Cargo Bikes vs Bike Trailers
own Let’s look at cargo bikes vs bike trailers for a couple different cases: first, for everyday, around-town user. Next, we’ll consider what’s best for a bike tour with children.
To qualify my answers, I’ve owned single wheel trailers like the BOB trailer, two wheeled kid carrying trailers. I’ve owned long flatbed trailers like the Bikes-at-Work trailer. I’ve also owned a variety of cargo bikes including a Surly Big Dummy longtail cargo bike, an electric Yuba Mundo and a bakfiets frontloader cargo bike.
With that context, let’ts get on to the comparison!
Is a cargo bike or bike trailer better around town?
With a decade of experience, the answer is clear: cargo bikes are better when they are option. You see people make the same choice when it comes to cars– you see a lot more pickup trucks and vans out there then then you do sedans hauling trailers. Here’s why cargo bikes are better than trailers:
- Less overtime time to start and return. On a cargo bike, you just get on and go. With a trailer, you may need to spend some minutes hooking it up or unhooking it, even if it’s a quick release. For frequent or short trips, that’s quite annoying.
- Mechanically simpler. A longtail cargo bike has a longer frame, a longer chain and some longer cables, but none of these things really add to mechanical complexity. With a trailer, you’ve got two wheels that can get flat tires, a hitch and any number of additional bolts or things that may need maintenance.
- Less rolling resistance. Every additional tire on the road slows your roll a bit.
- No tipping hazard. Two wheeled trailers have the potential to tip when corning.
- A softer ride. The wheels of a cargo bike will be bigger, creating a more cushioned ride A light trailer might not only be a harsher ride, it has the potential bounce into the air when going over a bump.
- Lighter. Maybe. This depends on the cargo bike and the the trailer, but the overall simpler design of a cargo bike may lead to a lighter weight. Compare a particular cargo bike and trailer to check for yourself!
Given all the benefits of cargo bikes over trailers, I still own and use a Bikes-at-Work flatbed trailer. Because, well, you can’t find fridges, 16′ ladders and 8′ couches on a cargo bike. And when I can’t fit a load on the cargo bike, I’m happy to have the trailer. But in context, the cargo bikes get like 100x more use, because most loads are much smaller.
Enough talk! Let’s demonstrate with photos.
For the biggest loads, trailers are best!
Is a cargo bike or bike trailer better for bike touring with kids?
When we were planning a family bike tour, one of our big decisions was whether to use a bike trailer to carry one or two children or to use a cargo bike.
After seriously considering a bike trailer, we ultimately chose to use a cargo bike instead.
Bike trailers provide some protection from the sun and rain for one or two children. A trailer also provides the flexibility of additional cargo space.
But in favor of a cargo bike, at eight years old, our largest child was soon to grow out of any trailer. The trailer adds significant weight on it’s own. We also already had a cargo bike.
We decided that if the weather was bad enough to take shelter from, then adults and children should all take shelter together. So we chose the cargo bike as the lighter, faster and more convenient option.
The decision to use a cargo bike instead of a trailer was one was one we never second guessed. “I wish we had a bike trailer” never came up during the trip.
But if happen to be looking a bike trailer for taller/older children, the best one I found was the Wike trailer, with 30 inches (76 cm) of headroom.
Weather canopies for cargo bikes
There are some weather canopies for cargo bikes offer that the convenience of the cargo bike with some of the weather protection of trailer.
For around town, We loved the weather canopy on our bakfiets:
But since our daughter was about six years old, she no longer fit underneath the bakfiets canopy. Also, there was no convenient way to store that model of canopy when not in use— it hung in the garage like a stiff sail. So when we took the box bike on tour when our daughter was a year and a half old, we left the canopy at home anyway.
Weather canopy for longtail cargo bikes like Xtracycle, Surly Big Dummy or Yuba Mundo
In 2022, there’s a best-of-both-worlds solution for longtail cargo bikes, which is the 250 Pop Top Cover made by Yuba. They report it fits their longtail cargo bikes including the Mundo, Spicy Curry, Boda Boda and Kombi. Xtracycle reports that it fits on their Hooptie as well.
