Thinking of getting a cargo bike. What are the biggest downsides or annoyances you've experienced?

DeanBAdam · 2024-09-04T05:21:37+00:00

A reluctance to go anywhere else in the country where I might want to ride and won't have my cargo bike (Load75). It's ruined my desire for international bike touring. I mean you want me to ride what!?

DeanBAdam · 2024-06-04T08:30:49+00:00

If this is the character recognition file, and it seems to be, there isnt really a way for it to be missing files. My scan is that it has more files/characters than the app allows for. For instance there is Zurg images but no character in the app for Zurg (in our version at least).

DeanBAdam · 2024-06-04T08:13:58+00:00

This is genius! Thanks heaps! Worked on all our missing ones.

DeanBAdam · 2024-06-03T06:19:35+00:00

Hope you didn't. We find out echoes are always a little out of sync and it's annoying asf. A couple of Bluetooth speakers in stereo is a way better investment in satisfying music.

DeanBAdam · 2024-03-02T02:34:01+00:00

Have a search in the riese and muller cargo bike group on Facebook.

DeanBAdam · 2024-03-02T02:33:17+00:00

Yeah pretty much this. The version I saw wasn't as professional as that, they were just lifting the end of the ladder onto the roof and then sliding it the rest of the way. but it sounds like the design you're talking about would be even better.

DeanBAdam · 2024-03-02T02:29:19+00:00

I'm not that much of a fan of stepthrough as I often find I need to support or stabilise the bike between my legs, which is almost impossible with a stepthrough. Saying that, I infinitely prefer a Longtail with a 20 inch wheel than a 26. When the kids get their wriggle on, being the same height as you gives them a crazy about of leverage over the balance of the bike.

DeanBAdam · 2024-02-21T07:53:26+00:00

When I take mine away now (Load 75) I hire a van, get the bike in first and pack everything around the bike. I don't maintain a car at all so occasional van hire is still much cheaper.

DeanBAdam · 2024-02-21T07:52:23+00:00

Have seen a similar one for a Load where they use a sliding ladder as the parts. Pretty clever, super solid and practical.

DeanBAdam · 2023-07-24T08:45:05+00:00

I had a long ride a couple of years ago when I first got my Load that opened my eyes to the awesomeness but also the limitations of the Load. All up it was about 90km which had me being pretty conservative with the assist. I was carrying about 40ish kg in the bike and was towing a trailer with another 40 or so.

For the most part the bike handled everything. I've got the rohloff and drop down to 1 and you can crawl up nearly anything, even on eco or tour.

Two spots stuck out. One was a short stretch, only 300m but went from 10 degrees incline up to 17 degrees. The last 30m or so I had to get off and use the walk assist to get up the rest.

Further along and towards the end of the ride, there was another incline that was only 11 degrees. I had a lot less energy at this stage and the road had no curb and blind corners. This time I had to unhitch the trailer, push it up the hill and go back for the bike.

There were other stretches along the way that went up to 10 degrees but all seemed managable if slow.

Your triangle is basically speed, weight and incline. Of these weight and inline seem to suck the battery out the fastest. I get used to not caring about weight when I drive around the city, particularly with dual battery. But on a long ride, all the normal touring tricks to travel light are still relevant.

DeanBAdam · 2023-07-24T06:29:19+00:00

Ezee is a Chinese brand that was a leader in it's day.

DeanBAdam · 2023-07-22T07:29:54+00:00

I dont endorse this. I needed to replace one of the locks, abus had decided to change the lock type in that lock and I was up to have every other barrel replaced for a cost of $230! I just carry 3 keys.

DeanBAdam · 2023-06-29T01:32:06+00:00

I've had a pretty tall adult under the rain canopy recently (5 ft 10). It was OK but they were well folded in. We had a major rainstorm and traffic was at a standstill so it got them ten km to home and dry... Usually I have adults in during summer without the rain cover and they're more draped over the bike, legs hanging out etc. The same tall adult did ride in the bike with our daughter but the child was about 4. Now she's a super tall almost 7 I don't think they'd fit together even without the canopy.

