Picked up two brand new Carrier Pigeon cargo bikes today from Joe Doebele of Stumpworks (aka, Joe-Bike). The bikes are Chinese-built front cargo box utility bikes modeled (nearly identically) to the Dutch Bakfietsen. These fine steeds feature:

• Full hi-tensile steel frame
• 20″ front and 26″ rear alloy wheels
• Massive 11 or 12 gauge spokes (the things are like drinking straws)
• Front and rear alloy fenders
• Fully enclosed chain case
• Sturmey-Archer 8-speed rear hub with hub drum brake
• Light-detecting hub-powered Shimano front headlight
• Brake-actuated rear red brake light (which doubles as a nighttime visibility light)
• Skirt/kilt protector (to keep dangling garments from the rear wheel)
• Rear cargo rack with bungy strap-set
• Built-in rear wheel lock with two keys
• Marine-sealed plywood cargo box with fold-up rumble seat and seat belts for carrying two little people

With the full fenders and fully enclosed chain case, these babies are ready to tackle Portland winters with ease. The color is Campbell’s tomato soup red, and it’s a one-color option, so we took it! In honor of their tomato color and our garden’s impressive tomato harvest this year, we are christening these bikes, ‘Goliath’ and ‘Big Beef’, named after our two most productive varieties.