I get far more email than comments from readers, and of the email I do receive, the vast majority center around one basic question: “I’ve got small children and want to transport them with a bike, but I simply don’t know what kind of family bike I should get. Help!”
As luck would have it, I’ve spent years investigating options for transporting children by bike, as well as using many of these options. I’m happy to share my insight and opinions in an effort to help my fellow parents make the best decision for their families. Just remember, transporting children by bike is a transitional process. Unlike the purchase of a minivan, a family bike is something you buy for the short term, as your children will grow and subsequently grow into cycling options better suited to your and their needs at different stages of life. While a box bike or Madsen may work great for carrying your little ones now, you won’t be packing them around in these bikes when they’re nine years old.
Because of this, I’ve decided to focus on those family bikes that are most relevant for people with small children and toddlers –typically from one year old through six or seven. For the purposes of this article, I’ll focus on the Bakfietsen, Joe Bike’s Box Bike, Xtracycle Freeloader, Xtracycle Radish, Surly Big Dummy, Kona Ute, Yuba Mundo and child trailers (e.g., Chariot and Burley). This list is not exhaustive.
These child transporting options all offer compelling arguments for their specific use-case. All are great options that will change the way you carry children and cargo on a bike. This being said, I’ve done my best to outline additional, personal insight to help in your search for the ultimate child-carrying bicycle:
Note: for information on pricing and availability of any of these bikes in Portland, Oregon, see my article on family biking resources.
Bakfietsen
Designed in the Netherlands, Bakfietsen (box bicycles) are extended length utility bicycles featuring a large wooden cargo box directly in front of the rider. Bakfiets are great for carrying ‘loose’ loads as well as children as the cargo box is low, easily accommodating loads that might shift or simply aren’t tethered. The cargo box features up to two separate bench seats, accommodating three children (or four smaller toddlers). Bakfiets are excellent for new and seasoned riders alike because they come ready-to-roll, fully outfitted with great components.
If a rider wants a bicycle that more closely matches the riding profile of a traditional American-designed bike, the bakfiets isn’t the best match. This being said, I think the bakfiets riding position is superior to a traditional bicycle, making it the better choice for new and seasoned cyclists alike. While a bike with a defined cargo box isn’t quite as scalable as a long-tailed utility bike, the cargo box design provides a different flavor of cargo carrying freedom, enabling you to make trips to the store with little care for what straps or bags you bring along. Yes, a Yuba Mundo utility bike offers a bunch of frame tubing to attach bungees, but most of the time you don’t need to strap down cargo –you simply need a good container to hold it.
When it comes to weight carrying capacity, a bakfiets will certainly carry more than you’ll likely ever want to carry (200+ pounds of cargo), and thanks to the low center of gravity provided by the cargo box, the load capacity is far more manageable than a long-tail utility bike. Keep in mind, loads that ride high are inevitably harder to balance. If you need to carry more weight than a bakfiets can handle, I suggest you seek the Yuba Mundo, which can handle an ungodly 440 pounds of cargo. However, unlike the bakfiets, the Mundo demands that you stretch that 440 pounds of cargo weight across two different levels, one being much higher than the bakfiets cargo box.
Speaking of weight, bakfiets aren’t slim by any means as it takes a lot of high-tensile steel to make such a capable bicycle. The long-box bakfiets (which, when properly equipped, can carry four small children) weighs in at 96 pounds. The short-box (which can carry two children) is more than 78 pounds. This being said, I suggest that you don’t get hung-up on weight. While bicycle weight is certainly important, ride, handling, utility capacity and ride quality matter more than weight. If the bike is geared well, its weight is virtually a non-issue. This being said, the bakfiets is geared with a Nexus or Alfine 8-speed internal hub (transmission), geared as low as the hub will allow. While not as low as an external, derailleur-based bike, the gearing on the bakfiets (when using the largest possible rear cog) is well-suited for the vast majority of Portland terrains.
When it comes to price, the Dutch bakfiets –designed in the Netherlands, using frames from a variety of origins– is quite expensive when compared to other utility biking options. This being said, the bike is certainly well equipped with excellent components and a well-built frame. As an automobile replacement, the bakfiets is a perfect option and well worth the price.
Box Bike
The Box Bike from Portland shop, Joe Bike, is a facsimile of the original short-box bakfietsen. Like its Dutch-designed predecessor, box bikes are fantastic for carrying children and loose or awkward loads. The box is low to the ground, easily accommodating shifting loads by providing a confined cargo box that keeps its contents as low to the ground as possible.
