Has anyone ever looked into importing used cargo bikes and such like from the continent for sale here? Is there a market for them in Holland, where they seem much-used? and would it be plausible to resell them here?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
Used cargo bikes etc
(34 posts)-
Posted 14 years ago #
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They don't work well on a hilly terrain. there is/was a woman who I used to see cycling around on one of the 2 wheeled bakfeits's like this http://bakfiets.nl/ and I think it was power assisted. But the traditional bakfeits box cargo bikes I wouldn't fancy riding around edinburgh on. The good ones are also about 1.5 to 2 grand or more!!! I did find cheaper ones in holland that folded in two for around £500 but it cost £500 to have them delivered to the uk. Of course the bike station has one if you can pry it from their cold dead hands..heh heh heh!! ;-)
Posted 14 years ago # -
you could watch this space for 2nd hand bargains http://tartanrickshawcompany.co.uk/gpage6.html or check out the dutch gumtree (if you can red dutch) here http://kopen.marktplaats.nl/fietsen-en-brommers/fietsen-bakfietsen/c446.html I do love riding them in holland though and have wanted one for a long time!
Posted 14 years ago # -
Mmm...ebay often has trikes, but they always seem to be 'pick-up only'...and in deepest England.
Have given up on getting a trial on the one at the Bike Station. If I was really determined, I suppose I should take a ferry to Holland and ride one back, but like you I have doubts as to its suitability to our environment.
Posted 14 years ago # -
That's strange that you're having trouble getting a shot of the bike station's cargo bike that was donated to them 'cause they are a charity.....they're normaly so good at sharing the quality stuff they get given to them........guffawww!!!!
Posted 14 years ago # -
The Bike Station now has 3 cargo bikes, one Bakfeits and two new brand new LARRY vs HARRY Bullitts (I think). Not sure why there would be a problem hiring them?
Posted 14 years ago # -
I have been told that the bakfiets is on 'extended loan' to Out of the Blue, and in another conversation that their cargo bikes are not suitable for carrying children - I presume this was a reference to the 'bullitts'
I had hoped that the 'better way to work' scheme would include some children-transport options beyond bike seats and trailers (all available in bike shops here), but that has been decided against, and I have stopped trying to make any head-way. They are clearly not interested, and I am tired of having same conversation over and over. Which is why I wondered about scope for importing used bikes.
Posted 14 years ago # -
The Bullitts are great bikes (I've had a shot of Mikael Colville-Andersen's in Copenhagen no less). They are most certainly used for ferrying kids about over there (and a child seat is an option).
Posted 14 years ago # -
Yeah those bullits look the bee's!!! What do the bike station do with them? rent them out? There's no mention of them on their website.
Posted 14 years ago # -
I have only seen them hanging from the ceiling, but in theory they should be available for hire...
Posted 14 years ago # -
Surely it would make more sense for them to long term loan one of them to out of the blue and free up the bakfiets for people to try out with kids?
Posted 14 years ago # -
They are most certainly used for ferrying kids about over there
But only to around 4 years old I'd imagine?
Velorbis had a trike in Peebles with the Velocast but it hasn't come north.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Have seen a bakfiets with kids inside being ridden up Leith Walk, but to be honest I couldn't tell you if it was power assisted or not. I guess if you're going to drop £2k on a cargo bike it might make sense to splash a little more on a motor, but the kind you can get in the EU are very weak (250W max) which isn't going to transform the bike into a speed demon.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Dave, that's most likely the one that belongs to the Bike Station but is at Out of the Blue. One of the guys who works there uses it to take his kids to nursery.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Personally, I think the future is something like the Circe, takes two kids of varying size and minimum extra weight, or can rig it as a load carrier for a decent volume of stuff. It also allows you to have one kid actually ride it with you as they get older...
Posted 14 years ago # -
Suspect you are right Dave, but i do like the idea of being able to use cargo bike to do the shopping, schlep stuff around, without having to remember to bring panniers.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Just to clarify, the bullit is used for going to Dr Bike events, for example yesterday's Dr Bike at St Andrew Square.
The bakfiet was a gift to the city of Edinburgh from the Danish Embassy, and after being at the Bike Station for a bit, now resides with Out of the Blue.
Posted 14 years ago # -
yup, the bakfiets definitely at out of the blue, lust after it every time I walk past when I go there :).