The downside of the Pop Top is that can’t readily be removed and stored on the bike, so once it’s on for a trip, you are committed to it. It might be perfect for persistent use in a cold or rainy season, but for a summer bike tour I would be tempted to opt for individual shade protection and rain jackets instead.
DIY cargo bike rain covers
Before the Yuba Pop Top was available, people had a number of creative ways to adds weather protection to their cargo bikes, like hacking moped rain covers.
For longtail bikes, I love the look of the DIY Covered Bike Wagon Canopy by Laurence Clarkberg:
You can read more about how Laurence made the covered bike wagon canopy.
Another thing I’ve seen for a DIY cargo bike rain covers is to re-purpose a hood from a stroller or a child carrier backpack. Here’s one made from a stoller hood:
Even Keel Trail Bars Recipe
This is a family-friendly, make-ahead recipe for family bike camping– the kind I used on Mother’s Day Off family bike camping trips. These calorie-dense no-bake trail bars were designed for backpacking– packing the most amount of calories into the the least weight. They are also recipe my whole family enjoys.
Oatmeal Banana Bites
This is a family-friendly, make-ahead recipe for family bike camping– the kind I used on Mother’s Day Off family bike camping trips. This recipes contains the primary ingredients I like to have for breakfast anyway– oatmeal and bananas– but in a more portable format. Although they are quite healthy, they
How to carry a mattress on a bike
A twin-sized mattress can be carried on a bike by using the Bikes-at-Work Trailer. If you need a bike trailer just temporarily, you may get lucky and live a city where one might be rented or borrowed. Call your local bike shop to ask around. In the photo above, I
Elops R500 Electric Cargo Bike from Decathlon : A good longtail?
What’s all the fuss about the Elops R500, Decathlon’s electric longtail bike? We are not going to beat around the bush: Decathlon broke the market! Yes, Decathlon’s electric longtail cargo bike costs half the price of the competition. Is this e-bike really worth it?
⚠️ Since the Decathlon Elops R500 cargo bike is not available in the US, we offer you instead the Nakto Cargo, a stylish cargo bike at a more than affordable price.
My opinion on the Decathlon Elops R500
250 high-speed brushless gear engine. 36V 10Ah r emovable waterproof battery. Front drum brake and rear disc brake. 250 lbs load capacity. 3 pedal assist modes. 1 year warranty.
Budget: | Speed: 22 mph | Range: 35 miles
At the top of this year’s electric cargo bike ranking, the R500 Elops from Decathlon is a success. The first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Decathlon Elops R500 is its price. It costs around €2500 (less than 2800) when competitors offer similar models arounf €5000 (approx 5400).
The Elops R500 electric longtail cargo bike from Decathlon is perfect for replacing a car in the city and reduce its carbon footprint. Yes, electric bikes are great to preserve the planet. It is a very pleasant bike to drive and you feel very safe in it. Whether it’s for shopping, getting to work, transporting your children or just to get some fresh air. I love its design and its color, I find the association of the light blue frame and the wooden elements very modern!
The engine
The Elops R500 longtail cargo bike incorporates a motor located in the rear wheel. It is an engine made by Decathlon so it is not from Bafang, Bosch or Schwalbe, unlike other more high-end electric cargo bikes. I find the engine very efficient and this is clearly due to a good pedaling sensor. The bike “understands” when you need help and “understands” the intensity of the help you need. The motor is a 250W which goes up to 15.5 mph and its torque is 58 Nm, a good torque for climbing small and medium climbs.
The Elops R500 bike offers 5 riding modes:
- Eco Support : 90% help. It helps a bit and it preserves the battery well.
- Standard Support : 180% help. My favorite mode to move without sweating.
- Power Support : 300% help. Allows you to go as fast as possible (max 15.5 mph.)