After using trailers (Burley and Chariott), a rear-mounted child seat (Topeak Babysitter) and a Yuba Mundo longtail utility bike, I can say without a doubt that the box bike is the best option for transporting small children by bike. My five-year-old daughter is quite tall and still fits without issue, along with her little sister, who is nearly three years old. While you don’t have the overall cargo capacity of the long-box Dutch bakfiets, you can still pack plenty of cargo while maintaining a higher degree of maneuverability.
In fact, one of the most common questions my wife and I get when we’re approached by people while out with our box bikes, is whether they’re stable. In short, yes! The bikes actually get more stable with more weight in the box. Because the weight is situated so low to the ground, you can travel at very low speeds with quite a good deal of maneuverability. This is one of the key benefits of the box bike: maneuverability and ease of handling under load.
What’s more, once you come to a stop, the bike’s four-point kick-stand (identical to the Dutch version) makes the bike so stable that my daughter can climb in and out without my assistance, and without fear of toppling the bike. This is a major benefit that cannot be marginalized. Stability while loading and unloading children is a major hurdle and no other bike (besides the Dutch bakfiets) handles these tasks with such grace and confidence. Yes, several long-tails come with wide, multi-point kick stands, but their cargo platforms are still up high –or in the case of side loaders on the Mundo, Radish, Big Dummy or Xtracycle, unbalanced. The box bike makes this a non-issue.
Stability while loading and unloading children is a major hurdle and no other bike (besides the Dutch bakfiets) handles these tasks with such grace and confidence.
If you’d like to learn more about what it’s like living with a box bike under daily use, by all means read all the box bike posts on this site. I’ve taken great effort to document my family’s experience in living with and using these bikes on a daily basis. The box bike has the power to redefine urban family transportation as it dramatically lowers the hurdles that you’ll face when bicycling with children:
- ease of loading (low cargo box)
- loading/unloading stability (wide 4-point kick-stand)
- safe space for kids (no feet in the spokes)
- ample room for cargo
- ease of riding (stability) with two children –step-through frame
- built-in lights (including a hub-powered front headlight)
- security: features a built-in wheel lock (never forget your lock again)
- cleanliness: features full fenders (keeps the road filth off your fancy pants)
The entire purpose of starting the box bike diary entries was to document whether a less expensive version of the bakfiets could be usable and capable –Hell, maybe even enjoyable. Since my family took ownership of the box bikes in November 2008, these bikes have been exactly that: enjoyable, usable and capable. The box bikes are urban ‘game changers’, enabling increased family mobility and all the benefits that come with non-automotive, street-level daily transportation. As a family that does not use automobiles for regular daily transport, we are heavy users of these bikes, putting them to the test daily. They continue to impress, satisfy and simply ‘work’ day-in and day-out. For the money, I believe the box bikes are simply the best option available for urban family transportation.
Kona Ute
The Kona Ute is a solid, aluminum longtail utility bike, at a great price, but it’s not a cargo bike –it doesn’t have side loaders or a heavy duty steel frame. This being said, most people don’t need a cargo bike; they need a utility bike –something to pack parcels and groceries. The Ute excels at meeting these requirements.
The big benefit of the Ute is its’ focus on the utility minded commuter –and this is where it really is set apart from other longtails. The Ute features a fully integrated, extended tail (not quite as long as the Xtracycle or Yuba Mundo) built on an aluminum frame. While not as high-capacity as the Mundo or bakfiets, the Ute’s frame is stiff and lightweight, offering more cargo carrying capacity than a regular bicycle with a rack, yet far less weight than a steel bike.
Kona put a lot of thought into engineering a bike that could handle an extra set of bags without being too ‘heavy duty’ –and without the added weight of a heavy duty bike. Complemented by many commuter-friendly features (fenders, disc brakes and a lot of gears), the Ute fills a unique niche, enabling riders to use the bike as a longer-distance daily commuter, yet still pack more cargo than a regular bike with racks.
