Comments on: The Best Cargo Carrying Bikes Of 2009: A Review http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide The Guide To Highly Efficient Things Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:40:32 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Tinker http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html/comment-page-1#comment-81224 Tinker Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:14:01 +0000 http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html#comment-81224 The Treck Cargo-T is, yet another cargo bike but it also is more commonly available and at a remarkably low price-point compared to the others. The Cargo T is made for Treck in taiwan, and is a de-contented dutch bike to get the price down ($600-$640?), sold by Seattle Bicycle. Comes with a sturdy latch to keep the front wheel from flopping under load, and STOUT front rack, arear rack, too. Looks like 26x2.125" tires in the pictures I have seen, and a Sturmey-Archer 3 speed hub in the rear wheel. The Kona Ute and the Yuba Mundo are solider, not as prone to flexing under load as an Extracycle, of course, as they were built as a cargo bike from the ground up. But they are rather pricey, for people who flinch at paying $600 "just for a bicycle"? The Treck Cargo-T is, yet another cargo bike but it also is more commonly available and at a remarkably low price-point compared to the others. The Cargo T is made for Treck in taiwan, and is a de-contented dutch bike to get the price down ($600-$640?), sold by Seattle Bicycle. Comes with a sturdy latch to keep the front wheel from flopping under load, and STOUT front rack, arear rack, too. Looks like 26×2.125″ tires in the pictures I have seen, and a Sturmey-Archer 3 speed hub in the rear wheel.

The Kona Ute and the Yuba Mundo are solider, not as prone to flexing under load as an Extracycle, of course, as they were built as a cargo bike from the ground up. But they are rather pricey, for people who flinch at paying $600 “just for a bicycle”?

]]> By: Chabi http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html/comment-page-1#comment-78954 Chabi Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:34:47 +0000 http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html#comment-78954 I have had the 2009 mundo for a few months now. The only problem I have come across with it was that the guys who assembled it for me didn't know what they were doing, but with some tweaks here and there, I am now fully capable of carrying my girlfriend (and sometimes others as well) to work everyday in and out of the floodplain of the Patomac. I think I may be the only person in DC with one right now, but even the xtracycle fans I have seen have been pretty blown away with it. I would also say that the likelyhood that the xtracycle fans writing here actually have seen the kona or the mundo is low--they are not very common yet. The mundo doesn't have the xtracycle flex problem, and I haven't felt like I needed the 18 gear option as of yet, though I most likely will convert to that when I need to eventually replace the gears. I don't have kids, but I know it is set up to hold 2 child seats, and is tough enough for a pretty substantial front hook up as well, if you wanted to do that. I think the big competition with it is the Kona, which is just a sexy combo. But I am not sure which can carry more weight. I have had the 2009 mundo for a few months now. The only problem I have come across with it was that the guys who assembled it for me didn’t know what they were doing, but with some tweaks here and there, I am now fully capable of carrying my girlfriend (and sometimes others as well) to work everyday in and out of the floodplain of the Patomac. I think I may be the only person in DC with one right now, but even the xtracycle fans I have seen have been pretty blown away with it.

I would also say that the likelyhood that the xtracycle fans writing here actually have seen the kona or the mundo is low–they are not very common yet. The mundo doesn’t have the xtracycle flex problem, and I haven’t felt like I needed the 18 gear option as of yet, though I most likely will convert to that when I need to eventually replace the gears. I don’t have kids, but I know it is set up to hold 2 child seats, and is tough enough for a pretty substantial front hook up as well, if you wanted to do that.

I think the big competition with it is the Kona, which is just a sexy combo. But I am not sure which can carry more weight.

]]> By: Kathleen McDade http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html/comment-page-1#comment-78062 Kathleen McDade Sat, 15 Aug 2009 23:46:53 +0000 http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html#comment-78062 Nice overview. I think it's great that there are now TOO MANY cargo bikes to include them all! :-) I use the Xtracycle Radish that Rick mentioned above; it's great for carrying both kids and groceries and can be used as a primary vehicle. Nice overview. I think it’s great that there are now TOO MANY cargo bikes to include them all! :-) I use the Xtracycle Radish that Rick mentioned above; it’s great for carrying both kids and groceries and can be used as a primary vehicle.

