The best gear marries design and functionality into a seamless package, and the exemplars of any class do this in an iconic way. It has to look good, make you look good, and do a lot of work to meet the challenges of daily life. This applies equally to personal computers, tennis racquets, and toaster ovens.
At the risk of falling into romantic opining, great gear is also increasingly hard to find. How many things have you purchased recently that you expect to be giving you good service in a decade? Two decades?
That high-handed preface is leading to an equally high-handed thesis: I found a cargo bike that solves a major conveyance problem for me and my family. It is from an OG brand, technically refined, completely rugged, and absurdly tailored to our particular use case. It is also designed and built with an old-school ethos: Make good stuff that will work well for a long time.
Importantly, this review will be from the perspective of that use case, from my particular body type and riding style, and you should pay close attention to those particulars, which I elucidate below and which may differ in important ways from yours. This bike is perfect … for me. And while it is a Swiss Army knife of a machine, it most definitely is not one-size-fits all.
Review: The Cyrusher Ranger had me flying off-road, grinning from ear to ear
Read on to find out why, and if you’re considering a cargo bike, this review should help you dial in on the relevant considerations, opportunities, and pitfalls.
Specifications
Rider Height Min/max | 5’0″/6’6″ |
---|---|
Bike Length | 212cm |
Bike Weight | 67,9lbs |
Frame | Mundo V6 Electric Cr-Mo Thru Axle w/Disc Tab |
Brake | Magura MT32 Hydraulic or RideRever Attack-XU Hydraulic |
Motor System | N/A |
Rear Derailleur | Shimano RD-M2000 Altus 9-Speed or S-Ride RD-M310 9-Speed |
Cassette | Shimano 11-36T 9-Speed or S-Ride 9-Speed Nickle 11-32T CS-M300 |
Rims | WTB SX23 (36H Front | 36H Rear) |
Tires | Schwalbe Big Ben Plus 26″ x 2.15″ |
Max G.V.W.R. | 550lbs |
Setting off from the dock to the daycare! Greg Nichols / ZDNET
Rider profile
My family lives outdoors. I mean that almost literally … we call a big old sailboat home and live dockside in a marina in Southern California.
Living on a boat is great, but living on a boat with two kids requires some planning. Kids need to move, and even though our WWII-era sailboat is a beast designed to carry troops, cargo, and tons of fish, the reality is we need to get off the boat early and often to keep our sanity. That means frequent outings to parks, the beach, farmer’s markets, school, and every variety of sports practice,