Let’s talk about Box, baby!

[dasgeh]

Thanks Kyleg. I’m pretty sure it’s the real deal bakfiets.nl. They offer all of the options in the bakfiets.nl catalog, but they aren’t sure what options are possible to get in time for their next shipment to the US (R.O. orders and has a big shipment shipped to their store in Brooklyn, then they’ll ship down here). Their “stock” model is the 7 spd option with the Rollerbrakes. I’m hoping to upgrade to 8 speeds and the hydraulic V brakes. Bakfiets is introducing a NuVinci option, but not in time for this shipment. They’re totally out of bakfiets (e- and not) at the moment, so the soonest you can get one from them is end of May/early June.

I take it you’ve ordered from workcycles already. When do you expect yours? Does workcycles have an adapter that works with a Graco car seat?

[kyleg]

Yeah, we placed our order about two weeks ago and expect delivery in June. I’d be interested to hear how things go with Rolling Orange if you go that route. It does seem to be the real deal.

Workcycle’s car seat adapter is pretty simple and meant to be universal… it’s essentially an extra wood floor plate (maybe 2’x2′) bolted to the box with two nylon (seatbelt) straps that loop over the point where the carrying handle meets the body of the carseat. There’s also a 2-3″ thick weatherproofed piece of foam to help level the carseat and provide extra protection against vibration. We plan to use it with a Chicco Keyfit. They guarantee that it will work with a Maxi-Cosi Mico, since that seems to be the odds-on favorite carseat in Amsterdam.

The Steco Baby Me carrier offered by bakfiets.nl looks like it could be a good solution, too. (In a bakfiets… NOT on the back of a rear rack as shown on their website!)

[jopamora]

Seems like box bike maintenance would be like any other bike, right? Would you take it to The Daily Rider or BicycleSpace for bigger jobs or your favorite LBS?

[Tim Kelley]

@jopamora 49436 wrote:

Seems like box bike maintenance would be like any other bike, right? Would you take it to The Daily Rider or BicycleSpace for bigger jobs or your favorite LBS?

It’s for this reason that I’d love to see an Arlington shop carry cargo bikes…

[kyleg]

@jopamora 49436 wrote:

Seems like box bike maintenance would be like any other bike, right? Would you take it to The Daily Rider or BicycleSpace for bigger jobs or your favorite LBS?

Maintenance should be pretty straightforward and could be handled by your LBS. The only mechanical difference from a typical bike is the steering linkage and the only moving parts to it are a ball joint and a pin. Of course, there are two head tubes – one for the handlebar and one for the fork – but they’re both based on traditional designs. The big issue would be whether the LBS has the proper workspace. Workcycles uses a pulley system to hoist bakfietsen toward the ceiling vs. clamping them to traditional workstands.

[dasgeh]

@Tim Kelley 49437 wrote:

It’s for this reason that I’d love to see an Arlington shop carry cargo bikes…

In my dream world, big wheel bikes in Lyon Village Shopping Center would be replaced by a LBS like Rolling Orange focused on commuters and family bikes.

[Meganomics]

@kyleg 49426 wrote:

I’ve recently completed a box bike shopping adventure, so I thought I’d share a few things I’ve learned so far.

Sadly, the bike won’t arrive in time for the ABC’s, but I’d be glad to share advice with anyone who might be considering a Dutch bakfiets.

Kyleg, I would LOVE for you to come to the ABC’s of Family Biking and hang with the Show & Tell to discuss your experience trying out various bakfiets-style bikes. We can make you a special sign and hang it around your neck or something.

[Meganomics]

@dasgeh 49440 wrote:

In my dream world, big wheel bikes in Lyon Village Shopping Center would be replaced by a LBS like Rolling Orange focused on commuters and family bikes.

Did you listen to the webinar last week, dasgeh? I specifically mentioned DC’s lack of a Clever Cycles-type store. BicycleSPACE and The Daily Rider are great, but their store footprints are just too small to accommodate the sheer size and variety of a good family bike selection. While I’d love to see such a shop open in DC for purely selfish reasons, maybe NoVA or MD is a better choice for the kind of space that Clever Cycles II would need.

If you haven’t listened to it, I highly recommend the webinar, especially the first part where the co-owner of Clever Cycles shares her thoughts on family bike shopping: http://blog.bikeleague.org/blog/2013/04/webinar-recording-getting-moms-and-families-on-bikes/

[dasgeh]

@Meganomics 49442 wrote:

Did you listen to the webinar last week, dasgeh?

I did, Meganomics. While listening, the family bike thread was born…

And yes, I agree with you. The DC area is ripe for a Clever Cycles.

[Meganomics]

@dasgeh 49445 wrote:

I did, Meganomics. While listening, the family bike thread was born…

Oh my. Well, let me just say now I HAD NO IDEA I WAS TALKING FOR SO LONG. I just wanted to share All The Information.

[kyleg]

@Meganomics 49441 wrote:

Kyleg, I would LOVE for you to come to the ABC’s of Family Biking and hang with the Show & Tell to discuss your experience trying out various bakfiets-style bikes. We can make you a special sign and hang it around your neck or something.

We’re planning to come on the early side, maybe 11-noon. I’d be glad to learn and share. Just don’t make it a “kick me” sign, please.

[jopamora]

Are their any welders on the Forum? Just need to introduce them to Dickie and we’ll have a local bakfiet up and running! Maybe bring one of the bike co-ops in on it?

[dasgeh]

Hey Tim, can we change the name of this thread to “Let’s Talk About Box, Baby”

[dasgeh]

I’m waiting on confirmation on what I could order from Rolling Orange. And I’m impatient. So I looked up the Madsen (It’s the box-in-the-back box bike. I believe the only mass-produced one out there). Lots of people seem to like putting e-assist on these babies

Prices: Madsen site: 1550-1850 depending on color
Looks like REI has/had it ?!?!?!

Reviews: http://humofthecity.com/2012/08/22/we-tried-it-madsen/
http://carfreedays.com/2009/05/04/ten-days-with-the-madsen-kg271-bucket-bike/
http://totcycle.com/blog/2011-madsen-cargo-bike-review.html

[83b]

Taking another look at the electric system that comes with the Rolling Orange model, it has some pros and cons.

Pro:

• Fully installed and no questions re: compatibility. Since most bakfiets use rollerbrakes, it’s a bit hard to find a hubmotor that matches.
• Peace of mind. You know it’s a setup that the manufacturer approves of. Seems much more valuable when hauling precious cargo rather than groceries.

Con:

• 24 Volt / 180 Watt system isn’t terribly powerful. Will probably only assist to around 10 mph and might be underpowered for any major hills or heavier loads.
• The $1,700 price difference would purchase a significantly better aftermarket system. But you’d have to navigate compatibility and installation. Becomes pretty easy if you’re opting for a model with brake bosses on the front fork.
• While I wouldn’t want to overpower a bakfiets, I think a 36 Volt 500 Watt motor would offer much more torque and, if you felt the need, could be speed limited with a Cycle Analyst below the 20 mph it would otherwise top out at.
• Small battery. The 10 Amp battery is going to drain pretty quickly, even on a lower-power system. I suspect you’d struggle to get 20 miles per charge.

In terms of good vendors, ebikes.ca and Emissions Free have been endorsed by forum members. If anyone wants to chat offline about doing an ebike conversion, just shoot me a PM.

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