Whatwhat

Hi all

Hope I'm posting in the right place.
I'm looking to buy a new bike. For the first time in my life, I want to buy something decent.
I'm 38 and ride like 15 - 20 miles a day, mostly commuting. First, I drop of my two kids at school, then I go to work. When driving back home, I'd like to buy some groceries once a week (well, a lot of groceries actually) in stead of driving back home, taking the car, and driving back to the store.
The bike I own now can't handle both kids + groceries. It can't even handle the groceries alone, actually. I use a trailer for one kid, but that's not very practical.
I read a lot about the workcycles fr8, most good (too good?). Some say it's fairly heavy to ride. My route is mostly flat. At the moment I drive a bike without gears.

I read there are some people here on this forum with a fr8. Is 15-20 miles a day (maybe a few times a year I want to do a longer trip, 30-40 miles) doable with this bike, or am I better of with the workcycles oma - and if so, can I carry 2 kids and groceries with that bike?

Cheers!

mcours2006

How old are the kids? Can you put them both in the trailer? If so, you could do that and get panniers for your groceries. I don't know anything about the Workcycles, but I don't see anything special about them. I am partial to gears, and especially if you're hauling good weight, having gears will make your life easier, even on slight inclines.

If one of your children is old enough he/she can ride along on a tag-along, and then perhaps the other can go into a seat behind you. You can still mount a rack and panniers, either front or back for your groceries.

But whatever method you decide it's going to be tough.

dim

something like this?:



you can add a big basket behind the child seats for your groceries

Darth Lefty 

How old are the kids? Same school?

mcours2006

^^That'd work, but pretty slow doing 20 miles.

Whatwhat

2 and 4. They don't fit in the carrier together anymore.
I don't want to drive a trike, looks kinda silly
I just want a normal looking bicycle, without a carrier or tag-alone.

I don't know anybody that owns a workcycles fr8, but from what I read they seem pretty indestructible. Also, I like how a Dutch bike drives, so I'm really partial to the Dutch bikes. I own a gazelle at the moment, but the quality of that bike is mediocre at best, so I'm willing to spend more for a bike that will last longer. I also owned a Achielle (Belgian bike), but the quality of that bike was even worse (rusted away while looking at it).

mcours2006

You don't need a bike that's indestructible; you need one that will accommodate your needs. There aren't any options for you if you don't want a carrier, tag-along, pannier, or bike seat. What else is there? You should just drive, because I see no other options for all the restrictions you mentioned if you are unwilling to compromise. There is no ideal here

BobbyG

Look into an Extracycle type bike or a bike fiets type bike. Here's a link to give you some ideas.
Family biking skills on display at 'Fiets of Parenthood' - BikePortland.org

prathmann

Sounds like you might need a bigger trailer rather than a new bike. Don't remember the brand, but a friend of mine and I did a number of bike rides using his trailer with his kids and mine inside, ages 6, 4, and 2. Worked fine and there was room to spare - I think it was called something like 'Bike Buddy.' For the groceries I'd use a pair of panniers. I can easily carry home 50+ lbs of groceries in mine but I tend to choose grocery stores that don't involve significant climbs on the way home, and that would be especially true if also towing the trailer/kids. That would give you lots of versatility for a variety of trips if only some involve child and/or grocery transport. And if you're dropping the kids off at a school you could probably arrange to leave the trailer there as well so the rest of the trip is less encumbered.

Whatwhat

Well, I think the fr8 will accomodate my needs. I don't want a trailer, it's too impractical. When I drop of the kids, I want to continue my journey on a normal looking bike.
Are you guys saying the fr8 won't work? Anybody who owns one and cares to elaborate?

10 Wheels

If that works for you...Get one.

WorkCycles Fr8 (as family bike)

10 Wheels

A trailor would be the best option.
They connect in about one minute.
Disconnect in 30 seconds.

Here is mine connected to my race bike.

10 Wheels

at the grocery store.

Whatwhat

I don't know if an fr8 will work for me, that's why I'm asking this forum. I'm glad you like your trailor, but I don't want one. I don't want to ride a race bike either, I like sitting straight on my bike.

67Vert

Can you leave the trailer at the kids school?

Whatwhat

Seriously, I don't want no trailer!
I've got one now, and I absolutely hate it.
Thanks for your suggestions, but please, I just want your opinion about the workcycles fr8.

m3rle

Mamachari Japanese style bicycle.

Darth Lefty 

I like those!

https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/...ilippines.html

But you'll have to convince everyone that Tokyo and the Philippines are a bicycling paradise to rival Amsterdam before you can start making a dent in the Dutch bike market with mamachari bikes

Whatwhat

They look okay, but not half as decent as the fr8 imo

mrchaotica

Seems like a reasonable cargo bike, but the rear rack/seat doesn't seem long enough for two kids (especially as they get bigger).

I suggest something like a Yuba Mundo, or a Rad Wagon if an e-bike is something that interests you, instead. Put the kids on the back and get a basket or porteur rack on the front for groceries.

Or get a bakfiets.

snow_echo_NY

I have a neighbor/friend who has a workcycles FR8 and loves it (he's a dad). i have a Yuba Mundo and i love it. i share with my husband who likes it tons, but he doesn't like how much slower it is than his cross bike. but it is upright. My friend has the xtracycle edgerunner which is also kinda upright like a hybrid and she loves it.

We all use our bikes for hauling kids and groceries simultaneous, separately, whatever. But we are hauling in less than a 10 mile range in NYC.

If you are doing 15-20 miles or even 30-40 miles i would build up to it and do some weight training on the side. it's not going to be easy. but know that day may never come based on your fitness abilities. i think you should seriously consider electrifying whatever ride you choose. you can get more answers to your questions on the facebook group "(r)evolutions per minute" - they address all cargo bike questions and the FR8 is somewhat of a cargo bike even though it is not a longtail. (the xtracycle and mundo are longtails, FR8 is definitely a dutch bike built like a cargo bike).

Best of luck OP

Whatwhat

The rear rack is long enough for two kids:

But I would get the front seat, and one on the rear so that I still have room for panniers. The 15-20 miles are for a whole day. One single trip will be 7 miles (home to work). 30-40 miles is maybe once or twice a year, family trip at a leisure pace.
I do enjoy a good workout and consider riding my bike as a workout, so electrifying is out of the question. I'll check out the facebook group, thanks for the tip.

snow_echo_NY

ok i definitely misunderstood you then, i somehow read that as 15-20 miles for one way. depending on how much you carry, and hills, it is definitely rougher for shorter distances with a heavy load. like 60-70 miles on my own (in a group ride on my cross bike) feels like nothing but a 8-10 mile ride fully loaded in the cargo bike is hard for me. i suppose it will depend on you, your load, hills, and the bike.

where are you located? i think your best bet is trying out in person. if you can, find someone on that group who you can go to and try out their bike. or go to a shop that sells them.

my neighbor ordered from a workcycles fr8 direct and they shipped to him - he put it together then took it to his/our LBS to make sure he didn't mess up anything. he said it was a lot easier than it sounds.

best of luck!

Darth Lefty 

Clearly the bike can do it. Loading and balancing the kids, and keeping them in place, seems like the big challenge.

(stand by for someone to start posting photos of 3rd world bikes stacked high with cargo and people)

Whatwhat

Thank you. The supermarket is only a 3 mile drive, and school 1 mile, so I won't be riding very far fully loaded. I have a workcycles dealer nearby, I'll certainly try the fr8 before making a purchase because that bike doesn't come cheap.