2 Wheel or Trike Cargo Bike and Load Capacity

[4xsama]

Hi All,

Firstly apologies if I got the terminology wrong.

I'm looking at getting a cargo bike. We've recently moved to Melbourne where its quite flat and getting around on a bike is pretty simple. It makes a lot of sense to jump on the bike to do the shopping etc as opposed to driving the half k'm to the local shops. A few questions though;

- How stable are trikes. They look pretty patchy,
- Are two wheel bikes more versatile, ie, does a trike limit the cycling options to bike paths or wide footpaths,
- Whats the load capacity of either. We don't have kids but will be transporting the shopping + a person or 2 labs,
- I will try for a second hand one if possible. I'm assuming the best option is Gumtree etc

Cheers,

[eldavo]

For that local range, a small wheel trike would be a nice option.
On a regular bike, a child or cargo trailer has similar access plus more on-bike storage, with appropriate bike stand so bouncing dogs in trailer don't drop the bike.
I like the idea of a tandem with trailer also, get yourselves and your dogs out on one rig.

[zebee]

As a recumbent trike rider and occasional upright adult trike rider....

Trikes of either kind can be ridden in traffic but you need a good visibility marker for cars on a recumbent as you disappear behind their bodywork when they get close. Which I don't worry about in sleepy suburbia - let them keep a good distance! - but is a bit rude in busier areas.

Trikes are wide and so are not traffic carvers. Ride a 3 wheeler and you are the traffic. Sit back and relax. Cargo bikes aren't either... Longer and wider it is the less nimble. The upright has very low gearing. Dunno if they all do but I was surprised at that. I guess because it is only 3speed so better lower for less strong riders who are likely to be the ones riding it (it belongs to my elderly mother).

If you want to take more than one person you need something big enough to do that, so a long bike or a bakfiets os similar. Again you won't be nipping quickly.

IF you are testing the waters consider a trailer. For small amounts a decent sized pannier or pair can hold quite a lot so a standard bike will do that job. If you need more carrying space then add a trailer. I can take a fair bit on the recumbent trike or the two wheeler using the Arkel Shopper and the trailer.

If you aren't that sure then don't buy a specialist bike to start with. Get a comfortable strong mostly upright position bike with decent gearing and a solid rack and a set of large panniers. See how you go with that. Find the best routes, get a feel for the traffic, understand how much carrying you need to do. The panniers will be useful no matter the specialist bike you get and the transport bike will be useful when you don't need the load capacity. Carrying another person does need a specialist bike of some sort, but how often and for how many years will you be doing that?

I have considered a cargo bike but for my needs it isn't suitable. I prefer the versatility of a trailer. Pack it to bursting then haul it up 2 flights of stairs! A cargo bike means lifting all that stuff myself...

[Pax]

Hi All,

Firstly apologies if I got the terminology wrong.

I'm looking at getting a cargo bike. We've recently moved to Melbourne where its quite flat and getting around on a bike is pretty simple. It makes a lot of sense to jump on the bike to do the shopping etc as opposed to driving the half k'm to the local shops. A few questions though;

- How stable are trikes. They look pretty patchy,
- Are two wheel bikes more versatile, ie, does a trike limit the cycling options to bike paths or wide footpaths,
- Whats the load capacity of either. We don't have kids but will be transporting the shopping + a person or 2 labs,
- I will try for a second hand one if possible. I'm assuming the best option is Gumtree etc

Cheers,

You are in Melbourne which means you can go to Cargocycles which is in East Brunswick and test drive a huge range of cargo bikes whilst getting their specialist advice. I have found them exceptionally helpful and I live thousands of Ks away in Brisbane but they are very responseive to emails and were brilliant when I visited them in person a couple of months ago.

In my personal opinion a long tail cargo bike is the most versatile option because it is really just a long but normal bike, with a fantastic rack and beefed up to take passengers and big loads. More like a long low geared heavy cruiser.

The choices go far further than 2 wheels or 3.
Long tails some with both wheels the same size or the rear wheel smaller so the centre of gravity is lowered. SOme are not as long as others, e -assist or non assisted
Then there are 2 wheel box bikes (bakfiets etc) with the load all in front (maybe with a rack behind)
Trikes come with the two wheels in front or in rear, some lean some don’t.

Honestly go test ride a range and get a feel for what you want to do.

I love my long tail Yuba Mundo, but hope to add a bakfiets style box bike to the bike fleet later this year (in my defence, I have sold 3 bikes this year so its (n-3)+1