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The industry wasn’t prepared for the cargo bike boom
Other experts are more critical of manufacturers. Dirk Zedler, for example—publicly appointed and sworn expert for bicycles and e-bikes, as well as founder of the Zedler Institute for Bicycle Technology and Safety – says manufacturers strive for innovation, but: “There are still very, very few cargo bikes that are fully robust in their design.”
This also has historical roots: “Between 1950 and 1990, the bicycle industry’s goal was to produce cheaply,” says Zedler. People drove cars; bicycles were of little interest as a means of transport. From 1990 onward, for the next 20 years, virtually all development effort went into the sports segment: mountain bikes and road bikes. “And what matters in sport? Every gram!” says Zedler.
Today, many people once again view bicycles as a means of transportation. The shift toward cargo bikes was abrupt, and the requirements are entirely different: “Cargo bikes are ridden in all weather conditions and are exposed to dirt and road salt,” says Zedler. At the same time, high loads and forces act on the bike; it is heavy and often heavily laden. “This affects manufacturers of bicycle components who have long optimized for weight in the sports sector – for riders who typically take very good care of their bikes,” says Zedler.
In other words: the bicycle industry was not prepared for the cargo bike boom. Manufacturers had to learn and experiment a great deal in a short period of time.
Hard braking – and the flange shears off
Zedler also sees further development needs in forks and hubs: “Cargo bikes usually have 20-inch front wheels. In the past, there were hardly any forks in this size that met the requirements of a transport bike,” he says. As a result, some bikes were fitted with forks that matched in size but not in performance – i.e., insufficient strength and limited durability.
He has also seen hub flanges fail due to the high braking forces acting on cargo bikes – the flange, i.e., the central part of the hub to which the spokes are attached, shearing off. This results in a total failure of the hub. “Any material defect on a bicycle poses an accident risk with hardly predictable consequences,” says Zedler.
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Until manufacturers have fully adapted to these requirements, users can extend the service life of wear components through their riding style. “Shift down before stopping at a traffic light. That reduces strain on the battery, chain, sprockets – and ultimately your wallet,” says Zedler, warning against unnecessarily harsh braking.
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Before buying, do your research, says Zedler: How experienced is the manufacturer? What do specialist dealers say about the specified components? The expert also advises: “Look at how companies handle recalls.” This is an indicator of a responsible approach to their products. For example, Riese & Müller bought back customers’ bikes at full price after identifying safety defects in a product category. Muli also demonstrated a solid recall response when cracks appeared in the seat tube. According to Zedler, the approach taken by both companies builds trust.
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Author: Lena Frommeyer
Read the full article online at: www.zeit.de/mobilitaet
