wow, right on point. most heavy ebikes have these problems. they show up especially when a city has little to no bike infrastructure. they are not nimble as regular bikes. thanks for nice videos. keep posting more please
Iv had a cargo bike for two decades now and the stand issue you have will always be an issue when you have a big load . I use my kids old leather belts for strapping stuff to the frame or go to a rubber store they have various bungee attachment mechanisms
I've been using UA for over 3 years now. I love it, but there are few pain points. The kickstand is difficult to engage, but I think that applies to all cargo bikes. My problem with it is a bit different - the kickstand cannot be locked, so it folds on its own when parked on even slight slope. Also, it cannot be used on uneven surfaces (or soft ground as you have shown). However, I have the biggest issues with the raincover - it constantly rips around windows, it cannot be folded and stored inside the box.
I did see in some social media posts that UA had a bad batch of raincovers somewhat recently. They were sewn too tight and were ripping. (I think UA would replace them under warranty but I'm not sure.) I agree about the storage. The raincover is a pain to fold up and store!
I own a folding V shaped bike transporter rack I bought about 7 years ago that fits onto my car's tow bar (hitch) and it carries two normal bikes hanging by their crossbars. When I was looking at e-bikes and perhaps getting a full or semi step through with no crossbar I found out that there are adjustable cross bars that can be fitted to transport bikes on a rack like mine. My new e-bike is going to have a crossbar anyway so I didn't need to get that temporary crossbar for transporting. Also a crossbar is just SO CONVENIENT for adding a full sized triangle frame bag for storage. And adding a front basket can be very convenient keeping everything you need to hand. On my current ordinary hybrid bicycle I have 5 litre handlebars bags hanging front and back of my handlebars, plus a mini double pannier style bags on the front of the top tube AND ANOTHER 2 litre phone/storage bag sitting on top of that again. And a cheap 25 litre double pannier permanently on my rear rack. I can drop a much bigger double panniers right over the 25 litre bags for much more carrying capacity up to 70 litres and bolt on a large basket (actually a large plastic supermarket vegetable display basket!) for more capacity if I need to. But since I also have 2 large trailers I don't often need to. All of these are cheap and generic brands from Amazon or AliExpress and cost between €3-€10. The supermarket basket was free. So perhaps you can look into fitting a removable top bar for allowing you to balance and support the bike without holding onto the handlebars and for the options for convenient storage bag options you currently haven't got. Use it when you want and take it off when you don't. I obviously don't have a cargo bike but my bikes are nonetheless always going to be kitted out as practical utilitarian car alternatives and storage is a major necessity for me. A cycling minimalist or purist I definitely am not! 😂 I also have a 30cm/12 inch handlebars extension fitted to give me plenty of additional free space for lights, horn and anything else I want to add. This is just my own personal experience and how I'm fitting out non cargo bikes or e-bikes as I find most practical for my use. Perhaps you might find something useful for you to bring to your Urban Arrow. Great to see your channel growing so quickly. Your presentation and shared experiences are just so very authentic. 🙏👌
HI fellow urban arrow owner here! So this may end up being harder but the stea has a handle below it and if you use that to lift up you can just kick te stand down then lower the bike on to the ground. me being a generally fit dude this is easy for me (your milage may vary) but i've found this is quite convenient..
I was a bicycle messenger for 5 years and 100% agree about that kickstand! The only trick I learned to overcome it is to lean back and let momentum do as much work as possible, one hand on the handlebar, one hand on the rear rack. Also, when manoeuvring it when you off the bike always use the rack over the saddle to move it.
oh, also that stand is friction based! You can adjust it and it WILL come loose over time. Bear in mind as a messenger I was making 80 to 90 stops a day, our mechanics used to have to tighten these stands every 4 to 6 months. This might not be an issue for a regular user.
