At right is the Wittwer Bike Train.
This is what I rode before my bakfiets came along. My eldest son rode in the
middle on a trail-a-bike, and my two younger sons sat in the trailer. Now, this did
work (mostly), but the maneuverability was not grand.
Below is the bakfiets I have now, and I love having my kids in the front. What else makes a bakfiets special? Here are all the details.
Now this is the whole bakfiets. It is about 8 feet long. Here you see
my son, Asa, happily sitting in the jump seat. I added the milk crate basket
on the back.
The running boards show the simplicity and efficiency of
this bike design. The floor of the box extends out a tad at the front, creating
running boards which my sons use with ease.
Except for my eldest son, Kael, he likes to do a "Dukes of Hazard" jump into the box.
Most people ask about the small wheel in the front and if it is hard to use. It took me one block to get used to the feel. After that, I do not even notice. Plus, I like how the smaller wheel allows for tighter turns. The wheels have disc breaks and Marathon tires with
reflective sidewalls--bonus visibility. Each wheel has a metal fender with mud flap.
The light is run by a generator and has three settings: Off,
On with light sensor, On all of the time. It is bright right from the first
pedal. The front light also casts some rays to the sides which gives bonus
visibility. The back light is also run off of the generator. Enough charge is
kept that the lights stay on full force at stops.
I often grab my bakfiets even if I am not transporting
anything simply because it is already set up for everything I need: no need to
grab and clip on lights, grab a lock, or do the pants-leg-roll-up.
I can ride to work with this bike. The chain guard will allow for me to not worry about my
shoelaces or slacks. The frame style is step-through with the ability to have
both feet on the ground for stops. The seat (whoops, I mean saddle) is made by Brooks out of leather, metal, and rivets, sturdy as all can be. It will still be around after the apocalypse. The rack on the back has two
integrated bungees and is rated for 70 pounds. My bakfiets has 8 gears which is enough to haul everything I need up the hills of Portland, making this bike is a great
urban transporter.
I love the sealed hub. Anything that says “no need to worry about me” is my type of feature. This hub is virtually maintenance free and has a 305% gear range (anyone want to explain that to me?). Sheldon Brown spoke well of the internal hub. Sheldon Brown was a bike legend, and full of free information, including for beginners, family cycling, and DIYers.
Tie-rod steering was one aspect of the bike of which I was unsure. After
growing up with the handlebars above the wheel, tie-rod steering seemed odd.
However, like everything else on this bike, simplicity is its efficiency. My bakfiets has smooth steering and responds just like my other bikes do. The bike
frame is powder-coated and has a layer of rust prevention under that (again, if
I do not have to worry about it--it is my type of bike).
The bike’s most outstanding and eye catching
feature is the box ("Bak"), or maybe it is just my wild kids who are in the box. Marine grade
plywood allows me to use this bike year-round without worry. Rated for 180
pounds, this box seats my three sons comfortably, two on the seat and one in
the bow, looking backward. The seat folds up for large hauls or if my youngest wants to
nap on the floor of the box. The box seat comes with two child harnesses. A second seat can be installed in front of the one
with which the bike comes. I do not have this feature, but it is good to know
that people are out there making modifications to even better serve the owner.
It does not rain as much as you would expect in Portland, but it does rain. For this reason, I got a rain canopy for the box. With a strong, flexible
skeleton the canopy fits right on top and is held down with four ties. The
back of the canopy rolls up so I can still tell jokes with my kids. It
works for cold weather too, protecting the kids from the cold wind as we speedily (ha!) head to school.
I love not having to remember to grab my lock off of my other bike. The lock on my bakfiets is mounted to the bike and when engaged, puts a bolt
through the spokes of the back wheel, making movement impossible.
Thank goodness for the four-point kickstand of infinite
stability, centered just so and easy to lift up and down with your foot. This allows for easy packing and unpacking of kids (or stuff, if you are helping people move by bike).
Next time you leave your house, grab your bike and have a wheely good time.
This post is part two of a three-part series. Part Three, BAK to Basics, will showcase the integration of this bike in my family.
