I saw this unusual beauty on my way home one day. The double kiddie seats lift out and you get a cargo space. I think it's brilliant that the kids can look at each other while out and about. Those are 20" wheels, my favourite size of wheel for a cargobike. 

On a day out with the dog up front in the full sun one need to make provision for the most precious of cargo. She loves the sun, but obviously can't get out of it on route.
When this picture was taken the temperatures were in the 30's Celsius. It's a little kids umbrella. It took an afternoon hunting tourist shops to eventually find it. I attached it to a tiny G-clamp so I could then mount it to my handlebars. Worked a treat, stayed on all day. 

Took this snap of a Surley(?) Longtail Cargobike driving thru Oregon a few summers ago.
Ha, there's still room for more bags on this beauty! Maybe he's keeping the deck free for firewood.
Love the Jones Bars, must try them one day.
​The North Oregon coast is AMAZING, book up spots in the costal camp sites NOW then get down there. We've never been to a more beautiful place.

When I first saw the spec on this cargobike way back sometime in 2018 I was blown away. This is maybe the perfect cargo bike, long-tail variety that is, for me. Dunno about you. I cannot see a time when I would transport a tiny child behind me where they can’t be seen, talked to and cared for when longjohns and box trikes exist? And I don’t even like kids!!!! But I do have a Chihuahua I carry most days on the front of my my bicycle if that counts!!!

Then I saw the photos. Oh wow. Looking sooooooo good. Solid, two batteries, big bags, big front basket, bloke riding it, chunky 20” wheels front and back (my favorite), and made by Tern! And haven’t they got the best PR pic ever with the kid giving a finger to the sky like they’re on a roller coaster. Genius.

I have a Tern Cargo Node, its a factory edition cargobike collaboration between Tern and Xtracycle. Its the nicest bicycle I have EVER ridden (so far!), so I was stoked when they announced the GSD. But what does GSD stand for? So far, from my research, and this isn’t from Tern, it means Get Shit Done. Funny if it’s true. Either way, it does, and then some.
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That's over 50lbs of wine on the back of a bicycle.
I've never clenched so much nor rode the brakes down hill so much than with this precious load. The relief when I got home was incredible, so I opened one to celebrate as much as to calm my nerves. Any excuse, eh!

From a few years ago. My beach picnic rig.
In the front is the dog bag, 2ltr growler of beer, water and coffee making kit.
In the panniers is the food, tarp and plates, etc. and the Firebox BBQ and charcoal.
In the trailer are two camp chairs, stool, tarp pole and table.
All we need for a Sunday on the beach.

You should have seen his face when I turned up to buy this office chair on my Cargobike. It started as disbelief but turned into admiration as I flipped it over and strapped it on. Simples!
It's was such an unremarkable thing to me as a Lifestyle Cyclist I even stopped off for coffee on the way home with the partner and dog. Good times.

This is one of my favourite things to do. Made especially nice by a bit of a ride to the spot chosen the night before whilst dropping off to sleep. Saturday morning behind the beach getting some quiet while making breakfast and coffee. Good times. This 80's German poncho makes a great wind breaker or rain shelter. I often carry it on the bike as it's such a versatile bit of kit to get out of weather with, even sun. Combined with a low seat it's my go to set-up.

Today I'm using the Moka Pot for coffee. Usually it's the Aeropress, but it's nice to mix it up sometimes. For a stove I just use a Trangia spirit burner in my Firebox Nano. A super compact and lightweight combination that is totally silent, unlike those horrid little gas stoves that are so common. The little Moka pot fits on the Nano easily, another reason I default to this set-up.

For breakfast it's bacon and eggs, except I forgot the eggs! Meh, you can't have too much bacon, right? I'm Keto so not a problem. I discovered the mild steel frying pan shown below on the Sweedwoods YouTube channel and they work really great on the alcohol burner. Plus they're indestructible and season like cast iron but without the weight, it's my favourite frying pan ever.

When I do this I usually write notes for articles or doodle or just watch the birds. It's 'me' time to decompress and let my mind slow down and wander. So great. I recommend you try it.

Do you NEED a Cargobike?
​Short answer... yes, of course. They are fun and practical.
Longer answer... maybe not so much. You can carry plenty on a regular bike if you have the will and a rear rack. Oh, and a choice of cordage. With my toolkit I carry two bungies of different lengths, 6ft of Paracord and a giant silicone rubber band that can fit over my wrist. With these I have always been able to get my load home. A roll of masking tape works too. 

An actual Cargobike is of course better. As in it's easier to carry a load and often, but not always, can carry more weight. As a rule of thumb, a steel bicycle can carry x10 it's weight, 25lb frame = 250lb rider and everything. With alloy frames you need to check and be careful. But don't get me wrong, your current bike is fabulous too and can carry lots in panniers and on the rack. Dutch Market Panniers can carry four bags of groceries. 

My current Cargobike (above) I built and has a big box up front so I can just drop stuff in and ride. No messing about. A pizza straps to the top noproblemo. That fork is over engineered and can carry a person, so this makes my life easier and simpler than a regular bike because of the big front box. ​On the back is a saddle bag by Carradice for all my small loose stuff, lunch, and EDC things.

The fork is a Crust Clydesdale Cargo Fork. A genius bit of kit. It converts non-suspension bikes into Cargobikes. Just pull your existing fork, switch over the handlebars, brakes and fit a 20" wheel and you're done. It's the next step up from a small basket on your bars or front rack. It's also an easy way to get a front disc brake if you don't have discs already. 

This was not supposed to be a long piece about Cargobikes, just about carrying on a bike and how doable it really is. But it's a lot more doable on a small Cargobike and IMHO your gateway to becoming a Lifestyle Cyclist.