Posted 14 years ago # -
Yeah the circe looks like it'd handle the hills in Edinburgh better than a bakfiets. I've used the bakfiets quite a bit in holland ( once had a go of a massive old 1950's one with a motorbike back wheel and drum brake) and on a downhill corner with a little speed they are very easy to roll over.
Posted 14 years ago # -
"The bakfiet was a gift to the city of Edinburgh from the Danish Embassy"
It was given to the Lord Provost who didn't know what to do with it.
It's a shame the Council couldn't find a use for it as part of its Brussels Charter plans.
Posted 14 years ago # -
The Provost looked rather bemused when presented with it at Dreams on Wheels. Before heading off into the night in the chauffeur driven car...
Posted 14 years ago # -
I reckon donating that trike to Out of the Blue so that they can use it to deliver the food produced by their social enterprise cafe, is a pretty good use of the bike. Afterall folk get to see it out and about on a daily basis - and it's supporting a good cause.
Here it is delivering sarnies to volunteers on Leith Links:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenerleith/4548238534/in/pool-greenerleithAnd here's me playing in it, after it made another food delivery to Childrens Orchard volunteers:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenerleith/4592884342/in/set-72157623825319111/And after having a shot in one, I'd love to get my paws on one too - but they're nearly £2000 to buy new in the UK :(
Posted 14 years ago # -
I found this historic thread and also the leaflet 'Dreams on Wheels' associated with it.
City has come a long way since then? Or not.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@Dave... Personally, I think the future is something like the Circe, takes two kids of varying size and minimum extra weight, or can rig it as a load carrier for a decent volume of stuff....
That was Dave in 2010. He's now the father of twins but not (yet) a Circe owner.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Oh and that cargo carrier that was gifted by the Danish embassy is a Christiana trike. Not a bakfiets. :-) 8 years late with that info, but hey. Dunno if OOTB still use it, it was being used by their cafe a few years ago IIRC.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@crowriver - yes you are right about distinction. Our recent lowland Scandi trip saw loads of Babboe, Christiania, Nihola trikes but hardly any two wheelers.
@SRD was pre-Helios at this stage and was thinking about ways of family cycling. Tandem I think suited her.
The UA got on the radar in 2013 thanks to Weezee. Still demand for unpowered items of course. I've got a s/h Christiania in my care at moment.Saw OOTB one when we did bike fair - think it could still be used.
Posted 6 years ago # -
My brother who now resides in Norway is asking for help deciding on what the best electric assist cargo trike is to replace his car.
They need something that'll take 2 kids and ideally has three wheels (it get's very snowy and icy where they are for about 4 months of the year.
Anyone with some scandi knowledge fancy giving me a heads up on brands that are going to be good to purchase over there?
Posted 6 years ago # -
As a Nihola dealer I would say to check out their family Promovec e-assist trike.
We visited their factory in Kirke Såby and they do actually make in Denmark.
Norway version has 500w motor.
https://www.finn.no/bap/webstore/ad.html?finnkode=98566894I'm not a 'fan' of hub motors but in case of Nihola they have supplied Danish Post and make the 'Cycling without Age' trikes. So they work. Nils Holmes Larsson is designer / owner and our customers seem happy.
Weight over back wheel good for ice / snow.Rivals are Christiania and other Chinese Scandi look alikes. Unlike Nihola the normal load trike is really an articulated box with bike so bit odd to handle.
Babboe from NL are the new kids and have easy to use website. I've lost UA sales to them. Babboe Mountain uses Yamaha mid drive and Nuvinci Envelio gearing.
They even do a tilting trike - but I woukd say try that first before buying.
Delivery to Norway is factor - a dealer at least should support purchase too.Could also mention Bakers and Butchers tilting trike - one at EB in Granton.
Standard of accesories also big thing to look at for family rig.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Spotted family caught up in the riding of the marches yesterday (that is my explanation for their behaviour). Dad had three very happy small kids in front compartment of an Urban Arrow. Mum on racer. They did a u turn at the lights on the mound (when pedestrian phase came on) and went back towards the high street but tried to sneak round the back of the high court. This only got them to the high street more slowly so they came back down again.
Lorra, Lorra horses on high street for sure. I then tried to get to red dog to pick up a Ukelele they are fixing but the horses had gone down Johnston terrace and round into kings stables road so I could not cross. Red dog was shut anyway.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Posted 6 years ago #
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