Zigo Bakfiets Carrier Bike - Converts to Bike and Stroller

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BikeRentUSA.com – New Site For Bike Rentals

By on June 14, 2011

A new website dedicated to bike rental has been launched at BikeRentUSA.com.  The new site has only a few participating rental shops so far, but is likely to grow rapidly.  It is supported by sponsor Zigo Carrier Bike, so listings are completely free for participating bike shops.  The process is simple.  Bike shops with bikes to rent can simply submit their listing information using the form on BikeRentUSA.com.  The site only asks in return that a badge be posted on the listing shop’s website indicating its participation in the BikeRentUSA.com listing program.  Once BikeRentUSA.com is populated with participating bike rental shops, BikeRentUSA.com will undertake a marketing initiative, especially outside the United States, to promote bike rentals by tourists. It seems that participating bike shops have nothing to lose and much to gain by participating.

Rent a Bike at BikeRentUSA.com

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Thule To Acquire Chariot Carriers

By on June 4, 2011

The Thule Group of Sweden, a global giant well-known for bike racks and bike carriers, cargo carriers, and car carriers for snow sports and watersports, has announced that it is acquiring Chariot Carriers of Canada, maker of the Chariot Carrier brand of bike trailers.  This is an enormous departure for Thule, which previously has made racks and such for carrying the more interesting products of other companies.  According to the press release, this represents Thule’s increased focus on brand building and retail.  Thule has some very well-known and successful business people on its board, and is controlled by Nordic Capital, an investment firm, so presumably they know what they are doing.  However, on the surface, this seems to make about as much sense as Thule getting into the bike, kayak or ski business….or the business of any other product you can carry in or on a roof rack or cargo hitch.  Certainly there are distribution synergies, as Chariot Carrier’s products and Thule’s are sold in similar channels, and certainly they both bend metal to make their products, but beyond that the match was not an obvious one (though granted, that the word “carrier” appears often in both companies products.)  This likely represents just the first step in Thule diversifying away from it’s core carrier business and moving into first-hand active lifestyle products.  Will this set off an acquisition spree for other active lifestyle brands, such as Burley and Zigo?  If it does, it will be one more business niche that has lost its independent roots.

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Zigo to Rent Zigo Leaders for Just $25 for TD Five Boro Bike Tour 2011

By on March 6, 2011

Zigo will be renting a limited number of Zigo Leader Carrier Bikes for the TD Five Boro Bike Tour 2011 for just $25.  Pick up will be at Battery Park City and drop off at either Central Park (after 8 miles) or at the festival at the ride end in Staten Island (42 miles). If you have kids, show them New York City in this most incredible way. For rental information visit:  http://www.myzigo.com/fiveboro2011/

Zigo Rider at 2010 TD Five Boro Bike Ride

Zigo Rider at 2010 TD Five Boro Bike Ride

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Bakfiets in New York City

By on March 6, 2011

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

Zigo Leader Bakfiets - Converts to bike and stroller

New York City has much to recommend it as a cycling town.  With the exception of Washington Heights, it is essentially flat, distances are short, and there is an ever increasing number of bike lanes.  There is no reason why New York City should not become the Amsterdam or Copenhagen of America (other than the handful of surly yet vocal New Yorkers that may be anti-bike.)

Zigo in NYC

Zigo Bakfiets Carrier Bike in NYC

Increasingly in New York City, one sees bakfietsen and carrier bikes, such as the American-designed Zigo Leader, as well as classic dutch style bikes.  Al’s Cycle Solutions in New York City and Ride Brooklyn in Park Slope both carry the economically priced Zigo Leader ($1,399-$1,599), while Adeline Adeline in the Village offers a classic bakfiets (cargo bike long) for $2,899.  Rolling Orange in Brooklyn offers several models of bakfietsen from the recently bankrupt de Fietsfabriek (reported to now be recapitalized), including the 995 model for $2,650, the de Fietsfabriek Bakfiets (3-wheel) for $3,250, and the de Fietsfabriek models FF16 and BF18 for $3,400.   We predict that the bakfiets/carrier bike/cargo bike/freight bicycle trend in New York City will continue this season.

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

Zigo Leader Bakfiets - Converts to bike and stroller

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Where to buy a bakfiets in the United States

By on February 25, 2011

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

Zigo Leader Bakfiets - Converts to bike and stroller

We are interested in putting together a list of all bakfiets dealers in the United States.  It doesn’t matter which brand, whether Zigo, bakfiets.nl, Nihola, Christiana, Gazelle, or another brand.  If you a) sell Bakfiets or b) purchased a Bakfiets, please post a comment so that we can put together a bakfiets directory.

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Stroller Bike, Bike Stroller, Bike With Stroller, Strollercycle, Strollerbike…what should we call it?

By on November 8, 2010

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

Zigo Leader Bakfiets

With the proliferation of products such as the Zigo Leader Carrier Bike and the Taga Carrier, there has been an equal proliferation of terminology to describe these products.  In Europe, the conventional term Bakfiets would cover it, or if you are in Denmark, Ladcykel.  But in the U.S. the situation becomes more complex.  The terminology ranges from Carrier Bike, which is favored by Zigo, to Stroller Bike, Bike Stroller, Strollercycle, and other even more cumbersome monikers.  Sometimes Dutch Cargo Bike is used in the U.S. as equivalent to Bakfiets, but this does not seem widely adopted.   In the United Kingdom, we must also take into account the usage of pushchair instead of stroller.

