We need bakfiets!
- Thread starter Marcela
- Start date
indianajo
Well-Known Member
They might have perfect pavement in Netherlands or Belgium. The tractor trails from town to field were better paved in W. Germany 1982 than the streets & roads in my county. If that 16" front wheel hit a deep pothole at 15 mph the kiddies might spill out the front of that bike. I ride 26" minimum wheels. My heavy weight is on the back where the ruts I do hit are departing, not on the steering axle. Fell right off the road edge Wednesday dodging a car, with berms only 8" on State Rte 3.
Then there is wind. There is plenty of it here, usually (60% of time) against me.
Frankly my car replacement project is failing. I can't get replacement 1300 watt geared hub motors, which means it is taking me 6 hours to get groceries 30 miles to camp sometimes. I don't need that much exercise. Been eyeing the '69 Mustang project that stalled in 1992 due to parts mismatch. Back to gasoline at age 72 after 14 years of doing without. I do have more income now than 2008.
Then there is wind. There is plenty of it here, usually (60% of time) against me.
Frankly my car replacement project is failing. I can't get replacement 1300 watt geared hub motors, which means it is taking me 6 hours to get groceries 30 miles to camp sometimes. I don't need that much exercise. Been eyeing the '69 Mustang project that stalled in 1992 due to parts mismatch. Back to gasoline at age 72 after 14 years of doing without. I do have more income now than 2008.
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Brendon@OEB
Well-Known Member
There's several front loaders available in the states now, that's the Urban Arrow that's owned by Gazelle. Both Cube and R&M also have front load cargo bikes, pretty cool!!
Before I bought the Specialized ebike I was looking real close at the r&m. Been real happy with the Spec. And brose setup, for me probably better choice than bosch.
And now I see Can Am is entering the electric motorcycle arena. Be cool if they would get into the ebike game.
Brendon, you still at the bike shop? Staying out of trouble?
Brendon@OEB
Well-Known Member
Did you see that Porsche has been heavily investing in the e-bike motor game too? I think it's going to be pretty wild over the coming years!
Closed my old shop toward the end of 2020, now I'm part of Oregon E-Bikes https://www.oregon-ebikes.com/blogs/blog/summer-sup-adventure-no-parking-lugging-or-pumping-required
PedalUma
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Petaluma, CA
Bakfiets are better in concept than in riding reality. I would rather have a two meter long cargo bike with the kids and groceries on the back. The upside of bakfiets is that you can always fill the front with ice and beer. Also you can do a mobile dog bath service.
I've read the downside to the motorcycle trikes is the three wheels, two will ride the conventional tire path, the 3rd wheel gets centered over the middle of the road, or whatever is left over or is missed with the paired wheels.
I've discovered I'd rather have the groceries over the rear wheel. Don't know how the front box would work but imagine better then panniers hanging over the front tire, maybe not.
I've discovered I'd rather have the groceries over the rear wheel. Don't know how the front box would work but imagine better then panniers hanging over the front tire, maybe not.
Brendon@OEB
Well-Known Member
The front loaders are AWESOME to ride. We did a huge overnight bikepacking trip and I drew the "pack mule" straw. Rode the Cube Cargo Sport with about 150lbs worth of gear and 3 extra batteries. I think we rode about 30 miles and an easy 4k ft of elevation on some gnarly gravel roads. The front loader just killed it! The extra long wheelbase acted like suspension over rough terrain too.
They definitely take a couple mins getting used to but after that it's pretty natural in terms of riding.
PedalUma
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Petaluma, CA
To learn to ride one you need to do figure-eights of various sizes and at various speeds. Then do it again on a slope from every angle. I know a guy who paid $11K for his. It is set at Euro speed and is for his dog. He has a fringed Persian carpet awning over the bathtub. An actress mom just shot a video today of one of my cargo bikes. She wants to start selling them. She will start with a trike. She owns a coffee shop with an amazing view and cyclists gather there.
JedidiahStolzfus
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Lancaster, PA
Those bikes would kill you around the secondary roads here. The buggy ruts that are common would flip that thing right over. Some ruts aren't that bad, some are several inches below the grade of the road. Getting one wheel in one, would be very bad. Every road that has a buggy rut, it is right where the bikes would be using the lane if there is no shoulder.
I wonder how it deals with the rush of air from passing cars.
I wonder how it deals with the rush of air from passing cars.
JedidiahStolzfus
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Lancaster, PA
Exactly what I ride, and I do my best to stay out of ruts.
arcom
Active Member
Here we call that “uphill, both ways.”
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