Pulling a bike like the Urban Arrow on its stand is the wrong technique. A cargo bike with a stand with those L-shapes is very easy to put on its stand. Just make sure both legs are on the ground and push with your foot on the L-shaped stand. You don’t need to pull, just keep the bike in balance. Of course oneven ground or dirt that’s not supportive enough for the weight of the bike is a no go.
Maybe could benefit from pushbutton electric-downward-movement of the kickstand? BTW: deep technical observations and content! Maybe a rear parking brake could help prevent trike from rolling forward when up on stand?
I finally gave up on the kickstand on my Bamboo Cycles Merced and removed the damn thing. It kept bending under the weight when I had a particularly heavy load, was the first thing to catch on root-heaved sidewalks, and it added so much noise with the steering linkage banging against it with every bump. I just lean the bike up against walls now, or all the way over onto one side of the box. Of course, I never have humans in mine!
Thanks for sharing this refreshingly relatable list. My wife and I have been checking out the UA recently and we wholeheartedly agree with the kick stand comment. While it creates a rock solid base for loading or unloading, wow it’s a lot of effort to get onto, especially on smooth garage concrete floors. We plan to fly to NYC to checkout a bunch of other options and this is an important criteria. I hope it’s better on the UA Next, but it doesn’t look any different to me.
I'd love to try one of these, they look really interesting, I'm sure it's totally different experience. I'd be worried about it being taken while I'm in the store though, but I guess you could get insurance for that?
#5 is an infrastructure issue, not a cargo bike issue. Of course, that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. It’s a shame our transportation professionals and elected officials don’t see safe bike routes as a higher priority.
Thanks for making this video. I'm new to the world of e-bikes myself so it's good to learn from the experience of others about these nature of things. I've been particularly looking at the Urban Arrow bikes too for when time comes. But at the moment, I'm using a rack-mounted seat for my little one. I believe that with continued use, you'll be able to ignore these issues that you have mentioned. I can perfectly understand your anxiety about routes, cos I feel it too. I usually just try to look, time and again and again, on Google Maps using virtual navigation to see what the route looks like. If that's something you could try (assuming you haven't already done that). And you've got a new subscriber here too!
I own UA for a few years at this point and rode over 3000 miles on it. Kick stand is not an issue, honestly. You can actually stand on the edge of the stand and use your weight to put it on the stand. And for taking off - just start pedaling.
Oh my god, I never really thought about that walk assist mode because it is not really useful in our life but in reverse it would be quite handy. I don't really have problem with reversing our bikes to garage but my wife does have a bit because of the weight and small incline. That could be useful feature.
Hi, I just wanted to add that it's not going to be possible to have a "reverse" feature on the bike(s) as there is a "freehub" which allows the bike to coast, while you are not pedalling. for the bike to have a reversing feature it would have to be a fixed gear system. (single speed)
@@davidlacey1200 I bet the ‘technical’ bits of being able to reverse are really straightforward. I can quite see it being offered on heavy bikes in the near future.
I've found the kickstand on our Riese and Muller cargo bike (also only had it for a month!) can also be challenging when the box is loaded up, or on an incline. It's a bit different design, but the same general principle and positioning. But I'm getting a little more used to it. I hadn't really clued in about the lack of top tube, but as soon as you mentioned that, it made total sense to my experience too. But, overall, I'm still very glad to have the bike, and the advantages are very much outweighing the disadvantages!
I love your list! I do that balance thing with my Cetma, Packster or GSD a lot. I had never thought about them being a little more mid-step than low-step, but they really are, which I guess does kind of help. I also kind of love the old school plain wood box for being easy to just drill and make into whatever you need. The Cetma box is the most simple, and rather than treat it as precious I've always just drilled holes for whatever I need. Also, backing a big bike up even a little hill is HARD. Could you use walk mode to get to the top, then sort of make a 3 point turn to limit how far you need to reverse? It's a ridiculous and expensive suggestion but you could actually get yourself reverse (and regen breaking, and turbo-boost) by adding a direct drive front hub motor. I've done that to my GSD (without bothering to sort out reverse mode) and I love it, but also I live on a ridiculous steep hill and just like playing with DIY ebike stuff. The extra I would add for the route planning beyond just spending way too much time looking at street view is that sometimes the best solution ends up being changing to a store or medical provider or whatever that is pleasant to get to by bike.
