Utility Cycling - Worksman bikes on NPR

NPR's Weekend Edition tomorrow should feature a short story on Worksman bikes that should prove interesting for anyone considering one of their cargo cycles. I'll try to post a link to the show archive sometime tomorrow for those that miss it.

Worksman sent me an email tonight.

"Dear Worksman Cycles Customers:

This e-mail is being sent to past customers of Worksman Cycles that purchased ...

To get your special 10% discount, just put the code 1114X in the comment section of the order form...."

Worksman sent me an email tonight.

"Dear Worksman Cycles Customers:

This e-mail is being sent to past customers of Worksman Cycles that purchased ...

To get your special 10% discount, just put the code 1114X in the comment section of the order form...."

lucky dog!

Story is online at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97024808

Thanks bikinpolitico, you beat me too it.

Nice feature. I had been thinking "wouldn't it be nice if they offered rim (or disk!) brakes?" But when I heard the blurb this morning I realized the only reason they have stayed in business all these years is by focusing on a very specific niche an filling it with high quality product.

I figure, once I get my front loader, if it doesn't have the stopping power I need, I can always braze-on mounting brackets myself.

Don't mess with success!

Check into the braking situation before you buy one of these. The normal Worksman steel wheels don't have a profile well suited for rim brakes, and you might or might not be able to add additional brakes in a satisfactory way. They do also offer alloy wheels, and I'm not sure what they're like. On the front wheels, there's really not anything close to the rim on which to mount a brake. Worksman also has hub brakes, but I don't know if they're a big improvement over a coaster brake for absolute braking power (I think they could only be used on the rear wheel on these trikes). These front-wheelers are slowish, typically 8-10 mph, and a coaster brake works fine for normal operation in flattish areas. But if you're planning to haul hundreds of pounds up and down hills, it could be a major safety issue. The folks at Worksman might could offer some insight into maximum slopes or weights that can be handled.

There was a news article a few weeks or couple of months ago about a man that was killed on a pedicab. That wasn't a Worksman product, but in reading about it, it seems the issue there was the pedicab had marginal brakes and wasn't able to stop at a redlight on a downhill with 3 people on it.

thanks for the advice StephenH. Fortunately I live in (relatively) flat country. It would be a different story were I still in Seattle or Bellingham.

I believe Worksman offers a drum brake on the trikes, you might be able to order one for the regular bike. If interested it probably wouldn't hurt to ask.

Aaron:)

I believe Worksman offers a drum brake on the trikes, you might be able to order one for the regular bike. If interested it probably wouldn't hurt to ask.

Aaron:)

YES!! Trikes come with a front drum brake and it's an option on all bikes!!:thumb: