cargocycling

Interview Questions for Cargo Bike Company Owners

Hi Cargocycling Readers,

Thank you very much for being loyal visitors to our site. In order to improve the site, we're thinking about adding an "Interviews" category to the site where we interview some bicycle designers, company owners, etc. We're hoping to start by interviewing the owner & creator of a well know cargo bicycle company.

In order to make this a collaborative process, we'd like to hear from you the kinds of questions you'd like us to ask and so on. So please leave any comments on this post on potential questions, people to interview, etc.

Thanks! From the happy team at Cargocycling.org

Dual Pull Brake Lever

I've been meaning to post about these really cool dual pull brake levers for a while. I've had them installed on our front load cargo tricycle (2 wheels up front 1 wheel in back) for about 6 months and they work great! Basically, you can run two brake cables from two different brakes into one lever. Inside the brake lever there is a little mechanism that theoretically equalizes the pull between the two brake lines. That way you have equal pressure on both brakes when you pull the lever. What this means for cargo tricycles is that you can have one lever that actuates both front wheels equally without any brake steering effect. (sidenote: brake steering is when one wheel brakes harder than the other, which pulls the tricycle to the left or right when braking)

In practice, you still need to make sure that your brakes are tuned similarly. Meaning that you can't have one brake cable totally loose with the other one completely tight and still hope that the dual pull brake lever will work it's magic. However, if you spend the time to at least adjust your brake cables reasonably, these things work great!

If you do a Google search for "dual pull brake lever" there are a lot of companies selling these. I think I got mine for about $12 USD.

Leaning Quad for Seniors

I saw a couple of companies at a bicycle show in Shanghai that were selling leaning quad cycles designed for seniors and mobility impaired. I asked the rep about the quads and he said that they sell quite a few of them to Chinese customers. He said there wasn't much interest outside of Asia.

I know a few seniors here in the States that would love to ride to the store, etc., but all that's available to them at the bike shop are mountain, road, or cruiser bicycles. It's really great to see some companies putting their efforts behind bicycles for special needs even if it is on the other side of the Pacific.

I was so excited by all the bicycles at the show that I forgot to get the Chinese company's names. Ugh!!!

Anyway, here are some photos of the leaning quad.

Cooler Trailer - BicycleR Evolution

OK, this is literally a "Cool" trailer made buy the folks at Bicycle R Evolution. The photo speaks for itself. What a great idea. Fully recyclable body (high density polyethylene - think milk jug material), rain resistant, insulated, and light weight. What more could you ask for when heading to your local store, a BBQ, or beach party.

New Amsterdam Project

The New Amsterdam Project is a company that was started in 2006 which offers delivery services by cargo bicycle in the Cambridge, MA area. They also design, build, and sell their own flavor of custom cargo bicycles.

One of the key points in their mission statement is that they would like to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. In high density urban areas like Boston, cargo bicycles are a great alternative to monster delivery trucks.

Keep up the good work!

www.newamsterdamproject.com

IDEO: Aquaduct Water Purifying Bicycle

My friend at the product design firm IDEO sent me a link to their winning entry in the "Innovate or Die" competition hosted by Specialized Bikes and Google.  The contest challenged designers/innovators to develop a pedal powered device which has a positive impact on the environment.  IDEO's entry was the Aquaduct, a cargo tricycle that transports, filters, and stores water for use by people in the developing world.

Portland Bicycle Culture

There was a great New York Times article and video cast about the bicycle culture in Portland Oregon.

NY Times Video
NY Times Article

The citizens of Portland have done a great job of making Portland one of the most vibrant and livable cities in the US. It's got everything a world class city has to offer and you're only a short ride from some very scenic areas such as the Columbia River Gorge. Definitely a great place for a bicycle holiday.

Aileron Trike: Tilting Three Wheeler

Inventor Wayne Soohoo has been working years on a system that allows a tricycle to lean into turns. The leaning allows tricycles to go into turns at higher speeds with stability. Although it looks like there haven't been many updates to his site for years, there is a treasure full of great information for anyone thinking of building their own leaning tricycle. Hopefully, someday we'll see a mainstream leaning tricycle based on his designs.  Keep up the great work Wayne!

Link: http://www.maxmatic.com/soohoo.htm

Smart Trike - Smart Urban Transportation

Dutch company, SmartTrike, makes a fantastic cargo tricycle that comes in a variety of configurations. In the photo from their website, you can see two versions, the kid carrier and the basic cargo box. The tricycle is also available in a other models such as a solar powered icebox version for vending ice cream and soda. Also, the cargo box is available alone as a push cart for vending and moving cargo.

 

Similar to other European luxury cargo tricycles, the SmartTrike comes with a hefty starting price of € 2199 Euros ($3000 USD). The tricycle looks great and has many useful options like power assist & onboard lights. However, it comes at a price only a few can afford.

 

Hopefully enough early adopters will buy these great tricycles and bring the price down to a family budget.

 

Check out their website at: http://www.smarttrike.com

 

 

Chinese Bicycle Factories

A few months ago during a business trip to China, my friend an import export broker invited me to visit some bicycle factories with him during my day off. Always on the lookout for new products and suppliers for his clients, he regularly visits Chinese factories. I jumped at the chance and toured three different bike factories with him.

The factories were in Tianjin City about an hour outside of Beijing. Tianjin is a massive port and factory town. It's know for being the hub for bicycle manufacturing in China. With over 200 bicycle companies in Tianjin, we only had time to visit three.

Atomic Zombie Bicycle Builder's Bonanza

Brad Graham and Kathy McGowan have written an amazing book called Atomic Zombie Bicycle Builder's Bonanza. This book is a "must have" for anyone that loves to tinker and make things. Inside the book are detailed instructions and over 200 photos that teach you how to hack, modify, and build bicycles using minimal tools. 

The book is written in a clear and easy to understand style that walks you through real projects ranging from playful to surreal. Anyone who loves DIY projects will love this book. After reading it, you'll be ready for any Franken-Bike creation.

I found the book on Amazon for about $17 and they even had an electronic version available for an additional $5.  It won't compare to the two week frame building course at the United Bicycle Institute. But if you think of the cost of tuition and room & board, this book is a real bargain. Also checkout Brad Graham's website, which is definitely worth a visit.

• Amazon: Atomic Zombie's Bicycle Builder's Bonanza
• Brad Graham's: Atomic Zombie Website

Ed Begley Jr. & Daryl Hannah Ride iZip Electric Bike

Renowned actress Daryl Hannah took time out of her busy schedule to participate in the Los Angeles County River Ride. A long time supporter of green initiatives, Ms. Hannah rode to support the LA County Bicycle Coalition. She road an iZip electric bicycle given to her by actor and longtime green activist, Ed Begley Jr. Check out the following links to catch up on cycling in LA: iZip Electric Bicycle LA County Bicycle Coalition Daryl Hannah TV interview iZip Bicycles & Scooters Ed Begly Jr.'s TV Show - "Living With Ed"

Trekinetic Off Road Performance Wheelchair

Trekinetic makes an award winning high performance off road wheelchair. It's aluminum and carbon fiber frame is packed with features that would make a racecar driver jealous.

Checkout their website for detailed photos and descriptions of how it works. 

Website: http://www.trekinetic.com

Twike - Human Electric Hybrid Car

German manufacturer, Fine Mobile GmBH, builds a fantastic pedal powered human electric hybrid car. It has a top speed of 53 mph (85 kmph) and a range of 80 miles (130 km) per charge. With it's fully enclosed body and luxury features, it might just be the all weather solution that you're looking for. The only catch, with a starting price of $26,000 USD (20,000 €) this beauty will be in the hands of a lucky few.

 

Check out their website at: http://www.twike.com

Dutch ID - Bakfiets with Safety

Dutch ID is a company in the Netherlands that makes a bakfiets with a tension fabric and cage design for carrying children. Think of it as a kid trailer mounted on a two wheeled bakfiets bicycle.

The added safety of the tension fabric cage takes care of the safety concerns many parents would have when using a wooden box style bakfiets. Although this bicycle is available only in a few countries in Europe, it would be a very easy sell to parents anywhere.

Maybe if enough parents show interest in this style of bakfiets, dealers will start to carry them in the US.

Here's a link to their website:
http://www.dutch-id.nl/products.shtml

Christiani Tricycle a Danish Original

The Christiania Tricycle is one of the original "tree hugger" bicycles from the 70s. It was built as a way for residents to get around the town of Chrisitiania, which does not allow cars. The town has about 850 residents and was established as a social experiment on the site of an old military barracks. Although the town has had some recent troubles with the Danish gov't, the trikes themselves have gained in popularity throughout the years.

We are real fans of these great tricycles. They are sturdy front load cargo trikes that can be used for all sorts of tasks such as carrying kids, the handicapped, transporting goods, etc. The unique charm of the tricycle is it's simple wooden box design which is inexpensive, easy to maintain, and highly customizable.

If you'd like to find out more, check out these links.

• Christiania Bikes: http://www.christianiabikes.com/
• Christiani Freetown: http://www.christiania.org/
• History of Christiania Freetown: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freetown_Christiania

Pashley Freightmate Cargo Tricycle

Pashley Cycles has been building bicycles in the UK since 1926. They have a range of bicycles from city bikes to cargo tricycles. My favorite in their product line is the Pashley Freighmate Cargo Tricycle.

It has absolutely everything anyone could look for in a cargo tricycle. It has electric power assist, independent steering for each of the front wheels (Ackerman steering), disk brakes, turn signals, lights, and even a horn. This is definitely a great alternative for any business that needs to make local deliveries in crowded urban areas or as a run about for staff working in a large facility.

