After watching Not Just Bikes' video on "Why Finnish people cycle in the winter (But Canadians can't), I challenged myself to do just that. I grabbed a commuter bike with belt drive, fenders & pannier, got studded tires, and I'm 500km of winter riding in Winnipeg Canada.
I live in Eskilstuna, 110 km west of Stockholm, in southern Sweden, which I think is a bit colder than southern Britain in winters, even though we have scarce with snow in wintertime nowadays due to global warming. I almost always use my bike (a 29" Scott Aspect 930 MTB) year around. I own a car but use it quite seldom, usually only when visiting relatives in Stockholm or on our car hiking vacations. My family is I, my wife and 3 kids aged 11 to 19. When shopping groceries I use a Burley Nomad cart attached to my bike, which I can highly recommend. It weighs just 6,5 kg but can carry 45 kgs, or 6 shopping bags with groceries. Wintertime I use studded tires. So absolutely! You can go car free in winter. It is just a matter of attitude, and clothing. There is no bad weather, just bad clothing.
Great video! The UK has a similar climate to the Netherlands where people do everything on bikes, including groceries and taking the kids to school. What British towns need is infrastructure to support the everyday cyclist.! The Dutch urban planning strategy defines cycling as a means of transport, not a sport. A similar mindset in UK town planning would go a long way. Perhaps GCN could do their bit to help bring this about with a "cycling during rush hour in the Netherlands vs cycling during rush hour in the UK" video! Show Britain what is possible.
I am Dutch but I have also lived in the UK for about 7 years. Infrastructure and motorists' attitude are part of it but geography is also an issue. If you live in a hilly area it takes a lot of effort to get around on a bike. I found it was doable because I was young (at the time) and fit (at the time) and had a job where it wasn't a problem when I was sweaty or dirty on arrival.
@@GHWMR this is a good point, if you live somewhere like the Peak District it can be very hilly but this is where e-bikes and electrical assist would help those that want it.
I just moved to Copenhagen, people use their bikes all year round for basically anything, and the city is organized for it which i think is a major factor using bikes in winter - bike paths are always cleaned from snow immediately.
I'm in Gothenburg which also has an excellent cycling infrastructure and is usually well set up for cycling year-round. Unfortunately the recent heavy snowfall hasn't been dealt with optimally so I am currently back to using trams and avoiding slush and ice.
You guys should do a collab with Not Just Bikes about cycling infrastructure. I think his audience is mostly Dutch, but they have already figured it out. I would love to see more on what is currently being done in places that are at the start of this journey.
@@adune23 lol...you beat me to it, eh? First one I watched, I could tell he's a Canuck from his accent (although some New Englanders have similar) and sure enough, he's from Trana (Toronto) and Waterloo.
We’ve been doing this (in Bradford, UK) with the bike featured, the tern gsd, for a couple of years and our kids LOVE it. And to answer a couple of the things Si said weren’t possible - with our huge panniers we can fit 2 kids AND a full trolley load of shopping on the bike, and we regularly ‘bag and drag’ their bikes to the park. We wouldn’t go back now, and have ditched our car, meaning we’ve been able to get a campervan that we wouldn’t have if we needed it for city driving.
I have the same bike too. It’s been life changing. I’ve nearly eliminated all my car journeys. I even shock myself with some of the items are carry on my bike.
@@simonrichardson5259 their legs just kind of sit on top/either side. I think you might have been using the newer slightly smaller panniers but they’re pretty much the same. We also use two yepp junior seats rather than the clubhouse, but I think we might get the clubhouse now ours are a bit older as they’re a little more protected.
@@simonrichardson5259 We have the 1st gen GSD in Bristol with the clubhouse and panniers. Having the larger front rack helps as it takes a big bag easily. With a bag in each of the panniers and the tops rolled back the kids feet either have space within or just sit on top of the shopping.
Agree, felt a bit like the video wasnt well researched, strange.... maybe they should have joined the family cycling group of FB or the GSD / Riese and muller cargo bike group before making these assumptions. However its still good press for cargo bikes!
