We've reviewed several bikes in this category, including the Trek Fetch+ 2, Integral Electrics Maven, and Cycrown CycWagen.Brands to look out for:RadwagonTernYubaSpecialized, TrekXtracycleTricycles The Christiania Classic.
Credit: Christiania Bikes America And then we have a bit of an outlier.
The original delivery bike, trikes can use a front-load or rear-load design, with two wheels always residing under the cargo.
In either case, consumer trikes are not well-represented on the street, though brands such as Christiana and Workman have been around for some time.Why aren't trikes more popular? According to Kash, the mononymous proprietor of San Franciscos Warm Planet Bikes, if youre already a confident cyclist, youll likely be put off by the particular handling characteristics of a three-wheeled solution.
While trikes work, [there are] such significant trade-offs that, unless you're the very small minority of people for whom they absolutely have to have those features specific to trikes, you're going to try other things, he told me.In his experience, riders who find tricycles most useful are usually those who have never learned to ride a bike or those who have balance issues or other disabilities.
For these reasons, most of this guide will focus on Long Johns and longtails.Brands to look out for:Which bike style is best for you?Before you start wading into niche cargo bike content on Reddit and YouTube, its useful to work through a decision matrix to narrow down what's important to you.
Well get you started below.
Once you have a vague direction, the next best step is to find a bike shop that either carries or specializes in cargo bikes so you can take some test rides.
All mechanical conveyances have their quirks, and quirky bikes are the rule.Where do you want your cargo (or kid): Fore or aft?This is the most important question after which bike looks coolest to you? and will drive the rest of the decision tree.
Anecdotally, I have found that many parents feel more secure having their progeny in the back.
Others like having their load in front of them to ensure its staying put, or in the case of a human/animal, to be able to communicate with them.
Additionally, front-loaders tend to put cargo closer to the ground, thus lowering their center of gravity.
Depending on the bike, this can counteract any wonky feel of the ride.