- Walk : Transforms the bike into a motorcycle that can climb up to 4 mph. No need to pedal to move forward.
- Without support : The bike weighs 38kg (84 lbs) so I do not recommend this mode !
The battery
The battery of the Decathlon Elops R500 electric cargo bike is a big highlight : it’s a 672Wh Samsung battery that allows you to travel up to 55 miles (it’s better than most of the more expensive competing models!). It is removable and recharges rather quickly (in less than 5 hours). To conserve the battery power as much as possible, I suggest you stay in eco mode. If you put the assistance of the Elops R500 in normal or power mode, the motor will need more energy and you will do less kilometers. (43 miles in normal mode, 31 miles in power mode).
Driving comfort
On paved roads, the bike is very pleasant to ride (even with 2 children who yell sing the Pokemon credits at the back ). The front suspensions of the Decathlon Elops R500 longtail are a real pleasure to climb curbs or face the irregularities of the roads. The bike has 8 speeds (in addition to the assistance modes) which is very practical for tackling certain climbs.
Another point that I really like and contributes a lot to the driving comfort, is the central stand which allows you to raise the bike to install equipment or children on the cargo bike.
Hydraulic disc brakes
Another very good point of this EAB is its brakes. These are hydraulic disc brakes (the holy grail!) from the Tektro brand. Hydraulic disc brakes are the best brakes for this type of bike that carries heavy loads.
The size of the longtail
The Decathlon Elops R500 electric cargo bike is big! It is 220cm long, 68cm wide and 108cm high. It’s a little bigger than the majority of competitors, so you can carry a little more stuff. Also, it increases the comfort of the passengers in the back.
The price
Why does this electric cargo bike cost twice as much as the competitors? There are 2 main reasons for the price of the Decathlon Elops 500: the bike was produced in Asia and most parts of it are from Decathlon.
Conclusion
The Decathlon longtail is a very good electric cargo bike that sets a new standard in terms of quality/price ratio. Decathlon has created the electric cargo bike that ticks a lot of boxes: accessible price safe driving solid materials large loading volume. I also like that this bike is all-inclusive (accessories such as lights, footrests, locks and even the “monkey bar” at the back which is often a €250 (approx 270) option to add to the bike).
250 high-speed brushless gear engine. 36V 10Ah r emovable waterproof battery. Front drum brake and rear disc brake. 250 lbs load capacity. 3 pedal assist modes. 1 year warranty.
Budget: | Speed: 22 mph | Range: 35 miles
Family Bikes: The Best Options For Kids Cargo
We own a ridiculous amount of bikes. Brad always says the number of bikes we need is N1. It’s a joke for mathy-types, and in plain English, it means that we always need another bike.
Our collection of bikes stems from a car-free justification. Bikes are relatively cheap, easily bought secondhand, and last forever. Of our set of 9 bikes, only 3 were purchased brand new, and all of them are used on a weekly basis.
The FOCUS of our collection is on family bikes that can be used to haul kids, cats, and other cargo. Hauling stuff on a bike becomes pretty important when you don’t have a car!
Family Bikes
We have literally owned a box bike, longtail bike, kid trailer, flat trailer, tandem, trail-a-bike, bike seats, and trail-gater.
I am frequently asked about what is the best way to bike with kids, do large grocery shops or take the cats to the vet.
The answer depends on what you want to do and how much space you have to store bike-related gear. However, there is one universal truth, cheap cycling equipment sucks. I learned this lesson while cycle touring on a tandem. And it is true for every piece of cycling equipment I’ve used. Cheap bikes have cheap components that will constantly need replacing. They are heavy, and slow and make cycling a slog. I’m certain that it’s why so many people have bikes they never use.
Whenever we lend out our bikes the #1 comment we get is that the bikes practically seem to cycle themselves. And it’s not because we have electric assists. Well-maintained bikes are simply easier to ride.
