Lunacy... or a great idea?

TinyExplosions

Am thinking of spending my hard earned (tax free) euros on a cargo bike, to help with shopping, and all kinds of load carrying, and I've come across this... seems to fit the bill perfectly, but is it really necessary

rflynnr

If you've even begun thinking along these lines then it's not merely necessary but will ultimately become absolutely crucial to retaining your sanity (this at least is how I justify "just one more" bike).

That said - and I say this knowing of your predeliction for th'oul single speed - I'd question the wisdom of buying a single speed Xtracycle-type yoke in Dublin. I carry about 50 kilos of person/stuff (in addition to myself) everyday on the bike and although it's not particularly noticeable on the flat, any kind of gradient immediately makes cycling significantly more difficult.

TinyExplosions

rflynnr wrote: »

If you've even begun thinking along these lines then it's not merely necessary but will ultimately become absolutely crucial to retaining your sanity (this at least is how I justify "just one more" bike).

That said - and I say this knowing of your predeliction for th'oul single speed - I'd question the wisdom of buying a single speed Xtracycle-type yoke in Dublin. I carry about 50 kilos of person/stuff (in addition to myself) everyday on the bike and although it's not particularly noticeable on the flat, any kind of gradient immediately makes cycling significantly more difficult.

Yes, I'm kind of thinking along those lines myself... if I'm in it enough to post on t'internet it may become a necessity!

As for the single speed -it's mostly because I'd plan to put a hub gear on it at some point, so no need to spend on derailleurs I won't use! (I fully expect a laden bike like this to be a pig on any hill -even ones around Dublin!)

Vélo

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Yes, I'm kind of thinking along those lines myself... if I'm in it enough to post on t'internet it may become a necessity!

As for the single speed -it's mostly because I'd plan to put a hub gear on it at some point, so no need to spend on derailleurs I won't use! (I fully expect a laden bike like this to be a pig on any hill -even ones around Dublin!)

If you think you'll get the use out of it then why not get one. With a bike like that I'd prefer to have a few gears. What about the Ute, it has disc brakes which would be handy if the bike's loaded up.

TinyExplosions

Vélo wrote: »

If you think you'll get the use out of it then why not get one. With a bike like that I'd prefer to have a few gears. What about the Ute, it has disc brakes which would be handy if the bike's loaded up.

Yeah, the ute is another possibility, but the reviews on it are mostly that it's a bit flexy, and the carrying capability is a bit limited -the Mundo is a little cheaper than the ex-demo ute (which only has a disc on the front, and a replacement fork is cheap enough if I wanted that route) and the mundo can hold over 200kg of stuff

ROK ON

I am going to call you out on this nonsense. From wha I recall you are single man about town with no commitments. On that basis I can't see how you shopping requires a cargo bike.
Also IIRC you work in IT so what could you possibly bd transporting around the place - entire server farms.

This is a nonsense. Cargo bikes a FUGLY beyond belief.

Catch yourself on and get out to Wicklow on Miss Pinky a bit more.

Sorry for the abrupt rudeness of my post. But no.
This btw is a sports forum. Cargo bikes possibly belong in commuting and transport.

Christ in a bike. What will people think of next.

fenris

I have a vague memory of a knee explosion that could be heard from the far side of the wicklow mountains one weekend in June, the single speed cargo bike thing sounds like a recipe for joint destruction - you know that the around dublin thing will turn into a "my cargo bike is better for the Wicklow 200 than your fixie - plus I can carry enough tea and cake for everyone" type challenge! - actually don't worry about the knee just pack a spare one and cake :-)

penexpers

The Ute is good for lightweight carrying but Alu is a poor choice for a cargo. The Mungo gets generally good reviews from what I read. Some of the components wouldn't be the best at that price point and you'd still need to spec accessories (e.g. bags) for cargo carrying.

fenris

ROK ON wrote: »

Christ in a bike. What will people think of next.

Room for a plastic jesus!

penexpers

ROK ON wrote: »

This is a nonsense. Cargo bikes a FUGLY beyond belief.

This bike respectfully disagrees

http://www.flickr.com/photos/penexpers/3295182622/in/set-72157608032848823/

rflynnr

fenris wrote: »

Room for a plastic jesus!

