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RBM: Strange bike sighting of the month
Okay, I didn't actually see this bike in person, but a local TV station
ran a piece on a family that bought one. If I'm remembering the spelling right, this is the link: http://www.bakfiet.nl Interesting variation on the theme, though I'm not sure I see how it's better than a trailer, or even panniers in some instances. And it must be murder getting it up hills. But interesting anyway. Bill __o | When gas hit $3 a gallon, [ ]___`\(,_ | People stopped asking why, (_) (_)/ (_) | And asked, "Where can I get one?" |
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RBM: Strange bike sighting of the month
On May 11, 9:33*am, wrote:
* *Okay, I didn't actually see this bike in person, but a local TV station ran a piece on a family that bought one. *If I'm remembering the spelling right, this is the link: * * * *http://www.bakfiet.nl * *Interesting variation on the theme, though I'm not sure I see how it's better than a trailer, or even panniers in some instances. *And it must be murder getting it up hills. *But interesting anyway. It is rather interesting in a tallbike sort of way- as an eyecatching device- but I don't see it having any advantage over a trailer and several disadvantages. However it affects the riding characteristics, the extended length has to make storage and parking more problematic for sure. Regards, Bob Hunt |
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RBM: Strange bike sighting of the month
Tom Sherman wrote:
wrote: Interesting variation on the theme, though I'm not sure I see how it's better than a trailer, or even panniers in some instances. The cyclist can keep an eye on the little brat(s). That is one of the pluses. Additionally trailers suck in constrained areas (bollards at trail entrances, splitting lanes, etc.). Personally I don't care for the handling on the bakfiets, I'll take the Xtracycle any day of the week instead. And it must be murder getting it up hills. But interesting anyway. Hills in the Netherlands? Yeah, I'm not so sanguine about sales in the Seattle area. The one I've ridden had a Stokemonkey, which of course made a huge difference. But by then you're starting to talk real money. Clevercycles in Portland sells them (quite a few evidently), but then Portland has large flat areas. -- Dane Buson - "sic transit gloria:Gloria threw up on the bus." |
#5
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RBM: Strange bike sighting of the month
Bob wrote:
On May 11, 9:33*am, wrote: * *Okay, I didn't actually see this bike in person, but a local TV station ran a piece on a family that bought one. *If I'm remembering the spelling right, this is the link: * * * *http://www.bakfiet.nl * *Interesting variation on the theme, though I'm not sure I see how it's better than a trailer, or even panniers in some instances. *And it must be murder getting it up hills. *But interesting anyway. It is rather interesting in a tallbike sort of way- as an eyecatching device- but I don't see it having any advantage over a trailer and several disadvantages. However it affects the riding characteristics, the extended length has to make storage and parking more problematic for sure. The length isn't the problem, longtails generally ride better than shorter bikes. The problem is the linkage to the front wheel makes steering mushy IMO. I don't care for it personally. On the other hand, I'd still take it over a trailer. As to parking, I don't that's too bad, but storage would be a real concern [0]. I have a garage that's dedicated to bikes and 'stuff' [1], but many people don't. Or they put silly things like cars in them. [0] Nobody with a third floor apartment is going to want one. [1] Where of course 'stuff' takes up the vast majority of the space. -- Dane Buson - A well-used door needs no oil on its hinges. A swift-flowing steam does not grow stagnant. Neither sound nor thoughts can travel through a vacuum. Software rots if not used. These are great mysteries. -- Geoffrey James, "The Tao of Programming" |
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RBM: Strange bike sighting of the month
In article ,
writes: Okay, I didn't actually see this bike in person, but a local TV station ran a piece on a family that bought one. If I'm remembering the spelling right, this is the link: http://www.bakfiet.nl Interesting variation on the theme, though I'm not sure I see how it's better than a trailer, or even panniers in some instances. And it must be murder getting it up hills. But interesting anyway. Bakfietsen are just delivery bikes with a Dutch accent. A true bakfiets can go anywhere any delivery bike can. And vice verso. And then there are cargo pedicabs ... Life sure is a struggle. Eatin' bread by the sweat of your brow, 'n all that. cheers, Tom -- Nothing is safe from me. I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca |
#7
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RBM: Strange bike sighting of the month
Dane Buson wrote:
The length isn't the problem, longtails generally ride better than shorter bikes. The problem is the linkage to the front wheel makes steering mushy IMO. I don't care for it personally. On the other hand, I'd still take it over a trailer. I think the problem would be weight. A wooden box that size would have to weigh 30-40 lbs., in addition to the weight of the much larger frame. It's true, as someone pointed out, that there are no hills in Holland, but there sure are in Utah. [Tangential note: the Tour of Utah is being run again this year. Five days of racing, 30,000 feet of climbing.] By comparison, my trailer weighs only 15 lbs., and will haul 100 lbs., without compromising the balance or steering of the bike. And being made of aluminum and nylon, it never splinters and puts slivers in hands and butts. I do occasionally ride where there are bollards, too. I have yet to have to do anything more to get the trailer through them than just slow down, or at worst, put my feet down and walk the bike and trailer through them. One MUP I use has a "mouse maze" fence arrangment where it crosses a railroad track. I do have to fully dismount there. Total delay versus an unobstructed ride is less than a minute. Final advantage of a trailer over a Bakfiets: when I'm not using it [1] I can detach it. I lay it on its side in my tiny garage, and it fits fine, along with four bikes and a car. Bill __o | SUVs are the reason gas costs $4 a gallon. _`\(,_ | Bicycles are the reason it isn't $10 (yet). (_)/ (_) | [1] Last week's trailer use: one day groceries, two days tools, one day manure. Make up your own joke about hauling sh*t around. |
#8
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RBM: Strange bike sighting of the month
On Sun, 11 May 2008 10:29:35 -0700, Dane Buson
wrote: Tom Sherman wrote: wrote: Interesting variation on the theme, though I'm not sure I see how it's better than a trailer, or even panniers in some instances. The cyclist can keep an eye on the little brat(s). That is one of the pluses. Additionally trailers suck in constrained areas (bollards at trail entrances, splitting lanes, etc.). Personally I don't care for the handling on the bakfiets, I'll take the Xtracycle any day of the week instead. You can also keep a hand on the brats in a bakfiets. I found the bakfiets' handling better on loaded out-of-the-saddle grunt and grinds. Higher speeds or CM pace the Xtracycle is better. And it must be murder getting it up hills. But interesting anyway. Hills in the Netherlands? Yeah, I'm not so sanguine about sales in the Seattle area. The one I've ridden had a Stokemonkey, which of course made a huge difference. But by then you're starting to talk real money. Clevercycles in Portland sells them (quite a few evidently), but then Portland has large flat areas. I think the bakfiets configuration cries out for a front hub motor in hilly areas. -- zk |
#9
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RBM: Strange bike sighting of the month
On Sun, 11 May 2008 10:32:57 -0700, Dane Buson
wrote of bakfiets, in part: [0] Nobody with a third floor apartment is going to want one. They're bitch to carry even up a few stairs, The Xtracycle's "gravity advantage juju" makes it a breeze to carry even partially loaded. -- zk |
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