This must be a predominantly European idea: trikes with front carriers for kids and/or cargo.
The Triobike
The Kangaroo and the Triobike seem to be at the classy end of the category – the latter converts into a separate (fairly hefty) stroller and standalone bike. Nihola and Peterpedal are a bit more boxy. Christiania bikes are boxes on wheels and they make no bones about it, and WorkCycles has an interesting and varied range. Speaking of interesting design, Sorte Jernhest’s offerings look pretty good.
Christiania’s “box-on-wheels”
On the other paw, if your “kids” are of the four-footed variety, there’s always the DIY dog trike!
I’d love to know if bikes like these are readily available in Australia – and what sort of price you’d pay for ‘em! (It looks like workbike.org might be able to give me an answer – if only their search function worked!)
When I put this entry together, I missed Haley Tricycles from the US of A. Which just goes to show that although it’s predominantly a European Danish idea, people all over the place have the desire for a bike that can “hold a four-piece Pacific FS drum set”.
Not quite a trike
While I was looking around at these, I also came across SHIFT, a trike that converts into a bike – as it moves.
“This bicycle, which is for toddlers, was designed with my 4-year-old son, Kevin, in mind.”, says Professor Scott S. Shim of Purdue University.
It starts out with the two rear wheels splayed to maintain stability at lower speeds, then as the rider picks up speed the wheels tilt inwards until they are effectively one wheel.
It won the 9th International Bicycle Design Competition last year and it looks brilliant. Here’s hoping it makes it into production.
Our own short, hairy, 4-pawed child just adores going for a ride. But all the excitment of riding usually requires several stops at convenient trees along the way.
Posted by pedaller | 1 February 2006, 3:54 pm….No, very much a Danish idea. Virtually all the bikes you name are designed and made in DK. The Kangaroo is the only one made by a large bike manufacturer (Winther, Germany), and Workcycles are from Holland; Otherwise all DK.
Of those, the Trio is the newest, and possibly most practical. The problem with the Trio is that for a couple it only really shines if you buy one complete bike (i.e. with front box) and a stand alone bike as well. That way you can deliver the kids at the kindergarten, leave the box, and cycle off to work. Your partner can then fetch the kids and box with his/her Trio bike. An expensive solution, but if you’re a bike-centric family, the most practical. Of all those mentioned, the Trio bike, what with 2 x 5 point seat harnesses, built-in lights and cable disc brakes, has the most complete safety features. It also has the best and easiest to install hood.
Sorte Jernhest with it’s rear steering, has the best manoeuvrability. It also has the biggest cargo box. Nihola has lots of female fans(!) It’s the most stable at speed and the sitting position is the closest to a sit-up-and-beg bike. Small box though.
Christiania is the original front box bike, and for many years had no competition so is therefore the one you see the most. It takes a while to get use to, rides best with weight in the front. (Sandsack when empty?) It has otherwise a tendency to flex. This can feel a mite odd, even alarming.
Of all the designs Trio’s and Jernhest’s are the ones to recommend. Nihola’s front box is simply too small, and the Christiania Bike is really beginning to show it’s age.
Another thing to remember is that these bikes do have a large footprint. That’s fine here in DK where we have bike lanes, and cyclists have automatic right of way over cars. Can be more of a problem in less bike-friendly countries/cities. I’d be well popular cycling down Picadilly in London in the rush hour – not!
The Shift looks great. Hope that it comes into production – and hopefully at a reasonable price.
Posted by Alisdair Richter | 20 March 2006, 9:36 pmG’day if you would like to try a christianiabike, let me know i import them to Australia, live in Melbourne and have sold many all over Australia, so give me a yell 0402766503 or send me a mail peter@psbikes.com.au Cheers Peter
Posted by peter santos | 18 January 2007, 6:39 pmWhen I made that crack about finally getting an Australian importer of European utility bikes, I knew someone else would come along and tell they’d been doing it for ages—and a good thing to!
And thanks for answering the most important question: a Christiania bike can carry 7 slabs of beer. I reckon that’s more than you’d get into a Bakfiets Cargobike…
Posted by Treadly and Me | 18 January 2007, 9:09 pmMy workcycles.nl sourced van Andel cargobike long with nexus 8 speed and roller brakes is on a boat to Sydney. Then I need to ship it here, to Melbourne. I hope to get it by x-mas and if I do treadly, you can take it for a ride if your knee is holding up. Think of it as karma for maintaining this blog. No slabs of beer though. Kids are okay.
Posted by hielke | 30 October 2007, 8:39 pmI will take you up on that Hielke!
Posted by Treadly and Me | 1 November 2007, 10:04 am