Long-Tail Cargo Bike
If I was only allowed to have one bike, it would have to be my long tail. It can haul pretty much everything I need. It’s so easy to use, and it’s a pretty turquoise (never underestimate the importance of color).
- Long-tail bikes are good for hauling up to 3 kids, loads of groceries, camping gear, and more. (See photo at the top of the post).
- Mine has saddlebags and a metal frame that can be widened to fit a large plastic container. It also has zippered s that are perfect for things that I always carry with me, like reusable shopping bags, emergency snacks, bandaids, bike lights, etc.
- They are expensive. Even secondhand, they are expensive.
- I bought my bike from someone who found it too heavy. The fat wheels and long frame make it a slow bike. And the more you pile on the bike, the more you have to haul. Many long tails come with electric assists, however, that only makes them more expensive.
- Long tails are long, so storage is an issue. You can’t hang them and you need at least 5 feet of storage space.
Box bike
I love my box bike. It is so FUN to ride. And it freaks the cars out, so I get lots of space on the road. It was the perfect way to get around town when Una was a baby. We could keep her warm, cozy, and dry.
- The box area can really be loaded up with stuff. Pretty much the same amount of stuff can fit in the box bike as the long-tail bike.
- They usually come with a rain cover, so you can keep kids and cargo warm and dry on rainy days.
- It’s perfect for hauling pets. We bought our box bike from someone who used it for their dog, and we use it to take our cats to the vet.
- Box bikes are EXTREMELY heavy. They usually have an electric assist… ours doesn’t, and I actually ended up with a chronic injury from regularly commuting with two preschoolers.
- They are also very expensive.
- You need at least 6 feet of space to store a box bike.
Tandem
Tandems are pretty much only useful for hauling two people. If you want to haul more stuff then you need trailers, panniers, etc. However, they are definitely a FUN way to travel!
- Tandems are the perfect way for a strong cyclist to help someone else along.
- It’s really great for cycling longer distances with kids. They can sit in the stoker seat and help move the bike.
- It’s a good way to teach kids about riding in traffic. They get used to the traffic without having to be on their own bike or a trail-a-bike.
- They are fun for long-distance riding as both cyclists can easily chat together.
- Like the other two family bikes, tandems are more expensive; about the price of two individual bikes of similar quality.
- They need 5 feet of storage space.
Trailers
We’ve used a BOB, flatbed trailer, and Chariot trailer. The Chariot is good for hauling kids, cats, and stuff. The other two trailers are good for hauling stuff. The Bob trailer only holds a Bob bag, however, it is fast and light. The flatbed trailer can haul more than our family bikes, but it’s slower.
- Trailers are usually collapsible, so they are easy to store.
- They are also a good option for overseas travel.
- Trailers are MUCH less expensive than buying a cargo bike.
- My kids always liked napping in the trailer, making it the best option for longer rides with kids under age 3.
- They are uni-purpose. Kid trailers are best at hauling kids. Pet trailers are best for hauling pets. And cargo trailers are best for hauling cargo.
- Trailers add a lot of drag and are harder to cycle with than a similarly weighted long-tail bike.
- Towing a trailer makes you very long in traffic, and it can be hard to get around parked cars.
Trail-a-bikes
We had two different trail-a-bikes and a trail-gator. The trail-gator was certainly the most useful, because it connects a kid’s bike to your bike, allowing you to be separated again at a later point. Perfect for school drop-offs or longer rides.
- Towing a kid behind your bike is a safer way to cycle in traffic with older kids who aren’t quite ready for their own bikes.
- They are pretty inexpensive and easily found secondhand.
- They are very compact and easy to store.
- If your kid isn’t pedaling, then it’s quite heavy to tow them along behind you.
- No matter how much you shim them, trail-a-bikes are a bit wobbly. They get easier as kids learn how to balance, but in the beginning, your kid will knock you around, and it’s quite hard on your shoulders to hold everything steady.
