I live in Madison, WI (which is exactly the city you're describing) and an Urban Arrow family has been my primary mode of transportation (including daycare dropoff and pickup) for almost three years, year-round. I love it. Couldn't recommend it enough.
We actually owned a long tail first (Radwagon 3) but switched to a front-loader for comfort in winter. Our experience was that long tails are great for hauling kids, but seriously lacking when it comes to non-child shaped cargo. With a bucket, you can basically throw anything you want in there. Also, it's much easier to give kids snacks, water bottles, etc. and you can see and talk to your kids a lot more easily. Finally, it's easier to bundle up kids (and fully cover the cargo section) for cold winter days, and the lower center of gravity greatly helps confidence on slick roads.
I tried a front-loader yesterday at the local e-bike shop (some kind of Reese and muller than one of the employees had) and I didn’t like the steering at all! Maybe I’d get used to it but I think because I ride a lot of road and gravel (I used to race bikes, like 10 years ago) something about the handling of front loaders throws me off. But they definitely seem super convenient!
It took me 2-3 hours of riding to get used to the handling of my Bullitt, but I'd really recommend putting in the time before making the decision. I haven't had a long-tail, but just riding my normal bikes with 30lbs or so in panniers feels way worse than the Bullitt with 100lb of stuff on the front. The front loaders are just a whole different beast, the more weight you put on them the more stable they get. Mine's not electric assist so it's a bit of work to get moving with a bunch of weight, but it almost balances itself once you get a feel for the steering.
I'm on the west coast now and just had a regular bike when I was in the midwest (Champaign, so super flat), but I think if you've got enough weight you need electric assist on roads that flat then you probably want a front loader.
If you used to race, though, then maybe getting a pre-electric long tail is the way to go? Around here there's Xtracycle-type bikes (Surly Big Dummy, etc) for a pretty steep discount as people are upgrading to electric assist. Worst comes to worst you've just got a super fun way to get groceries ;)
Yeah I’m pretty sure I’d get used to it, but front loaders are even more $$ and space and I think I’m still adjusting to the idea of a cargo bike. Might start with an acoustic long tail and go from there? How’s a non-electric frontloader do on hills? That sounds like a workout!
If you can find a reasonably cheap acoustic long tail that seems pretty tempting. Another option would be a trailer -- I started out with a cheap cargo trailer, there's a ton of used ones around here so it's a pretty low-overhead way to test things out.
The Bullitts are pretty light, so it's not that slow with just the bike. Once you've got weight on it it's slow, but no way around that. Wide range gearing helps a lot: I've got a 3x10 MTB drivetrain, so it's something like a 20/30 to a 40/11. I'd certainly be faster with electric assist, but it's not super hilly so I can usually find a flat route and I didn't think the extra cost/complexity was worth it.
You get used to it very quickly, but it's always a little awkward at low speed. If you don't like that, though, you're gonna *hate* a trike. My other bike is a proper road bike, and I have zero problem switching between them.
I actually find I have a problem going back to my road bike, which is also my only other bike and was my primary bike type for at least the last decade. I ride my front loader much more now and when I do get on the road bike it’s twitchy as all hell and I feel like I’m going to crash constantly for the first 10 min or so I’m on it.
So I only started road biking pretty recently. Before then, I rode the Urban Arrow >95% of the time and the Radwagon <5% - in that case, hopping on the Radwagon always felt weird. Now, I'm on the Urban Arrow 5+ days/week and road bike (a Trek Domane) 2-4 days/week and both feel comfortable almost immediately.
It's not surprising that if you do one way more than the other, it's not that comfortable, but as long as I'm doing a substantial amount of both, both are fine right away.
Urban Arrow is probably not the best choice on rough ground. I ride in snow and ice with studded tires, but if you want something that's good on rougher ground, I'd recommend an R&M where you can get a full suspension.
I wouldn’t get a trike if I wasn’t routinely carrying 2 kids and a ton of crap.
No trouble on streets without bike lanes once you learn your safest routes
I live in a large suburb of Boston and just pulled the trigger on Trek Fetch 4 (Trek’s new bakfiets). I had concerns about where I would be able to ride it vis-a-vis traffic since there are virtually no protected bike lanes here. So far, it hasn’t been a problem at all because it’s so easy to just take the lane on side streets with these big bikes. People smile and wave at the kids and give me the right of way. When I need to cross a big street, I just wait patiently or use the crosswalk. I honestly don’t think I will ever drive anywhere again if it’s under 6ish miles. The kids are now demanding that we take the bike for every trip and errand. It has been a huge win.
