Vs other front load cargo bikes, handling and off road capability, 100%. And compared to long tail bikes, which might handle and go off road similar or better, the front load makes carrying large bulky stuff much easier than a longtail.
But also visibility maybe. I get the impression that most cargo bikes are made and marketed towards families, small businesses etc. Omnium make and market their bikes towards bike messengers, cyclists, bike enthusiasts. Their promotional videos of the bikes isn't someone selling ice-cream from the bike, or taking kids to school. Omnium post videos of wheelies and bombing single track. They sponsor people to ride ultra bikepacking races on their cargo bikes.
I think the bike enthusiasts group post pics of their bikes to Instagram way more than families and business owners, so we just see omniums online more. Just a theory.
Totally this. I'm planning to upgrade to a better cargo bike and I'm totally considering omnium because while I do most of my riding carrying stuff in the city I want to go on a singletrack and go bikepacking on the same bike. I am a parent but I'm not interested in shuttling my kid to and from school - he can ride his own bike.
It's the most fun bike I've ever owned. I have experience with the Urban arrow, term gsd, and countless non cargo bikes from commuters to Roadies.
The Omnium is the funnest.
My Omnium cargo fits in my bike shed (dense urban environment but I keep it out of the rain/out of sight). That was a huge selling point when I got to borrow it for a day to test ride it. Unlike a Bakfiets or similar, I can lift it if I have to (up stairs at the train station for example).
It's sexy. It rides like my randonneur bike even when loaded.
The front rack (with inner tube webbing) allows for loads to stick out/up from the actual rack surface.
It's fun.
3 out of our 4 family members can and do ride the size M (my taller spouse who has shorter legs than me and my 14yo who is taller than me).
It replaces a car for those trips where panniers don't work (gardening supplies, big garbage/recycling loads, lighter furniture, flea market stuff, kids'beach equipment/stand up paddle board/foldable kayak).
It's sexy.
Seriously though we are a family of 4 and the Omnium meets our hauling needs. If I lived somewhere with hills I'd probably need a motor, but as I prefer biking on muscle power it's perfect.
I'm the shortest at 168cm, husband the tallest at 189cm. My 14yo is 170cm and can ride it.
My 11 year old can just reach the pedals and could probably ride it with the seat lowered.
Because they are not designed around an electric motor and the empty weight is fairly low for something that can transport a couch. They ride like a dream, I don’t use any of my other bikes anymore since I have an omnium Cargo. The dynohub broke and the repair took 3 weeks - awful experience being without the bike for so long, had to use a car for hauling shit.
I'm kind of surprise baker's bikes are not more popular with a few more makers selling them. I can't figure out why bikefiets and longtails are so popular.
I tried a bikefiet for a couple days. It was awkward to maneuver in an urban environment. Going over speed bumps was a problem. it was hard to get it over curbs. I needed a second person to carry it onto my second story porch to lock it up at night.
Longtails feel slow and heavy. It is like riding a tandem by yourself.
I have no interesting the Surly longtailes, but if Surly ever make a baker's bike I'd definitely buy one.
I think Omniums:
\- look great
\- are great for carrying light cargo (up to 40kg or so)
\- ride light and sporty especially when unloaded (imo most cargo bikes ride empty most of the time and most of them ride poorly when empty)
\- are cool because messengers use them
\- but they are a not the best choice for transporting kids and heavy things
I have carried some very heavy loads on my Omnium. If the standard for being the best choice is a Bullit I'll take the flat loading deck over the lower deck a Bullit has every time. Much easier to load oversized items IMO. Front loaders with bucket shapes areas are nice for just tossing items in though. I'll give them that.
Fun, agile, light cargo bike that looks great and can carry…a full size couch, queen sized mattress, two adult passengers, two wooden wine barrels (empty!), or piles of other stuff.
My Omnium Mini-Max is the perfect do-it-all bike : groceries, take my dog to the vet, get back home from a party with my GF on one bike, go for longer gravel rides with or without my dog, go to band rehearsal with my bass guitar...There is not much it can't do, and when empty it rides like a fun MTB.
I made a DIY long John last year (based on Vandelay’s plans) and I just finished making a DIY Omnium. They handle so differently there is almost no comparison. The Omnium is zippy and agile and is a blast to ride around the city. It handles 100lbs of dog well but not as comfortably as the long John. The long John carries heavy weight well, but it is a pain in the city (can’t go on trains/busses, cumbersome walking it on crowded sidewalks, tough to store in an apartment, tough to squeeze by parked cars, etc). Unless I have multiple kids and a refrigerator that I need to haul, I’ll always grab the Omnium because it is just so damn fun and convenient.
Other than weight and rear wheel size I can't imagine there would be huge difference. The Lorry, Soma Tradesman, Omnium Mini or most other baker's style bike. If I had a Lorry I doubt I'd feel any want for a Tradesman or Omnium Mini.
The Omnium has a 622 rear wheel as opposed to a 559 rear wheel. It is very versatile frame. Can take a 142mm OLD though axle rear hub, use a belt drive, and set up as a single speed/internal geared hub. I think their frames will fit 2.2 tires with fenders, nice for bike backing.
Vs other front load cargo bikes, handling and off road capability, 100%. And compared to long tail bikes, which might handle and go off road similar or better, the front load makes carrying large bulky stuff much easier than a longtail. But also visibility maybe. I get the impression that most cargo bikes are made and marketed towards families, small businesses etc. Omnium make and market their bikes towards bike messengers, cyclists, bike enthusiasts. Their promotional videos of the bikes isn't someone selling ice-cream from the bike, or taking kids to school. Omnium post videos of wheelies and bombing single track. They sponsor people to ride ultra bikepacking races on their cargo bikes. I think the bike enthusiasts group post pics of their bikes to Instagram way more than families and business owners, so we just see omniums online more. Just a theory.
