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Cargo Bikes Without Electric (lemmy.ca)

submitted 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Living in Montreal I’ve gotten to the point where I only ride my own bike when I’m transporting paniers of stuff or doing an overnight trip. I installed a double kickstand on my old bike and its worked well until today when my old frame kicked the bucket. I realized that what I basically want is a slightly long tail cargo bike. A rack that’s big and built in, not electric, normal sized wheels and straight handlebars. The weird thing is, I can’t find this product. I’d assume it would be a popular choice for people touring with a lot of kit, but almost everything I’ve found seems to be for electric urban cruising with a couple of kids on the back. Has anyone else looked for this product and encountered a similar gap in the market?

The Yuba Mundo Lux is probably as close as I’ve seen, but has anyone done a few full days on it? It’s probably too much to spend if it can’t handle a few days on tour.

Edit: I’ve decided to dabble with a cheap second hand aluminum Kona Ute, because I live in a salted road winter an aluminum frame is good to have around. If I like it, I’ll probably invest in an electric option for the other 3 seasons.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Yeah the Big Dummy is the other closest thing I found. Got any thoughts on it vs the Mundo Lux?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I own a Big Dummy and had a Mundo Lux which I electrified.

The Big Dummy makes a great daily around town bike. That’s how I use it. Love it. It’s lighter than the Mundo. Definitely my #1 choice for a non-electric cargo bike.

See my long term review: https://mark.stosberg.com/surly-big-dummy-long-term-review/

And this third part slingset review: https://mark.stosberg.com/review-of-carsick-designs-xtra-big-one-slingset-for-surly-big-dummy-longtail-cargo-bike/

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

This is awesome and confirms what I've been hoping, although it looks like the big dummy is being discontinued so I'll probably have to move quick if I want one new. I have a couple of questions that it seems you'd have the answers to: Q) I think I know the answer from reading your blog, but if you didn't own any cargo bike already, would you buy a Big Dummy or would you just put that money towards a Big Easy? Q) Is it possible to just ride around with the battery removed or flat? Is it pretty much the same bike plus the weight of the motor? Q) I already own nice (standard) paniers, can those be clipped onto the side of these cargo bikes, or do they have a different sort of rack. Q) Thoughts on riding an electric cargo bike in the snow/slush?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

if you didn’t own any cargo bike already, would you buy a Big Dummy or would you just put that money towards a Big Easy?

The electric cargo parks in my house get more use the non-electric ones. I could have just one, I'd go electric.

Q) Is it possible to just ride around with the battery removed or flat?

Yes, but will be heavier (even with the battery moved, because of the heavier bottom bracket. I tried this idea some, and all our e-bikes just end up getting ridden with electric. The easier thing to do is set the assist level at, say, a "1"-- the idea is just enough assist to offset the extra weight so you still get the fitness benefit of pedaling when you don' the assist.

Is it pretty much the same bike plus the weight of the motor?

The Big Easy looks looker witha more relaxed rider geometry and maybe some fatter ties by default. Overall, it's similar.

Q) I already own nice (standard) paniers, can those be clipped onto the side of these cargo bikes, or do they have a different sort of rack.

I've seen adapters before, but I can't find one quickly now. For example, see how the EdgeRunner rack has extra bar? I think panniers could hang there. These won't work on the Dummy, though. https://xtracycle.com/products/edgerunner-all-in-one-rack

Personally, I love the Carsick Design slings.

Q) Thoughts on riding an electric cargo bike in the snow/slush?

I've done that. Studded tires, fat tires and a warming planet all make this more viable. Going slower helps too.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

It's probably the same thing or nearly so. Pretty much all bikes are contract manufactured by one of 4 companies all within a stone's throw of each other in Taiwan. The only one of these companies you will have heard of before is Giant.

I'm a former Buyer from a chain of bicycle shops, so this was my wheelhouse for many years. Personally, I'm a hardcore roadie, and not a fan of anything with a upright steering geometry like a hybrid bike. I like traveling distance at speed and prefer as compact of a wheelbase as I need for the weight I'm carrying. I can handle these kinds of bikes just fine, but I don't like the wobbly feeling they tend to have at higher speeds, and the upright position feels unfulfilling to me in terms of a real workout. I've thought about getting one for groceries in the past, but never had a good opportunity. The 3 shops I managed were focused on high end road and XC, so I never stocked these directly. I did order a few Surly's for employees personal bikes and I've putt around on a few at Interbike ages ago, but there is not much to say about that experience; it's not memorable against the background.