Whoa, I never thought about that with a wooden box. I love that you can just drill an extra hole when you need it. I've been hesitant to do anything to the UA box as I don't know what extra holes would do to its integrity...
that kickstand looks similar to some motorbikes, where you basically stand on the extended leg of the kickstand while pulling the bike - the combination of pulling + your body weight makes it easy to lift the bike
Good points. Regading no. 3: note you're moving the bike in reverse and uphill into the garage. I like parking facing out, but perhaps here you should do otherwise. The bike walk mode will help you move uphill as you park and then moving back out of the garage, gravity will do the rest. Load the kids when you're out. Regarding new routes: I used a trailer for 2 which was very wide and hard to handle as the wide part was behind me. At some point I had a mental map of all the places it wouldn't pass (learned the hard way) and then choosing a route was quick. So it gets easier with time.
motorcycle center stands can be similarly tricky to master, until you learn the trick: only push down on the stand, and let leverage do the work for you! here is a little video explaining things ruclips.net/video/YZ8615q3eAQ/видео.htmlsi=foP_lU6WvimSnrRK bear in mind that these motorcycles are ~250kg and still lifted by a small guy :)
these are unusual aspects of a cargo bike not many people talk about. the stand is the most important component by far. could you point to examples of cargo bikes which do this well?
Hi! Thanks for the video. I too am new to owning a Longjohn style cargo bike. Had mine for just 3 months. Yes true there is a learning curve and a few things to get used to. I also reverse mine into the garage, I prefer to ride out than reverse out. I wonder if you could just ride yours in, (up the driveway slope) then reverse out onto the driveway and load the kids in the driveway? I know it's not ideal , but may be a bit easier than pushing uphill... I use the "walk" feature on mine surprisingly often, especially getting my daughter to her sports fields where I would be walking on grass, often on a slope, makes it so easy! all the best (I have the R&M Transporter 85)
Biking with kids does make everything feel higher stakes (because it is). So hard when living in a place with no/ little bicycle infrastructure. It's definitely taken us some time to find our stride with that. Also isn't it wild how fast you can fill that box up? I couldn't live without my rear rack (even if just to help with organization).
Yes! I didn't get a rear rack initially cause I figured I've got this huge box that will fit everything. But it fills up so quick with the kids and their stuff! Then there is stuff I want to keep away from the kids, like eggs. So I'm very excited to start using my new rack!
If only there was a way to add a large compartment for passengers and a motor capable of highway speeds, maybe add air conditioning and heating. Comfortable large seats for long journeys. Something you wouldn't have to pedal the whole time. I think that would be really popular.
Ooh the reverse-assist option is a great idea.
wow, right on point. most heavy ebikes have these problems. they show up especially when a city has little to no bike infrastructure. they are not nimble as regular bikes. thanks for nice videos. keep posting more please
Thanks!
oh man those roads look treacherous, stay safe! and thanks for the video
Iv had a cargo bike for two decades now and the stand issue you have will always be an issue when you have a big load .
I use my kids old leather belts for strapping stuff to the frame or go to a rubber store they have various bungee attachment mechanisms
Good to see folks making an effort. Stay passionate!
Thank you!!
I've been using UA for over 3 years now. I love it, but there are few pain points. The kickstand is difficult to engage, but I think that applies to all cargo bikes. My problem with it is a bit different - the kickstand cannot be locked, so it folds on its own when parked on even slight slope. Also, it cannot be used on uneven surfaces (or soft ground as you have shown). However, I have the biggest issues with the raincover - it constantly rips around windows, it cannot be folded and stored inside the box.
