The MONoPOLE No 01 is a 24″ x 20″ wheeled front-loading mini velo cargo bike with an interesting Gates belt-driven steering mechanism. John got ahold of a rolling chassis a few weeks ago and finally built it up. We figured you’d like to see the complete bike before he customizes it to suit his cargo needs. And we wanted to ask you how you’d build it up, so let’s get to it!
Mini Velo Cargo
It’s cute. It’s zippy. It’s a unique offering in the flat-bed cargo bike space. The MONoPOLE No O1 has some bold design decisions that I’ve quickly fallen for. What’s so appealing about this bike is that it’s no larger than any of my other bikes, thanks to the smaller wheels, and I like how minimal it is. While my long-term review will dive into the brand, the people behind it, and the design intention, this first look offers a unique opportunity. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s break it all down…
MONoPOLE No O1 Quick Hits
- S, M, L sizing. Large reviewed here
- Multiple color options
- Frameset: $2,680
- Built with a belt drive singlespeed: $4,780
- Built with Mahle X35 e-bike system electric assist, Pinion, Dynamo, fenders, and more: $7,180
- Mini Velo Cargo: 24″ rear wheel, 20″ front wheel
- Modular drivetrain: Pinion® gearbox or BSA adapter
- Purpose-built: Interchangeable cargo racks – Shopper Rack or Platform Racks available – and a total payload of 160kg
- Innovative: Precise steering via a toothed belt by Gates®
- Long-lasting: Made of aerospace-quality steel
- European: Swiss design, handcrafted in France
Build Intention
The reason I wanted to share this bike first in its virgin form was to propose my build ideas to you, the readers, and ask you how you’d build the bike. When the MONoPOLE showed up, it was but a frame, rack, and wheels. I opted for a traditional drivetrain because I wanted it to be a “budget” build. I feel like cargo bikes, unlike full-suspensions, hardtails, or adventure bikes, have the potential to truly be a car replacement, and the barrier for entry ought to be low (ish).
However, this bike comes from Switzerland and has a price tag of $2,680. That is not cheap. But for what it is, I’d say that is a more than fair price. So, to keep the price as low as possible, I built it with some parts I had on hand, including some ten year old White Industries cranks that have been on multiple bikes, a Microshift Advent X kit, a 100 mm blank stem, old SRAM brakes that needed a lot of work (thanks, Bailey!) and some PNW Components Range 50 mm riser bars.
While MONoPOLE shows almost all of its builds with drop bars, I like riding more upright on a cargo bike, particularly while riding around cars in a city. I feel like it makes you more visible. Plus, I tend to carry big, heavy boxes on my cargo bikes, so I’d rather have the increased control offered by wider MTB riser bars.
I guess you could call that my “requisite” build or the foundation of this project. My future plans include a collapsable 60 cm x 40 cm EuroCrate, attached to the flatbed rack using a quick-release mechanism, and a Rogue Panda framebag. I like the tires that came with the wheels, too. But before I move forward with the build I have to ask: what would you do differently?
So, what do you think? Am I taking this in the right direction? What would you change? Let me know in the comments, and I’ll adjust the build accordingly based on the community’s input. Who knows, maybe your feedback will make it onto the final build!
While I tinker with this one, check out more on the No O1 at MONoPOLE.