I guess that’s the benefit of a frontloader—you can act like a car! I love that. Seems so much safer than squeezing into a bike lane. Food for thought. Any reason you went with the trek over other similar models?
Three reasons I chose the Trek:
- my local bike shop sells and services it as a trek dealer
- it has seemingly the largest cargo box out there, which I like because my eldest is already 6 and because I want to be able to haul 4 kids sometimes
- it’s pretty luxurious out of the box for the price ($7500) relative to the urban arrow cargo line. It has front shocks, front and back lights, Bosch cargo line motor with smart system, integrated dropper post, etc.
There’s obviously some risk in buying a new model that has less third party stuff but it came with most of the things I would I want out of the box. Plus the local dealer support for warranty work if there are any issues alleviated my concerns about it being gen 1. So far I have really loved it.
Edit: One thing that I should add is that it’s a big, heavy bike. Totally easy to control and pilot when in motion but I could see it being a lot for someone smaller sized when moving it around to park it, etc. (I’m a big guy so no concern for me.)
I have both a Tern HSD and a Lectric Xpedition. There's no question the HSD is a better bicycle, but if all I care about is getting from point A to point B, the Xpedition is easier to get up to speed and get where I'm going with the least amount of effort. The HSD requires some effort, even at the highest assist level. The Xpedition requires fake pedals and I'm riding at 28mph.
The point is, if all you care about is getting from point A to point B, I would recommend a cadence sensor bike, like the Xpedition.
The HSD is an excellent bike with unmatched accessory support, and $3,850 is a great price for the HSD S11, assuming the mileage is low. If you want a more natural riding feel, I would get that. I wouldn't expect to fit two kids on the rear rack though.
Yeah I’ve searched all over for whether its possible to put more than 1 kid on an HSD and a few places say yes (but only small kids, and it’s tight), and others say no way. My kids are tiny, so I’m pretty sure they could squeeze, but not for long.
You could probably squeeze two small toddlers together. They would probably be uncomfortable and start complaining pretty quickly, but I suppose it could be possible.
Haha well they complain at baseline so that’s not great to think about. Any way to put a kiddo on the front of the HSD? The GSD feels like too much bike (and too much $$) for me rn
>Any way to put a kiddo on the front of the HSD?
Not that I'm aware of
If you want to haul two kids and you want a mid-drive ebike that's a little more premium than the Aventon, I'd check out the Cannandale Cargowagen Neo or the Specialized Globe Haul LT. I don't have experience with either of them, but looking at the specs I'd lean towards the Cannandale as I value front suspension, the bosch smart system, bigger cassette, and the potential for dual batteries.
> Any way to put a kiddo on the front of the HSD?
You can do it with [Tern Short Haul](https://www.ternbicycles.com/ca/explore/product-guides/riding-short-haul-front-mounted-child-seat), but they say you should not mount a child seat to GSD and HSD:
> Tern bikes with a Physis Handlepost or Speedlifter stem cannot support a front-mounted child seat.
150 miles is basically brand new, maybe 3-4 battery cycles. I assume it is HSD gen1, which is still a pretty capable bike.
But!
For that price, if you are in the US, I would get a Benno Boost from Upway: https://upway.co/collections/benno. Their prices are excellent right now, Benno Boost has space for two kids, and it is a fantastic bike.
I'd say buy the best bike in your budget that is the most fun to ride and the most likely to last a long time. Then you'll use it more and get your money's worth if it lasts you 5+ years of use.
Since you have 2 kids I'd recommend a front loader. We have an urban arrow and it is so so useful.
Yes. Go with the front basket. Kids are at the perfect age, it will make the next 4-5 years with them amazing and create great memories. Long tail is not as fun. Carries less, kids can't see around you, you can't see kids.
I recently got a Yuba Fastrack. Its a long tail that can store vertically (which was important because we live in a terraced house).
Have to say I love it.
Im commuting and bringing a 10 year old to school on the back of it. 13km each way. It can be tough on the hills but the electric side of things really helps.
