BULLITT Cargo Bike

BULLITT Red

While a number of North American designers have developed "longtail" cargo bikes, where the kids or freight are carried in back, the Dutch and Danish prefer keeping things up front. LARRY VS HARRY, a shop in Copenhagen, designed the BULLITT to be a relatively light-weight and speedy way to transport cargo and children.

Most of the models come standard with a 7 or 8-speed internal gear hub in the rear, disc brake in the front, a custom kick-stand and fenders. Derailleur gearing and e-assist are also available. The riding position is somewhat leaned-forward, especially for taller riders, and there is no step-thru frame option. The modern-looking aluminum frame is meant to be extra stiff, to prevent twisting even with heavy loads.

I had a chance to test-ride this bike alone and with kids in the front (in a version that has an added kid seat); the handling is similar to a road bike, with responsive (or twitchy) steering which takes a minute to get used to. Disc brakes are a good idea on a bike meant to carry weight at high speeds.

These bikes have been reviewed by:
Totcycle
Josh Volk
Lovely Bicycle
Momentum Magazine

Many of the Bullitts in the USA are sold by Splendid Cycles in Portland, Oregon, but they are also available in a few other cities. The bike comes as shown, but most people pay for a child seat or cargo box to be added, and an electric bike version with a lithium battery pack is also very popular. A frameset costs $2350 alone. The complete bike with Alfine 8-speed hub is $3500. The e-bike version with a BionX rear hub is a grand more, $4500. Dynamo hubs and lights are an option.

Due to the relatively narrow cargo deck (no wider than the handlebars), one child can fit easily, but only small kids can double up.  Winther, another Danish bike company, makes an adaptation of the Bullitt frame called the Wallaroo, which has a wider child carrier included, to fit two kids side-by-side. However, there is only one current USA dealer, JC Lind in Chicago.

BULLITT Specifications (ALFINE 8 version):

shifter	Alfine 8 speed
rear drivetrain	Alfine 8 speed
crank	Alfine
bottom bracket	Alfine
chain	SRAM 9-speed
brake levers	Avid
brakes front	Avid BB7
brake rear	Avid BB7
rotors	Shimano centerlock
Headset	FSA Pig
stem	Civia Midtown 25.4
handlebar	Civia
grips	Civia Ergo
seatpost	FSA
saddle	LvH
pedal	Wellgo Platform
fenders	20″ front/26″ rear black
tire front	Schwalbe Marathon 20×2
tire rear	Schwalbe Marathon 26×2
tube front	Slime tube 20″
tube rear	Slime tube 26″
rim strip	Schwalbe rim liners
wheel front	Alfine/Alex DM24 rim/stainless spokes
wheel rear	Alfine/Alex DM24 rim/stainless spokes

BULLITT Geometry:

Kinn Cascade Flyer

Kinn is new company with 1 model of family oriented bike in Oregon. The frame, wheels and many other parts are made locally.

The Cascade Flyer is part of a new class of bikes called "mid-tails", shorter and lighter than a "long-tail" cargo bike, such as Yuba Mundo or an Xtracycle, but long enough to carry a kid plus a couple of panniers. And it comes with everyone you need, except for lights: integrated rack, fenders, chainguard, dual kickstand, 8-speed internal gear hub, disc brakes and a leather saddle.

The designer wanted a bike that was sturdy and long enough to carry his grandkids along with a couple of bags of groceries, but short and light enough to ride to work and around town. It also is just short enough to fit on a bus rack for bikes, with the front wheel turned backwards: this explains the curve in the down-tube. The geometry is designed to handle similarly to a modern hybrid or city bike, with 72 degree frame angles, and full-size 700c wheels (built by hand in Portland).

Front wheel twists so the bike can fit a standard bus rack

The 8-speed Alfine IGH version costs $2350 for a complete bike as shown. A 27-speed derailleur option is the same price. Unfortunately, there is no small size; riders shorter than 5'2" are out of luck, but medium to tall people should fit.

This can be a good option for a person who wants a made-in-the-USA, fully equipped bike that can haul groceries and a kid, and also serve as a commuter bike and city bike. I wish the complete build included dynamo lights. Considering that the wheels are hand-built locally, it may be possible to add this on to the order for an additional cost. If not, the front wheel should sell easily on Ebay.