]]> By: Rick Pickett http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html/comment-page-1#comment-74809 Rick Pickett Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:57:07 +0000 http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html#comment-74809 Also of cargo bicycle interest, Radish. We've got a mini-website set up showcasing her features at http://helloradish.com Also of cargo bicycle interest, Radish. We’ve got a mini-website set up showcasing her features at http://helloradish.com

]]> By: siouxgeonz http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html/comment-page-1#comment-74082 siouxgeonz Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:09:58 +0000 http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html#comment-74082 I got my Xtracycle in 2006. Didn't have to "easily" adapt a tandem or support Wally World... it's not adapting... it *IS* designed to be a sports utility bicycle. My local TV channel was all over it tonight :) I got my Xtracycle in 2006. Didn’t have to “easily” adapt a tandem or support Wally World… it’s not adapting… it *IS* designed to be a sports utility bicycle. My local TV channel was all over it tonight :)

]]> By: BAW http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html/comment-page-1#comment-74072 BAW Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:16:43 +0000 http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html#comment-74072 What about the Metrofiets, the Organic Engines Long Juan, HPM's Long Haul, and the CETMA Cargo Bike? Or the Madsen? Or the RANS Hammertruck? And as for the person who advocated modifying a cheap tandem--you get what you pay for. What about the Metrofiets, the Organic Engines Long Juan, HPM’s Long Haul, and the CETMA Cargo Bike?

Or the Madsen?

Or the RANS Hammertruck?

And as for the person who advocated modifying a cheap tandem–you get what you pay for.

]]> By: Rick Pickett http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html/comment-page-1#comment-74069 Rick Pickett Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:34:39 +0000 http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html#comment-74069 FYI, Xtracycle sells their cargo bicycle adapter, FreeRadical; their complete longtail cargo bike, Radish; and Surly's Big Dummy through their website. Help support our small company by buying direct. Any questions, please call us at 888 537 1401. Happy Trails! Rick @ Xtracycle FYI, Xtracycle sells their cargo bicycle adapter, FreeRadical; their complete longtail cargo bike, Radish; and Surly’s Big Dummy through their website.

Help support our small company by buying direct. Any questions, please call us at 888 537 1401.

Happy Trails!

Rick @ Xtracycle

]]> By: jessiej http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html/comment-page-1#comment-71747 jessiej Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:16:58 +0000 http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html#comment-71747 My husband and i are Xtracycle riders. We took old mountain bike frames and added the freeradical kits. Its great for grocerys and other errands. I ride to work everyday, so its nice to have it when i bring my work out bag and a lunch and anything else i need. A friend has a Big Dummy that he turned into a BoomBike that we use on our Full Moon cruiser rides for random parking lot dance parties. Quite fun! My husband and i are Xtracycle riders. We took old mountain bike frames and added the freeradical kits. Its great for grocerys and other errands. I ride to work everyday, so its nice to have it when i bring my work out bag and a lunch and anything else i need. A friend has a Big Dummy that he turned into a BoomBike that we use on our Full Moon cruiser rides for random parking lot dance parties. Quite fun!

]]> By: Bartek http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html/comment-page-1#comment-71463 Bartek Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:12:28 +0000 http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html#comment-71463 I like this part best: "Compared to a Bakfiets and LongJohn, I prefer the Bilenky [...] The Bakfiets and Long John, from what I have seen and read are [...]" ;) but really, a great article and good on you for promoting such ways of transportation. and let's don't forget - what's best for one, might be just 'ok' for the other! I like this part best:
“Compared to a Bakfiets and LongJohn, I prefer the Bilenky [...] The Bakfiets and Long John, from what I have seen and read are [...]”
;)
but really, a great article and good on you for promoting such ways of transportation. and let’s don’t forget – what’s best for one, might be just ‘ok’ for the other!

]]> By: Michaelc http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html/comment-page-1#comment-71445 Michaelc Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:36:50 +0000 http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html#comment-71445 I am not an expert in this field, but wouldn't it be cheaper and easier to just get a tandem bike? It can easily be adapted to carry cargo (the frame is already designed to carry the weight of a second person) with racks and panniers, and you can also carry a second person who can help with the pedaling! Last I checked you can get a cheap but serviceable tandem at Walmart for about $250, so you could get between 2 and 10 of them depending on which of the options above you are replacing. If the tandem's cheap steel frame is too heavy, you could get an electric assist hub motor setup for about $400 and still come out ahead of most of these options in price. I am not an expert in this field, but wouldn’t it be cheaper and easier to just get a tandem bike? It can easily be adapted to carry cargo (the frame is already designed to carry the weight of a second person) with racks and panniers, and you can also carry a second person who can help with the pedaling! Last I checked you can get a cheap but serviceable tandem at Walmart for about $250, so you could get between 2 and 10 of them depending on which of the options above you are replacing. If the tandem’s cheap steel frame is too heavy, you could get an electric assist hub motor setup for about $400 and still come out ahead of most of these options in price.

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