CAR-LESS + FOOD DELIVERY, PORTLAND OR

charlesbrenthirak

charlesbrenthirak

Member
52 year old guy seeks e-bike to use as primary transportation and work lunch/dinner hours for Caviar delivering food.
i did bike messenger duties for a brief time back in the day, and recently decided to try out peak hour delivery with Caviar. I live in SE Portland and many of the places i will deliver for are nearby. I want to get an e-bike to do this, and to serve as transportation option along with walking, bus, lyft and friends. things i consider: pizza rack/coffee rack, rain, theft rate in pdx (during the walk to someones apartment with food), stability, multi-useness, budget, coolness, serviceability. i need to haul a gallon of paint, i need to go shopping for groceries, i need to ride 10 miles and up a hill to the Japanese Garden, i need people to say: 52 is the new 45, i need to put the bike in my friends truck when he drives to Mt. Hood, etc etc etc...

never had an E-bike. never delivered food. never been with out a car. i am looking hard at the RadMini: Does anyone have an alternate suggestion, advice, warning or desire to flick my ear on this cold day.

PLEASE ADVISE THANK YOU!!

Brent
artspunctuatedinuiry.org
 
You don't need a folding bike for riding around the city if you are not going to take it on stairs, narrow elevators etc. Or - carrying it in a trunk of a car.
There are little to none other "pros" in fold-ability, but there are often "cons" present.
 
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HMMM: what about getting a trailer for hauling needs instead of looking at a bike with all the racks n stuff?! i could get a sleek(er) thing and attach the trailer only when hauling/working.
 
The RadMini is cool and all, but I personally would not want fat tires; they are virtually pointless for riding on pavement. A 2-2.5" wide tire is plenty comfy without the added weight or drag of a fatter wheel and tire. Other than that, for what use you are describing, just about any e-bike can do what you want. The folding part though...how big is the trunk of your friend's car? I think if you don't need to do that often, I would say get a regular bike and a rack for the car.
 
Nova Haibike said:
The RadMini is cool and all, but I personally would not want fat tires; they are virtually pointless for riding on pavement. A 2-2.5" wide tire is plenty comfy without the added weight or drag of a fatter wheel and tire. Other than that, for what use you are describing, just about any e-bike can do what you want. The folding part though...how big is the trunk of your friend's car? I think if you don't need to do that often, I would say get a regular bike and a rack for the car.
Click to expand...
yes: i see your point. perhaps an ALL IN ONE option is not the best idea. a regular, non folding option, perhaps with a trailer might be better. thank you for the informed response! Cynergy e-bike store is nearby and they have competitive prices on Haibikes. which one do you drive?
 
I am a newbie too, actually, at least to e-bikes. I just got the Trekking RC, which is basically a hybrid. I chose it because it was crazy cheap and has Shimano XT gears and brakes. As a professional bicycle technician, I appreciate top-quality components. ;)

Speaking of crazy cheap, I like this Haibike: (Link Removed - No Longer Exists)
 
Nova Haibike said:
A 2-2.5" wide tire is plenty comfy without the added weight or drag of a fatter wheel and tire. Other than that, for what use you are describing, just about any e-bike can do what you want. The folding part though...how big is the trunk of your friend's car? I think if you don't need to do that often, I would say get a regular bike and a rack for the car.
Click to expand...
x2.
Most any ebike will do what he wants.
He didn't mention transporting it in a car (I did, as an option, regarding folding bikes).

It boils down to budget and battery size. Delivery bikers that I saw in Wa and BC, were on step-through e-trikes with huge cube box about 4x4x4 ft. Those with smaller items were using e-scooters, rather than e-bikes. No trailers.
 
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The Tern GSD is due out late March into April. Compact utility bike with lots of cargo capacity. Small wheels will help with portability as will some of the Tern features. Not a folding bike but offers some Tern folding technology on the components. Highly adjustable to rider sizes. Dual battery should get you all day delivery.
 
Another thing you might consider is service after buying your bike. It sounds like you plan on putting quite a few miles on. Nomad Cycles in SE has a good rep and might be a better place to look than here online.
 