As for carrying children, the Ute follows the typical longtail model, whereby one child can sit directly behind the rider, usually holding on to a pair of stoker handlebars mounted to the bicycle’s seat post. The first child will hold onto the handlebars and the second child can hold on to the first child, as if riding a horse. The second child may also elect to hold on to the top-deck. Unfortunately, the Ute doesn’t have side loaders on its cargo platform, so your children’s legs will dangle off the edge; this can be mitigated by using the Ute’s handy side bags as foot and leg protectors. While not as ideal as the bakfiets, box bike or Madsen, it’s more than sufficient for most low-speed urban biking.
Madsen
The Madsen cargo bike is a very unique entry in the utility cycling market, relying on a large 40 gallon, rigid plastic cargo carrier placed behind the rider. The bucket is deep and comes standard with a rear removable bench seat and two seat belts. Technically, the bike can haul up to four small children sitting side-by-side, two children facing the other two children, with an additional bench seat installed. The Madsen is also available as a cargo-only bike with a long rack taking the place of the cargo box.
The Madsen offers many of the same features of cargo bikes in this category –8-speed SRAM transmission, fenders, etc.– with a convenient step-through frame that fits many different riders. As a replacement for a trailer, the Madsen is ideal, and the rigid plastic cargo tub is a durable alternative to the higher-maintenance, more fragile plywood box used by the bakfiets and box bike.
The Madsen’s designer, Jared Madsen, states that, “Although we love to be able to see our kids in the bucket as we ride, we never could get past the strange feel of riding a forward cargo bicycle. But most of all we did not have the control we wanted. We have a lot of dirt trails, paths, roads, and a lot of not so friendly bicycle roads. We need to ride through bumpy gutters, potholes, and off curbs. You can’t ride like that on a forward cargo bike.”
Indeed, when riding on torrential terrain there is a benefit to having a 26″ wheel up front as opposed to the 20″ wheel on the bakfiets and box bike. This being said, I’ve tackled many potholes, massive divets and curbs with the box bike without issue. The key is confidence. You need to ride your bicycle often enough to understand its capabilities so you can gain the confidence necessary to tackle road imperfections. What’s more, in most urban settings –where the bikes see the greatest use and benefit– road quality is not so poor that riding with a 20″ front wheel is a concern. Portland is not a mecca of high-quality roads and yet road quality has not been an issue for me on the box bike.
I’m more than willing to sacrifice the ability to ride off-road with my children for the benefit of having easy access to my kids where I can see them while riding. What’s more, as many people with child trailers will attest, siblings do not always get along while riding together, necessitating the occasional intervention. With a front cargo box, you can intervene while riding. Due to their close proximity (should things get out of hand), a quick knock on the helmet with a knuckle seems to clear up issues between siblings. Rear cargo haulers (especially trailers) almost always require stopping to intervene. Of course, if you have perfectly behaved children, this isn’t an issue.
My experience riding with children in trailers, on longtails, and in box bikes has made me a big fan of cargo bikes that carry their load in front, so the Madsen’s geometry goes against the grain of my preferences. This being said, I do believe the Madsen is an excellent cargo bike and would make solid addition to anyone’s utility biking fleet.
Surly Big Dummy
The Big Dummy is a longtail cargo bike that further validates the Xtracycle standard geometry. Essentially, the Big Dummy is a complete cargo-specific frameset built to Xtracycle specs to ensure simple cross-pollination of Xtracycle accessories. You can purchase the Big Dummy as just a frameset, or fully built, ready to roll bicycle.
The Xtracycle Freeloader longtail extension kit results in a bicyle that suffers from slightly discomforting flex under heavy loads; the Big Dummy essentially eradicates this primary frame flex with its fully integrated frame, providing excellent stiffness and strength. If you haul a lot and want a longtail, the Big Dummy is definitely worth investigating.
For cargo carrying, the Big Dummy relies on Xtracycle’s snap-on aluminum top and side loaders, which mean that you’ll have ready access to a wide variety of accessories. The key for carrying children is similar to the Ute and Mundo, in that you can carry one child seated directly behind the rider, usually holding on to a pair of stoker handlebars mounted to the bicycle’s seat post. The first child will hold onto the handlebars and a second child can hold on to the first child, as if riding a horse. The second child may also elect to hold on to the top-deck and/or side rails.
As longtail bikes go, the Big Dummy is very well built, albeit a bit pricier than some alternatives. This being said, it looks and rides like a dream, and its ability to handle standardized Xtracycle components make it all the more attractive and extensible.
