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@joe@aus.social

Post #411375

2026-02-21 10:08 UTC

EDIT: Advice no longer needed, and thank you all for your thoughts! For those that are interested, the top 3 are Bullitt, then Omnium, and possibly a Tern. Almost certainly second-hand or refurbished. Now my partner and I will chat about which to go with. I'm going to mute this thread but I'll check in on it from time to time. And I'll post results! Thank you again!!! <3 -- Advice please! I'm looking for a cargo bike. - Needs to comfortably carry a 100kg me and like 30 - 40kg in shopping - Needs to comfortably negotiate gravel (so fairly phat tyres) - Ideally sub-$4,000 AUD - I'm very open to it being a non-electric bike. An acoustic bike, if you will. - It will supplement a Cannondale Quick (used for commuting) and a Shogun eBike (used when I'm feeling lazy). We're #CarFree - Does not need to be new I'm currently using the Shogun to carry me and the shopping, and I'm slowly destroying it. I think it needs to go back to its intended use - a VERY BASIC runaround bike - and I should get something more suited to cargo to carry... cargo! What are your thoughts? EDIT: Boosts welcome, and #BikeTooter

Replies (15)

  • @nikcorg@mastodon.social 2026-02-21 10:32

    @joe might be saying the obvious, but have you considered a trailer for your ebike?

    Open ##1375157

  • @marialuosto@piipitin.fi 2026-02-21 10:58

    @joe Cargobikes are the best 🩷 I think the first question for you to think is 3-wheeler or 2-wheeler. How long distances you should cycle with it? Since you do not prefer e-assist, a 2-wheeler might be better. Next question: with a plywood box or a long tail bike?

    Open ##1375170

  • @redscare@snabelen.no 2026-02-21 11:43

    @joe I love my bullitt, max 2" in the rear and 2,15" front with fenders on. No issues with gravel or snow with studs on. Nimble and fast, carries two kids up to 8 in the box, and a extra seat on the toptube when we load it up with groceries or other cargo. Green is the fastestest, not sure they make that colour still.

    Open ##1375177

  • @Charles@gascoigne.social 2026-02-21 11:44

    @joe I really like my Butchers and Bicycles Mk3e, which I use for stuff and for kids, but they’re pretty rare and I suspect even used not in your price range. (I got mine for a steal from an odd bloke who used it to transport his Dalmatian). They’re also complex. A mate has an Omnium analogue which he loves. It’s far simpler. It’s very agile, but of course a trike is more stable with a heavy load.

    Open ##1375190

  • @plactagonic@f.cz 2026-02-21 11:59

    @joe from what I read in this thread I will suggest looking at something like Omnium mini-max. So front loader with one 20' wheel and one normal sized in the back, they are bit smaller but they still offer enough carrying capacity. Some guy did gravel bikepacking race on Omnium mini few years ago so it is more than capable for off-road and you can have it both as acustic or e-bike. I wrote something like because Omnium bikes can be quite pricey so maybe you can find something similar or second hand.

    Open ##1375192

  • @LovesTha@floss.social 2026-02-21 12:16

    @joe I recently brought a second hand cargo bike in Naarm, and it took some searching. I got a long tail, and I think that was the wrong option for me, but is probably best for you. Heavy loads above the rear rack suck (my two kids) but it would be excellent with loads low on each side of the rack (your groceries). I really don't notice that it is a long tail and not a boring grandma bike.

    Open ##1375194

  • @tj@altelectron.org.uk 2026-02-21 12:31

    @joe i have a Larry v harry bullit, but it being available in aus is unknown to me. Base spec is totally in that budget, but I needed to be able to move a child and go up hills. I got it in November so it’s not had a ton of use yet, but so far I’m really happy.

    Open ##1375199

  • @lnr@sunny.garden 2026-02-21 13:26

    @joe 100kg me rode a bakfiets short non-electric quite happily, but I suspect you want something more longtail than big box? I'm afraid the exchange rate and the availability of european bikes in Aus is rather beyond me.

    Open ##1375202

  • @andreppires@masto.pt 2026-02-21 13:44

    @joe @bklisboa ☝️

    Open ##1375203

  • @chu@climatejustice.social 2026-02-21 13:58

    @joe I bought a Bullitt cargo bike last year. It's not in your price range but I can't say enough about how life changing it can be. It'll fit all the other criteria. I got 100kg of tiles home in it once too. When hesitated over the price, a friend reminded me that I could almost replace it every year and still be cheaper than a car. I jumped in and don't regret it. It's been working like a horse through they Canadian winter for me too.

    Open ##1375204

  • @joe the requirement 'gravel' sounds like a reason to opt for Omnium. Although there are also some Longjohns like the velolabs Karo, which are quite good offroad. But for 40 kgs of shopping, they might be overkill. With higher Budget you might consider the Hase Pino. it can be used as a two seater for adults and as a cargo bike.

    Open ##1375206

  • @kim_harding@mastodon.scot 2026-02-21 14:56

    @joe A couple of thoughts: first, bear in mind the old adage you can have only two of the following things, light, strong and/or cheap. Cheap cargo bikes are either heavy or fragile, neither of which you want in a cargo bike. If you are in a flat place, you can get away without e-assist to save weight and cost. I live in a hilly place, so for me, it has been Urban Arrow for the last 12 years (I am on my 7th bike) and can recommend them... 😉

    Open ##1375209

  • @nickgully@mefi.social 2026-02-21 15:11

    @joe I have had a Yuba Boda Boda v2 (non-electric) through the pandemic for errands and getting kids to school. Worked great, and I have pretty fat Tires on it. Bought it used, had a mechanic tune it up, has a big side pannier and front breadbasket that could handle feeding a family of four on two runs a week.

    Open ##1375211

  • @joe @markstos is my go to guy on all things cargo bikes. I have seen this man move mountains with a bike

    Open ##2025228

  • @cpm@spore.social 2026-02-22 11:06

    @joe while not ideal at any one given cargobike tasking yet, works "good" at all of the above: (including some lighter technical singletrack) The Surly Big Dummy basically a beefy 90s hardtail mountain bike built to carry loads the earlier 3x9 builds, preferrably with the orig xtracycle furniture they show up used as garage kruft side-note: the reason they collect dust, many folks overestimate their acoustic biking tolerance. spec'd payload: 200kg i recco rated tyres

    Open ##2025234