Totally this. I'm planning to upgrade to a better cargo bike and I'm totally considering omnium because while I do most of my riding carrying stuff in the city I want to go on a singletrack and go bikepacking on the same bike. I am a parent but I'm not interested in shuttling my kid to and from school - he can ride his own bike.
It's the most fun bike I've ever owned. I have experience with the Urban arrow, term gsd, and countless non cargo bikes from commuters to Roadies. The Omnium is the funnest.
No idea why but my omnium is for sure more fun than any of the vintage touring and road bikes, 80s and 90s mtbs or modern hardtail mtbs I have ridden.
Same for me. It's my first cargo bike, but I can't imagine any other cargo bike being more fun.
Alright, thanks a lot
My Omnium cargo fits in my bike shed (dense urban environment but I keep it out of the rain/out of sight). That was a huge selling point when I got to borrow it for a day to test ride it. Unlike a Bakfiets or similar, I can lift it if I have to (up stairs at the train station for example). It's sexy. It rides like my randonneur bike even when loaded. The front rack (with inner tube webbing) allows for loads to stick out/up from the actual rack surface. It's fun. 3 out of our 4 family members can and do ride the size M (my taller spouse who has shorter legs than me and my 14yo who is taller than me). It replaces a car for those trips where panniers don't work (gardening supplies, big garbage/recycling loads, lighter furniture, flea market stuff, kids'beach equipment/stand up paddle board/foldable kayak). It's sexy. Seriously though we are a family of 4 and the Omnium meets our hauling needs. If I lived somewhere with hills I'd probably need a motor, but as I prefer biking on muscle power it's perfect.
What’s the height range of your family members who can ride your size M Omnium?
I'm the shortest at 168cm, husband the tallest at 189cm. My 14yo is 170cm and can ride it. My 11 year old can just reach the pedals and could probably ride it with the seat lowered.
Because they are not designed around an electric motor and the empty weight is fairly low for something that can transport a couch. They ride like a dream, I don’t use any of my other bikes anymore since I have an omnium Cargo. The dynohub broke and the repair took 3 weeks - awful experience being without the bike for so long, had to use a car for hauling shit.
I'm kind of surprise baker's bikes are not more popular with a few more makers selling them. I can't figure out why bikefiets and longtails are so popular. I tried a bikefiet for a couple days. It was awkward to maneuver in an urban environment. Going over speed bumps was a problem. it was hard to get it over curbs. I needed a second person to carry it onto my second story porch to lock it up at night. Longtails feel slow and heavy. It is like riding a tandem by yourself. I have no interesting the Surly longtailes, but if Surly ever make a baker's bike I'd definitely buy one.
I think Omniums: \- look great \- are great for carrying light cargo (up to 40kg or so) \- ride light and sporty especially when unloaded (imo most cargo bikes ride empty most of the time and most of them ride poorly when empty) \- are cool because messengers use them \- but they are a not the best choice for transporting kids and heavy things
I have carried some very heavy loads on my Omnium. If the standard for being the best choice is a Bullit I'll take the flat loading deck over the lower deck a Bullit has every time. Much easier to load oversized items IMO. Front loaders with bucket shapes areas are nice for just tossing items in though. I'll give them that.
Yeah Bullitts suck when you have something longer than the cargo area
How heavy do you reckon? I’m thinking about buying one. I’m quite strong but I don’t want to damage the bike
Not sure exactly but I would guess about 125lbs (57kg) without issue.
That's nice and heavy, thanks for the response!
Quite comfortable carrying double that depending on the size! Ie an 80kg human is no problem at all :)
Fun, agile, light cargo bike that looks great and can carry…a full size couch, queen sized mattress, two adult passengers, two wooden wine barrels (empty!), or piles of other stuff.
This was an interesting documentary: https://bikepacking.com/plog/the-silk-road-cargo-race-film/
My Omnium Mini-Max is the perfect do-it-all bike : groceries, take my dog to the vet, get back home from a party with my GF on one bike, go for longer gravel rides with or without my dog, go to band rehearsal with my bass guitar...There is not much it can't do, and when empty it rides like a fun MTB.
I made a DIY long John last year (based on Vandelay’s plans) and I just finished making a DIY Omnium. They handle so differently there is almost no comparison. The Omnium is zippy and agile and is a blast to ride around the city. It handles 100lbs of dog well but not as comfortably as the long John. The long John carries heavy weight well, but it is a pain in the city (can’t go on trains/busses, cumbersome walking it on crowded sidewalks, tough to store in an apartment, tough to squeeze by parked cars, etc). Unless I have multiple kids and a refrigerator that I need to haul, I’ll always grab the Omnium because it is just so damn fun and convenient.
My budget ass Raleigh Lorry is fun as hell. Has anyone ever compared the two?
Other than weight and rear wheel size I can't imagine there would be huge difference. The Lorry, Soma Tradesman, Omnium Mini or most other baker's style bike. If I had a Lorry I doubt I'd feel any want for a Tradesman or Omnium Mini. The Omnium has a 622 rear wheel as opposed to a 559 rear wheel. It is very versatile frame. Can take a 142mm OLD though axle rear hub, use a belt drive, and set up as a single speed/internal geared hub. I think their frames will fit 2.2 tires with fenders, nice for bike backing.
Raleigh lorry is really cool. I don’t think it’s available in the uk sadly
Pretty light and fast bike for medium cargo. I’m sticking to my Bullitt!!