You also get some fancy extras, like the bamboo rack top with hidden lockbox:

This bike has been reviewed by Lovely Bicycle and covered by Bikeportland

Specs:

FRAME FORK	Hand made in Portland Oregon from heat-treated Cro-moly steel tubing. Fits tires up to 1.75″ wide (700x42mm) with fenders. Fork has eyelets for front rack at dropout and mid-blade.
Sizes	Regular  (5’2”-5’10”)  or  Large (5’8”-6’4”)
Three Colors	Sardinian Sea, Red Earth, Clean Slate
Built-in Rear Rack	Rated for 130lbs (60kg) to easily carry a child and groceries. 21″ rack with bamboo deck.
Child Transport	Built-in Yepp EasyFit window for direct child seat mounting. Integrated footpeg mounts.
Cargo Capacity	Pannier rails fit standard panniers even with a Yepp child seat attached

GEARING	27 SPEED DERAILLEUR	ALFINE 8 SPEED INTERNAL
Cranks	Shimano triple 44-32-22	Kinn 36t Aluminum Crankset with Ring-guard
Cassette	Shimano 9 spd 11-34 Cassette.	Shimano Alfine 8-speed Internal hub with 20T cog
Shifter	Shimano Alivio 430 trigger shifter	Shimano Alfine Trigger

WHEELS	Hand-built in Portland by Sugar Wheelworks
Rims & spokes	Alex DM-18 700C silver rims, with 36 14G stainless steel spokes
Hubs	Shimano SLX  or Shimano Alfine hubs
Tires	700c x 35mm, with reflective sidewall and puncture guard
Brakes & Levers	Avid BB5 mechanical disk brakes for all weather stopping power
Levers	Tektro 3 finger levers
Pedals	VP-560 silver alloy platform pedals
Handlebar, Grips & Bell	Alloy touring/city bar and lacquered cork grips and classic brass bell
Saddle	Velo comfort saddle
Seatpost	Silver alloy 27.2mm x 350mm
Stem	Polished aluminum stem. 90mm (small) 110mm (large)
Fenders	Alloy full coverage fenders with mud flaps and rear reflector.
Other:	Chainguard, double kickstand, footpegs

Xtracycle Edgerunner

Xtracycle Edgerunner 27D Lux XO

Continuing our overview of cargo bike options, the relatively new Edgerunner is a Longtail cargo bike from Xtracycle.

Xtracycle founded the current Longtail cargo bike craze, with their FreeRadical. This frame extender attached to a standard bike, converting it to a longtail. An ecosystem of accessories, bags, decks, lights and kickstands was developed around this standard, which Yuba later adopted for their Mundo bike, as have some other manufacturers. Now Xtracycle is making their own complete bike, the Edgerunner. 

The 27D Lux features fenders, a double kickstand, disc brakes, a front dynamo hub and high-end dynamo-powered lights. It has a 3-speed front and 9-speed rear derailleur, for a wide range of gears. 

It uses a smaller, 20 inch rear wheel to keep the center of gravity lower. This make it easier for kids to mount the bike by themselves, and improves handling with carrying heavy loads. It also lowers the effective gearing, which will be a big help when hauling 2 kids and a week of groceries.

Options include huge cargo bags for the rear rack, rails for kids to hold, toddler seats, hydraulic instead of mechanical disc brakes, internal gear hub, and electric assist with the BionX system. The price can vary from $1500 for the basic 24D, to $2500 for a special version with Alfine 8-speed hub at Splendid Cycles, to $2900 for the 27D lux with dynamo lighting and high-end derailers. E-assist is $1000 extra.