Trailers (child carrying)
Trailers have the potential to perform a wide array of functions and come in several sizes, configurations and flavors. The biggest benefits of child carrying trailers are:
- Wide availability
- Compatibility with nearly any bicycle
- Versatility (haul children, cargo or pets)
- Relatively low cost
- High resale value
Trailers are competitively priced and often extremely well-made –especially the Chariot and Burley trailers. Our first child carrying bicycle attachment was a two-seat Chariot Cougar, which we used for more than a year, packing children and groceries alike. The Chariot can handle up to 100 pounds and tracks beautifully. What’s more, it converts to a stroller with ease. We probably put more miles on our Chariot configured as a stroller then we did as a trailer.
This being said, as our second daughter grew old enough to ride in the trailer with her older sister, we found ourselves faced with the issue of sibling compatibility. While most trips were care-free and simple, there were many times when poking and prodding between sisters became a big issue, causing us to stop more than we moved. My wife built an excellent center divider that worked pretty well for a while, but that couldn’t compete with the inherent design flaw of the trailer.
The fact is, trailers force children to sit down low in a highly cocooned pocket, where visibility is dramatically reduced. Just as a road trip in a Volkswagen van is far more fun than in the back seat of a Nissan Sentra, visibility is key with bicycles as well. If children cannot see out, or feel relegated to a low, street level, they’re more apt to get distracted by what they can control: each other. Certainly, it helps to bring toys and books as distraction, but after owning both a double-seat Chariot Cougar and a single-seat Burley Solo, our girls both displayed dramatically different behavior once they were able to ride up higher, next to us in the box bike.
To further validate the experiment, my oldest daughter also traveled behind me on the top-deck of a Yuba Mundo, but again, her visibility was relegated primarily to my backside. In the box bike, our girls have the best seat in the house, at a real human level. They like their ride because it’s enclosed enough to feel safe yet open enough to give the beneficial feel of cycling. Their ability to cohabitate in the box bike has improved a good deal, in part due to their age, and in part due to the fact that they are simply happier to go riding.
Lastly, as with automobile trailering, it’s always a bit more challenging to setup and tow a trailer than it is to just throw things into/onto your vehicle. Trailers take time to attach and configure and have to be locked-up separately from the bicycle. Additionally, they just don’t carry as much as a cargo bike, nor do they handle big or awkward loads as well.
If you’re on a budget and need to carry children safely and securely, trailers are fantastic. This being said, the market has seen trailer prices really climb dramatically. Top-level Chariots are now selling for well over $700, putting them in the same league as many cargo bikes. Fortunately, resale value is very high.
A trailer can be a big benefit. Just make sure you understand and appreciate its limits.
Xtracycle Freeradical
The longtail bike is a popular option because it’s not tremendously heavier than a regular bicycle yet expands on the cargo capacity of your typical bike. While bikes like the Yuba Mundo and Kona Ute have established their own unique geometry, the entire longtail category was defined by the Xtracycle Freeradical longtail extension kit –designed to convert a standard bike into a longtail. The Xtracycle has improved quite a lot over the years and still provides the easiest way to get your hands on a longtail grocery getter at an affordable price.
Xtracycle Freeradical conversion kits are excellent for cargo carrying because they have accessories galore. What’s more, you can retain a lot of what you love about a bike you already own by using your favorite bicycle for the conversion. As with the Big Dummy, the Xtracycle Freeradical has its limits for child hauling, but it’s relatively easy to pack two kids in comfort.
The Xtracycle extension is made from TIG-welded chromoly steel tubing with aluminum cargo carriers, which combine to ensure a lightweight ride, albeit with more flex than a fully integrated frame. The overall capacity isn’t as high as the Mundo or bakfiets, but Xtracycles can still handle awkward loads with ease.
While not the ultimate child carrier, the Xtracycle really helped define North American notions that you could carry kids on a bike. Long before the Mundo, Ute, Madsen, bakfiets and box bike, Xtracycles were hauling kids all over American streets. The rest of the cargo biking industry owes the Xtracycle company a big thanks for diligently paving the way.
Xtracycle Radish
The Xtracycle Radish is an attractive, affordable, fully integrated-frame utility bike very much like the Big Dummy. The major difference is frame geometry and cost. The Radish is essentially a fully built Xtracycle sold by Xtracycle using Xtracycle accessories. The Radish is affordable and easy to ride. If you’re considering an Xtracycle and don’t want to deal with spec’ing out a conversion yourself, the Radish is an easy way to get into a longtail at a relatively low cost.
