#cargo

Reportage By: Morgan Taylor

Omnium Cargo Bike Review: Finding Your Super Power

Cargo bikes are inherently super cool. Something about a unique, purpose-built, human-powered machine doing tasks usually associated with cars and trucks gets the wondering wheels turning in peoples’ brains. The simple act of riding a cargo bike turns heads and gets people asking questions: living your day to day on a bike is indeed a super power.

The focus of this review is an Omnium Cargo bike that absolutely gets those wheels turning. Whether it’s a pumptracks-and-playgrounds adventure with our three-year-old, transporting complete bikes without removing the wheels, or making a big run down to the recycling depot, this bike enables errands and experiences beyond our usual two-wheeled expectations. Which of these tasks would prove to be the Omnium’s super power?

Radar By: Ryan Wilson

A First Look at the Tailfin Cage Packs and Straps

People have been strapping dry bags to their bikes since long before the word “bikepacking” joined the cycling vernacular. It’s a simple way to add a bit of storage capacity but that extra space comes with obvious drawbacks. Typically those drawbacks include bag shapes that aren’t especially bike-friendly and instability if the bags are not meticulously secured. I’m not a huge fan of my cooking kit flying into my wheel or having bags constantly shift out of position on a rough downhill, so functional and stable bags are essential to me.

Radar

WZRD Bikes: Ritual Rack LITE Preorder and Fundraiser

Remember our Shop Visit with WZRD Bikes? Well, Em has worked on bringing this Ritual Rack LITE to life and is offering them for a pre-order for Canadian residents only.

These $500 CAD cargo rack/bar combos have the following specs:

Rise – 42.0mm
Width – 800mm
Back sweep – 10 degrees
Up sweep – 3 degrees
Paint – Black or clear coat over raw bar, brushed stainless rack

Em is also donating $50 per pre-order to BC flood relief mutual aids and community funds. See more at WZRD Bikes.

Radar

8Bar Bikes Launches Bikepacking Line of Bags, Bottles, and Cargo Cages

It makes sense if you own a bike company that you’d develop your own line of bikepacking or bicycle touring bags. Many brands have done this and the latest is 8Bar Bikes, whose new bags are all in stock at their webshop now, including their new Anything Cages, which are designed to carry a JetBoil, a drybag, or a growler of your favorite beer. Head on over to 8Bar to see it all…

Radar

Topeak’s Versamount Allow for Cargo or Bottle Cages on Your Suspension Fork

On Jonah’s Kokopelli post yesterday, a few people emailed us asking what we thought about the cargo mounts on his fork lowers. Jonah has had them loaded up with bottles and cargo bags without issue. While there have been a number of similar products on the market, including the made in Durango USB from KingCage, these Topeak mounts have proven to be a robust option as well and they won’t scratch your lowers as metal bands can. They install on tubes with ø20 – ø60mm diameters and are sold in pairs. Your local dealer can order these, so ask them if you’re interested.

See more at Topeak.

Radar

Curve Cycles’ Rocket Pooch Cargo Cage and Bag System

When it comes to cargo cage portage, there are a lot of options, yet Australia’s Curve Cycling has developed something unique, thanks to their team rider Jesse Carlsson‘s efforts.

The Rocket Pooch is a system that combines a titanium cargo cage and a roll-top bag, via a 4-point velcro mounting system. The bag itself has expanding pockets, including a hidden stash compartment inside, and is completely waterproof.

Curve is currently having a pre-order for the Rocket Pooch, with a November delivery. The Rocket Pooch will set you back $229 AUD. Pre-order now at Curve.

Reportage By: John Watson

Review: Portland Design Works Takeout Basket Adventure Edition

This will probably be the simplest review I’ll ever do because this is one of the most straight-forward products I’ve reviewed. When DPow from PDW sent over a Takeout Basket Adventure Edition, I was going to wait on my tourer to be built before putting it on a bike. Then the summer months kept creeping along and I hated having a sweaty camera bag or backpack on for really simple runs. That’s when the comfortable size of this thing just took over. Off went the drops, on went the flat bar and the Takeout Basket. The brackets can be a pain in the ass to assemble if you’re not patient but the whole thing installed in under 5 minutes.

As the name implies, this is not a rack for heavy cargo. It’s a basket meant for small runs *like* takeout. I found it a perfect fit for a six pack of beer, or some simple grocery items. Because the Blaq-built Adventure bag doesn’t have padding, I swapped my ILE Photo Bag in its place for my Hasselblad and 5D. But the tall nature of a roll-top fit a giant bottle of bourbon just fine.

Overall, I’ve been very keen on this basket, mostly because I never know when I’ll have to pick something up without a backpack. It’s come in handy multiple times and I would even consider it on a longer ride to hold my camera. Now, let me just say, sure, there are other options for larger loads. Cetma comes to mind but this isn’t a rack, it’s a basket…

Pick one up in the Adventure Edition here or the standard Takeout Basket here and flip through more shots in the Gallery.

Radar

Portland Design Works: Takeout™ Basket – Adventure Edition

This is one of the products I’m pretty stoked on from Portland Design Works. The Takeout™ is already a versatile option for light n easy cargo but add a Blaq bag to the mix and you’ve got an all-out “adventure-ready” handlebar bag. Complete with a number of pockets and a map-pouch, these two products are fit for a weekend of light touring. Check out more at PDW.