Edgerunner Electric 24D Family

Reviews: 

Bicycle Times

Bike Radar

Davey Oil

Hum of the City

Specifications: (24D Family)

Frame & Fork
Paint
Brakes
Front Rotor
Rear Rotor
Brake Levers
Headset
Handlebar
Stem

Grips
Shifters & Derailers
Crank
Chainring
Bottom Bracket
Cassette
Chain
Front Hub
Rear Hub
Front Rim
Rear Rim
Spokes
Nipples
Front Tire
Rear Tire
Seat Collar
Seatpost

Saddle
Pedal
Kickstand
Front Light
Rear Light
Fenders

100% Chromoly
Black, White, Blue, or Orange + clear coat
Avid BB5
180mm
160mm
Avid FR5
FSA Mallet
31.8 clamp alloy
65mm ext (16.5”)
95mm ext (19”)
Velo Duracork
Acera 8s
Altus 8s 170mm
Steel 48-38-28
JIS - 68 x 125mm
Acera 11-34 t
KMC Z72 8-sp
Sealed Bearing 36h
Sealed Bearing 36h
36h Double Wall
36h Double Wall
14g Stainless
Brass
Schwalbe Big Ben 2.35
Schwalbe Big Ben 2.15
34.9 alloy allen
31.6, 300mm (16.5”)
31.6, 400mm (19”)
Velo
Resin, Cromoly Axle
Alloy black
Optional Luxos U
Optional B & M Std.
Optional Upgrade

Pashley Princess Sovereign

A Pashley Princess Sovereign comes with a wicker basket.  Courtesy: Pashley Cycles UK.

The Pashley Princess Sovereign retails for about 545 British pounds, which is roughly $867. In the U.S., however, expect the cost of this import to be over $1,000.  There are a growing number U.S. Pashley dealers, including Bicycle Space in Washington, D.C. 

A reader named Mary recently contacted us to ask about this bike because she saw one in her size on ebay.  In ebay parlance, that's a "find."  The Princess Sovereign is a lugged steel 5-speed (the Princess Classic is a 3-speed) that is basically the Rolls-Royce of bicycles.  Among other luxuries, it comes with a wicker basket, Brooks B66 sprung saddle, dynamo headlamp, chaincase and fenders, a rear rack, and prop stand.

Although we've discussed Pashley on Bikes For The Rest of Us, we've never discussed the Princess.  This bike, however, has been a hot topic on other blogs.  Here are a few to check out:

Lovely Bicycle!

Let's Go Ride A Bike

Bicycle! Bicycle!

Here are the specs per Pashley Cycles:

Frame sizes	17.5", 20" or 22.5"
Colour	Buckingham Black or Regency Green
Frame	Traditionally lugged and brazed
Fork	Tubular crown hand brazed
Gears	Sturmey Archer 5 speed hub gears
Wheels	26 inch with polished rims
Handlebar	Chrome plated raised bar
Brakes	Sturmey Archer hub brakes
Pedals	Alloy non-slip
Saddle	Antique brown Brooks B66s
Tyres	Schwalbe puncture resistant Marathon Plus with reflective sidewall.
Features	The Princess Sovereign features a traditional lugged frame and five speed hub gears with full chaincase, gold-lined mudguards, ding dong bell, hub driven dynamo headlamp, LED rear light, tubular alloy rear carrier, propstand, frame fit lock, skirt guards, leather sprung saddle and a wicker basket
Inside leg	17.5" frame suits 27.5" - 31.5" inside leg. 20" frame suits 30" - 34" inside leg. 22.5" frame suits 32.5" - 36.5" inside leg
Options	Leather accessory range
Terms and Conditions	Specifications and quoted prices may change without prior notice. Pashley Cycles terms of supply apply to all orders.

A Princess in Regency Green.  Courtesy Pashley Cycles UK.

Workcycles Fr8

Fr8, the family version. Credit: Workcycles.

The Fr8, from Workcycles, is available from Clever Cycles for $2200, without racks or child seat.

The Fr8 is the "do-anything bike" at its finest.  Here's how Workcycles describes it:

The Fr8 (pronounced like "freight") is our modular, city-utility bicycle system.  It can be configured and outfitted for many heavy-duty purposes: delivery, industry or carrying kids and groceries.  Thanks to an enormously stiff, low instep frame, robust construction, sophisticated geometry and special carriers it does it all with ease.

According to Workcycles, the load capacity is 250 kg, or "one parent, up to 3 kids, and lots of groceries."  In other words, the Fr8 may be able to replace your minivan.

