Zigo Bakfiets Carrier Bike - Converts to Bike and Stroller

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More on Bakfietsen in Amsterdam

By on November 11, 2010

Please visit: Zigo Bakfiets
Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

Zigo Leader Bakfiets - Converts to bike and stroller

A multitude of Bakfieten to choose from.

Tuk Tuk Bakfiets

Tuk Tuk Bakfiets

We have learned about a few more Bakfiets makers in the Netherlands, with even lower pricing than Babboe.  What is the difference in quality and components, we want to know.

Tuk Tuk Bakfietsen sells a basic unit starting form 495 Euro .  The Tuk Tuk name is taken from a class of motorized tricycles popular in Thailand.  The Dutch version is not motorized, but it is a tricycle.

The Tuk Tuk ‘Basic’ is equipped with: SRAM Spectro with 3 speed, coaster brake, a plywood cargo box with a bench  and SRAM drum brakes. All Tuk Tuk trikes come with aluminum wheels and a powder coated frame.  It seems from the photo to be tiller steering.

The Tuk Tuk Bakfietsen do look rather industrial, but at that price you would not expect it to have the style of a Zigo or Gazelle.

Bakfietsweb.nl is another provider of lower-priced bakfietsen.  The Model 030 tricycle is 699 Euro, which includes a light color wooden box, 3-speed Shimano hub, and coaster brakes plus V-brake.

Bakfietsweb Tricycle

Bakfietsweb Tricycle

In two-wheeled Bakfiets they make several models, also with a wooden box and similar components on the cycle.  It comes at two price points: 599 Euro and 699 Euro.  He more expensive Model 020 LB is longer with a bigger box as compared with the Model 010 LB.  We have also heard that Dutch bike maker, Dutch ID, has stopped production of their Bakfiets, called the Cargo XL, pictured below.
DutchID Bakfiets

DutchID Bakfiets

And on the subject of Bakfiets manufactuers stopping production we have been informed that de Fietsfabriek stopped production due to financial problems but has now started up again.
It seems that in the country with more bikes than people (the Netherlands), there is naturally no shortage of choices in Bakfietsen.
Please let us know your opinions on these products.  Which are good, which have problems, why some sell for 599 Euro and some for 3,000 Euro.
Please visit: Zigo Bakfiets
Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

Zigo Leader Bakfiets - Converts to bike and stroller

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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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Bike To Work Week Is Coming – Use A Carrier Bike or Bakfiets!

By on April 17, 2010

Zigo Carrier Bicycle System

The League of American Bicyclists is promoting Bike to Work Week from May 17-21, 2010.  There are events planned all across the United States during Bike Month.  The League of American Bicyclists puts out a useful planning guide for how to plan and organize a Bike Month event in your community, so why not get active?

But it doesn’t need to just be Bike to Work Week.  It can be Bike Your Kids To School Week or Pickup Your Groceries On You Bike Week or even Go Get Your Construction Supplies At Home Depot On Your Bike Week.  So this May grab your favorite Carrier Bicycle, Bakfiets, or Cargo Bike (or your regular bicycle, I suppose) and hit the streets.  Ride to school.  Ride to work.  Just ride around and show people how wonderful bike culture can be.  Try this.  Ride your kids to school, drop them off and then ride to work!  Or ride to work and then pick up some groceries on the way home.  Make bicycling a habit for you and your family.  You will be healthier and happier for it.

As you ride keep in mind the National Strategies or Advancing Bicycle Safety.

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

Goal #1 Motorists Will Share the Road

Goal #2 Bicyclists Will Ride Safely

Goal #3 Bicyclists Will Wear Helmets

Goal #4 The Legal System Will Support Safe Bicycling

Goal #5 Roads and Paths Will Safely Accommodate Bicycling

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Taga Stroller and Bike Hybrid Now In The United States

By on April 9, 2010

Taga Stroller

Taga Bike and Stroller

The Taga Bike and Stroller, which we previously wrote about [See: http://carrierbike.com/2009/10/18/taga-bike-and-stroller/], is now being offered in the United States by SJS Cycles, joining market leader Zigo in the U.S. carrier bicycle market. The Taga stroller is being offered for $$1,414 on-line, as compared with $1,399 to $1,550 for the multifunctional Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle. The Taga Bike and Stroller can only be ordered on-line at this time, but it seems likely that Taga will be in stores in the future.  As noted previously, the Taga is a slick design, converting from a 3-wheeled carrier tricycle to a stroller.  Unlike the Zigo Leader, the Taga doe not uncouple from the stroller but rather the rear wheel flips over to become the front wheel.  That is why the Taga stroller has the unusual split handlebars–to make room to pivot the beam over the top.  This also means you need to move the baby seat out of the way to do the conversion.  Taga is a fun ride, but with 16 inch wheels and 3 gears, it is not suited for longer outings.  The split handlebar takes some getting used to.  The Taga handlebar does not feel quite like a regular bicycle handlebar, nor a regular stroller pushbar.  In stroller mode, the lack of a central pushbar makes one hand pushing difficult.  Taga is a welcome addition to the U.S. market and will hopefully expand the cycling culture here in the United States.

