Bicycles for transportation

A bike can increase your distance, carrying capacity -- and is a good workout. What do you look for in a nice cargo bike?

TRO

I've been riding my bike almost daily since April, often towing two kids in a trailer. Gears. Are are important, especially on hills.

FWIW: My mountain bike has a shock/spring-thing below the seat instead of a long seat tube connecting it to the lower frame. There's a gap, and it's making it a challenge it get a rear rack and panniers.

My buddy Carolina Chris did this to his bike and I think I'm going to try to emulate him. Here's a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfBhj0Gse2s

I want a classic touring frame (Surly LHT) with fat tires (38mm). Feed the rider well and go forever.....

38mm tires are not fat. I don't even consider the Serfas Drifter fat at 2", for my bike 2" is just right. I have 1.5" Slickasaurus on it now and imo those are thin, not skinny, just thin. Fat is something like the Vittoria Bomboloni

For a road touring bike such as a Surly road touring bike, 38mm tires are fat.

On the other hand, I find 2" tires on my mountain bike as too fat and 1.5" as too thin. For my bike, I went in the middle and run 1.75" tires both front and back. The back rim is a custom built 40 spoke rim at a local bike shop about 10 years ago after breaking a few spokes in the original Mavic rim. Since then, zero broken spokes.

Depends on how you plan to use it. I have a Dutch cargo bike as a everyday bike I use to commute to work with, buy groceries with and pretty much go anywhere in my city. It's heavy, simple and is low in maintenance.

On the other hand, I got 3 more bikes I used for differrent things...

True, my bike's fork and frame were designed for 2+" tires, it came with 2" knobbies and I rode it with 2" slicks when I had it on the bike paths, potholes and cobblestone streets of Alexandria, VA (Washington DC area). I replaced the 2" slicks with the 1.5" tires because I expected them to be faster -- not really. I'm going back to comfort on broken streets; the Serfas Drifter is high on my list.

I'm assuming you don't mean a dedicated freight or industrial bike with it's oversized cargo platforms nearly 400 lb cargo capability
So, what I would look for in a dependable cargo/commuter bike:
Either a dedicated touring frame or mountain bike frame. Something designed to take a pounding.
Gears, a wide range of gears with the lowest in the neighborhood of 20 inches
A handlebar with multiple riding positions. Either a MTB bar with multiple position bar ends, or a conventional road/touring drop bars.
Medium wide comfortable tires. I was partial to commuter or centerrridge AT tires. I used to commute on high pressure slicks and went to slightly wider tire at a lower pressure. I did loose a fair amount of speed, but I didn't slide as bad in the rain and my <ahem> no longer felt like a maraca
Panniers and a rack in back and a basket in front for stuff you want to keep and eye on. Be careful about loading the rear rack too high or you may find yourself unable to shift off the back of the seat during a hard stop.
Fenders. The worst part about riding in the rain is the water thrown up by the tires.
Chain or chain ring guard to keep your pant cuff and shoelaces safe.
Pedals that can handle street shoes as well as cleats(if you use them)

I recently purchased a "fat bike." Think 4-inch tires.

It may be the most versatile bike I've ever owned. Pump up the tires hard and I happily commute to work on it. Let some air out and I ride local Singletrack dirt trails with ease. Let more air out and I can ride on the beach or snow.

Can I ride it as fast on pavement as my road bike? No.
Am I as nimble on trails as on my full-suspension mountain bike? No.
Can I ride terrain I would never attempt on any of my other bikes? You bet.

And it cost between 1/4 and 1/6 of what my high-end mountain and road bikes cost!

(I'd post a photo of the bike if I knew how. Anyone know how to get a photo off of an iPad and directly onto the forum?)

I've never tried it, but taking the image through iCloud Photo Sharing may work. Dunno, I never use the cloud.

fat bikes are nice, but get a fresh inner tube or two

That sounds dreamy! My cousin just got a beautiful touring bike with fat tires and I am officially jealous!

I have bikes, and they are fantastic transportation. For the same amount of work as walking, you can easily go 10 times farther. Add cargo to the mix, and easily go 20 times farther.

On a related topic, in my 40's, I am considering getting into dirt bikes for the first time in my life. I see them as as a useful tool to have in a crap hit the fan situation. I figure, in some cases, a bike will not cut it where a dirt bike will. For example, very hilly and rough dirt roads, a dirt bike will handle that like it is not there, while a mountain bike will give me an unwanted extreme workout.

I need to get a bicycle trailer like BacPacJac has.

Just found: http://www.bikesatwork.com/
These look like serious cargo trailers for bicycles. The standard trailer has 300# payload. Check the tire upgrade option.

any trailer - including a kid tower - is good for up to 34kg or 75 pounds

A dual sport is the ultimate in poke around anywhere, anytime transportation. But, don't forget the risk factor inherent in a both the "fast and light" approach necessitated by the limited cargo capacity, and the hazards inherent to motorcycles (you are the crumple zone).

Mine was great. $25 at a garage sale and it was perfect towing for the little kid or two along with some gear or groceries. And then the big kid figured out that he could put it on his bike and then tried to tow all the kids in the neighbourhood with it - all at once. Now the bearings are shot and it sounds like something out of a horror movie. He's saving his pennies to get it fixed or replaced. Life lessons. Aren't they great?!