The Fr8 has been mentioned and photographed by EcoVelo and Brooks England. Also, here's a great write-up by Fr8 owner mamafiets.

Here are some specs:

• "Adaptive Seat Tube" quickly adjustable for riders of about 160-200cm


• TIG welded Chro-Mo frame and fork

• Heavy duty wheels with aluminum rims, 13g stainless spokes

• Vredestein Moiree or Schwalbe Big Apple tires w/ Kevlar antiflat belts

• Shimano front roller brake

• Hub dynamo, halogen headlamp, LED taillamp with standlight

• Fully enclosed chain-case, painted stainless steel fenders

• Wide double leg centerstand

• Stainless steel handlebar, stem and all hardware

For options, Workcycles says there are too many to list.  Here are a few important ones: Shimano Nexus 3-speed or 8-speed internal gear hubs; coaster or hand rear brake; Brooks leather saddle; city front carrier; long rear carrier; lock box; child saddle on frame behind handlebar; Trelock defender wheel block; bell.

In other words, Workcycles took everything useful and put it all on one bike.

Norco Corsa 1

Norco Corsa 1 ST

Norco also makes the City Glide. The Corsa is a similar 8-speed internal gear hub bike at a similar price.

The Corsa features a 8-speed internal nexus hub, V-brakes, a suspension fork, an alloy frame with internal cable routing, a rack, a dual kickstand and a full chainguard. Compared to the City Glide, it has a steeper geometry, with a 74 degree seat tube angle commonly found on hybrid road bikes. However, the chainguard is more complete than that of the City Glide, and it still has the dual kickstand and nice rear luggage carrier found on the other bike. The Corsa is listed at $660.

The women's version looks particularly nice, and has a rear rack instead of a basket, in this case. The men's version is similar:

Norco Corsa 1

Specifications:

Frame:  Frame7005 alloy frame with internal cable routing 

Fork:  Suntour CR-8V-V2 Suspension fork

Rims:  Double wall alloy black 36 hole
Tires:  Innova city tire 700c x 38c

Spokes:  Black stainless w/ brass nipples

Front hub:  Formula silver alloy hub w/ nutted axle 36h

Rear hub:  Shimano SG-8r31vsa 8spd IGH 36h [non-premium Nexus 8 speed hub]

Shifter:  Shimano Nexus SL-8520 revo shifter 

Crankset:  Shimano Nexus FC-NX75 38T silver 

Bottom bracket:  Cartridge

Rear cog:  Shimano 18T Nexus cog silver 

Chain:  KMC Z-408RB 1/2” x 3/32” 

Pedals:  Comfort pedals resin body w rubber inlay

Front & rear Brake:  Tektro 837AL V-brakes black

Brake levers:  Tektro comfort levers w/ integrated bell 

Handlebar:  Alloy 30mm riser bar black 
Grips:  Brown cork 

Stem:  Adjustable stem black

Headset:  Semi-integrated threaded w/ water seal

Seat post:  Suspension seat post black

Saddle:  Norco City Comfort 

Chainguard:  Full guard

Kickstand:  Dual kickstand

Fenders:  Alloy, painted

Rack/Basket:  Rear pannier rack

Lights:  No

Extras:  Fork stabilizer spring, Bell

Colors:  Cream

Sizes:  15 / 17 / 19

Weight: 36.1 [claimed]

There is also a lower-priced derailer version, the Corsa 2, for $490
Besides the drivetrain change, the kickstand and fork are downgraded. But Norco even managed to put a nearly complete chainguard on the 21 speed derailer system:

Norco Corsa 2

Frame Geometry (Step-Thru)

FRAME SIZE	Seat Tube	Top Tube	Head-T Angle	Seat-T Angle	Head Tube	Fork Length	Chain stay	Front Center	BB Height	Wheel base
ST - 15	381	560	69.5	74	160	460	457	643	290	1094
ST - 17	432	575	70	73.5	160	460	445	646	290	1098
ST - 19	483	590	70.5	73	175	460	455	650	290	1102
L - 20	508	605	70.5	72.5	180	460	457	659	290	1111
XL - 22	558	625	71	72	190	460	457	667	290	1119

The geometry is fairly standard for hybrid bikes, and steeper than most city bikes in the seat tube angle, thought the head tube is fairly lax on the step-thru versions.