I did see in some social media posts that UA had a bad batch of raincovers somewhat recently. They were sewn too tight and were ripping. (I think UA would replace them under warranty but I'm not sure.) I agree about the storage. The raincover is a pain to fold up and store!
I own a folding V shaped bike transporter rack I bought about 7 years ago that fits onto my car's tow bar (hitch) and it carries two normal bikes hanging by their crossbars.
When I was looking at e-bikes and perhaps getting a full or semi step through with no crossbar I found out that there are adjustable cross bars that can be fitted to transport bikes on a rack like mine. My new e-bike is going to have a crossbar anyway so I didn't need to get that temporary crossbar for transporting.
Also a crossbar is just SO CONVENIENT for adding a full sized triangle frame bag for storage.
And adding a front basket can be very convenient keeping everything you need to hand.
On my current ordinary hybrid bicycle I have 5 litre handlebars bags hanging front and back of my handlebars, plus a mini double pannier style bags on the front of the top tube AND ANOTHER 2 litre phone/storage bag sitting on top of that again.
And a cheap 25 litre double pannier permanently on my rear rack.
I can drop a much bigger double panniers right over the 25 litre bags for much more carrying capacity up to 70 litres and bolt on a large basket (actually a large plastic supermarket vegetable display basket!) for more capacity if I need to.
But since I also have 2 large trailers I don't often need to.
All of these are cheap and generic brands from Amazon or AliExpress and cost between €3-€10. The supermarket basket was free.
So perhaps you can look into fitting a removable top bar for allowing you to balance and support the bike without holding onto the handlebars and for the options for convenient storage bag options you currently haven't got. Use it when you want and take it off when you don't.
I obviously don't have a cargo bike but my bikes are nonetheless always going to be kitted out as practical utilitarian car alternatives and storage is a major necessity for me.
A cycling minimalist or purist I definitely am not! 😂
I also have a 30cm/12 inch handlebars extension fitted to give me plenty of additional free space for lights, horn and anything else I want to add.
This is just my own personal experience and how I'm fitting out non cargo bikes or e-bikes as I find most practical for my use.
Perhaps you might find something useful for you to bring to your Urban Arrow.
Great to see your channel growing so quickly.
Your presentation and shared experiences are just so very authentic. 🙏👌
Nice! You sound like you know what you're doing!
HI fellow urban arrow owner here! So this may end up being harder but the stea has a handle below it and if you use that to lift up you can just kick te stand down then lower the bike on to the ground. me being a generally fit dude this is easy for me (your milage may vary) but i've found this is quite convenient..
Thanks for the tip. I'll try it!
I was a bicycle messenger for 5 years and 100% agree about that kickstand! The only trick I learned to overcome it is to lean back and let momentum do as much work as possible, one hand on the handlebar, one hand on the rear rack. Also, when manoeuvring it when you off the bike always use the rack over the saddle to move it.
oh, also that stand is friction based! You can adjust it and it WILL come loose over time. Bear in mind as a messenger I was making 80 to 90 stops a day, our mechanics used to have to tighten these stands every 4 to 6 months. This might not be an issue for a regular user.
Pulling a bike like the Urban Arrow on its stand is the wrong technique. A cargo bike with a stand with those L-shapes is very easy to put on its stand. Just make sure both legs are on the ground and push with your foot on the L-shaped stand. You don’t need to pull, just keep the bike in balance. Of course oneven ground or dirt that’s not supportive enough for the weight of the bike is a no go.
Maybe could benefit from pushbutton electric-downward-movement of the kickstand?
BTW: deep technical observations and content!
Maybe a rear parking brake could help prevent trike from rolling forward when up on stand?
I finally gave up on the kickstand on my Bamboo Cycles Merced and removed the damn thing. It kept bending under the weight when I had a particularly heavy load, was the first thing to catch on root-heaved sidewalks, and it added so much noise with the steering linkage banging against it with every bump. I just lean the bike up against walls now, or all the way over onto one side of the box. Of course, I never have humans in mine!