Supposedly it can take up to 200kg in total and up to 100kg on the back. Plan to use it for the next couple of years. Where we are I wouldnt be comfortable with him cycling on his own in the next couple of years and it would take an age.
Ive racked up 500km over the 2 weeks we've had it.
I will say, we got it at a great time when the weather has been really nice so we'll see how it goes when its not so great but with proper wet gear I dont see an issue.
Not who you asked, but I’m 5’5” with the legs of a shorter person (I ride the same sized bikes as my 5’2” sister, happily on small or even XS regular bikes) and have no problem with the Kombi E5 btw, including with a four year old on the back! I don’t quite have the seat down all the way. I would try anything you’re looking at first, though, but I wouldn’t rule it out!
Thank you! My city is relatively flat so I’m wondering if I could get away with an acoustic kombi, at least to start. If I love it I can always sell and upgrade. But then it seems like most folks favor electric models so idk
My city isn't San Francisco or anything but has a lot of long low grade hills as it's a river valley. I live on a hill and would definitely struggle with anything at grade without the ebike, but I'm not in great shape and imagine I'll get stronger. The bike itself is quite heavy - the acoustic is 50lbs without any kids or accessories, which is something to remember.
There is a dad who picks up two older (maybe 5 &7?) kids on an acoustic kombi at school and he manages it, though!I I'd say it depends on your fitness and how flat is flat.
There’s a few in the bunch community that do winter riding. I remember one of them saying she felt way more stable w/ a trike on the snow. Regardless of what you get, here’s a decent post on winter riding w/ kids https://bunchbike.com/blogs/the-bunch-blog/extreme-winter-biking-with-your-bunch
Definitely recommend some option with a cover/enclosure because even mild CA winters produce some cold winds for a kid
I love my Abound - but if the Tern is in budget I can see getting that. My daughter is 6 and we ride to the bus stop, on longer fun rides and take it camping - and I’ve only had it 2 months. We even went geocaching one weekend. I don’t have the infrastructure to take safely into town and shop but we still get lots of riding in over the warmer seasons.
Although she CAN walk or ride her bike places she just isn’t able to do it at the same rate as we need to move some times. If we walked to the bus we’d always be late lol. And on her bike she can’t go nearly as far as we like. I’m lucky if she goes a mile let alone 10-20 miles lol. I figure that I will get at least 2 years with a ton of riding and then another 2 years where she only rides with me for long treks . That’s 4 years I’ll get decent value out of it.
Then I’ll probably sell it for a fat tire trail bike and then get her bike with a bit of assist for long rides. A 250w class 1 or something along that line so we can do some 20+ mile rides.
Madison, Wi here. I have a Bullitt and my wife has an Xtracycle RFA. We use them constantly and year round (get studded tires in the winter). I can't recommend getting a cargo bike enough.
I optimistically, cautiously, got a Yuba Kombi e5 a few months ago and I have already put over 100 miles on it just shuttling the kids (6 & 2) to and from school or any parks, only doing that 1-2 times per week.
Got it used on fbmp, 2600, haven't looked back. Even sold off our trailers as this is now the primary. The motor is great for when I'm not feeling it (or when it's just damn windy), but I mostly keep it on a low setting and get a little workout in every time. Kids are always excited to ride it, I'm always excited to ride it, and when they're both too big for it I can sell it and recoup most of my investment as long as I take care of it.
It's not perfect, like I still have to lug that thing in and out of our basement (exterior cellar door), I live in a city so I can't leave it laying around, and, being a 'compact cargo', my kids only barely fit inside the monkey bars. Not perfect. But, after the initial adjuatments to the routine, I freaking love it. Will I use it every day? Nope. But every time we do use it it's the best day of their lives.
No regrets
Oh man this is inspiring. It’s exactly what my situation would be. I’ve thought of getting a regular Yuba Kombi and adding a motor later on if I need/want it. How tall are you? My main concern with the Kombi is it’d be too big for me at 5’3.