Norco Corsa 2 ST

Norco City Glide

Norco City Glide 8

Norco is a major Canadian distributor, and also makes a number of good bikes. Unfortunately, they have few dealers for complete bikes in the United States, but there is probably a shop that can order one of these bikes in a major city. Canadians may be able to try one out in person, and get slightly better prices. They may also be found in the UK and Australia.

The City Glide 8 stands out with an 8-speed internal nexus hub, roller-brakes front and rear, and by including a double-kickstand and front fork spring, making it easy to load up a front basket or rear rack. It has a sensible geometry, with 72 degree angles sufficiently slack to get a toe down at stoplights. Unfortunately, the chainguard is not paired with a chainring, so snagged clothing is a slight possibility (though less risky than with most bikes), the gearing is set a little too high, and no lights are included. But at a suggested price of only US$ 665 , you should have a few dollars left to make those changes.

The women's version is less aesthetically successful, to my taste, but has a nice front basket, instead of the rear rack, and otherwise has the same specifications:

Norco City Glide 8 W

These specifications and geometry are for the City Glide 8 (men's version), similar to the women's version:

Specifications:

Frame: 7005 Alloy City Glide Frame 

Fork: Chromoly with threaded steerer

Rims: 700c Double wall alloy - Black 

Tires: 700x37c Continental TownRIDE w/Breaker 

Spokes: Black Stainless w/brass nipples

Front hub: Shimano HG-IM40 Roller Brake hub 36hole 

Rear hub: Shimano SG-8R31VSA 8-speed IGH 36hole [Regular 8-speed, I believe, not "red band"]

Shifter: Shimano Revoshift SL-8S20 

Crankset: Alloy 44T - Black 

Bottom bracket: Cartridge BB

Rear Cog: Nexus 20T
Chain:  KMC Z610H
Pedals:  Alloy pedal with non-slip tread 

Front & rear brake:  Shimano BR-IM41 Roller Brake Front and Rear

Brake levers:  Ergonomic brake lever w/integrated bell 

Handlebar: Alloy city bar - Black

Grips: Cork grips - Dark Brown

Stem: Alloy quill stem - Black 

Headset: CH-903SW black threaded waterproof

Seat post:  Alloy - Black, average set-back

Saddle:  Norco City Comfort 

Chainguard:  Partial, without chainring [unfortunately]

Kickstand:  Dual-leg, fold-back

Fenders:  Powdercoated Alloy
Extras: Bell, Rear rack w/ low pannier hook, Front stabilizer spring [Women's has a basket instead of the rear rack]

Colors:  8: Army Green - 8W: Light Blue - 3:

Sizes:  S-18 / M-19 / L-21
Weight: 34 lbs claimed


The 3-speed version costs $140 less, or about $525, and are similarly equipped otherwise (but lacking a dual kickstand, and with calipers instead of rollerbrakes): 

Frame Geometry

FRAME SIZE	Seat Tube	Top Tube	Head-T Angle	Seat-T Angle	Head Tube	Fork Length	Chain stay	Front Center	BB Height	Wheel base
S-17	432	585	70	72	160	410	457	637	285	1087
M-19	583	600	70.5	71.5	180	410	457	641	285	1091
L-21	533	615	70.5	71.5	180	410	457	656	285	1106
WS-16	406	575	69.5	71.5	180	410	457	627	285	1078
WM-18.5	470	590	70.5	71.5	180	410	457	630	285	1081

The geometry is similar to a Breezer Uptown, with sloping top tubes, reasonably long chainstays, and moderate but not-too-low seat and head tube angles. The bike should be stable and easy to ride hands-free (based on the low amount of rake on the fork, and the slack head tube angle), and it should be relatively easy to get a toe on the ground at stoplights without hopping of the saddle, if you need to, without setting the saddle low.

The Norco City Glide also comes in a Shimano Altus 21-speed derailer version, for $370, lacking the kickstand and rack:

Norco City Glide (Derailer)

If you know a local shop in your city that stocks these bikes for test-rides, or if you have ridden a City Glide yourself, let us know in the comments.