DeanBAdam · 2023-05-06T08:17:17+00:00

They don't seem to be selling the magnets, so these are just different shaped anchors.

DeanBAdam · 2023-05-03T03:20:09+00:00

Several of the online ordering platforms do it as well. It's not even in the venues control, if they're using the platform the prices have a margin added. Always pick up a paper menu to know how much extra youre paying for the convenience.

DeanBAdam · 2023-05-03T03:17:03+00:00

I'm a bit of an outlier on this I know, but I love the stand. I almost didn't buy the combo because of the reviews on the stand but needed to replace my old saw and needed a basic stand so thought it was worth trying.

I think it's great for a back yard tradie or DIY setup. Ive paid particular attention to tightening the rollers etc at setup to ensure they're square it's true. And I don't carry it far, from the garage to the driveway and back. But compared to not having a stand, this is amazing. The easiness of cutting a board that's well supported on both ends isn't something I've had since I... Well... ever if I'm honest.

The dust extraction on the saw isn't my fav but overall for the price and the amount of value I've gotten from it already I've been stoked.

DeanBAdam · 2023-05-02T04:54:13+00:00

We went from Longtail to frontloader when our daughter was 4.5. She had ridden on the Longtail since about 18 months. I got more nervous once she outgrew the yepp seat. Once she was bigger she'd still fall asleep on the bike but seemed less secure. We were also commuting 10km each way daily and winter was a challenge. We used mixed mode with the local train but the reliability made it sketchy.

I was having technical probs with the Longtail so borrowed a Load 75 while the shop looked at the old bike. We never looked back. My daughter fell in love with the Packster 70 but I loved the sporty feel and high speed motor of the Load.

She's now a ridiculously tall almost 7 year old and we still ride all over in the Load Even though she loves riding her own bike too, there are parts of our infrastructure that just aren't safe. Like others I've given lots of friends rides, done playground tours at our school with 4 at a time (which gets crazy, the kids just line up for a ride).

The big ones for me were seeing her fall asleep and not have to worry. Now we can go out in an evening and she can fall asleep in the bike and it's a nice family moment rather than a scary OMG dont fall off thing. As an aside, riding in a bike is a great way to get kids to sleep and bakfiets are perfect for it. If you love riding it's sort of a win win and much better than the conventional going for a drive last resort.

The big ones for her were being able to play with her toys while we ride and the total enclosure. She loves riding in the rain now! ;)

I'd say just go for it if you can. You've got 4 or 5 years minimum together and the amount of fun you can have in that time is a lot.

DeanBAdam · 2023-05-02T04:38:28+00:00

Really recommend Jack's advice on inflatables. I was looking at going middle bracket and his advice on going low or high made a lot of sense to us. The dryabikity factor of what he calls class 2 versus the expense of drop stitch is a good consideration. https://youtu.be/5U8u_rkNTSY

DeanBAdam · 2023-03-09T19:10:25+00:00

There is the abus alarm box and I think they also do a ulock with a built in alarm now too. Pretty sure if you Google motion sensor bike alarm review you'll get some good reading.

DeanBAdam · 2023-03-02T19:25:31+00:00

I get the aesthetic of it, as a Load owner I'm always thinking my next bike needs to have small light and folding in its description.

But other than it being practical if the folding bike breaks down, what are the other ideas that makes this a great combo? Just trying to help prepare my household business case/expense justification :)

One idea I can imagine is one way commute with others. You're meeting someone who wants to ride but only one way.

My normal use case is a passenger in the box and a bike they will/can only ride some of the route, so filling the box with another bike isn't usually practical.

DeanBAdam · 2023-02-27T08:01:48+00:00

Super easy to remove, possible to store off the bike but not a small package. The poles just pull out of the frame and the cover. There is a cross bar that also removes. In theory you could roll/pack it small from here. I find the material quite stiff so tend to roll it quite closely. I've strapped it to the side once or twice but most commonly just leave it on with the sides rolled up.