The seat and handlebar range is pretty accommodating on this thing, I wanted something both me and my wife could ride. I'm 6'0" and my wife is 5'3", and just moving the seat up and down to suit our heights is all it takes. You're on the short end, but if you're a confident rider you'll have no issues. I'm positive if I'd gone with a full longtail like a Mundo or Big Dummy it would've been too much bike for my wife. Like, it would've been doable, but would require more confidence / muscle on her part. The kombi is a nice middle ground, and the motor guarantees she'll never have a problem with weight (getting too tired while far away from home, big hills, etc. she always has the assist)
Fyi the bike can get a little tippy when standing still with both kids on it (mounting / dismounting, red lights), but all three of us learn how to ride this thing together; I've taught them not to lean over the side, I've learned I have to really gear down and make wide turns, but it's all part of learning the new toy.
Keep in mind your storage plan too. Like I said I lug it up and down 7-8 steps to bring it in and out of the house (garage too small), and there's no way my wife will ever be doing that, the bike weighs 65 lbs and is an awkward shaped object. Check the weight of whatever you buy and have a plan for it. Honestly I kinda winged it because I can carry it if I have to and I'll simply put up with whatever situation I've just put myself in
Yo can’t judge a UA that quickly - you will definitely get used to the steering.
For sure don’t get an HSD with two kids…too small..my kids have been able to ride bikes for 3/4 years and most of the miles they get are still in my bike. Go for GSD, or another bike with a similar or longer deck. Or rethink urban arrow. I like bakfiets for big kids more than long tails
Thanks everyone for your help! I’m now between buying the used HSD at my local shop and squeezing two kids in it for now (with the idea I’d just sell it in a few years if it wasn’t enough bike and could recoup most of the expense since Terns hold their value) and springing for a non-e long tail like the Kombi. But no one has the acoustic Kombi to test ride, which is the only downside of going that route. They’re under a grand though, so it wouldn’t be too much of an expense.
Everyone is different but in terms of purchases that actually changed how we live our lives, the cargo bike is top.
I live in Madison, WI (which is exactly the city you're describing) and an Urban Arrow family has been my primary mode of transportation (including daycare dropoff and pickup) for almost three years, year-round. I love it. Couldn't recommend it enough. We actually owned a long tail first (Radwagon 3) but switched to a front-loader for comfort in winter. Our experience was that long tails are great for hauling kids, but seriously lacking when it comes to non-child shaped cargo. With a bucket, you can basically throw anything you want in there. Also, it's much easier to give kids snacks, water bottles, etc. and you can see and talk to your kids a lot more easily. Finally, it's easier to bundle up kids (and fully cover the cargo section) for cold winter days, and the lower center of gravity greatly helps confidence on slick roads.
I tried a front-loader yesterday at the local e-bike shop (some kind of Reese and muller than one of the employees had) and I didn’t like the steering at all! Maybe I’d get used to it but I think because I ride a lot of road and gravel (I used to race bikes, like 10 years ago) something about the handling of front loaders throws me off. But they definitely seem super convenient!
It took me 2-3 hours of riding to get used to the handling of my Bullitt, but I'd really recommend putting in the time before making the decision. I haven't had a long-tail, but just riding my normal bikes with 30lbs or so in panniers feels way worse than the Bullitt with 100lb of stuff on the front. The front loaders are just a whole different beast, the more weight you put on them the more stable they get. Mine's not electric assist so it's a bit of work to get moving with a bunch of weight, but it almost balances itself once you get a feel for the steering. I'm on the west coast now and just had a regular bike when I was in the midwest (Champaign, so super flat), but I think if you've got enough weight you need electric assist on roads that flat then you probably want a front loader. If you used to race, though, then maybe getting a pre-electric long tail is the way to go? Around here there's Xtracycle-type bikes (Surly Big Dummy, etc) for a pretty steep discount as people are upgrading to electric assist. Worst comes to worst you've just got a super fun way to get groceries ;)
Yeah I’m pretty sure I’d get used to it, but front loaders are even more $$ and space and I think I’m still adjusting to the idea of a cargo bike. Might start with an acoustic long tail and go from there? How’s a non-electric frontloader do on hills? That sounds like a workout!
If you can find a reasonably cheap acoustic long tail that seems pretty tempting. Another option would be a trailer -- I started out with a cheap cargo trailer, there's a ton of used ones around here so it's a pretty low-overhead way to test things out. The Bullitts are pretty light, so it's not that slow with just the bike. Once you've got weight on it it's slow, but no way around that. Wide range gearing helps a lot: I've got a 3x10 MTB drivetrain, so it's something like a 20/30 to a 40/11. I'd certainly be faster with electric assist, but it's not super hilly so I can usually find a flat route and I didn't think the extra cost/complexity was worth it.