😄Good solution! I'm still treating mine like a delicate flower at this point.
Thanks for sharing this refreshingly relatable list. My wife and I have been checking out the UA recently and we wholeheartedly agree with the kick stand comment. While it creates a rock solid base for loading or unloading, wow it’s a lot of effort to get onto, especially on smooth garage concrete floors. We plan to fly to NYC to checkout a bunch of other options and this is an important criteria. I hope it’s better on the UA Next, but it doesn’t look any different to me.
Yeah, I've heard it's not any different on the new UA model unfortunately.
I'd love to try one of these, they look really interesting, I'm sure it's totally different experience. I'd be worried about it being taken while I'm in the store though, but I guess you could get insurance for that?
You can get insurance! I am planning to get some but haven't gotten around to doing so yet. I really should tho!
#5 is an infrastructure issue, not a cargo bike issue. Of course, that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. It’s a shame our transportation professionals and elected officials don’t see safe bike routes as a higher priority.
Agreed!
Thanks for making this video. I'm new to the world of e-bikes myself so it's good to learn from the experience of others about these nature of things. I've been particularly looking at the Urban Arrow bikes too for when time comes. But at the moment, I'm using a rack-mounted seat for my little one. I believe that with continued use, you'll be able to ignore these issues that you have mentioned. I can perfectly understand your anxiety about routes, cos I feel it too. I usually just try to look, time and again and again, on Google Maps using virtual navigation to see what the route looks like. If that's something you could try (assuming you haven't already done that).
And you've got a new subscriber here too!
Thanks for the comment! I do spend a lot of time on the Google Maps satellite view. Like a lot of time. 😅
I own UA for a few years at this point and rode over 3000 miles on it. Kick stand is not an issue, honestly.
You can actually stand on the edge of the stand and use your weight to put it on the stand.
And for taking off - just start pedaling.
Thanks! I've had a couple people recommend standing on it. I'll have to give that a try.
Oh my god, I never really thought about that walk assist mode because it is not really useful in our life but in reverse it would be quite handy. I don't really have problem with reversing our bikes to garage but my wife does have a bit because of the weight and small incline. That could be useful feature.
Hi, I just wanted to add that it's not going to be possible to have a "reverse" feature on the bike(s) as there is a "freehub" which allows the bike to coast, while you are not pedalling. for the bike to have a reversing feature it would have to be a fixed gear system. (single speed)
Kind of wondered about that. I don't know anything about how these hubs work but you know, in a perfect world...🤷♀️
@@davidlacey1200 I bet the ‘technical’ bits of being able to reverse are really straightforward. I can quite see it being offered on heavy bikes in the near future.
I've found the kickstand on our Riese and Muller cargo bike (also only had it for a month!) can also be challenging when the box is loaded up, or on an incline. It's a bit different design, but the same general principle and positioning. But I'm getting a little more used to it. I hadn't really clued in about the lack of top tube, but as soon as you mentioned that, it made total sense to my experience too. But, overall, I'm still very glad to have the bike, and the advantages are very much outweighing the disadvantages!
I totally agree. I'm really loving the bike overall!
I love your list!
I do that balance thing with my Cetma, Packster or GSD a lot. I had never thought about them being a little more mid-step than low-step, but they really are, which I guess does kind of help. I also kind of love the old school plain wood box for being easy to just drill and make into whatever you need. The Cetma box is the most simple, and rather than treat it as precious I've always just drilled holes for whatever I need.
Also, backing a big bike up even a little hill is HARD. Could you use walk mode to get to the top, then sort of make a 3 point turn to limit how far you need to reverse? It's a ridiculous and expensive suggestion but you could actually get yourself reverse (and regen breaking, and turbo-boost) by adding a direct drive front hub motor. I've done that to my GSD (without bothering to sort out reverse mode) and I love it, but also I live on a ridiculous steep hill and just like playing with DIY ebike stuff.