Bike Seats
There are a ton of different bike seat brands. Some people swear by a handlebar seat. Others love rear seats. We owned this handlebar seat and this rear seat.
- Child bike seats are FUN. The view is good. They can easily talk with you. We zap-strapped toys and snack containers to the bike seat, and it was always fun.
- They are perfect for toddler-aged kids that you need to keep an eye on.
- Bike seats are much less expensive than other options and they are easy to store.
- Front seats really only work for certain body types. I could never really wrap around it and still see well enough to cycle.
- Rear bike seats require a lot of strength and balance to hoist a kid up behind you.
- My kids always fell asleep in the bike seats. Then I would have to cycle with them slumped over in an unstable way. We even had a reclining rear seat made for kids to sleep in, but they still always slumped sideways.
- They are only good for 1 kid.
Review: BTWIN Cargo R500E Longtail for € 2,799 – What can Decathlon’s new cargo bike do?
With the BTWIN Cargo R500E Longtail from Decathlon, grocery shopping, trips with the kids or transporting crates of beer should be child’s play. A transport miracle which retails at a remarkable € 2,799? How does this cargo bike compare to high end cargo bikes? Read all the answers in our review.
Who can’t relate to this – a late dash to the supermarket on Saturday afternoon to buy the last few items for Sunday brunch with friends? But as soon as you arrive downtown, the queues of cars winding through the streets make you feel like you’ve landed in a steel snake pit. In the end, what should have been a short shopping trip becomes an hours-long odyssey and more often than not spoils the mood. Fortunately, there is a simple solution to this dilemma: the cargo bike. For decades now, generously-loaded bikes have been used to transport bulky and heavy loads or additional people.
Combining them with electric motors once again significantly expanded the possible uses of cargo bikes. The sporting goods manufacturer Decathlon has recognised this potential and is launching the BTWIN Cargo R500E Longtail, an electric cargo bike at the attractive retail price of € 2,799. For a small surcharge of about € 50 to € 250, depending on which options you choose, you get a comprehensive equipment package with a well-thought-out transport concept to carry loads and people safely. A 58 Nm rear wheel motor that draws its power from a Samsung battery with a capacity of 672 Wh helps to power the 38 kg cargo bike.
The Decathlon BTWIN Cargo R500E Longtail transport options at a glance
When buying the Decathlon BTWIN Cargo R500E Longtail, you can choose between different transport options and combine them to match your personal needs. The basic version of the e-cargo bike only comes with a rear carrier, which doubles as a bench seat, complete with footrests, the front carrier and a safety bar. All storage and seating surfaces are made of bamboo. As additional transport options for goods or people, you can choose between seat cushions, child seats, and side s with a 50 litre volume. On the rear cargo area, the safety bar is standardised to fit the dimensions of Euro containers (60 x 40 cm or 30 x 40 cm). Individual combinations are possible: whether a child seat and a small Euro container, 2 children sitting behind each other, or side s in combination with a large Euro container – Tetris aficionados will be on Cloud nine because the pieces always fit.
Not only Decathlon’s own products find space on the support bar but also other bags with compatible systems can be placed securely on the side of the rear. Of course, you can also transport your own shopping bags and beer crates without any problems.The bike can carry a maximum load of 170 kg, including the rider. The rear carrier may be loaded with up to 80 kg and the front basket with a maximum of 10 kg, which at full load leaves a maximum weight of 80 kg for the rider. The BTWIN Cargo R500E Longtail offers an ample amount of space and can be generously packed. When fully loaded, however, getting off the kickstand is a little difficult. Thankfully, starting off with cargo is no problem due to the powerful start assist, which can also be used as a walk assist. As a little extra, Decathlon have sized the front basket to the dimensions of a six pack beer caddy – cheers! Unfortunately, the height of the beer caddy reduces the radius of the steering angle – the front basket is, therefore, more suitable for flat items no more than approximately 20 cm in height.
