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Cargo Bikes for Touring?

Old 02-16-19, 08:13 PM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by Happy Feet
I bet! It's a wonder you remember anything about the bike at all
Took me a bit to get that one....
Yes, Elke was beautiful, but I really only noticed her bottom bracket.

Not a PC joke but hey, it was what popped into my head!
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Old 02-16-19, 08:42 PM
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The Europeans have been using bikes like first discussed for decades, so long as the territory they intend to ride is flat. Never say them in the mountainous areas, but certainly along French rivers. Also, they proved to be popular for carrying children, who eventually move on to their own bikes as they get bigger and more capable of riding.
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Old 02-16-19, 08:47 PM
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It certainly is an interesting idea if you had the right terrain, didn't want to make lots of miles each day and wanted to do a very posh type tour. It would be a real conversation starter in campgrounds.
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Old 02-17-19, 06:59 AM
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Originally Posted by Happy Feet
It certainly is an interesting idea if you had the right terrain, didn't want to make lots of miles each day and wanted to do a very posh type tour. It would be a real conversation starter in campgrounds.
Right? I mean some dude did the four corners on a fatbike so why not this?

I'm still stuck at the point of seeing the only benefit to this bike would be the cargo box vs panniers.
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Old 02-17-19, 08:14 AM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by NoControl
I'm still stuck at the point of seeing the only benefit to this bike would be the cargo box vs panniers.
to me, the obvious "pickup flatbed" advantage -easy in and out of larger stuff , works great for the intended purpose, but the extra weight is always going to be an issue, and the cumbersomeness of a long wheelbase bike that is tricky to get around a tight area, or to pick up and put in a train, or fit into a hotel room beside your bed and the tv, or whatever, is just the reality of the downsides.

of course its doable, and makes a good feb winter talking point for us, but I certainly wouldnt want to tour on one.
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Old 02-17-19, 08:49 AM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by NoControl
...
I'm still stuck at the point of seeing the only benefit to this bike would be the cargo box vs panniers.
When you are pedaling really slow up a hill and the load shifts in your half empty cargo box, good luck with your balance. Or going down a hill fast, then braking for a turn and having the load shift when you braked, could be interesting.

Regarding the big box, on one of the ACA trips I did, there were two riders with Bike Fridays and their travel trailers. It was a big Samsonite suitcase. You could do that instead of the cargo bike. Or forgo the box and use a trailer with a giant duffle shaped drybag.

Djb point about bringing it into a motel room, the last trip I did it was easier to bring my folding bike up the stairs to the room folded, so that is what I did. On that trip at a different motel we used an elevator to go up to our rooms, even regular bikes fit a bit tight in the elevator.
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Old 02-17-19, 12:53 PM
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I was thinking more of a Danube river route sort of thing, toodling along. Table clothes and picnic baskets. I also wouldn't want to ordinarily do that but, if my wife ever decided to tour with me I could probably ride that and still match the mileage. No offense meant to her of course but a hard core cyclist she is not. Just imagine how many cyclists would come over at camp sites to chit chat.
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Old 02-19-19, 11:15 AM
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On level ground it would be a fine way to travel with 100lbs + of gear and bulky items, kids. Not on level ground and you’re pushing a lot of weight uphill.

Basically it’s a moving truck and if you aren’t carrying a truck load why bother? If your loads are all pannier size and you’re carrying 75lbs I’d start with a bike and wheels for that load, more than that get an extrawheel trailer, more than that a cargo bike. Any of that with mtns and you’re hurting.

Last edited by LeeG; 02-19-19 at 11:25 AM.
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Old 02-19-19, 01:42 PM
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Originally Posted by LeeG
Basically it’s a moving truck and if you aren’t carrying a truck load why bother?
I certainly do not carry any loads above 50lbs myself, but I look at people who travel a diamond frame bike, loaded with four panniers and everything else they can pack onto the bike and they look like they are dwarfed behind the huge bags as they slowly wobble uphill. I only offered this style of bike as perhaps a more-elegant solution to touring in which people feel like they DO need to carry bigger loads. And even not, a bike like this with a "trunk" of sorts may offer a better solution to expensive panniers and racks and all the other bits and bobs we tack onto our bikes. I'm not saying that I would rush out and buy one of these, but I'd love to just ride one for a day.
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Old 02-19-19, 01:47 PM
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Three pictures I took when in France for the 2003 Paris-Brest-Paris randonnee. Kids are adult now, and the last time I was in France in (IIRC) 2012, the taxi bikes still existed.
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Old 02-19-19, 02:01 PM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by Rowan
and the last time I was in France in (IIRC) 2012, the taxi bikes still existed.
last summer in europe was an extremely hot one, so unfortunately all those taxi bikes melted into puddles of wax, c'etait tragique.
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Old 02-19-19, 04:03 PM
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I took this photo in Prague in 2011.