Yuba Mundo
Designed as a cargo bike for developing nations, the Yuba Mundo hit the streets of America in May, 2008, offering the first truly super-duty cargo bike. Sold as an extensible cargo bike, the Mundo’s utility potential is impressive as it can haul up to 440 pounds of cargo. The Mundo’s cargo platforms are larger and stronger than any comparable offering, enabling it to not carry more than any bike in this category, but also a wider array of loads than anything else. In fact, the Mundo will gracefully haul more than you’re likely going to want to carry. I’ve owned one for more than a year and it continues to impress.
The Mundo is a complete, heavy duty utility bike that not only fits most any rider, but also fits many budgets. The Yuba company continues to work to improve quality while keeping costs low. The first generation bike was initially built in Germany and other Eastern European locales, but quality was inconsistent (especially in the finish). This seems to have been corrected by the move to Chinese manufacturing facilities for the second generation bike, which features a slightly revised geometry.
The Mundo can also meet the needs of families by offering a wide array of cargo carrying options thanks to its multi-truss steel frame, which provides many ways to attach awkward cargo to the bike. When it comes to carrying children, the Bobike seat can attach easily to the first generation bike, with a second child perched behind on the top deck. The second generation Mundo has improved on this slightly awkward setup with its slimmer cargo platform, which now accomodates two specially designed child seats. It’s a slick and affordable option for securely carrying two small children behind you in tandem.
Due to its simple component set and comfortable, traditional bicycle geometry, the Mundo is low maintenance and easy to master. But the big benefit to the bike’s simple geometry is its graceful, smooth ride. Combined with fat tires and a cushy saddle, the Mundo’s long frame makes it a dream to ride –the smoothest ride I’ve ever experienced on a bike.
If you’re seeking a longtail bike that is highly capable for carrying cargo and pretty decent at carrying kids, the Mundo should certainly be at the top of your shopping list.
Hey JTF … fantastic rundown! I also love having kids up front, but I can only do one-at-a-time in our front kids seats. We have a MADSEN too which is working so nicely now that I kludged together an infant bucket seat.
But I do miss the kids-in-front bakfiets experience from when we were renting those. We would have wound up with one but couldn’t swing $3,000 no matter how hard I tried, and I was too scared off by Henry’s posts on knock-off bakfietsen disintegrating in A’dam streets to try one of the Chinese-built ones. I’m glad to hear that yours are holding up so well – I imagine that some of the upgraded spec has helped too.
I’ve got a similar post up, but from the “if this is your family now, try this bike” perspective, at:
http://totcycle.com/blog/family-biking-ages-stages.html
I agree that young families will likely upgrade through a variety of configurations as their kids age. But a bakfiets or MADSEN will last for a good while with multiple little ones. Happy riding!
Hey Julian, great site! I’m glad you posted so we could see the super insight you’ve provided on your blog.
Regarding Chinese-built bikes, I think a lot of people fail to remember that the vast majority (some argue more than 90%) of bike frames are built in China and Taiwan.
China has been producing quality frames for years and Taiwan is now regarded as one of the premier frame-building nations –as it relates to mass production.
Yes, you could buy a Metrofiets box bike built here in Portland (for some $3,500 or more), but it still uses globally sourced materials and subsequent globally sourced labor. Yes, the frame is welded here, but where does the steel come from? And how about the paint? And how about all the running hardware and components? All that stuff comes from many different nations.
One thing I do know is that China owns more steel smelting plants than any other nation in the world, making their production distance (and associated carbon footprint) relatively low compared to many nations that have to ship steel from all over the globe.
In short, wherever your bike is built, it has a long trail of parts and material sourcing.
If someone is adamantly opposed to a bike built in China, then they need to be very careful when they shop. For me –and as you indicate in your post– the real issue is quality. That has been the purpose of my box box entries from day one: put the bikes to the test.
We must remember that Japanese car manufacturers produced very questionable products for several decades, yet now their vehicles lead the quality race outright. China is seemingly on the same path when it comes to bicycles. They know that their bikes must compete globally, and in my experience with box bikes, they absolutely can.
Good points – I wasn’t meaning to slander China-made bikes in general (my MADSEN was made there), more that I was worried back then about sellers sacrificing quality and safety for a cheap cash-in on the bakfiets trend, as seemed to be happening in the Netherlands.