The Decathlon BTWIN Cargo R500E Longtail motor concept in detail
Cycling uphill can leave you breathless, even when riding a light bike and without a load, that’s why electric assistance for cargo bikes makes perfect sense. With its BTWIN Cargo R500E Longtail, Decathlon rely on a fairly quiet rear wheel motor from Vision with 58 Nm torque and three support levels ranging from Eco to Normal to Power. The motor draws its energy from a Samsung battery with a capacity of 672 Wh and is moderately large for a cargo bike. As we experienced first hand, the motor provides powerful support, and starting off is also no problem. The start and push assist integrated into the handlebars provides assistance up to a speed of 6 km/h and makes it easy to start moving, even with a maximum load.
Information about speed, battery status and driving mode can easily be read from the display. Additionally, you will find the estimated range, the distance covered during the trip, and the total distance travelled so far. The assistance is controlled via easy to understand plus and minus buttons beside the display. Next to them are the buttons for waking up the bike and for switching the lights on and off. The buttons work without any problems, but the material and finish feel somewhat low-quality. When the lights are switched on, the display also gets illuminated so that the information is easy to read even in the dark. Overall, the display provides a good overview of all the important information. Visually, however, it looks a little outdated and made us think of our fifth-grade calculator.
The features of the baby blue pack mule
In contrast to a four legged mule, which can quickly weigh over 400 kg, the BTWIN Cargo R500E Longtail only weighs 38 kg. Instead of four legs, the cargo bike is carried by a 26″ wheel at the front and a 20″ wheel at the rear, giving it a pleasantly low centre of gravity. The tyres, which are relatively narrow at 2.15″, only dampen the rear end moderately and, according to Decathlon, can vary between CST Brooklyn Pro C1996 or Schwalbe Big Ben Plus depending on the production batch and availability. The MicroSHIFT gear lever with only eight gears is a little outdated, while the TEKTRO disc brakes at the front and rear are of average size at 180 mm, and as a result you won’t really enjoy a long downhill ride with luggage. Evening shopping is also possible with the BTWIN Cargo R500E Longtail, as a rear light with brake light function and a front light underneath the basket are permanently installed. Thanks to the clever positioning, they are not concealed even when the bike is loaded, but they do not produce much light by today’s standards. Thanks to the standard frame lock, the bike can also be quickly parked and locked in front of the supermarket. If you want more security, you can chain your bike to the nearest lamp post with a compatible frame lock chain. For even more safety, a GPS tracker would be an advantage, but that would probably be too expensive for series production, and it’s easy enough to add one yourself. It’s also no surprise that the Decathlon bike does not allow you to let off steam à la West Coast Customs with only one colour variant available: baby blue.
Swift speedster or bulky barge? – The BTWIN Cargo R500E Longtail on test
In terms of design, for the BTWIN Cargo R500E Longtail, Decathlon seem to have been inspired by both Pythagoras and a little Bavarian sturdiness. The top tube merges straight into the seat stay and, in combination with the wooden elements, creates a modern look. The workmanship is solid, but the weld seams should not be viewed too closely. The rear wheel, including the motor and gears, is covered for a clean look. It also protects children from getting their legs in the spokes or getting dirty – Smart! Getting on and off the bike would be easier if the frame was a little lower, but, instead, the bike retains its clean lines.
In everyday use, you will notice that before starting off, you have to use your own strength to lift the bike over the tipping point of the stand. The handle under the saddle can help here, but when fully loaded you have to use some force to lift the bike off the stand. However, the position of the stand is well-engineered and the bike stands securely. When actually starting off, almost no power needs to be applied on the flat ground. The thumb-operated start assist on the handlebar provides dynamic support, even if you forget to shift to an easier gear before stopping and you are stuck in a gear that makes it hard to pedal. Once the bike starts moving, it runs quite stably. Thanks to the small rear wheel, the centre of gravity is very low even when fully loaded and the BTWIN Cargo R500E Longtail impresses with its smooth handling. The small rear wheel is also very advantageous for the motor concept based on wheel revolutions, as the faster the wheel turns, the more power you get. In addition, the suspension fork from SR Suntour and the wide saddle ensure a comfortable ride. The ergonomically-shaped handlebar with the short stem provides a safe riding feel.
