I don't really get longtails, can someone explain? (hexbear.net)

submitted 4 months ago by 7bicycles@hexbear.net to c/chapotraphouse@hexbear.net

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You get a nice box in the back or whatever but it's not really THAT much bigger than a box you could fit on any old regular bicycle

You can plop like two children there but then you can do that with Long Johns and 3-wheelers and such, too and ALSO you have the fuckoff-big box. They don't really seem all that shorter than comparable versions either.

Anyone got one or know why someone got one?

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[-] reallyzen@lemmy.ml 9 points 4 months ago

My sister. 2 kids and their schoolbags and her own rucksack and some rain equipment should the weather play tricks on you. And a beefy lock.

It's an electric, I rode it with the critters it's just quite practical, ultimate fuck-traffic-jams tool.

[-] 7bicycles@hexbear.net 3 points 4 months ago

It's not like I don't get cargo bikes but why not take a long john and have the box where you can also just toss in smaller things

[-] reallyzen@lemmy.ml 7 points 4 months ago

In Long Johns you'd put the kids in front, side-by-side, which makes it quite large and you loose the mobility advantage in urban environments.

[-] 7bicycles@hexbear.net 2 points 4 months ago

the box on a traditional long john isn't usually wider than the handlebars tho

[-] reallyzen@lemmy.ml 3 points 4 months ago

Not wrong. Maybe it's perceived as nimbler? Maybe it's the local market? I dont see many Long Johns here (belgium/france/switzerland ).

[-] regul@hexbear.net 3 points 4 months ago

The steering mechanism is different, though. Might present more of a maintenance difficulty over just a longer chain with a tensioner.

[-] regul@hexbear.net 8 points 4 months ago

My buddy has a longtail Surly that he uses to run shuttle for kayak trips he takes with his daughters.

Because the long tail offers, essentially, unlimited clearance out the back, he can sling hardshell kayaks on the side of the bike (in harness pannier bags) and just have them stick out the end while his girls ride on the plank. Don't really think that specific situation would be workable with a bakfiets.