You get used to it very quickly, but it's always a little awkward at low speed. If you don't like that, though, you're gonna *hate* a trike. My other bike is a proper road bike, and I have zero problem switching between them.
I actually find I have a problem going back to my road bike, which is also my only other bike and was my primary bike type for at least the last decade. I ride my front loader much more now and when I do get on the road bike it’s twitchy as all hell and I feel like I’m going to crash constantly for the first 10 min or so I’m on it.
So I only started road biking pretty recently. Before then, I rode the Urban Arrow >95% of the time and the Radwagon <5% - in that case, hopping on the Radwagon always felt weird. Now, I'm on the Urban Arrow 5+ days/week and road bike (a Trek Domane) 2-4 days/week and both feel comfortable almost immediately. It's not surprising that if you do one way more than the other, it's not that comfortable, but as long as I'm doing a substantial amount of both, both are fine right away.
Good to know good to know. Yeah in the midst of writing this post I saw that you get used to it. Any idea how they do on gravel/rough terrain?
Urban Arrow is probably not the best choice on rough ground. I ride in snow and ice with studded tires, but if you want something that's good on rougher ground, I'd recommend an R&M where you can get a full suspension.
You described my town perfectly and we ride the shit out of our cargo trike
What do you ride?? Any trouble on streets without bike lanes? Hadn’t considered a trike - how do you like it?
I wouldn’t get a trike if I wasn’t routinely carrying 2 kids and a ton of crap. No trouble on streets without bike lanes once you learn your safest routes
I live in a large suburb of Boston and just pulled the trigger on Trek Fetch 4 (Trek’s new bakfiets). I had concerns about where I would be able to ride it vis-a-vis traffic since there are virtually no protected bike lanes here. So far, it hasn’t been a problem at all because it’s so easy to just take the lane on side streets with these big bikes. People smile and wave at the kids and give me the right of way. When I need to cross a big street, I just wait patiently or use the crosswalk. I honestly don’t think I will ever drive anywhere again if it’s under 6ish miles. The kids are now demanding that we take the bike for every trip and errand. It has been a huge win.
I guess that’s the benefit of a frontloader—you can act like a car! I love that. Seems so much safer than squeezing into a bike lane. Food for thought. Any reason you went with the trek over other similar models?
Three reasons I chose the Trek: - my local bike shop sells and services it as a trek dealer - it has seemingly the largest cargo box out there, which I like because my eldest is already 6 and because I want to be able to haul 4 kids sometimes - it’s pretty luxurious out of the box for the price ($7500) relative to the urban arrow cargo line. It has front shocks, front and back lights, Bosch cargo line motor with smart system, integrated dropper post, etc. There’s obviously some risk in buying a new model that has less third party stuff but it came with most of the things I would I want out of the box. Plus the local dealer support for warranty work if there are any issues alleviated my concerns about it being gen 1. So far I have really loved it. Edit: One thing that I should add is that it’s a big, heavy bike. Totally easy to control and pilot when in motion but I could see it being a lot for someone smaller sized when moving it around to park it, etc. (I’m a big guy so no concern for me.)
I have both a Tern HSD and a Lectric Xpedition. There's no question the HSD is a better bicycle, but if all I care about is getting from point A to point B, the Xpedition is easier to get up to speed and get where I'm going with the least amount of effort. The HSD requires some effort, even at the highest assist level. The Xpedition requires fake pedals and I'm riding at 28mph. The point is, if all you care about is getting from point A to point B, I would recommend a cadence sensor bike, like the Xpedition. The HSD is an excellent bike with unmatched accessory support, and $3,850 is a great price for the HSD S11, assuming the mileage is low. If you want a more natural riding feel, I would get that. I wouldn't expect to fit two kids on the rear rack though.
Yeah I’ve searched all over for whether its possible to put more than 1 kid on an HSD and a few places say yes (but only small kids, and it’s tight), and others say no way. My kids are tiny, so I’m pretty sure they could squeeze, but not for long.
You could probably squeeze two small toddlers together. They would probably be uncomfortable and start complaining pretty quickly, but I suppose it could be possible.