I'm getting a DVD player installed in my cargobike.

Raam

rflynnr wrote: »

I'm getting a DVD player installed in my cargobike.

Last ditch attempt to convince the kids to get into it?

rflynnr

Raam wrote: »

Last ditch attempt to convince the kids to get into it?

Well those Kerry-Dublin commutes can drag you know.

TinyExplosions

ROK ON wrote: »

I am going to call you out on this nonsense. From wha I recall you are single man about town with no commitments. On that basis I can't see how you shopping requires a cargo bike.
Also IIRC you work in IT so what could you possibly bd transporting around the place - entire server farms.

This is a nonsense. Cargo bikes a FUGLY beyond belief.

Catch yourself on and get out to Wicklow on Miss Pinky a bit more.

Sorry for the abrupt rudeness of my post. But no.
This btw is a sports forum. Cargo bikes possibly belong in commuting and transport.

Christ in a bike. What will people think of next.

Oooooo, we've found the thing that pushes ROK_ON's buttons

I don't think marital status has much to do with practicality though mate, I mean yes, I don't have hundreds of chislers that need nappies etc etc, but being a gad about town means that there is beer to haul, let alone sound equipment and pretty ladies (could get a couple on the back with the amount the mundo can carry!), as well as bits of other bikes etc...

I don't think that cargo bikes are ugly -yes, they aren't as graceful as some nice road bikes, but I'd take any of them over a pinerello (hate the wiggly forks)... yes, I need to get out on Pinky more, and the intense counselling is working, but Pinky's for fun, a cargo bike is for practicality, and there is a difference there!

fenris wrote: »

I have a vague memory of a knee explosion that could be heard from the far side of the wicklow mountains one weekend in June, the single speed cargo bike thing sounds like a recipe for joint destruction - you know that the around dublin thing will turn into a "my cargo bike is better for the Wicklow 200 than your fixie - plus I can carry enough tea and cake for everyone" type challenge! - actually don't worry about the knee just pack a spare one and cake :-)

Yes, that is a damn good point Fenris, hence why there would be a hub gear put on it pretty much from the start -I don't want another tiny explosion in my patella!

I could be the cake boy for Boards Spins though... think of the amount of soup I could haul on it in the cold weather

rottenhat

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Yes, that is a damn good point Fenris, hence why there would be a hub gear put on it pretty much from the start -I don't want another tiny explosion in my patella!

Just something to keep in mind, but on last Sunday's spin I was chatting with Dave McLoughlin who was riding his touring rig which has a Rohloff, and he was saying that the gear spacing on it is a bit wide for fully loaded touring, that there'd be a lot of times when he was stuck with a choice between a gear that was too high, and twiddling along in one that was lower than he needed. I'm not sure if other hub gears have narrower spacing between the gears, but it might not be a guaranteed solution.

But aside from that, go for it. I'm sure you need it at least as much as Lumen needs a TT bike.

ROK ON

Tiny. Now that you have clarified that it is for hauling pretty ladies I completely understand.
Go ahead get one. But to carry many ladies you should probably go for one that has the big cargo space at the front. Some boardsies use then to haul kids.

The only issue I can think of is that the effort reqd to haul pretty ladies across town in a heavy bike may dampen your ardour when you get back to your gaff.

TinyExplosions

rottenhat wrote: »

Just something to keep in mind, but on last Sunday's spin I was chatting with Dave McLoughlin who was riding his touring rig which has a Rohloff, and he was saying that the gear spacing on it is a bit wide for fully loaded touring, that there'd be a lot of times when he was stuck with a choice between a gear that was too high, and twiddling along in one that was lower than he needed. I'm not sure if other hub gears have narrower spacing between the gears, but it might not be a guaranteed solution.

But aside from that, go for it. I'm sure you need it at least as much as Lumen needs a TT bike.

Cheers for that -it would be a slight concern, but I'm sure it just means finding the right hub... maybe a Nuvinci like Penexpers has -weighty, but continuously variable

rottenhat

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Cheers for that -it would be a slight concern, but I'm sure it just means finding the right hub... maybe a Nuvinci like Penexpers has -weighty, but continuously variable

I had no idea such a thing existed...that's damned clever. I note that it does require a derailler hanger tab but I guess you could always get one brazed on.