I realize that Henry of Workcycles, as a big seller and exporter of the bakfiets.nl version, has vested interests in defending that model, but some of the knock-off bikes he was finding over there were scary. Sounds like Joe is importing from a better-quality source?
There still may be some infringement issues, as the Van Andel design, while not new in that Long John bikes have been around for ages, was distinctive in its kid-carrying aplomb. But I don’t pretend to understand international patent law.
I’ve really appreciated your detailed posts over the year on how the box bikes and the Mundo are working out!
No worries, Julian. I certainly don’t mean to imply that you were slandering Chinese bikes. As with American-made products, there are highs and lows when it comes to quality, regardless of the products’ country-of-origin. :)
Trust me, my expectation with the box bike was that there would be noticeable cost-cutting ramifications, but to date they have been few at best (e.g., the rear rack cargo strap used inferior-grade elastic and broke down prematurely). I set my expectations lower than I would have if we had acquired a $3,000+ bakfiets. This being said, the bikes have worked just beautifully and performed like champs under rigorous daily use.
As for Henry, it’s hard to say what bikes he was referencing. The box bike that Joe sells is certainly not the only facsimile, but I believe it is the closest ‘facsimile’ (in its true definition).
Additionally, I don’t believe that version that Joe imports is available anywhere in the Netherlands as the bike was specifically blocked from import due to the potential infringement issues you reference.
Like you, I certainly don’t understand anything about the IP laws as it relates to these bikes –I know there were several issues when Metrofiets brought their beautiful box bikes to market here in Portland.
Whatever the case, I’m certainly thankful that many people are able to build and sell these bikes! As for us, our next step is to move to a family tandem to help ease some of the burden of ever-growing children. As for what tandem that will be, well… we’ll see! :)
Hi Jeremy,
My husband and I are in the process of building up a second-generation Mundo from the frameset, intending it in part as a kid transporter (once the kid comes along, due at the end of Nov). It still needs some work and we haven’t ridden it yet, but I thought you’d like to know that ours still says it was manufactured in the E. U., definitely came with some finish issues. Then again our first attempt at shipping the frame compounded those issues with some major FedEx mishandling… but that’s a story for another time.
Anyway, thanks for the great post!
Hello, your site is so interesting. I’ve just got back into cycling after stopping when I was pregnant with my first little girl (now 5) I’ve got her a tag-along bike, but keep thinking if a box bike would be feasable. We don’t have a car, and live in Glasgow, Scotland, which is not a very cycle friendly city, although I’m less stressed about traffic now that I’m actually cycling again. It’s also hilly-ish, certainly not flat. I wonder whether I could carry a 5 year old and a 2 year old in the box bike, and whether I would manage up hills… There’s nowhere here that I can try one out, they haven’t taken off in this country at all as far as I can see. I’m even considering a holiday to the Netherlands to try a bakfiets! Any advice you could give me would be fantastic!
Thanks for a great post…
Hello Emily. Looks like I hadn’t enabled my comment reply feature yet, so you may not have received my comment. My apologies! You can read it here:
http://www.towseyfrench.com/2009/07/09/how-do-i-carry-my-kids-by-bike/comment-page-1/#comment-1162
Thanks much for writing, Emily. Sounds like you are floating about in the same boat with me and my wife! We have a 5 year-old and a (almost) 3 year-old. You question has spurred me into writing an article about this exact issue (http://www.towseyfrench.com/2009/09/18/the-sit-to-ride-transition/).
Additionally, let me say the following about hilly areas and box bikes:
Our 5 year-old is quite tall and apx. 50 pounds, so with her, her sister and their gear, it’s an easy 100 pounds (45 kg) of cargo. Traveling up a steep grade with a 70 pound (32 kg) bike, 100 pound (45 kg) load –plus your own weight– certainly creates a workout.
We have several flat spots in our area, but a lot of varied terrain as well, easily within three blocks of our house. Essentially, we can’t get around in a 5-mile (8 km) radius without encountering some steep –albeit short– grades.
For areas with varied terrain, I do not recommend the box bike with the internally geared hub as the hub is not as well-suited to areas that require high-demand on the hub, both in shifting and pressure. Bakfiets with the Shimano Nexus hub perform better, but they aren’t geared terribly low, so you’ll need very strong legs for steep grades.
