A bakfiets unlike any other
Posted by Jonathan Maus (Editor) on November 8th, 2006 at 6:55 pm
Todd Fahrner, the man behind Southeast Portland-based Cleverchimp, has just published photos and video of his latest creation. He has outfitted a Dutch “bakfiets” bike with his superlative Stokemonkey Human Electric Hybrid Drive device. Check it out:
This is an exciting development on many levels. Here’s what Todd says:
“Many commenters are quick to point out that these bikes are quite heavy, and dismiss them as unsuitable outside of the flat, dense, flat Netherlands. Enter Stokemonkey.”
Folks, I think it’s safe to say that we are on the cusp of an exciting trend that will have its U.S. epicenter in Portland. Cargo bikes and real, dutch-style city bikes are the “next big thing”.
I’ve reported on a U.S.-based importer of bakfiets and we’ve learned that Dutch bike purveyors Jorg&Olif have a North American shipping operation. Add to that several local developments that are still simmering (I’ll be reporting more them soon) and it seems like a tipping point for interest in these bikes can’t be far away.
For now, go have some fun browsing the photos and watching the video of this stoked bakfiets in action over on Todd’s Cleverchimp blog.
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November 8th, 2006 19:07
Yes...now that is a true blue American Bakfiets. It looks like a hot rod ride on film! I wonder if Henry will be adding it as an accessory for the US market?
[Until now had to push it up the Interstate hill to reach North Portland or jump on the MAX, but no more.]
So now there are 3 Bakfiets in the area?
November 8th, 2006 19:19
It looks great. Lucky kids who get rides.
How much does the bike weigh? How fast was he going in the video?
November 8th, 2006 20:14
Wow, Todd, that sure looks nice! Let's stoke mine as soon as you get your latest shipment of stokemonkey parts and we can race to the top of Council Crest some night with passengers ;-)
I think there are at least 4 Bakfiets floating around the metro area now...
November 8th, 2006 21:43
It needs a solar panel, or a generator, so it can be a perpetual motion machine.
November 9th, 2006 00:27
stokemonkey?
i thought it was stRokemonkey.
is that something else?
November 9th, 2006 09:18
I think out geography and the layout of our cities is going to make it tough. I don't think a dutch style bike is going to be suitable to do some of the riding that a lot of commuters make in this area (imagine going up over the West Hills to intel on a dutch bike).
November 9th, 2006 10:10
andre, the assist makes hills easy, any hills. i should hold my tongue until i've done it, but i'm pretty sure you could get to the pacific and back in a day with one of these vehicles. it's sort of perverse to use the cargo space for all the battery packs necessary to pull this off, but you could. i need some extreme climbing video...
November 9th, 2006 10:29
Pffft. You don't need fancy-pants electric assist to get to the Pacific and back in a day on a bike.
;)
November 9th, 2006 10:59
that's true michael -- that's what i meant about it being perverse. but far less perverse than riding there in a car, i submit.
December 14th, 2006 14:01
[...] I must confess though, this isn’t just any normal bakfiets. This one is “stoked” with Todd Fahrner’s fantastic Stokemonkey human-electric hybrid drive unit. I’ll have more thoughts on this mind-altering combination soon. [...]