Most bikes are made for the express purpose of lugging around one thing only: you. So if a cyclist wants to increase their payload without breaking their bike, they need to seek out the big guns.
That’s where cargo bikes come into play. Outfitted with assortments of longer racks, electric assists, wider gearing, spacious baskets, fatter tires, and more, cargo bikes are the draft horses of the __bike world: They make it even easier to decide between taking your car or your __bike when doing errands or commuting. (Learn about all the ways people love bikes in Bike Tribes!)
All are designed with utility and comfort in mind, but just as there’s diversity in road and mountain bikes, some cargo bikes work better in certain scenarios than others. Whether you’re looking to bike commute with kids in tow, haul more groceries than can fit in a pannier, or just have the peace of mind to know you could take the kitchen sink if you wanted, there’s a cargo bike right for the job.
That also means there are a lot of cargo bikes to choose from—and if you’re new to cargo bikes, it can be overwhelming.
Having spent years working as a cargo bike messenger and being the owner of Cowgirl bike Courier in San Jose, California, I’ve used and seen all kinds of schlepping machines. I’ve created the guide below to help the uninitiated figure out which kind of cargo bike best serves their needs. Happy hauling!
Look For: A way to upgrade a bike you already have
Suggested Upgrade: Crust Bikes Clydesdale Velocity Wheel Fork Combo
Best For: Overnight bike touring, errands around town
For about three bones, you can take a standard 'cross or touring bike and convert it into a lean, mean, hauling machine with the Clydesdale Fork. Perfect for around-town hauling, the fork-and-wheel combo make it possible to skip buying a dedicated cargo bike and simply swap out forks when you need extra room. The Clydesdale is designed with 72-degree head angles in mind, and works best when replacing forks with 400m axle-crown measurements.
Crust Bikes Founder Matt Whitehead also notes that you can put a wide box on the Clydesdale for added carrying capacity.
“Even with the 20-inch wheel, it feels exactly the same and nimble as a normal bike,” Whitehead says.
More Info: crustbikes.com
Look For: A long-tail cargo bike with same-size wheels
Suggested Bike: Surly Big Dummy
Best For: Doing grocery runs
There's no getting around it: Using different-size wheels or putting your cargo ahead of you changes your handling. Not necessarily in a bad way; it's just different.
A bike like the Surly Big Dummy—with its 26-inch wheels, single-piece steel frame, and rear rack housed above the wheel—provides something of a loophole in this respect. It has a sturdy, familiar ride, but can also tow about 200 pounds. (Total weight limit: 400 pounds.)
TESTED: Surly Long Haul Trucker
Madi Carlson, author of Urban Cycling: How to Get to Work, Save Money, and Use Your Bike for City Living, has been using her Surly Big Dummy for five years now to commute, run errands, and transport her kids. “The kids weigh 125 pounds together, but without them on the deck, the Big Dummy rides like a regular bike,” she notes in her blog, familyride.us.
With her children now riding their own bikes, Madi now uses her Big Dummy for everything from camping to Christmas tree transportation.
More info: surlybikes.com
Look For: A cargo bicycle with electric assist
Suggested Bike: Yuba Spicy Curry
Best For: Hauling larger payloads
Electric assist is a godsend for the everyday cyclist. The moment you find yourself tackling an unfamiliar, steeper incline than you’re used to, you’re going to be grateful for any and every bit of help that gets you up the hill.
But it's also standout among e-bikes on the whole: The Spicy Curry was one of Bicycling's Buyer's Guide e-bikes choices last year (read that review here), thanks to its sheer versatility. Not only can it carry up to 300 pounds (rider included), but it does so in a way that really replaces a car.
The smaller rear wheel lowers the bike's center of gravity, and the rear rack offers space on top and on its sides to evenly distribute weight. And with more than a dozen add-on features, its versatility is enormous. For instance, you can easily seat multiple children on top of the rack, as well, with the addition of bamboo sideboards that serve as foot rests.
If you like the design of the Spicy Curry but don't want/need to shell out for e-assist, the bike comes in a pedal-only version called the Sweet Curry.
More Info: yubabikes.com
Think you can't get a workout on an e-bike? Think again:
Look For: A Long John cargo bike
Suggested Bike: Larry vs. Harry Bullitt
Best For: Hauling lots of precious cargo
If you want a cargo bike with serious space, it’s worth looking at a Long John-style cargo bike, also known as a box bike, freight bicycle, cycletruck, or bakfiets. Unlike their long-tail brethren, Long Johns carry all of their weight in front of the rider. The main advantages to this design include having your center of gravity in the middle of the bike, as well as being able to see your precious cargo without having to take your eyes off the road.
TESTED: The Foldable, Electric Tern Cargo Node Can Fit in Your Car
One of the best in this category is the Larry Vs. Harry Bullitt, a cargo bike that can carry up to 400 pounds, depending on added features. Bullitts are designed and built in Copenhagen, one of the most bike-friendly cities on the planet, where people use bikes for all types of activities. As such, the Bullitt is wildly personalizable; customers can choose gearing, drivetrain, sizing, colorway, and a host of other things that help them create the perfect ride.
Prominent design elements include its front and rear wheel sizes (20’’ matched to a 26’’). This unorthodox design increases stability and handling while carrying heavy loads. As a result, Long Johns like the Bullitt have become a standard for bike messengers, as well as bike mamas and papas.
"I use my Bullitt for everything I'd use a minivan for," says Bullitt-owner Elisabeth Snider, of San Francisco, California. "I can fit all three of my kids on it, and if I don't have kids with me I can carry eight bags of groceries. My Bullitt really has changed my life."
More Info: larryvsharry.com
Look For: A custom cargo bike
Suggested Bike: CETMA Cargo Bike
Best For: Rigorous everyday use
CETMA Founder and Owner Lane Kagay crafts every bike by hand in his studio in Long Beach, California. His design is specifically tailored for the intention of everyday transport for families and cargo. Complete CETMAs come standard with a passenger box equipped with a bench, seat belts for two, an ABUS frame lock, and a bi-partible frame for transportation purposes.
More Info: cetmacargo.com
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