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Here's my current favorite cargo bike and bike trailer.
The wagon has wheelchair hubs with rims and pneumatic tires from a mountain bike.
The wagon frame is lashed together from hockey sticks and other sticks.
It's strong and easy to change.
It's survived years of heavy scavenging at [miters.mit.edu MITERS] and a couple of trips to Burning Man.
The bike's front and rear racks are welded on from pieces of bicycle frames and broken ikea chairs.
The rear rack has a simple cleat that makes it easy to lash the trailer on with innertube.
I hang two milk crates over the front rack.
The wagon has wheelchair hubs with rims and pneumatic tires from a mountain bike.
The wagon frame is lashed together from hockey sticks and other sticks.
It's strong and easy to change.
It's survived years of heavy scavenging at [miters.mit.edu MITERS] and a couple of trips to Burning Man.
The bike's front and rear racks are welded on from pieces of bicycle frames and broken ikea chairs.
The rear rack has a simple cleat that makes it easy to lash the trailer on with innertube.
I hang two milk crates over the front rack.
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Signing UpStep 1The Wagon
I used this wagon at burning man.
As many as four people rode on it at once. Even a Polish film crew and all their gear.
It was plenty strong and easy to pull.
To make it more comfortable I lashed an army-surplus stretcher on top of it.
I would bike along on the playa until I saw a pedestrian looking around in a despairing sort of way.
I knew what had happened. They'd gone for a walk. They'd walked and walked looking at all the amazing things, and finally they'd gotten tired. They looked around and realized that it was just as far to walk back, but they were tired already.
I rode up with my wagon and said "want a ride?" They'd say "oh my god yes please!". And I'd give them a ride in what direction they wanted to go. After a block or two I asked if they wanted to pedal. They'd say "yes of course" and then we'd trade places. I'd lie down on the wagon and they'd give me a ride to wherever they were going. Laying on the wagon facing backward made the scenery move in an interesting way. It also put my head closer to the bike, which made conversation easier.
When we got to the destination they'd invite me in to see their art and camp. That was interesting, I saw things I would never have known were there otherwise. People gave me blinky LED things to make my wagon more visible at night and lightsticks that I wove into the spokes.
Several people told me that my bike wagon ride was their best experience at burningman. That made me feel really good.
As many as four people rode on it at once. Even a Polish film crew and all their gear.
It was plenty strong and easy to pull.
To make it more comfortable I lashed an army-surplus stretcher on top of it.
I would bike along on the playa until I saw a pedestrian looking around in a despairing sort of way.
I knew what had happened. They'd gone for a walk. They'd walked and walked looking at all the amazing things, and finally they'd gotten tired. They looked around and realized that it was just as far to walk back, but they were tired already.
I rode up with my wagon and said "want a ride?" They'd say "oh my god yes please!". And I'd give them a ride in what direction they wanted to go. After a block or two I asked if they wanted to pedal. They'd say "yes of course" and then we'd trade places. I'd lie down on the wagon and they'd give me a ride to wherever they were going. Laying on the wagon facing backward made the scenery move in an interesting way. It also put my head closer to the bike, which made conversation easier.
When we got to the destination they'd invite me in to see their art and camp. That was interesting, I saw things I would never have known were there otherwise. People gave me blinky LED things to make my wagon more visible at night and lightsticks that I wove into the spokes.
Several people told me that my bike wagon ride was their best experience at burningman. That made me feel really good.
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Listen to Jeri Ellsworth talking about how she got started collecting tools, parts, and skills as a kid