Awesome! We sold our car three years ago and bought an pair of e-bikes. Haven’t looked back since. Can really relate to the experience of realizing how nice and convenient it is (and also the possibility of renting a car when in need). The kids like it as well and are now more accustomed to riding on the bike then being in a car. With good clothes the rain or snow (although you need glasses to protect the eyes if snowing) can almost feel invigorating. Never thought it possible when owning a car but I do write this in all sincerity even though it might come a cross a bit one-sided. But as conveyed in the video it is strangely fun to ride the e-bike, especially past long rows of traffic. And my experience so far is that within the city limits it is almost always as fast or faster compared with a car. As a slight negative I could mention that it does take some time to kit up with all the stuff you need to keep warm, dry and safe.
Living in Finland and not owning a car. Yes, it has been possible! Even with children. Weather gives sometimes obstacles (snow storm or icing rain) which in that case makes cycling impossible, but just for a few days in a Year. Now at beginning of December it has been -15C up to -24C and even shopping at supermarket from 8km (16km total) distance is just like any regular day. In ”real” (not like Yours there south, sorry) winter You need a special kind state of mind, bit crazy one, for hard core cycling. :)
Love Finland in winter its very beautiful.. however the winters are not comparable... you have cold but dry weather.. in the UK its cold but wet meaning it rains all day every day where as in nordic nations its showing and the snow settles making a compact dry surface..
@@boomchakalaka3715 erm Denmark and Netherlands have very similar climates to UK (if not even wetter and windier) and they don’t seem to have a problem.
Living in Finland also. Haven't had a car in I think 6 years and really don't miss it. One of the good sides is not being afraid of random repair bills if something goes wrong with it, not to mention saving a lot on the running costs. Work and shops are walking distance away. Don't have kids though makes it a lot easier.
@@leedorney Hehe - Old man Lloydy is younger than me (and I guess many of us GCN fans) so I'm not sure what they're banging on about when they give him a hard time for his age :D
Bravo! I have been in love with all forms of cycling for almost 40 years now. The advent and growth of ebikes is going to be a game changer. As a Canadian, winter road cycling and commuting can be a challenge at times but as my Finnish cousins point out, there is no bad weather, just poorly planned infrastructure. Often, when winter weather is bad enough to stop cycling it’s also generally too bad for driving. On another note, the motorists in Bath seem to be exceptionally patient. I don’t know if your filming would be as safe a venture in the typical mid-to large metropolitan centre in North America. Cheers and happy riding!
Not with you on E bikes, just another peice of world dug up and costing a fortune to manufacture, dispose of and the running costs over a simple bicycle. They make great sense for disabled people but when ive seen old ladies riding every day to Town on old bicycles and back. It goes to show how lazy the world had become.
@Daniel Brown, I was so impressed too with the patience of drivers in this video. I've been without a car since I moved to the Bay Area ~4 years ago, and based on how intolerant folks can be when it's just me commuting to work, I can't imagine the response I would get biking an 8-foot tree home!
One point that has been overlooked and that is key to a safe use of bikes as primary means of urban transport is infrastructure such as secure parking spaces.
Especially when chaining cycling with public transportation. This is the way to seriously extend your ability to go anywhere; a 45 mile ride is far less accessible than a 25 minute train ride and a 15 mile ride, or something along those lines.
@@markosverdhi Yeah I would ideally bike to the train on my commute but leaving my bike at the train station is like a 99% chance im not gonna have a functional bike when i get back lol , the walk isnt too horrible but biking would be more pleasant and efficient for sure
For a dad to a 2 and 4 yr old and have recently given up the car (Portsmouth). I love these vidoes exploring this topic. All the hurdles can be overcome - the biggest hurdle is the mindset and keeping prepared. At the moment I use a cycle trailer and this keeps the rain off and its about layering up to match the conditions. Kids love it and with it being Christmas they are absolutley loving seeing all of the Christmas lights because your taking less busier roads and going a bit slower. Going forwards I'll be going to a cargo bike with enclosed cover for the kids.
Its simpler for us to be car free as the kids are now older (eldest now at uni) but we never saw the need for a car and have been car free throughout our lives here in Belgium. When the kids were young it was a challenge - but that was often more about logistics than anything else and that was pre e-bikes too. There have been costs - our house had to have a garage to accommodate the bikes and trailers etc. And its location had to be good for amenities and public transport. All of which made the house more expensive and our mortgage larger. But without the costs of running a car that was easier to afford and so instead of owning the depreciating asset of a car we've owned an appreciating asset of a house. Happy days!
