RBM: Strange bike sighting of the month

[[email protected]]

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?"

 

[Tom Sherman]

[email protected] 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
>
This is the link that works: <http://www.bakfiets.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.

The cyclist can keep an eye on the little brat(s).

> And it must be
> murder getting it up hills. But interesting anyway.
>
Hills in the Netherlands?

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

 

[Bob]

On May 11, 9:33 am, [email protected] 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

 

[Dane Buson]

Tom Sherman <[email protected]> wrote:
> [email protected] 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 - [email protected]
"sic transit gloria:Gloria threw up on the bus."

 

[Dane Buson]

Bob <[email protected]> wrote:
> On May 11, 9:33 am, [email protected] 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 - [email protected]
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"

 

[Tom Keats]

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] 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

 

[[email protected]]

Dane Buson <[email protected]> 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.

 

[Zoot Katz]

On Sun, 11 May 2008 10:29:35 -0700, Dane Buson <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Tom Sherman <[email protected]> wrote:
>> [email protected] 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

 

[Zoot Katz]

On Sun, 11 May 2008 10:32:57 -0700, Dane Buson <[email protected]>
wrote of bakfiets, in part:

>[0] Nobody with a third floor apartment is going to want one.

They're ***** to carry even up a few stairs,

The Xtracycle's "gravity advantage juju" makes it a breeze to carry
even partially loaded.
--
zk