on the front would seem to be far more convenient for just tossing stuff in. I want a bike with baskets that I can just toss stuff in and go! Having to strap stuff on is a pain. If you use a bike to carry a lot, you're going to be strapping and unstrapping things to and from it hundreds of times, perhaps thousands of times. Consider for one short moment, how much of your time those straps are going to take up, and you realize why it's best to have a big deep basket you can just toss things in and ride away.

....Also I prefer front-mounted baskets, because you can watch what you're carrying, while you're riding. If something comes loose or falls out, there's a decent chance you may see it happen. Not so with a rear-basket bike! :eek:

-----

About the only changes I'd make to a bakfiets is I'd want a wire-mesh basket instead of a wood box; the wire mesh is more durable and less wind resistance. And I'd want the rear of the frame leaned back like a RANS Fusion, with the same style seat.
~

Stoke Monkey? Or is that cheating?

This is by no means the 'ultimate' cargo bike, but it sure did serve me well for over a decade. The biggest Wald basket available in front, paperboy wald baskets in the back.6 speed drivetrain for hillclimbing.

Used it enough to actually break the front basket from fatigue, replaced it with same HD Wald basket. Sad to say I snapped the frame last year and need to recreate it with a new cruiser frame.

I had been thinking of reinforcing the stays and making a big platform for the back baskets that could be installed when needed, to haul a LOT of bulky stuff.