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

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Win a Free Zigo Leader X2 Carrier Bicycle

By on March 21, 2010

Win a Free Zigo Leader X2 Carrier Bicycle System.  Follow the instruction on the Zigo website at http://www.myzigo.com/zigofan.php

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle

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Velorbis Mobii Trike

By on February 10, 2010

Velorbis Mobii Trike

Velorbis Mobii Trike

Velorbis makes a whole line of beautiful classic style bikes.  The Velorbis Mobii is a cargo tricycle that can haul kids, groceries, or perhaps a pile of Scandinavian snow.  Each Mobii has a steel frame, handcrafted in Denmark.  The Velorbis Mobii is equiped with an SRAM 5 gear rear hub and front WinZip disc brakes.  It weighs 36 kg (79 lbs) and has a cargo capacity of 100 kg (220 lbs).   A version of the Velorbis Mobii with an electric motor is available as well.   You can also customize the colors and patterns of the Velorbis Mobii.  We cannot tell from the website or photos what kind of steering is used.  We presume that the Velorbis Mobii uses tiller-type steering and not articulated steering. At US$3,895 it is not cheap, but the VelorbisMobii looks to be a well made trike. 

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Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

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Wallaroo Bike

By on February 7, 2010

Winther Wallaroo

Winther Wallaroo

The Winther Wallaroo bike, based on a classic Long John design, seems similar to the Gazelle Cabby.  It is a two wheel carrier bicycle with a fabric covered platform in front for up to two children; it is said to take a load of 80 kg in the front cabin.  The seats are equipped with a 5-point safety harness. We have seen it advertised as either 7-speed or 5-speed as standard.  It has an aluminum 6061 frame, front disc brakes, and an integrated Nylon rain/wind cover over a polyethylene base.  It does not seem much advertised, as a search of Wallaroo bike on Google does not turn up much.  In fact, it is not even listed on Winther’s main website.  The bike weight 33.5 kg (74 lbs), is 79 cm wide (31.1 inches), and 263 cm long (103.5 inches).  It is advertised at Australian $3,750 by its Australian dealer, but we can’t find any other listing.   

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Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

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Gazelle Cabby

By on January 30, 2010

Gazelle Cabby Bicycle

Gazelle Cabby Bicycle

The Gazelle Cabby is modeled on the typical Dutch bakfiets, such as those from bakfiets.nl, but has a fabric based front box instead of the traditional wood box.  This makes the Gazelle Cabby lighter, somewhat easier to pedal, and in my hands more maneuverable than a typical bakfiets.  However, it was pointed out that because it is lighter it does not track true with your hands off the handlebars.  I was not brave enough to try this experiment.  The front box of the Gazelle Cabby is foldable, and Gazelle claims to have patented this design.  The front box of the Gazelle Cabby has space for two children side-by-side, but cannot detach or be used as a stroller.  It has available accessories such as a rain cover/sunshade.  The Gazelle Cabby weights 36kg (79 lbs) and says that it is rated for 200kg (440 lbs) of load, including the weight of the steel frame bike.  The front box is rated for a load of 75kg (165 lbs).  The Gazelle Cabby costs a dear $2,779 in the United States.  Although the Gazelle Cabby may make headways in the Netherlands, we think it is a niche product in the US, unless it can be offered cheaper.

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Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

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The “Joe Bike” of Portland

By on January 27, 2010

Joe Bike of Portland

The "Joe Bike" of Portland

The “Joe Bike” is Joe Bike’s of Portland unique, modular, multipurpose utility bike based on the boxbike frame. It is claimed to offer more versatility and configurability than most cargo and child carrier bikes. With its short wheelbase and relatively light weight, it is said to be remarkably easy and fun to ride, with essentially no learning curve. The Joe Bike currently includes four configurations, all of which are designed and handbuilt in Portland. These include the first double-decker cargo-carrying system, the original wooden box, and a sort of reverse-XtraCycle attachment that allows two children to sit upright in front of the rider, along with several grocery bags. The Joe Bike costs significantly more than the boxbike primarily because of substantial frame modifications, component upgrades (disc brakes and lighter wheels, for instance), two-tone color schemes, and simply the cost of steel. In general, Portland is the place in the United States where it is relatively easy to find a Dutch-style carrier bike, and it is not uncommon to see them on the street.  We hope that more cities in the United States follow this example and redo their street grids to be all inclusive.  A great first step would be truly protected bike lanes.  

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Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System

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Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle Now in Australia

By on December 21, 2009

Zigo Carrier Bicycle System
Zigo Carrier Bicycle System

The Zigo Leader Carrier Bicycle System is now available Down Under.  Zigo…it’s Australian for really cool bike!  Actually, it’s American for really cool bike, but it’s now being sold throughout Australia through a number of local dealers, which can be seen on www.myzigo.com.au.  To ride a Zigo Leader across the Australian Outback must be awesome, but the one pic we’ve been sent of a Zigo Leader in Australia is more urban [See http://tweetphoto.com/6863649]

We hope to see the Zigo Leader featured next to kangaroos and bedecked in kiwis for its next photo op.  One small step for Zigo…one giant step for Mums and Bubs everywhere.
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Zigo Bakfiets Carrier Bike - Converts to Bike and Stroller