My recommendation for varied terrain is the box bike with the optional ‘mountain drive’ (which we use). It certainly improves the situation as it provides gearing that is far lower than the internally geared hubs. The lowest gear combination with the mountain drive is a 32-tooth rear cog powered by a 22-tooth front chainring, with the option to go even lower with a 20-tooth ring. Essentially, this translates into a high spin rate that is quite manageable up most any grade. If you give yourself enough time, you’ll get most anywhere while getting a great cardio workout. :)
The long-box bakfiets certainly offer more room for book bags, lunch boxes, etc., but they come with the extra weight (more than 20 pounds / 9 kg) and cost penalty ($1,600 USD vs. $3,200 USD / $970 BPS vs. $1940 BPS). Additionally, the bakfiet gearing is not as flexible, so perhaps not as well-suited to your terrain.
Thanks for all the information! It’s given me a lot to think about, and I’ve also found a stockist of cargo bikes in the UK, which looks fantastic: (http://www.practicalcycles.com – for anyone reading in the UK)
Thanks again for all your help!
Great blog post except you forgot tandems, especially those like the Bike Friday Family Tandem and the Co-Motion Cycles Periscope line. My family uses the Bike Friday and loves it. We have a plastic seat on the back for our youngest and as he has gotten bigger he typically takes the stoker seat if his sister is not along. We plan to switch out the plastic seat for a burly piccolo, though now that we are ready to switch the seat for the piccolo his big sister often rides on her own. Front Panniers for storage and tying things to our child seat have sufficed for a number of years. When we go to the market we throw on the trailer. This bike has also served well for hauling things like fence posts and May poles.
Thanks much for your comment –and thanks much for reading! I explicitly left tandems off of this coverage due to the unique nature of the tandem category altogether. In my opinion, tandems deserve their own piece as they represent a unique opportunity for transitional biking –when your children are old enough to pedal themselves, but not quite reliable and skilled enough to pedal alone on city streets. Because of the many tandem options available (Bike Friday tandems especially) tandems can be the ideal child-carrying device –especially when they’re old enough to pack their own weight, often around ages five or six. We just transitioned our nearly-six year old daughter to the back of a Trek T900 tandem and she loves it, though the tandem will never be able to compete with the cargo versatility of a utility bike like the box bike from Joe Bike. This being said, tandems make the ultimate school drop-off and basic quick-run grocery getter. I intend to write a Tandem-specific piece soon, to help ferret out the issues you need to be aware of when shopping for tandem (e.g., cost, rear frame height, crank-arm length, stoker bar extension length, etc.). Keep the rubber to the road!
Great write-up. How does it handle going up and down fairly steep hills? We live in a hilly neighborhood! Thanks!!
The Trek T900 tandem does great up hills. It’s all-aluminum, so the overall weight is quite low –far less than a typical bicycle + trail-a-bike setup and less than a more cargo-centric box bike. Additionally, the gearing combinations are extremely wide, to the point of overkill. The crank is a Truvativ triple with 48/38/28 front chainrings combined with a SRAM 11-32 cassette. The 28-front/32-rear combo can just about enable you to climb a wall.
I’ve got a 22-front/32-rear bottom-end on our box bike that will have you spinning faster than a helicopter, enabling you to tackle just about any hill, as long as you have patience and good lungs. While the Trek’s 28-tooth front minimum chainring is slightly larger than the box bike’s 22-tooth front, the Trek’s weight advantage makes it an unstoppable force up hills. In fact, I have yet to actually use the small ring in everyday use, preferring instead to simple run through eight speeds on the 38-tooth middle ring.
All this being said, if you still needed lower gearing, the Truvativ cranks enable you to swap-out chainrings for a very low price, so you could feasibly swap out the stock 28-tooth front chainring for a 22-tooth ring. Again, the Trek really gives you overkill on gearing options. You could easily rid yourself of the three-ring front crank and have all the gearing you could use with a 32-tooth front and 11-32 rear. This being said, it’s nice to have options.
Hola Jeremy – wanted to share with your readers that I’m a Kona UTE owner and rider. I’ve had the bike for about two years now and ride it nearly every day. I started out with two kids on the back and the UTE handled the job with great ease. 700cc wheels and low gearing get the job done right. I’m now just down to one passenger and the riding is even easier. I love my UTE. It was very cost effective. I’ve only had to do standard maintenance and replace the chain and freehub.