The extra I would add for the route planning beyond just spending way too much time looking at street view is that sometimes the best solution ends up being changing to a store or medical provider or whatever that is pleasant to get to by bike.
Whoa, I never thought about that with a wooden box. I love that you can just drill an extra hole when you need it. I've been hesitant to do anything to the UA box as I don't know what extra holes would do to its integrity...
that kickstand looks similar to some motorbikes, where you basically stand on the extended leg of the kickstand while pulling the bike - the combination of pulling + your body weight makes it easy to lift the bike
Thanks, I'm going to have to try standing on the kickstand more. Instead of just holding it in place while my arms do the work. 😅
@@KidsAndBicyclesI came here to say this too 😊
Good points.
Regading no. 3: note you're moving the bike in reverse and uphill into the garage. I like parking facing out, but perhaps here you should do otherwise. The bike walk mode will help you move uphill as you park and then moving back out of the garage, gravity will do the rest. Load the kids when you're out.
Regarding new routes: I used a trailer for 2 which was very wide and hard to handle as the wide part was behind me. At some point I had a mental map of all the places it wouldn't pass (learned the hard way) and then choosing a route was quick. So it gets easier with time.
Thanks for the encouragement! I think there will be a lot of 'learned the hard way' 😅
2:50 - 'walk assist'. Maybe back down the driveway.
motorcycle center stands can be similarly tricky to master, until you learn the trick: only push down on the stand, and let leverage do the work for you! here is a little video explaining things ruclips.net/video/YZ8615q3eAQ/видео.htmlsi=foP_lU6WvimSnrRK bear in mind that these motorcycles are ~250kg and still lifted by a small guy :)
Good video! Thanks, I'm going to try this!
these are unusual aspects of a cargo bike not many people talk about. the stand is the most important component by far. could you point to examples of cargo bikes which do this well?
I only have experience with with the Urban Arrow so I don't really know what other manufactures do. @CargoBikeLife might know more.
It's a good looking bike!
Thanks! Overall it is a lot of fun!
Some of these things sound like you won't even notice them anymore in about 12 months. Also, I think the anxiety will subside. Just keep riding. 😀
I think so too! Thanks!
I can confirm after 6 months this is true for me.
Hi! Thanks for the video. I too am new to owning a Longjohn style cargo bike. Had mine for just 3 months. Yes true there is a learning curve and a few things to get used to. I also reverse mine into the garage, I prefer to ride out than reverse out. I wonder if you could just ride yours in, (up the driveway slope) then reverse out onto the driveway and load the kids in the driveway? I know it's not ideal , but may be a bit easier than pushing uphill... I use the "walk" feature on mine surprisingly often, especially getting my daughter to her sports fields where I would be walking on grass, often on a slope, makes it so easy! all the best (I have the R&M Transporter 85)
Thanks for the feedback! And nice bike, I bet it's awesome!
I think this was the weirdest list of cons.
🤷♀️
The lack of top tube balance the bike catches me often. No simple fix for that unfortunately.
🙁
Biking with kids does make everything feel higher stakes (because it is). So hard when living in a place with no/ little bicycle infrastructure. It's definitely taken us some time to find our stride with that. Also isn't it wild how fast you can fill that box up? I couldn't live without my rear rack (even if just to help with organization).
Yes! I didn't get a rear rack initially cause I figured I've got this huge box that will fit everything. But it fills up so quick with the kids and their stuff! Then there is stuff I want to keep away from the kids, like eggs. So I'm very excited to start using my new rack!
If only there was a way to add a large compartment for passengers and a motor capable of highway speeds, maybe add air conditioning and heating. Comfortable large seats for long journeys. Something you wouldn't have to pedal the whole time. I think that would be really popular.
😄 If only! Luckily, I don't want any of those things.
Typical cager response 🙄
Should have been titiled : Suburban Mom Playing Urban Hipster finds Two Car Garage bad Fit For Three vehicles
😄 Ha, do hipsters still exist? I wouldn't know.
Mom ain't playin