Local eCargo bike user's experience

Can you tell me about your bike and why you chose it?

I have got a Mycle Cargo Bike which is quite a new British make of cargo bikes. I wanted to get a longtail bike rather than one with a box on the front because it felt more like riding a standard bike and I chose to buy the Mycle bike because it was a fair bit cheaper than other similar models.

Why did you start using an eBike?

I was fed up of sitting in traffic during my commute and wanted to reduce car usage to reduce my impact on the environment.

There wasn’t enough time to do the school run in the car and then cycle to work on a standard bike, so I looked into a cargo bike that would allow me to transport my children to school and then carry on to work. It is the perfect solution because it not only saves money on fuel, but it is significantly faster than driving this journey as well.

What do you normally use your bike for?

I use my bike for everything now. I can take the kids to school and to their activities, I commute to work and visit my parents. I can have 2 kids sat on the back of the bike and I found a trailer suitable for newborns so I can transport 3 kids at once, and my husband and I can even go on the bike together for an evening out.

What do you feel are the benefits of using a bike for these journeys?

I like that it is still exercise, even with the electric assist you have to keep pedalling and you can adjust how much assist you want at any time.

I also really enjoy riding the bike, it makes the journeys more enjoyable and gives me freedom. Travelling by bike can be quicker than driving, especially when commuting, so I save time, but it also saves money on fuel.

I estimated that last year I saved around £2000 on fuel by using my bike rather than a car. It is completely multipurpose and everyone in the house loves it.

How do you find riding an eBike compared to a standard bike?

Longtail bikes are more similar to standard bikes than cargo bikes with a box on the front, so I found that it didn’t take long to get used to riding it.

It is heavier than a standard bike, but it is nicely balanced and streamlined so you don’t notice this when you are cycling