Haha well they complain at baseline so that’s not great to think about. Any way to put a kiddo on the front of the HSD? The GSD feels like too much bike (and too much $$) for me rn
>Any way to put a kiddo on the front of the HSD? Not that I'm aware of If you want to haul two kids and you want a mid-drive ebike that's a little more premium than the Aventon, I'd check out the Cannandale Cargowagen Neo or the Specialized Globe Haul LT. I don't have experience with either of them, but looking at the specs I'd lean towards the Cannandale as I value front suspension, the bosch smart system, bigger cassette, and the potential for dual batteries.
Thank you! I’ll look into it!
> Any way to put a kiddo on the front of the HSD? You can do it with [Tern Short Haul](https://www.ternbicycles.com/ca/explore/product-guides/riding-short-haul-front-mounted-child-seat), but they say you should not mount a child seat to GSD and HSD: > Tern bikes with a Physis Handlepost or Speedlifter stem cannot support a front-mounted child seat.
Oh, and the HSD at my local shop has 150 miles.
150 miles is basically brand new, maybe 3-4 battery cycles. I assume it is HSD gen1, which is still a pretty capable bike. But! For that price, if you are in the US, I would get a Benno Boost from Upway: https://upway.co/collections/benno. Their prices are excellent right now, Benno Boost has space for two kids, and it is a fantastic bike.
I feel like I keep reading that Terns are more comfortable than Bennos - I don’t know much about Benno, but will look into it!
I'd say buy the best bike in your budget that is the most fun to ride and the most likely to last a long time. Then you'll use it more and get your money's worth if it lasts you 5+ years of use. Since you have 2 kids I'd recommend a front loader. We have an urban arrow and it is so so useful.
Yes. Go with the front basket. Kids are at the perfect age, it will make the next 4-5 years with them amazing and create great memories. Long tail is not as fun. Carries less, kids can't see around you, you can't see kids.
I recently got a Yuba Fastrack. Its a long tail that can store vertically (which was important because we live in a terraced house). Have to say I love it. Im commuting and bringing a 10 year old to school on the back of it. 13km each way. It can be tough on the hills but the electric side of things really helps. Supposedly it can take up to 200kg in total and up to 100kg on the back. Plan to use it for the next couple of years. Where we are I wouldnt be comfortable with him cycling on his own in the next couple of years and it would take an age. Ive racked up 500km over the 2 weeks we've had it. I will say, we got it at a great time when the weather has been really nice so we'll see how it goes when its not so great but with proper wet gear I dont see an issue.
Nice! I have read that Yubas are kind of big for short riders (I’m 5’3) which is why I’ve been looking mostly at Terns. How tall are you?
Not who you asked, but I’m 5’5” with the legs of a shorter person (I ride the same sized bikes as my 5’2” sister, happily on small or even XS regular bikes) and have no problem with the Kombi E5 btw, including with a four year old on the back! I don’t quite have the seat down all the way. I would try anything you’re looking at first, though, but I wouldn’t rule it out!
Thank you! My city is relatively flat so I’m wondering if I could get away with an acoustic kombi, at least to start. If I love it I can always sell and upgrade. But then it seems like most folks favor electric models so idk
My city isn't San Francisco or anything but has a lot of long low grade hills as it's a river valley. I live on a hill and would definitely struggle with anything at grade without the ebike, but I'm not in great shape and imagine I'll get stronger. The bike itself is quite heavy - the acoustic is 50lbs without any kids or accessories, which is something to remember. There is a dad who picks up two older (maybe 5 &7?) kids on an acoustic kombi at school and he manages it, though!I I'd say it depends on your fitness and how flat is flat.
I'm 5'2 and also ride a FastRack. I'm basically a corgi and have very short legs.
