Family & Cargo

Our Guide to Family Cycling

It’s not so long ago that the only option for carrying children on a bike was a child seat on the rear rack. There is now a huge variety of specialised family cycles and trailers for cycling with children, making the school run more fun and opening up exciting options for leisure rides. Becoming increasingly visible on our streets is the new generation of practical, versatile and very attractive box cycles for carrying children or cargo.

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Multi-Purpose Box Bikes

Dutch-style bakfietsen, with two wheels or three, are ideal multi-purpose family vehicles: you can carry just children (on fold-down seats), or children plus shopping, or the kind of weekly shop which matches what you can get into the boot of a family car. Their stylish front boxes come in various sizes for different family needs. In fact, so versatile are these cycles that they can, for some households, replace the family car for almost all local journeys. Box cycles can be life-changing.

Types of Cargo Cycle

There’s huge variety: two-wheelers, with smaller boxes, where steering is indirect via a rod to the front wheel. There are three-wheeled versions with bigger boxes of various sizes. On some three-wheelers the whole box turns as you steer, and some are arranged so that the box stays still and only the wheels turn.

Box cycles stay steady while you get your children and cargo on board. On the tricycle versions you only need apply the parking brake. To steady the two-wheel versions you release a very wide and reassuring twin-sided drop-down stand.

Accessories & Adaptations

Manufacturers have thought of virtually everything. Expect child-carrying box trikes to come with harnesses and an easy-fit windowed rain cover. There are also specific child seats for little ones who cannot sit on the bench.

Two items which might be worth extra investment are factory-fitted electric pedal-assist, and the fitting of a ground anchor if you need to park your cargo cycle securely at home. You can then put a lock through frame and anchor, and cover the whole cycle with a close-fitting manufacturer’s rain tent.

Cycling with Cargo

Box bikes and trikes can carry all kinds of loads, human or otherwise. They can be just right for bringing home the shopping. Other versions can have a wide range of box sizes. These are not designed to carry children and are often used for commercial purposes, such as for professional delivery riders. A combination of lighter weight, high-end equipment and lockable boxes makes them very special, but also more expensive! They usually also come with electric-assist. But if you just want a no-frills box cycle for your allotment visits we can supply that too, possibly as refurbished. If your needs are even more basic, we sell cargo trailers!

What Our Customers Say

"What an amazing organisation! I was blown away by the variety of bikes & kit available. You and your colleagues couldn’t have been more welcoming."

Hannah

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More Specialist Cycles

CHILDREN'S CYCLING

TRICYCLES

TANDEMS & MULTI-SEAT

HANDCYCLES

specialist cycles

Contact Us

You may spot the right cycle easily, but with so many variations and options, it’s best to talk with us first. As a responsible social enterprise, we take time to understand your exact needs and help you choose the right cycle or adaptation.

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