Try riding with a loaded trailer before you commit to buying one. I bought a Burleigh Travoy trailer and used it to haul my photo equipment. Unfortunately, my riding style is not suited to pulling a trailer. I tend to take turns too fast and too tight. A couple of times the trailer overturned. Fortunately, my equipment was well-padded and well-protected. I sold the Travoy and bought an axle-mounted rack from Old Man Mountain, the only rack that would fit my full-suspension, plus-sized-tire mountain bike. Together with Ortlieb panniers, I can carry all the equipment I want, plus heavy-duty lock and other necessities.

But if you ride sedately, or have the discipline to do so, a trailer might be just right.

The other models in the Rad lineup would probably be better suited to your needs than the RadMini, such as the RadWagon and the RadCity. Folding bikes suffer from frame flex, and the RadMini is no exception, as Court noted in his review of the first version of the RadMini. Frame flex affects handling and safety adversely.

The Tern GSD, touted by @Over50 above, looks like it would be a great bike for your needs, but it's much more expensive than any of the Rad models, and you mentioned "budget" as a criterion.
 
charlesbrenthirak said:
52 year old guy seeks e-bike to use as primary transportation and work lunch/dinner hours for Caviar delivering food.
i did bike messenger duties for a brief time back in the day, and recently decided to try out peak hour delivery with Caviar. I live in SE Portland and many of the places i will deliver for are nearby. I want to get an e-bike to do this, and to serve as transportation option along with walking, bus, lyft and friends. things i consider: pizza rack/coffee rack, rain, theft rate in pdx (during the walk to someones apartment with food), stability, multi-useness, budget, coolness, serviceability. i need to haul a gallon of paint, i need to go shopping for groceries, i need to ride 10 miles and up a hill to the Japanese Garden, i need people to say: 52 is the new 45, i need to put the bike in my friends truck when he drives to Mt. Hood, etc etc etc...

never had an E-bike. never delivered food. never been with out a car. i am looking hard at the RadMini: Does anyone have an alternate suggestion, advice, warning or desire to flick my ear on this cold day.

PLEASE ADVISE THANK YOU!!

Brent
artspunctuatedinuiry.org
Click to expand...

Splendid Cycles in Portland is one of the top rated bike shops in the country and they specialize in cargo bikes.
A visit to them would be super helpful. https://www.splendidcycles.com/

Nomad cycles is also a great place.
 
Bicyclista said:
Try riding with a loaded trailer before you commit to buying one. I bought a Burleigh Travoy trailer and used it to haul my photo equipment. Unfortunately, my riding style is not suited to pulling a trailer. I tend to take turns too fast and too tight. A couple of times the trailer overturned. Fortunately, my equipment was well-padded and well-protected. I sold the Travoy and bought an axle-mounted rack from Old Man Mountain, the only rack that would fit my full-suspension, plus-sized-tire mountain bike. Together with Ortlieb panniers, I can carry all the equipment I want, plus heavy-duty lock and other necessities.

But if you ride sedately, or have the discipline to do so, a trailer might be just right.

The other models in the Rad lineup would probably be better suited to your needs than the RadMini, such as the RadWagon and the RadCity. Folding bikes suffer from frame flex, and the RadMini is no exception, as Court noted in his review of the first version of the RadMini. Frame flex affects handling and safety adversely.

The Tern GSD, touted by @Over50 above, looks like it would be a great bike for your needs, but it's much more expensive than any of the Rad models, and you mentioned "budget" as a criterion.
Click to expand...

yes: what kind of a rider will i be. SEDATE is a great word, it may be an option with my new 52 year old body. thank you for this invite. i would love that TERN, ugh, the price...
 
JRA said:
Another thing you might consider is service after buying your bike. It sounds like you plan on putting quite a few miles on. Nomad Cycles in SE has a good rep and might be a better place to look than here online.
Click to expand...


YES!! Great shop! I am going to go there!
THANK YOU!
 
charlesbrenthirak said:
This looks interesting: https://www.splendidcycles.com/specials/
I wonder if something like this would be too much as an all-around get around. I hope to test drive it soon.
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Some nice cargo ebikes there, a friend just ordered a Riese & Muller Packster 60 and from what I've read it can be a true car replacement. I'd be wary of getting a Bionx converted cargo bike because they have gone into receivership and used a proprietary system so batteries and parts may be hard to get in future. To be fair the 2018 Rad Power bikes use a custom battery case which can't be swapped out for a generic replacement but at least those can be repacked with new cells unlike a Bionx battery.
 
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