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Old 02-19-19, 04:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Tourist in MSN
I took this photo in Prague in 2011.
well there you go, this dispels our misguided opinions that you cannot ride these things long distances.
I mean, look, this guy got from France all the way to Prague, and probably carrying a couple of tourists as well.
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Old 02-19-19, 08:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Tourist in MSN
I took this photo in Prague in 2011.

Those look much better than the ones in Annapolis. Throw in a 750 watt electric motor and then we got a vehicle.
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Old 02-19-19, 09:09 PM
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Originally Posted by LeeG

Those look much better than the ones in Annapolis. Throw in a 750 watt electric motor and then we got a vehicle.
They are, based on my memory, a pretty neat seat-up, and in all cases I remember, in flat city areas. The electric motor set-up did cross my mind when I picked out my photo to post here.

To be fair, I have seen trikes set up in more traditional ways with an upright rider and passengers in the back around some of the waterfront areas of the US. They seemed to do pretty well, too with either their mini-taxi services or tours along the wharves.

As to converting for touring as suggested at the start of the thread, I think yes, of the terrain is suitably flat most of the time.
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Old 02-20-19, 10:56 AM
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Passengers on this one are more upright, at least at the start. Short youtube video.
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Old 02-20-19, 02:15 PM
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The kayak paddle didn't come apart in 2 pieces most do.
On another note I have a kayak trailer that i can tow behind my bike. I use this to get around the shuttle on some river trips when I'm by myself. I only do this when there is a bike trial that rides along or nearby the river I want to paddle on.
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Old 02-20-19, 02:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Tourist in MSN
My cargo bike is some grocery panniers on the back of an early 90s Bridgestone mountain bike that I picked up at a garage sale for $5. (But it took about $50 in parts and supplies to make it functional.)

But the time that I bought a kayak paddle and rode home with it would certainly have worked out better with one of those long wheelbase cargo bikes than it did with my vintage Bridgestone.
The kayak paddle didn't come apart in 2 pieces most do.
On another note I have a kayak trailer that i can tow behind my bike. I use this to get around the shuttle on some river trips when I'm by myself. I only do this when there is a bike trial that rides along or nearby the river I want to paddle on.
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Old 02-20-19, 02:47 PM
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I think you have to question the validity of a product by a company who uses a chick in the advertising who's never been on a bike in her life!
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Old 02-20-19, 04:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Kayaksalone
The kayak paddle didn't come apart in 2 pieces most do.
....
A four foot box sticking out the top of the pannier was a bit unwieldy for the ride home. For reasons I will never understand, they put it in a box that long. It is a four piece paddle, but for shipping they had the blades attached to the two halves of the shaft in the box. When the store contacted me to say the paddle was in so I could come and pick it up, I assumed it was in a box no longer than about 30 inches, thus rode the bike there instead of driving my truck.
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Old 02-20-19, 05:39 PM
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Originally Posted by travelinhobo
I think you have to question the validity of a product by a company who uses a chick in the advertising who's never been on a bike in her life!
looks like France, so one has to question the validity of your assumption.
Her dress is cute though.
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Old 02-20-19, 09:34 PM
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Originally Posted by djb
looks like France, so one has to question the validity of your assumption.
Her dress is cute though.
I am so tempted to post a few older posters from pre-politically correct era, but ... maybe not.
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Old 02-20-19, 10:02 PM
  #48  
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Originally Posted by Tourist in MSN
I am so tempted to post a few older posters from pre-politically correct era, but ... maybe not.
ya, a lot of those ads from back then were pretty embarrassing, very cringe worthy, even to me at the time.
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