The evolution of the MADSEN kg271

First prototype 2006

After hauling six neighborhood kids (my Mom in the photo) around in a wheel barrow bucket bolted to the front of our first prototype, we started to realize what a bicycle can really do. My wife and I fell in love with the bakfiets during a bicycle tour through Holland.This was put together in my fabrication shop shortly after that trip. While testing this cargo bike we learned about some of the advantages and disadvantages of having the cargo and the small wheel located in the front.

First prototype 2006

Although we love to be able to see our kids in the bucket as we ride, we never could get past the strange feel of riding a forward cargo bicycle. But most of all we did not have the control we wanted. We have a lot of dirt trails, paths, roads, and a lot of not so friendly bicycle roads. We need to ride through bumpy gutters, potholes, and off curbs. You can't ride like that on a forward cargo bike. We started to build bicycles with the cargo in the back. Although you can't see your cargo, you have so much more control. Jumping curbs, riding down stairs, and hitting potholes won't bring your head to the tarmac. We worked through a lot of different frame configurations.

This is our first ever rack and attachment. We could haul around two adults each weighing 200 lbs with me riding at 200 lbs.  The total weight was 600 lbs. (this is where we got the idea our bike should be able to hold up under a 600 lb. load). The seats we used are the best.  They were two for $10 from the office surplus store.       

We finally made a custom bucket for the back (the wheel barrow would not work).  We thought about making a wooden bucket but felt it would not hold up to the riding we decided our cargo bike should be able to take.  One hard hit to a plywood bucket is all that is needed to blow it apart.

First ever China-made sample. Wow! It took a long time to get to this point. 

One more of many samples out of our China factory.  I wish I would have documented the R&D in China better.

I could not get that man standing next to us to get on. I wanted to test how it handled with more weight, but one man is all I could get on this ride.

My interpreter even took the bike for a ride. She is from Taiwan and hadn't ridden a bicycle for years (even though she works for a bicycle company). She was convinced to take it for a ride because I wanted to see how it fit a small lady. She did great, and the fit was good.

Comments

[Julian]

COOL post ... I've been wondering how you wound up with the bin in the back. Love the office chairs. And yes, my 5'1" wife likes the ride as well.

Is that a chain idler bracket in the earlier prototypes? I might vote for bringing that back, or going with a Nexus 8 or other internally geared hub.

[Clark]

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/12/retro_family_bike.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890

The DNA goes way back!

[Bill]

Here is someond with a similar idea:

http://208.106.228.199/_media/imgs/articles/a367_b5.jpg

[courtney]

brilliant. I'm in love with your bikes. I plan on winning one in July ;)

If not, it's time to start saving my birthday money :)

Good luck in the future, this is so cool. Wish you all the success.