Build Your Own
Build your own cargo bike - links to products below
Most cargo bikes are just plug and play - buy it from a shop, they set it up for you, and off you zoom. But for some families a DIY cargo bike is a more practical option. Not only are they significantly cheaper - if you’ve already got a loved bike, it can be transformed for a little over £1000 - they are also easier to store.
Let Manu explain. She’s the mum of a 4 and 7 year old in south east London. “I do pick ups, and my husband does drop offs, so paying for and storing two cargo bikes wasn’t feasible. Instead we both have adapted cycles, and this means it’s easier to store them at work - where I wouldn’t be able to bring a cargo bike in - and at home, where they fit into a street hangar.”
They are also significantly cheaper. Although much of the conversion can be done at home, with an allen key, you do need some skills to adapt your own bike from manual to electric. Part of the process requires changing a tyre and putting a tube in. “But there are lots of videos and instructions to help you,” says Manu.
She uses her DIY cargo bike every day to cycle her young kids to school. But once they are dropped off, she removes their seats and the battery, and cycles to work, racking up 10km of cardio exercise each day. Add that to the 2km school run, and a 5km round-trip to swim school on Saturday, and she’s easily cycling 75km a week.
“It took months to figure out this system and then when the kids grew out of the first design, we had to figure it all out again!” But it’s been worth it.
She has a couple of top tips too!
“Whatever bike you convert, it needs to be sturdy to support a lot of extra weight. It also needs to be a step-through, to prevent round-housing your child in the face!”
Electric conversion: Swytch kit https://www.swytchbike.com/£1000
Front seat: Alaxciax Front Mounted Bicycle Seat https://amzn.eu/d/0japCmbc£28
Back seat: Urban Iki junior seat https://www.urbaniki.com/en-gb/urban-iki-junior-bike-seat-ta-ke-in-bincho-black-bincho-black/£80
Back rack: Tortec expedition rear rack 26-700C (up to 35Kg) https://amzn.eu/d/0cEIo58l£35
Collapsible pannier basket https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/compactable-folding-bike-10-l-pannier-with-shoulder-carry-strap-blue/345403/c43c71c382m8797884£14
Foot protectors https://www.urbaniki.com/en-gb/urban-iki-foot-protectors/£15
Double kickstand Ursus jumbo https://amzn.eu/d/05Wq7G8T£45
Bike- Ridgeback comet https://www.ridgeback.co.uk/ridgeback-comet-varrb2101£499
PLUS - to make it easily transformed into a normal bike:
Quick release seat clamp https://amzn.eu/d/03U4c4oL£6