I experienced a strange little behavourial shift in myself recently. I use my two bicycles rather equally - the Velorbis and the Bullitt cargo bike. When not transporting kids, the Bullitt cargo bay is a respository for my bag. I just chuck it in, instead of having it slung around my shoulder.I discovered that I missed this ease-of-use when riding the upright Velorbis. I stuck the bag, Copenhagen-style, on the back rack under the rat trap. Which is what I’ve always done and, indeed, what most people without baskets do.Then I got a front rack put onto the Velorbis. These front racks have been a main feature for over a century, especially on Short Johns or delivery bikes/chimney sweep bikes or whatever you want to call them.Interestingly, they’re experiencing a bit of a revival these day in Copenhagen. As soon as mine was on, I noticed that I was just slapping my bag onto the front rack and securing it with a bungee cord. Super quick and easy.Then I realised that the damned thing was much more practical than I had imagined. The other day I had to go pick up my boy at a friend’s house. I just put his bike on the front rack and off I went.
The bicycle he's on in the pervious picture, higher up, is getting a bit small for him, but he masters it like an Apache masters his horse. This bike, above, is waiting in the wings for him. A retro Raleigh chopper. He needs about three more centimetres before I unleash him on the bike lanes.
