Bakfietsen !!!

Stuww
Stuww Posts: 203
edited April 2008 in Commuting chat
http://clevercycles.com/store/?c=web2.68

These look rather novel, you wouldn't need paniers for your commute!

Stu
Regards

Stu W
www.midlifecyclist.me.uk

Comments

  • whome
    whome Posts: 167
    Yeh, been looking at this site for a while. Apparently not novel at all, very mature Dutch bikes, very popular there (whic you will find out id you read all of that site and some of the links it has).

    Strange that these are Dutch bikes, but the USA seems to have more shouting about them.
    Training, highway design and increasing cycle numbers are important to safety. Helmets are just a red herring.
  • BentMikey
    BentMikey Posts: 4,895
    I'd love one, they look very cool!
  • whome
    whome Posts: 167
    I love the idea, but would have some concerns about the weight (up hills), though no idea how heavy my own bike is.

    I also quite like the long tail idea - e.g. the Xtracycle and the new Yuba.
    Training, highway design and increasing cycle numbers are important to safety. Helmets are just a red herring.
  • Gambatte
    Gambatte Posts: 1,453
    Must be the 'odd one out'

    Instant reaction was "Yeuch!"

    Then wondering about how it handles......

    Not for me, never mind looking at the cost. If I need it, I'll get a trailer.
  • Cunobelin
    Cunobelin Posts: 11,792
    Have a look at Mike Burrows' "8Freight"

    p7.jpg

    A much more refined bike.

    Reviewed here:
    http://www.velovision.com/mag/issue9/8freight.pdf
    <b><i>He that buys land buys many stones.
    He that buys flesh buys many bones.
    He that buys eggs buys many shells,
    But he that buys good beer buys nothing else.</b></i>
    (Unattributed Trad.)
  • BentMikey
    BentMikey Posts: 4,895
    I've ridden an 8-Freight, it's certainly an excellent bike. I'm not sure that it's really more refined though - what do you base this on? I also think that with kids, it'd be nicer to have them in the front to keep an eye on them and chat to them.
  • whome
    whome Posts: 167
    Yeh, the bakfiets looks ideal for taking children - the blog even talks about taking his grandmother.
    Training, highway design and increasing cycle numbers are important to safety. Helmets are just a red herring.
  • PrettyBoyTim
    PrettyBoyTim Posts: 163
    I've gotta say, I like the look of the Xtracycle...
  • whome
    whome Posts: 167
    Yeh - there is a UK importer of the freeradical (the conversion kit), but it's not a cheap undertaking AFAICS especially as I certainly wouldn't be confident about making the mods myself.


    Just a thought - This is much more the utility area of cycling (of which commuting is a subset of IMO). And also heading into car-free advocacy. We don't have a forum for that but on the other hand there is not sufficient traffic to suggest we should have.
    Training, highway design and increasing cycle numbers are important to safety. Helmets are just a red herring.
  • dutch rob
    dutch rob Posts: 5
    The xtracycle is the start of the longbike revolution. Big manufacturers have spotted the gap in the market. surly now make the big dummy (although the distributer seem to have forgotten to order any) kona make the Ute and Yuba (a niche manufacturer) make the Mondo. The ride is not much different, (the bikes are all very different in focus) but makes you wonder why someone did not think this up before. good useful bikes with not really any big down sides.
  • dirk_van_gently
    dirk_van_gently Posts: 826
    I saw some of these in Brugge, when on hols last year.
    Brill idea, It was great watching kids get in, they just couldn't wait they were all excited. What better way to encourage cycling than from infancy.
    If you see the candle as flame, the meal is already cooked.
    Photography, Google Earth, Route 30
  • dutch rob
    dutch rob Posts: 5
    i agree whole heartedly, there are some great photo's on flickr.com of kids and stuff being transported about, expensive though and again the hills can slow you down abit.
    More cycle paths required, all the issues against bikes tend to disappear with the appearance of a good cycle way.
  • tardington
    tardington Posts: 1,379
    I saw these in amsterdam (with work, woe!) - they looked fun, and practical if you've got a family. Like driving a wheelbarrow though I reckon.

    The 8frieght is cool too, there is one parked in Morningside in Edinburgh, I think it is to do with the bikestation
    http://www.thebikestation.org.uk/
  • Gambatte
    Gambatte Posts: 1,453
    This looks....interesting?

    http://www.syndda.org.uk/RTR/index.html
  • Cunobelin
    Cunobelin Posts: 11,792
    For kids ther is nothing that will ever beat the Nihola BIG!

    top-big-kinder_b.jpg
    <b><i>He that buys land buys many stones.
    He that buys flesh buys many bones.
    He that buys eggs buys many shells,
    But he that buys good beer buys nothing else.</b></i>
    (Unattributed Trad.)
  • ademort
    ademort Posts: 1,924
    These bikes are available in the Netherlands in various models and styles, prices from €399.
    ademort
    Chinarello, record and Mavic Cosmic Sl
    Gazelle Vuelta , veloce
    Giant Defy 4
    Mirage Columbus SL
    Batavus Ventura
  • Interestedcp
    Interestedcp Posts: 48
    Stuww wrote:
    http://clevercycles.com/store/?c=web2.68

    These look rather novel, you wouldn't need paniers for your commute!

    Stu

    The concept is old. Here is the danish version called the "Long John" invented in 1929 by M.R. Mortensen:

    long_john_nielsen_640_01.jpg

    More pictures from a site dedicated to Long John's
    http://www.longjohn.org/galerie/galerie_en.html

    They where very common in 1930's to the 1950's as messenger / delivery bicycles. Most Long John's has a carrying capacity of 100 kg.
    The incredibly low center of gravity makes it a fun and fast bike even when loaded
    The bike is still in production and there are a lot of 1930's models still running on the streets of Copenhagen.


    --
    Regards

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