Utility Cycling - Unusual German cargo bike

Greetings folks!

I usually post on the C & V Forum but came across these images of a great looking bike.

I've just posted this elsewhere and thought this might be enjoyed on this forum too.

This may have been an actual German Postal Service delivery bike. These photos and others were published on several international news websites when this rider and bike were seen in rural areas of the Brandenburg state during the week prior to Christmas, 2007.

Notice the drop-down front stand - with wheels mounted on the ends! I think this is a brilliant idea for a heavy (and heavily loaded) bike, great when one might want to move it around slightly while parking and very effective for holding it upright even with a large load. When not extended, the wheels are held in the upward position by a strong coiled spring attached to the right leg of the front rack.

Like Porteur or British delivery bikes from many decades ago, the front wheel is smaller than the rear to allow larger loads to be hauled up front and to lower the center of gravity of the front wheel.

Low step-through frame design... dynamo lighting... full mudguards... chainguard... and of course even a rear rack which is well integrated into the frame geometry.

If anyone is familiar with these bikes, I would Love to know if they are commercially available, and who manufactures them.

Cheers!
Ol' Car-free Bob

Some weblink I found:
http://www.stellenboersen.de/unternehmen/dax30/deutsche-post/0305post-fahrrad.html

Manufacturer was Biria afaik, a company with some remarkable innovations and history. The company was sold several times and does no longer exist I believe. They are somewhat related to http://www.strike-bike.de/1/
(german language everywhere, please use some translation service in case)

Is there a design rationale with having the front rack tilted down like that as opposed to being level?

Is there a design rationale with having the front rack tilted down like that as opposed to being level?

I'm guessing it levels out when it is up on the front stand. Considering the load would only be bundles of mail or small packages, the moderate angle shouldn't make any difference to the stability of the cargo or the ride. Also may help for clearance for headlight if one is mounted on the handlebars.

Is there a design rationale with having the front rack tilted down like that as opposed to being level?

I wondered about that too. My guess was that it would allow easier and clear unobstructed access if inserting a large box into the rack and with no risk of it touching the handlebar or cables, or even bouncing back against them.

The threaded stem appears to be adjustable for height to enable a comfortable riding position for riders of different sizes. Lowering the stem would tend to effectively move the handlebar a bit farther forward simply because of the steering tube angle. As I recall, dropping a stem 50 mm. on a typical road bike will also move the stem forward by roughly 15 mm., and it would push out the brake cables too ... So perhaps a good idea to anticipate this possibility. :thumb:

That is a German mail delivery bike and I think the angle of the rack is less important (or they can get away with tilting it) because they have custom boxes that fit into the racks and actually hold the loose mail. You can see one behind Santa in the first pic. The front rack holds two side-by-side.

Look at the two small grey wheels. I'm guessing the front rack detaches and can be wheeled for door-to-door mail delivery. The grey wheels would rotate about 180 degrees which places them underneath the rack.

Look at the two small grey wheels. I'm guessing the front rack detaches and can be wheeled for door-to-door mail delivery. The grey wheels would rotate about 180 degrees which places them underneath the rack.

The small front wheels pivot and support the bike at rest and serve the same purpose as a kickstand.

I see. In which case the tilt of the front rack is to lower the lift-over height when loading a heavy mail bag.

The French Postal service uses bike of almost identical design. Same colour, stays ect. The French models were made by Gitane. Sorry, labeled gitane.

Is there a design rationale with having the front rack tilted down like that as opposed to being level?

I think it has to do with "caster" on the front wheel. The weight is shifted to the front of the rack making the front wheel track in its correct geometry rather than have a squirrelly wobble affecting its handling

I'm guessing it levels out when it is up on the front stand. Considering the load would only be bundles of mail or small packages, the moderate angle shouldn't make any difference to the stability of the cargo or the ride. Also may help for clearance for headlight if one is mounted on the handlebars.

+1 to that.