Their website is: http://www.pashley.co.uk

Triobike - Stroller, Trike, Bicycle Hybrid

Triobike is a Danish company that makes a family tricycle that can be converted into a bicycle or stroller. It has pivot style steering and also boasts features such as a 5 point safety harness for the kids, front and rear lights, firehood, disk brakes, etc. Although we haven't seen any owner reviews yet, Triobike's unique design has been garnering a lot of praise within the design community.

The Triobike could be the perfect thing for families that are trying to do away with a family car. Drive the kids to daycare, convert triobike into a bicycle, and then ride the bike to work.

It retails for 2375 Euros (around $3200 US Dollars), which puts it in a similar price range as the Winther Kangaroo and Nihola. Hopefully for all three tricycles, as sales grow the prices will come down. They've got a great website, where you can configure and order a Triobike. They've also got videos of a person converting the bike in a few easy steps.

• Triobike website: www.triobike.com
• Video clip: Triobike being converted into bike and stroller

Winther Kangaroo

A. Winther A/S is a company in Denmark that makes the Benz of family tricycles. Winther did not hold back when designing this trike. It has hydraulic brakes, independent suspension, 7 speed internally geared hub, etc. Plus, the aluminum frame wrapped with tension fabric will keep your kids and cargo safe & sound.

Although this trike is close to being the perfect family trike, the big deal killer is the PRICE!! It retails at a starting price of 17,000 Denmark Kroners, which is a little bit over $3000 US Dollars. With shipping and taxes, the Kangaroo will be close to $4000 US Dollars by the time you get it into the country. OUCH!!! If Winther could only find a way to bring the price down to around $500 US Dollars, we might see a renaissance in neighborhood transportation and planning.

• Winther Kangaroo Website
• Winther A/S Corporate Web Page

Worldbike Long Bike

www.Worldbike.org is a non-profit organization dedicated to building load carrying bicycles for people in developing nations. From the looks of their website, they make use of bicycles that are readily available locally.

Most of the bicycles look like adaptations to the ubiquitous Chinese bike that Chairman Mao made famous in the 20th Century. These Chinese bikes are everywhere in the third world. They are affordable, built to last, easy to maintain and highly modifiable.

Especially interesting about Worldbike's website, is their open source community approach to designing bikes. Currently their bicycles are on display at the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum as part of their new exhibit that showcases products designed for the needs of the developing world. The exhibit is called: Design for the Other 90%

If you're interested in designing bicycles and helping people in the developing world, check out www.worldbike.org

It's great to see people helping people. Keep up the great work guys!

Bicycle Ambulance Namibia

A volunteer aid worker in Namibia named Aaron Wieler has developed a bicycle towed ambulance trailer for use in developing countries. The design looks very robust and easily serviced in places with limited equipment. You can find out more at the: Bicycle Ambulance Project Homepage

We wish him good luck and keep up the great work!

Tricycle for the Handicapped

HC and I were skateboarding at the beach the other day and we met a guy who was riding a mobility tricycle. The rider was mobility impaired, but someone had designed this great bicycle for him. It was completely adapted for his needs. The gear ratio was low for easy pedaling and he had foot straps to keep his feet on the pedals.

We weren't able to talk for long, but it was great to see that he was enjoying the beach and weather as much as we were.

It really reminded me that for the vast majority of people, bicycling is more about enjoying the ride than about trying to win a race.

Keep on riding dude! and see you around.

Koga Miyata Chela

Check out Koga-Miyata's bike trailer, Chela.  It's like a mini RV for bicycles. "With built-in features such as an integrated folding chair and table, a telescopic stand (to be used for camera, lamp, safety flag etc.) and a daypack with solar cells to charge a GPS or mobile phone. Travel kit can be stored in separate integrated compartments. The alloy chassis has suspension and offers very smooth riding characteristics. Nevertheless, the empty weight only brings 12.6 kg on the scales. With only minor adaptations, the Chela can be converted into an easily maneuverable luggage trolly, for use in public transport." Also check out their line of touring and commuting bikes.

Paul Frank city bikes

Paul Frank  is a graphic and fashion designer.  You might recognize his popular Julius the monkey character on clothing.  Check out his new city bikes, featuring a retro clean look.  His also offers cruisers (under the Nirve brand)

China International Bicycle Show 2007

Just posted photos from the 2007 China International Bicycle & Motor Show in Shanghai.  It was gigantic.  There were 5697 booths in 9 buildings that covered 105000 square meters of convention hall.  The manufacturers were definitely not holding back.

Many of the designs were based on European and American designs.  However, there were bicycles and other products that were uniquely Chinese.  I was pleasantly surprised at the huge variety of electric bicycles, e-scooters, and e-motorcycles that were on display.  Hopefully this is a sign of things to come.