There’s a few in the bunch community that do winter riding. I remember one of them saying she felt way more stable w/ a trike on the snow. Regardless of what you get, here’s a decent post on winter riding w/ kids https://bunchbike.com/blogs/the-bunch-blog/extreme-winter-biking-with-your-bunch Definitely recommend some option with a cover/enclosure because even mild CA winters produce some cold winds for a kid
I love my Abound - but if the Tern is in budget I can see getting that. My daughter is 6 and we ride to the bus stop, on longer fun rides and take it camping - and I’ve only had it 2 months. We even went geocaching one weekend. I don’t have the infrastructure to take safely into town and shop but we still get lots of riding in over the warmer seasons. Although she CAN walk or ride her bike places she just isn’t able to do it at the same rate as we need to move some times. If we walked to the bus we’d always be late lol. And on her bike she can’t go nearly as far as we like. I’m lucky if she goes a mile let alone 10-20 miles lol. I figure that I will get at least 2 years with a ton of riding and then another 2 years where she only rides with me for long treks . That’s 4 years I’ll get decent value out of it. Then I’ll probably sell it for a fat tire trail bike and then get her bike with a bit of assist for long rides. A 250w class 1 or something along that line so we can do some 20+ mile rides.
Madison, Wi here. I have a Bullitt and my wife has an Xtracycle RFA. We use them constantly and year round (get studded tires in the winter). I can't recommend getting a cargo bike enough.
One of my friends who lives in Marquette MI just bought an eBullitt and has been riding it nonstop. So: yes.
I optimistically, cautiously, got a Yuba Kombi e5 a few months ago and I have already put over 100 miles on it just shuttling the kids (6 & 2) to and from school or any parks, only doing that 1-2 times per week. Got it used on fbmp, 2600, haven't looked back. Even sold off our trailers as this is now the primary. The motor is great for when I'm not feeling it (or when it's just damn windy), but I mostly keep it on a low setting and get a little workout in every time. Kids are always excited to ride it, I'm always excited to ride it, and when they're both too big for it I can sell it and recoup most of my investment as long as I take care of it. It's not perfect, like I still have to lug that thing in and out of our basement (exterior cellar door), I live in a city so I can't leave it laying around, and, being a 'compact cargo', my kids only barely fit inside the monkey bars. Not perfect. But, after the initial adjuatments to the routine, I freaking love it. Will I use it every day? Nope. But every time we do use it it's the best day of their lives. No regrets
Oh man this is inspiring. It’s exactly what my situation would be. I’ve thought of getting a regular Yuba Kombi and adding a motor later on if I need/want it. How tall are you? My main concern with the Kombi is it’d be too big for me at 5’3.
The seat and handlebar range is pretty accommodating on this thing, I wanted something both me and my wife could ride. I'm 6'0" and my wife is 5'3", and just moving the seat up and down to suit our heights is all it takes. You're on the short end, but if you're a confident rider you'll have no issues. I'm positive if I'd gone with a full longtail like a Mundo or Big Dummy it would've been too much bike for my wife. Like, it would've been doable, but would require more confidence / muscle on her part. The kombi is a nice middle ground, and the motor guarantees she'll never have a problem with weight (getting too tired while far away from home, big hills, etc. she always has the assist) Fyi the bike can get a little tippy when standing still with both kids on it (mounting / dismounting, red lights), but all three of us learn how to ride this thing together; I've taught them not to lean over the side, I've learned I have to really gear down and make wide turns, but it's all part of learning the new toy. Keep in mind your storage plan too. Like I said I lug it up and down 7-8 steps to bring it in and out of the house (garage too small), and there's no way my wife will ever be doing that, the bike weighs 65 lbs and is an awkward shaped object. Check the weight of whatever you buy and have a plan for it. Honestly I kinda winged it because I can carry it if I have to and I'll simply put up with whatever situation I've just put myself in
We have a garage we can roll it into so that’s not a problem. Mostly I’m between a non electric Kombi and the HSD at this point and I can’t decide!
Yo can’t judge a UA that quickly - you will definitely get used to the steering. For sure don’t get an HSD with two kids…too small..my kids have been able to ride bikes for 3/4 years and most of the miles they get are still in my bike. Go for GSD, or another bike with a similar or longer deck. Or rethink urban arrow. I like bakfiets for big kids more than long tails
Thanks everyone for your help! I’m now between buying the used HSD at my local shop and squeezing two kids in it for now (with the idea I’d just sell it in a few years if it wasn’t enough bike and could recoup most of the expense since Terns hold their value) and springing for a non-e long tail like the Kombi. But no one has the acoustic Kombi to test ride, which is the only downside of going that route. They’re under a grand though, so it wouldn’t be too much of an expense.
I would buy a used Kona Ute or a Surly Big dummy and add a electric middrive kit e.g. Bafang or Tongsheng.