Despite having my first 'modern' bicycle in the post, (A Ribble 7005 Audax Winter Trainer) I often yearn towards more practical transport - I'm leaning towards not learning to drive when the time comes in a couple of years, and cycling instead. Obviously, if a bike is to replace a car, it can't just be left as standard, perhaps with a few panniers in tow - no, it must be
truly dependable, a real workhorse.
A couple caught my eye - all from THE cycling nation - The Netherlands. The standard bike there, (And by far the most popular) is the Omafiets or Opafiets. (Grandma Bike and Grandpa Bike) They are tough, heavy, and reliable, offering transport for a lifetime to the lucky owner. They have drum brakes, hub gears, and dynamo lighting,along with the obligatory white section of the mudguard, practically replacing a car in terms of amenities. A company called Workcycles produces these bicycles, (There are many that produce them, but Workcycles is one of the biggest) along the same lines as the original designs.
The deviations from original designs are modern dynamo LED lighting, modern dynamo hubs, and more efficient internally geared hubs. There is a sturdy rear rack, and a frame mounted front rack, (Frame mounted to improve handling) which combined, can carry great loads.
So - option no. 2
Workcycles also specialize in cargo bikes - their most popular model is an extended bike, with a large wooden box. It comes in several different sizes; short, long and extra extra long. Depending on how many children you have, (yes, they do transport children in these!) or how much stuff you need to carry, one is bound to suit you needs. Steering is via a metal rod system, and hub gears are employed to make your job slightly easier. (The largest model boasts a Rohloff 14 speed hub, the ultimate in hub gear technology, while lesser models have varying levels of Shimano in their gearing) Like the Omafiets and Opafiets, they have a sturdy rear rack, drums brakes, and dynamo lighting. All three of these bikes have a frame mounted lock, that secures through the rear wheel - they are so heavy, that carrying it away is simply not an option.
One day perhaps I'll get one, but soon, a shiny new Audax bike will be arriving at my house, that should last me a few decades!
Sources
http://www.workcycles.com/home-products/handmade-city-bicycles/workcycles-opafiets
http://www.workcycles.com/home-products/handmade-city-bicycles/workcycles-omafiets-dutch-granny-bike
http://www.workcycles.com/home-products/child-transport-bicycles/workcycles-cargobike-long
