Study finds that once people use cargo bikes, they like their cars much less
Study finds that once people use cargo bikes, they like their cars much less
Even some one-car households ditched vehicles in favor of cargo bike-sharing.
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I got a fixed gear bike last year and a trailer to pull my kids around in (when they want to go with me).
I pretty much exclusively use that to get around and get groceries instead of my car now.
Even in the rain, it's just so much more fun to be on a bicycle than to drive.
fixed gear bike last year and a trailer to pull my kids around
Please explain! I've been looking at single speed bikes, but I keep hearing "it's too hard" and "you'll never be able to carry weight with it!".
I'll admit that I ride with a cargo trailer (groceries), and I do have to use gears or it would be impossible to climb some of the hills we get.
Where I live is mostly flat and am running 46x16. Hills really wouldn't scare me too much (I still have brakes)
The biggest limiting factor I have found in towing is that there is a point where the trailer will unload my front wheel and then my steering becomes more of a suggestion (about 100+ lbs... I am routinely exceeding the suggested limits)
Here is an article about ratios. It's really about finding the least worst setup for your needs; easier hill climbs means more spinning when going down hills and lower top speed.
The biggest limiting factor I have found in towing is that there is a point where the trailer will unload my front wheel and then my steering becomes more of a suggestion (about 100+ lbs… I am routinely exceeding the suggested limits)
I read somewhere that the safe cargo limit for a bike trailer is approx. half the weight of the rider + bike.
So, if you weigh 160lbs, and your bike is 30lbs, the max recommended weight of the trailer and cargo should not exceed 95lbs.
I've hauled over 115lbs with my bike (loaded panniers + trailer), but never exceed 65lbs in the trailer due to size/volume limits of the trailer itself.
But I do find that heavy weight causes the trailer to "push" the bike in ways that feel unsettling. 100+ lbs would make me uneasy! It's amazing that you're doing it! Kudos!
Thanks for that! I didn't know the math to work that out!
The pushing is not as scary because I don't exceed 10mph when that heavy of a trailer and because I can resist that pushing quite a bit with the pedals... which is a great feeling.