So here is the question: in the United States (and United Kingdom and English speaking world everywhere) what should we call these products?

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

Zigo Leader Stroller Bike

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Is San Francisco the next Amsterdam?

By on October 29, 2010

U.S. soon to look like Europe?

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

Zigo Leader Bike Stroller

Bakfiets Long

Bakfiets Long

Despite its hilly terrain, San Francisco is quite the biking city with shops now offering bakfietsen, including short bakfeits, long bakfiets, tricycle bakfiets, the Gazelle Cabby, and of course the American Bakfiets–the Zigo Leader Carrier Bike.

It is quite remarkable to see these Dutch style bikes and utility bicycles, more typical of Amsterdam or Copenhagen,  now multiplying in U.S. cities including New York, Portland, and San Francisco.

Also we see now more classic Dutch-style commuter bikes, like those from Batavus, Retrovelo, and Workcycles, emphasizing our new European modeled bicycling culture.

We have also commented in other posts on the proliferation of ciclovia events in U.S. cities, including Oakland, New York, Baltimore, and others.  We look forward to seeing this quite rolling revolution continue.

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

Zigo Leader Stroller Cycle

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Ciclovia Returns to Baltimore

By on October 26, 2010

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

New Expanded Route

Ciclovia in Baltimore

Ciclovia in Baltimore

For the second year in a row, Baltimore will host a ciclovia–a day when streets are closed to cars and open only to bicycles and pedestrians.  Roland Avenue will be closed, as well as a second street, 33rd Street between Druid Hill Park and Lake Montebello.

The ciclovia, to be held October 31,  was first organized by the Roland Park Civic League as “Sunday Streets” on Oct. 23, 2009.  The event has grown, as have many similar events accross the United States, including Summer Streets in New York City.  This year’s Baltimore Ciclovia is being co-sponsored by the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods, making it a city event.  In the future, there may be as many as four such events each year.  The BMore Streets for People Coalition, a group of community and business leaders, is working with the city to sponsor such a series of Sunday morning ciclovias.

The ciclovia will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Roland Avenue route will connect with the 33rd Street route.   Ride ‘em if you got ‘em.

See: http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/entertainment/108457/second-ciclovia-will-be-held-roland-avenue/ for more details.

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

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Portland’s Shuttlebug

By on September 15, 2010

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

Shuttlebug

Taking a page from the traditional Bakfiets model, the Portland-made Shuttlebug has incorporated several design changes.  The Shuttlebug, made by Joe Bike in Portland, is described as lightweight, yet strong, and engineered for traversing the hilly Portland terrain.  At only 55 pounds, the Shuttlebug claims to make cycling with up to 3 kids a breeze.  However, the light weight may make handling more difficult when riding empty.   The Shuttlebug looks to be inspired by the Dutch Gazelle Cabby.

Gazelle Cabby

Gazelle Cabby

The cabin of the Shuttlebug is said to be large enough to accommodate both an adult and child together.  The steel box frame is covered with durable, water-resistant fabric that can be removed from the frame without any tools.  These quick-release mounts allow you to go from carrier bicycle to cargo bike.  The Shuttlebug has an optional double-decker rack accessory for big cargo loads.  The Shuttlebug is pricy, starting at $3750, but it is to be expected for a more-or-less custom product.

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

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The (very) Nordic Cab

By on September 8, 2010

Nordic Cab

Bike trailer, ski sled, push stroller, dog sled. Is there anything the Nordic Cab can’t transform into? This Norwegian design is among the most versatile we’ve seen so far. For starters, it is a spacious traditional two-child bicycle trailer with ample back, head and neck support for growing children. From trailer, Nordic Cab converts easily into a push stroller with adjustable handlebar. On the down side, the tiny front stroller wheels placed squarely in the middle of the front end make the carriage seem difficult to maneuver and potentially off-balance. Nordic Cab also sells a jogger attachment which would actually appear to be a more secure alternative to the flimsy front stroller wheels.

Dog Kit for Nordic Cab

In addition to the modes previously mentioned, the Nordic Cab also meets the needs of parents in Northern, snowy climates. The Ski kit accessory may be advantageous for the uber-athletic parents who enjoy trekking long distances through blustery winds with their children in tow… (to each his own). Even more unusual is Nordic Cab’s Dog kit adapter, which allows the Nordic Cab and Nordic Cab sled to be pulled by none other than man’s best friend. Perhaps we can chalk it up to mere cultural differences, but we find it hard to believe that many North Americans would trust their excitable canines with dragging their infants behind them in the local park, let alone in a blizzard.

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

In summary, while the Nordic Cab is truly innovative, with a lot of imagination and creativity, we find it to be somewhat lacking when it comes to practicality. With so many traditional bike trailers available, we do not feel the Nordic Cab, with all its accessories, will resonate with most average families. There are plenty of other bicycle trailer brands which will offer a similar design and value without all the bells and whistles.

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Zigo Bakfiets Carrier Bike - Converts to Bike and Stroller