Touring on a Cargo Bike

[readyfredy]

So the Tern GSD advertises the ability to tour with six Ortlieb panniers. Has anyone actually gone on long rides on the GSD? I'm not sure how practical that seems with the 20" wheels and the weight of it all.

I'm looking at the GSD as a car replacement so I'm just curious how realistic it is to rely on the GSD for an occasional 160 mile trip to visit family as well as the day to day commuting.

Thanks!

 

[dblhelix]

So the Tern GSD advertises the ability to tour with six Ortlieb panniers. Has anyone actually gone on long rides on the GSD? I'm not sure how practical that seems with the 20" wheels and the weight of it all.

I'm looking at the GSD as a car replacement so I'm just curious how realistic it is to rely on the GSD for an occasional 160 mile trip to visit family as well as the day to day commuting.

Thanks!

I’ve taken long rides on my Vektron with 20” wheels. I even considered taking it cross-country for kicks, although I opted not to in the end. You should have no problem with an occasional long trip.

Not sure if you intend to load up with 6 panniers, but at the end of the day, the more weight, the more you are likely to sit in electron-guzzling modes like Sport/Turbo. Try out the Bosch range assistant:

eBike range calculator for Bosch drive systems - Bosch eBike - Bosch eBike Systems

Use the eBike range calculator for Bosch drive systems to plan out your next ride.

www.bosch-ebike.com

This is likely to be your biggest isssue if loaded down. You can enter a realistic weight and estimate riding conditions to give you an idea about what to expect. It’s accurate,

 

[Over50]

My longest ride on my GSD is the work commute plus errands on the way home at about 40 miles total. For me, the GSD is comfortable enough for long rides, because of the cushy saddle and upright position, but only as long as the roads are in decent condition (I added a Thudbuster ST seatpost). It can offer a bit of a rough ride on bad roads.

I'm assuming you would do that 160 miles over at least 2 days? In that case, you could charge at your rest stop and a dual two batteries would be adequate. But I don't see 160 miles as feasible for a non-stop trip on the GSD. I feel pretty confident I can get 50-60 miles out of one Powerpack 500 on the GSD under my normal riding conditions (170lb rider, few hills, light to moderate cargo, Eco/Tour). Add hills, headwinds, heavier cargo and 160 miles isn't feasible for a single charge/ride. I think the GSD comes stock with one PP 400. Getting 2 PP 500s would likely be a bit of a costly upgrade. I purchased my GSD with one 400wh battery but I had multiple Bosch bikes already so I had several 500wh and 400wh batteries that I can swap between bikes.

My GSD is my favorite bike because it is so practical and fun to ride.

 

[dblhelix]

My longest ride on my GSD is the work commute plus errands on the way home at about 40 miles total. For me, the GSD is comfortable enough for long rides, because of the cushy saddle and upright position, but only as long as the roads are in decent condition (I added a Thudbuster ST seatpost). It can offer a bit of a rough ride on bad roads.

I'm assuming you would do that 160 miles over at least 2 days? In that case, you could charge at your rest stop and a dual two batteries would be adequate. But I don't see 160 miles as feasible for a non-stop trip on the GSD. I feel pretty confident I can get 50-60 miles out of one Powerpack 500 on the GSD under my normal riding conditions (170lb rider, few hills, light to moderate cargo, Eco/Tour). Add hills, headwinds, heavier cargo and 160 miles isn't feasible for a single charge/ride. I think the GSD comes stock with one PP 400. Getting 2 PP 500s would likely be a bit of a costly upgrade. I purchased my GSD with one 400wh battery but I had multiple Bosch bikes already so I had several 500wh and 400wh batteries that I can swap between bikes.

My GSD is my favorite bike because it is so practical and fun to ride.

With a multiple pannier setup, there is zero chance of getting 50-60 miles out of a PowerPack. The real issue with a 160 mile day is the charging time-out. It’s do-able, and I’ve done it, but it isn’t fun.