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  • Lovely new bakfiets cargobike video

    February 8th, 2012

    Very cute.

    Clogfiets

    February 8th, 2012

    New no-cost clog option for the bakfiets.nl cargobike. No hood or screen yet. Noticeably lighter than the box. Very, very eye catching.

    Cargobikes on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

    January 11th, 2012

    Jeremy Sallis

    You can listen to Jeremy Sallis interview Hugh Salt from Dutchbike.co.uk (the UK Bakfiets.NL importer) on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire via iPlayer. Skip to 2h24m to hear Hugh. I suspect it I could have used the word “lifechanging” once or twice.

    New from DeFietsfabriek – kids cargotrike

    August 18th, 2011

    How awesome does that look? So much wanting in our house. Looking at their recent bikes on their flickr stream, they’re doing some interesting stuff. Like the look of their 8 seater cargotrike.

    E-trike!

    July 24th, 2011

    Sorry, no details at all. Looks like it’s got an integrated roller brake. No idea whether if it’s one wheel drive. If it is, they are going to have to spec a hell of a damper to avoid torque steer. It’s a 1375 euro option, so >3000 euros for a complete trike.

    I should add, the bakfiets.nl is so much better than the other trikes I’ve tried, if anyone can make it work, they can. I’m just a bit surprised they didn’t take the easy option of fitting a Heinzmann rear hub.

    bakfiets sun tent

    July 24th, 2011

    People have been asking for these for ever. Well, 3 or 4 years at least. They finally made them. Price expected to be >70 euros.

    Need more seats in your bakfiets?

    July 24th, 2011

    Another picture I’ve come by – no price as yet. Bug your importer / shop for more info.

    Bakfiets.nl flatbed – Long John style

    July 24th, 2011

    Just got emailed this. No price, as yet. Bug your importer if you want more info.

    Bakfiets tryout session 2/7/2011

    July 1st, 2011

    Cambridge Buskers Festival 2011 Hope Street Yard, off Mill Rd. CB1 3NA Free music Festival Saturday 2nd July

    Free Dutch & Electric bike try-out show

    Other attractions include Thai Food- refreshments-craft stalls-Bric a Brac

    Music

    11.00 – 12.00 The Highworth Saxaphone Quartet
    12.00 – 13.00 P.L.C
    13.00 – 14.00 Tami Lock
    14.00 – 15.00 Cambridge Ukulele Co-op
    15.00 – 16.00 Freds House
    16.00 – 17.00 Tony Jenkins and Chris 

    See www.dutchbike.co.uk for more details.

    Toddlebike review

    June 22nd, 2011

    I was recently offered a sale or return trial of a Toddlebike. It promises to bridge the gap between walking and balance bikes, or at least that;s what Cyclorama think. You only have to look at the picture of my 20month old to see that is true. Clearly, it helps very small children develop skills that they can later use on balance bikes. It is significantly smaller and lighter than either an Islabike Rothan or the Likeabike Jumper we have. It’s also around 1/7th of the price (currently £19.95).

    Given that’s the case, I shouldn’t be sniffy about the construction. However, I do find very lightweight plastic wheels hard to forgive. My view is that they’ll limit both the function and the lifespan of the bike, and feel a bit christmas cracker. Even though it’s cheap compared to something similar, it feels even cheaper. Rubber treaded tyres would be more in keeping with the light but rigid construction of the rest of the bike. That said, it’s much, much lighter than the old wooden ride-ons of the ilk. Our 20 month old is able to pull it around one handed, and has even tried to carry it up the stairs. It’s lightness means that when they can’t pilot it around the living room, they can just walk it around easily. The marked absence of frustration our child has when playing with it means it retains his attention for extended periods, and he’s ridden to our local shops and back on it happily (to the frustration of my wife, as it took 40 minutes instead of less than 10!)

    All in all, the response it’s got from my son, and the skills he’s developed playing with it has meant it’s nearly overcome my disappointment with some aspects of the build quality. I’d suggest that if you are a cycling parent used to Islabike quality of construction, you should be prepared for something different – this is a plastic ride on, closer in weight and construction to a toy. A quick google suggests that the toddlebike is in fact a Czech Lena Roll Fitzer, and goes for around 13 Euros in Germany (and as low as 10 euros). I suspect I would be more forgiving of the construction at that price point, but the fact that Lena are a plastic toy company does explain the design. However, if you can get past that (we have), I suspect you’ll be amazed what your toddler can do with  it. We’ll be buying ours.