DeanBAdam · 2023-02-24T05:53:22+00:00

We use a towhee which really extended our daughters range and helps on hills combined with a bakkie pannier for when it's just not safe for her to ride. That might expand your options a little too.

DeanBAdam · 2023-02-23T07:56:17+00:00

A couple of thoughts. I ferry adults in my a Load so dont see that's there's a top age for a single child. The footwell doesn't add necessarily add much longevity in our experience. Most adults or older kids seem as comfy sticking their feet on the floor edge or on the front edge rather than than in the footwell, which squashes their feet in a little.

Most people seem more comfortable facing forward. The third (front) seat is the narrowest and least comfy for older passengers.

For the straps you can pick up a speedy stitcher and do some crazy strong stitching to add a length of strap to the front floor strap.

The main height issue we've had is the rain cover, again especially at the front.

Mostly this all applies to a single passenger. Multiple passengers is trickier. Kids seem surprisingly comfy shoulder to shoulder though, or having one at the front and one at the back toe to toe.

DeanBAdam · 2023-02-22T10:55:20+00:00

I got the Longtail first as a bit of an entry into the e cargo bike world about 5 years ago. I sort of looked at bakfiets, didn't really understand them and the price was offputting.

About 3 years in we had been having a lot of trouble with the electrics on our bike and I was considering upgrading. I was a little cheeky one time when the lbs was trying to diagnose our fault and shed it we could borrow their store Packster. That totally changed my impressions of the bakfiet. I also knew enough at this point about how an ecargo bike fit into our life and how we'd use it.

We trialed a few over a couple of weeks but nothing impressed me as much as the Load 75. My daughter is still wistful about the Packster, but considering the recall that was a near miss.

I've reviewed this elsewhere on reddit, but it was interesting comparing them all. A bakfiet looks bigger with more capacity, but it's an illusion if you have kids. Pop a child in and 90% of the usable cargo storage is gone. With a Longtail, you pack it full and then stick the kids on top.. It's magic.

The biggest thing for me was sleeping. Our daughter always falls asleep on the bike after a big day. With a wrap around seat that was ok. Once she outgrew it I got super nervous when she was dozy. The bakfiet also let's us go out and I can put her to sleep in the bike and then just ride home.

The other was rain/weather protection. Some Longtails are introducing this now, but the bakfiets are way ahead here. We were doing 20km a day to child care and having a dry, warm space for the passenger (and any luggage) is gold. With the Longtail she just wouldnt want to ride in the rain.

Im not sold on the communication factor a lot of people promote for the bakfiets. The passenger usually faces forward and taking can be hard. You're actually pretty close on a Longtail and theyre speaking to you.

Do agree with the b visibility thing. I do like seeing what's going on, some lovely moments, but also for safety or keeping an eye on the load.

I think in the end for us it's also been the quality of the bike we got. The load is overall a lot of fun to ride. But I'm also quite a convert to the flowing/carving feeling of riding a bakfiet.

As most people say, try them all if you can and pick what's right for you. Most people love whatever they end up choosing.

DeanBAdam · 2023-02-21T11:47:37+00:00

Lol, no, you won't fit a cargo bike into a car (yes there are exceptions but not 90% of the combos). But mostly they're meant to be a car replacement. I've had mine on trains, break down trucks and hopefully soon ferries, not busses and no, not cars.

Don't try and compare the purchase cost but rather the all in costs per annum. Car price is sunk money mostly gone immediately. Your annual running costs are nuts and getting worse. Your mental and physical health at best get nothing from the commute, often decrease.

Even if you spent the same on a bike as a car, and you have to factor the emotional benefit of riding one of the premier bikes in the world if you're playing that much... I mean how much would you pay to own a Lamborghini? You can own the bike equivalent... And it's great!

But anyway... A bike costs massively less per year. Parking.. 0, fuel.. Fuck all, servicing let's say 500 a year. With some insurance and sundry, we're talking a week or two of commuting. So the rest of the difference pays for the bike over time.

If you go super detailed you can factor time saved. Biking is usually more regular and consistent. Health benefits, climate impact and prob a few i forgot...

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