The cargo bike is only available in one size, but it is well-suited for people from 160 to 190 cm tall. This is made possible by the continuously adjustable saddle, whereby the sloping seat tube not only adjusts the seating position upwards but also backwards, thus changing the reach – roughly the distance between the rider’s centre of gravity and the handlebars. Despite its length of 220 cm, the BTWIN Cargo R500E Longtail requires no training and can be ridden like a normal bike. This is a decisive advantage over many Long John bikes, which often need some time to get used to, as you can read in our cargo bike comparison test. The only thing you have to watch out for when getting on the bike is that you don’t hit the shopping or your child with your leg – or put yourself and the bike in a precarious situation. Speaking of not hitting something: The gear lever sits relatively far to the left, so that people with smaller hands may find it impossible to shift gears without repositioning their hand. Also, the buttons on the remote are a little hard to reach while riding if you don’t want to let go of the handlebar.
The hub motor gives the pack mule a good oomph and provides powerful support up to 25 km/h. Even after that, the support doesn’t just suddenly drop off, but slowly fades out, providing a harmonious feeling when pedalling. The BTWIN Cargo 500E is less suitable for mountainous areas or very hilly routes, as the 58 Nm unit reaches its limit as soon as it needs to ascend a steep incline. The cassette with its range of only 255% does not really favour uphill riding, but is somewhat compensated by the small rear wheel. However, the gears are absolutely sufficient for city riding. Unlike a mid-mounted motor, the hub motor in the Decathlon lacks torque. Especially on inclines, the disadvantage of the drive system compared to mid-mounted motors is strongly noticeable. On the straights and when accelerating, however, the rear-wheel motor of the BTWIN Cargo R500E Longtail is on a par with a mid-mounted motor. The Cargobike from Decathlon can certainly handle daily commutes to the supermarket and kindergarten without having to stop to recharge. Of course, it can’t compete with bikes with dual batteries, such as the Riese Müller Packster 70 Vario with 1000 Wh.
In narrow alleys you need to stay sharp, as the bike has a relatively large turning circle due to its wide wheelbase, which makes it less responsive and manoeuvrable. Attention is also needed with higher kerbs! The low ground clearance can lead to unintentional touchdowns when going over large bumps. It doesn’t take much for the stand to make a metallic grinding noise to indicate that it is involuntarily kissing the ground. Even when heavily loaded, the Decathlon cargo bike provides a stable riding experience. Thanks to the low centre of gravity, it does not lurch around. Even bends can be ridden comfortably without the feeling of tipping over. You’ll only feel limited when lifting the bike on and off the stand, on steep inclines, and in terms of the bike’s range. With a heavy load, on steep slopes, using the highest assistance level, and depending on the gear selected, the battery charge drops much faster than riding without a load on the level ground.
Tuning Tip: install a GPS tracker, e. g. Apple AirTag | high-quality security lock | Euro containers as the perfect transport option
In conclusion
The BTWIN Cargo R500E Longtail fulfils every frugal person’s dream of an inexpensive pack mule. For a highly competitive price, you get a visually-pleasing cargo bike that unfortunately skimps on the display design and the lighting. The Decathlon bike impresses with its one-size-fits-all concept and versatile transport options. The bike is ideal for a shopping trip in the city or the commute to the kindergarten. On hilly and long stretches, however, it quickly reaches its limits.
Tops
- very attractive price
- low centre of gravity
- elegant look
- compatible with Euro containers
Flops
- old-fashioned display
- the motor struggles on steep climbs
- lifting the bike off the stand is a bit difficult when loaded
- the lighting is rather dim
You can find more about at decathlon.de
Words: Gabriel Knapp Photos: Peter Walker