I live in Alberta, Canada and commute by bike nearly year round. There are a couple weeks every year that are too cold (about -30 Celsius), but outside of those rare really cold days biking in the winter is honestly pretty pleasant as long as you got the right clothes.
I live in Canada and I have 5 kids… we chose to go car free 6 years ago. Watched about a million videos about it and just put our van on storage insurance for a year to try it out. We take the bus, cab when we need to, and I bike with my youngest two on my self styled, electric wheel added, rickshaw adult trike. In our city (London, Ontario) it is totally doable!
im in calgary and dont have any kids but thats the first pro-massive suv argument here, i have a coworker with 2 kids who swears he needs a chevy suburban
A vehicle has to be insured even if it's just being stored? Gosh. yet another reason to avoid the automobile scam altogether. They drain money so perpetually, and in the most insane ways.
Hi, I’m leaving in Geneva Switzerland, with an average weather looking like UK but colder and with snow (someday). I ride an e-bike (45km/h) since 6years instead of my scooter 250c2, with no problem in winter if your are well equipped. By the way I’m a lawyer so I’m wearing formal shoes and suits and I do not transform to ride (that’s why I choose a 45km/h) and now I have a child that I ride school, with a e-cargo (45km/h). And it is working fine!
As a dutchie, this feels so alien. It's almost 2022 and you're still making a video about 'can we so without a car' and here it's the norm since the 80s
@@Certago That's nothing. You should hear Americans blabber on about how you need a car for everything, including quarter mile trips to the bar in nice weather (somewhere they shouldn't be driving home from to begin with).
I lived in east London for two years, my home town is Halifax and I can quite confidently say that absolutely nobody needs a car in London, unless it's 100% necessary for work. People who live there really don't appreciate how awesome the public transport and ability to cycle easily over flat ground is compared to other parts of the UK. It boils down to plain laziness and entitlement. I'm a carpenter and for the first time in my life I lavished in the ability to cycle to work, I had a DIY cargo bike I made out of a 70's puch which quite often was stacked with materials and tools.
I live in Sydney & I’ve been cycling to work for around 5 years & I bought a ebike May 2020. It’s replaced my car for most trips within a 5km radius ie shopping. I also use it on days I need to carry extra stuff to/from work where it’s not practical to use my road bike. My car usage in the last 12 months was 7000km. The only thing that has stopped me from getting rid of my car is there aren’t enough car share vehicles in the suburb where I live. For families that own two cars a ebike could largely replace the need for a second car.
For inclement weather of all types, get some waterproof workwear - overalls and jacket will sort the majority of your body and boots will keep your feet warm and dry. Many overalls can also be had with detachable winter lining, allowing you to use them all year. It's workwear, so it'll often be breathable as well as it's meant to be comfortable to use while doing manual labor. Since it's not cycling clothes but just workwear, it's also clothes you can use when working in the garden or just outside in general in inclement weather. It's even perfect for taking a regular walk in inclement weather. As an added bonus, workwear can often be had as hi-viz, which makes you a LOT easier to spot in the dark and even in daylight, making you safer as well.
Doing winter cycling for the first time this year (Ottawa CA) , not doing the e-bike route, more just put studded tires on my everyday bike and going with that. A lot of what is said is fairly true but would like to add my 2 cents. Make your self move visible, cars don't expect to see you and seeing as snow tends to take out bike lanes and forces you into the car lane, you need to make your self seen. With that be more aware of your surroundings. Clean your chain/bike almost every time you go out. Can't speak for elsewhere but Canada uses a lot of salt on the roads which eats away at your chain and frame, so washing and re-lubing your chain is twice as important.
Great job GCN for presenting bike as alternative transportation. We have become a 1 car (from 3 cars) household since the 1st video. Like Si I am keeping the EV but will be driving it less moving forward.
Something Ive often thought about whilst watching GCN videos is couldn't GCN themselves use some kind of E bike / cargo bike to do the filming from whilst out on the road? it would certainly be quieter and the presenters would have cleaner air to breath too.
Yep, totally agree. An e-moped seems sensible. I imagine they have this in the pipeline anyway, whoever edited the sound in this video will be badgering the bosses.