TinyExplosions

rottenhat wrote: »

I had no idea such a thing existed...that's damned clever. I note that it does require a derailler hanger tab but I guess you could always get one brazed on.

Afaik it has one -I think the frame is the same as their geared models (it wouldn't make sense for them to have it much different), but if not, yes, I could get tabs braised on -along with disc brake mounts

penexpers

rottenhat wrote: »

I had no idea such a thing existed...that's damned clever. I note that it does require a derailler hanger tab but I guess you could always get one brazed on.

I would assume the single speed mundo has horitzontal dropouts so a chain tensioner wouldn't be needed.

rflynnr

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Cheers for that -it would be a slight concern, but I'm sure it just means finding the right hub... maybe a Nuvinci like Penexpers has -weighty, but continuously variable

What kind of range does that hub have (or is that "infinitely variable" too)?

penexpers

rflynnr wrote: »

What kind of range does that hub have (or is that "infinitely variable" too)?

Here's a chart showing the differences in range

http://www.fallbrooktech.com/Docs/Gear_Range_Chart_011309Web.pdf

rottenhat

penexpers wrote: »

I would assume the single speed mundo has horitzontal dropouts so a chain tensioner wouldn't be needed.

Indeed. But, and I quote:

Requires dropouts with derailer hanger tab. (This hub uses the derailer hanger as an anti-rotation fitting to keep the axle from rotating.)

Mind you, if you have one I'm sure you know what you're talking about.

thebouldwhacker

TinyExplosions wrote: »

but being a gad about town means that there is beer to haul, let alone sound equipment and pretty ladies (could get a couple on the back with the amount the mundo can carry!),

:D:D:D

Itsfixed

I love the idea of cargo bikes and that mundo looks good, but space and price considerations forbid me to take the plunge just yet.

I have an il pompino on which i have a cetma front rack, a blackburn rear rack and a thingy for a child seat, and its superbly practical, enough for a big shop, and even some peat briquettes.

However, my 2.5 year old is getting heavier and heavier and the pomp's handling is getting rather compromised given that its not really a touring rig.

I also only have one ss gear, so am thinking of getting a Surly Long Haul Trucker frame and fork for better stability, transferring most of the bits from the pomp along with the shimano alfine hub gear currently on my MTB (not before lacing it on to a road rim).

penexpers

Itsfixed wrote: »

I also only have one ss gear, so am thinking of getting a Surly Long Haul Trucker frame and fork for better stability, transferring most of the bits from the pomp along with the shimano alfine hub gear currently on my MTB (not before lacing it on to a road rim).

The next round of LHT's will take 26" rims even in the larger sizes so you might not need to get a new rim. I believe that 26" wheels are stronger for cargo carrying purposes and with 26" wheels you can get wider tires (e.g. Big Apples) which can give a bit of a cushion.

Itsfixed

Hi penexpers

Yes thanks i was aware of that and may consider a 26 now that they are available in 56cm, but i prefer the look of the 700c frames, plus there is enough tyre clearance for 32mm tyres at least.

niceonetom

Lunacy, clearly. But you should just go ahead and get it anyway.

With gears though ffs.

penexpers

Itsfixed wrote: »

Hi penexpers

Yes thanks i was aware of that and may consider a 26 now that they are available in 56cm, but i prefer the look of the 700c frames, plus there is enough tyre clearance for 32mm tyres at least.

Yeah the large frames with 26" wheels look very goofy and completely out or proportion.

tomasrojo

If I were to get a cargo bike and had a garage, I'd go for a Christiania, I think, as someone mentions above (the load going in the front, rather than the rear).

I use a bike-hod trailer for the shopping and heavyish loads. I got it because it was the only trailer I could find that would also be good for transporting a guitar. It's turned out to be extremely useful, and when I'm not using it, the hitch under the saddle is quite a good place for attaching a rear light.

Has a tendency to be a little unstable when carrying the guitar, so no "en danseuse" pedalling in that scenario.