Utility Cycling - New Shopping Cart Bike Completed

http://www.kittylitterspitbox.com/calvin-parker-cart.jpg

http://www.kittylitterspitbox.com/parker-riding-cart.jpg

It's not the first, but it's my version of the shopping cart bike. Much drilling, cutting, brazing, and wrenching was required. It's got 6 gears and working front brakes. I could have 18 gears, but going faster would be insane.

So long as you're not obviously stealing an idea and trying to claim it as your own, I think it's perfectly acceptable, and should be encouraged, to make your own version of other people's ideas. It helps spur even more ideas and motivates people to join in on the fun.

I remember seeing the shopping cart bike and thinking it was real cool. I'm planning on making some kind a cargo bike soon.

Nice job, looks like a sweet bike.

Maybe we can re-engineer stores so that people can ride their cart-bikes in, shop, and bike out? :)

It's not acceptable to make another one (I've see quite a few) without putting a a sign on it that reads "I did not come up with this idea."?

I dont get where that remark came from.

Sweet bike though.

It's not acceptable to make another one (I've see quite a few) without putting a a sign on it that reads "I did not come up with this idea."?

I dont get where that remark came from.

I'm not sure if you're speaking to me or not, as I don't understand your comment either. But he opened up the thread with "It's not the first, but it's my version of the shopping cart bike." and I'm saying that it doesnt matter that it's not the first.

I've seen that exact bike in Chicago. I'd get one if I could figure out how to bolt it down while I was in the store.

It also seems like a good bike for transients. There are so many of them pushing shopping carts with all their stuff around all day long. :(

Koffee

It looks hard to steer, especially loaded! But it also looks like fun. :) The 'first' shopping cart bike I saw was a no-weld job that was pretty hacked up, yours looks much better.

And be aware that no matter what you happen to think, nothing is new in the world of cycling. If you think you invented it, you didn't, some guy in the 20's did first. They were putting car tires on bikes, making hopping bikes, they had tall bikes in the 1800s, they were hauling things, etc. Nothing is new. Just because joe blow was the first to put up a webpage on it doesn't mean they did it first.

But hey, thats the beauty of bicycling, no need to be the first or the best, just have a good time, and enjoy your shopping cart bike. :D

peace,
sam

PS Can it carry a keg?

I'm not sure if you're speaking to me or not, as I don't understand your comment either. But he opened up the thread with "It's not the first, but it's my version of the shopping cart bike." and I'm saying that it doesnt matter that it's not the first.

Maybe I read your comment wrong.. It just seemed like you were giving him permission to make a shopping cart bike, as long as he didn't copy anyone elses' idea. As if someone has a patent on the shopping cart bike. :) No worries.

Wouldn't it be more stable to have the cart portion in the rear, like a trailer?

nolageek, cool cool.

So, in the spirit of choppers.... how about a Chopping Cart Bike?

I've seen that exact bike in Chicago. I'd get one if I could figure out how to bolt it down while I was in the store.

Well, I live in Boston and I've only ridden it once, so I assure you you haven't seen this exact bike ;)

As for bolting it down, I figure a simple lock will suffice. I mean, if someone stole it, it wouldn't be hard to find it since there aren't many like it.

Wouldn't it be more stable to have the cart portion in the rear, like a trailer?

Probably. If you just made the cart into a trailer that would probably work well. I wanted something a little more fun.

It's a nice conversion, and a useful-looking one too.
I'm still trying to plan one out, but I'd like to see if one with a single 26" front wheel could be done. Maybe the fully-loaded balance issue would make this unworkable.

You know, that shopping cart handlebar, if cut away from a busted cart, might make a very interesting handlebar on a bicycle...cut about 4" after the bends for old-fashioned pullbacks, further after the bends for highrises on choppers. I've got to try this.

Thanks for posting that cool bike.

Lower the basket and move the front wheels back a bit if you want to improve the steering when loaded.

Maybe I read your comment wrong.. It just seemed like you were giving him permission to make a shopping cart bike, as long as he didn't copy anyone elses' idea. As if someone has a patent on the shopping cart bike. :) No worries.

I'm just saying that I AM a gator fan and I'm callin......

So the shopping cart bike is officially complete. Adding return springs to the steering is a huge improvement. It seems to work even better with cargo. We also gave the bike portion a matte black paint job.

For your amusement, I've posted a video complete with sound track. Most people will be able to view the quicktime file here: shopping_cart.mov (http://www.kittylitterspitbox.com/shopping_cart.mov) (11mb) or if you have divx you can save a little bandwidth with this shopping_cart.avi (http://www.kittylitterspitbox.com/shopping_cart.avi) (6mb). Definitely recommended with sound.