Utility Cycling - Nihola Cigar Cargo Bike

This is a most unusual cargo bike from Denmark: a bakfietsen with a cargo box up front - it looks like a re-imagined tricycle - you can even haul the kids! Designed by Niels Larson for Nihola


http://store.curbside.on.ca/images/nihola_low.jpg

http://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/media/SUDfleet.jpg
Not unlike the Worksman Front loaders

I've got a low-gravity bicycle with the big basket up front. One problem with it is that if the basket is loaded, the center of gravity moves forward, so when you try to pick the bike up by the handlebars (like to hop the front wheel over a curb), the back end will come up instead of the front. It looks like that trike could have a similar problem with a kid or groceries in the front.

I also have one of the Worksman trikes. With the front unloaded, it is not very stable. Definitely intended for lower speeds than a bicycle. I would assume that machine would behave similarly. Probably pretty nice to ride with a 100 lbs in the front, tippy otherwise. I wouldn't mind trying one to see, though.

entry angle

the departure angle is good

that is

the angle for entry and departure

that is

the angle for approaching any kind of incline, or departing

imagine going down something like a ramp, or driveway, and transition onto a level surface.

you'd notice motorhomes with extended bodies way past the rear axle, which leaves them with a very shallow departure angle, which pretty much limits their use to very level surfaces, which is great in limiting people from living in their motorhomes in the hills.

however, you do see motor homes with decent entry and departure angles.

however, if you do not pay attention to those 2 basic angles, your vehicle, can potentially be limited.

with the above trike, quite possibly a simple transition from a driveway ramp, across a gutter of much significance, onto a road that is perhaps convex in profile... possibly could be a source of contention

as it may sound ridiculous
its not that uncommon, especially in areas where water drainage is a concern.

i've also noticed this concern with Velomobiles
once upon a time, i was seriously considering building a Go-One (http://www.go-one.us/Pictures_of_go-one3.html)

some of these things only work perfectly in perfect standardized, level, engineered environments.

i.e. a cup

a cup has a purpose, and it works perfectly on a perfectly flat surface

i.e. a gourd

a gourd, in the purpose of a cup, has a perfectly irregular shape, that works perfectly in any situation.

that is...

if you compare a nice sierra cup
to a gourd for drinking yerba mate

the cup needs level surfaces
the gourd sits naturally in natural settings.

when something is engineered to be so perfect
it limits itself to only perfectly engineered situations.

that is

its not Natural

which leads me to the question...

why?

why would you limit yourself to pre-determined standardization?

be weary of pigeon holing yourself into standard industrialized measure.

http://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/media/SUDfleet.jpg
Not unlike the Worksman Front loaders

A key difference is the Ackerman steering on the Nihola - the wheels turn together, independent of the box, whereas, on the Worksman, the box and steering wheels move as as unit.