It's going to be tricky to do that. Using motor bikes allow the camera man to easily ride around the subject being filmed. Going ahead and staying back as necessary for the desired camera angle. And cargo bikes are generally slower than regular bikes; so if they used cargo bikes to record someone using regular bikes, that's going to be a speed mismatch.
@@yvrelna Well then they should just hire Mark Cavendish as the cameraman. He could get up in front faster than any motorbike, probably even with a cargo bike. And he's between teams right now anyway.
If Canadian complains about snow and negative temperature, they should try Oulu in Finland, one of the Northest cities in the world and a hub of winter cycling.
I'm Canadian and I don't think it is a fair comparison. I do go to university by bike in the winter, but our cycling infrastructure so much lacking and neglected in the winter that most places I go by bike in the summer seem like an extreme sport in the winter. My university just happens to be next to one of very few open cycle lanes in the winter. Now, we COULD have numbers like in Finland if the government cared. We are making progress, but we are still way behind Finland in terms of infrastructure in the winter. Since most people just go about their lives (are not in the government), most people do think winter cycling is ridiculous
@@better.better Snow is the best. I'm in Paris, so, less than a year, and that's a pity. You just need to lace your tire with a cord, or zipties, and you get a good grip. On the other hand, cars (as there is rarely snow over there, they are not equiped), go really really slow. In fact, they are going arround at the speed they should always be, for it to be safe for everybody. It feels way safer, and I'm going almost faster than the cars. Plus, the snow muffling all the sound, get the experience really great. PS: Maxime Laroche response is also spot on.
@@better.better About 3 meters/year. The snow is clear from the driving lane...on the cycle lanes. It does eventually get cleared from the cycle lanes a couple of days later. Many cycle lanes are on bumpy ice covered with a little snow. But we are making progress. The current mayor made takes cycling as a mode of transport seriously and the cycling network (both the for the summer and in the winter) expanded a lot in the last couple of years. It is my first year of biking during in the winter. I had tried it before, but I did not feel safe. The new mayor improved the cycling network enough for me to give it a second chance (and I actually think it is doable this time)
I was car-free from 1995-2014 including a couple winters in Maine. Studded tires and disc brakes were the key. I found it was better to store the bike outside in a shed. If you store it inside, any ice on the chain or cables will melt overnight, then refreeze when you take it out again, jamming up the shifting. I abandoned any hope of keeping a chain clean. I just used cheap chains and didn't worry about the road salt rusting them. Coldest ride was -25c. Had to wear good eye wear cause if the wind hits your eyes and they start watering, the tears would freeze on your eyelashes. You'd blink and your upper and lower eyelashes would freeze shut together. I can remember a couple of times when I made it to work while coworkers in cars were not able to make it in. There's little more peaceful than riding on a thin 1" carpet of snow at night.
Which is fine since it's often dry, but I sure can't count the amount of times I've arrived drenched at school on my fingers and toes. The freedom to leave when you want and go somewhere after school makes all this worth it thought, easily.
It seems as though you Dutch people, and maybe even Europeans in general, have a much better relationship with nature than Americans do. Americans will literally run to their cars and hide in them until it stops raining. Or likewise, we won't leave air conditioned cars/rooms all summer. We're very fragile compared to Europeans. I've heard most Italians don't even have air conditioning, and it gets wildly hot down there. They're just used to nature. Unlike Americans who spend 90% of their lives sheltered from nature.
One of my preferred times to bike is dead winter in the snow! I find it is extremely enjoyable, even with disconnected infrastructure (Canada...). Definitely slower in the winter, but an e-bike would be the thing to fix that. The biggest obstacle I run into is a lack of bike racks - some places don't have them (I've noticed it particularly at government buildings and doctor's offices, which is a real shame) and some places take them away for the winter! But the journey is still great, even if it is paired with a hopeless search for a post to rack my bike to.
I got rid of my car in 2018 and cycle year round in southwestern Ontario. I commute to work everyday and some of my best rides have been riding home at 5pm in the dark of winter. With good tires and appropriate clothing, weather is rarely an issue, save for one evening it was below 40c with the windchill. That was the only time I have abandoned my bike in my office and took a taxi home. Bad day at the office? No problem. Get up in that saddle and put the hammer down. The bad day dissolves away by the time I get home. Thanks for the video Si!
I have for the past 6ish months started using a bike as my only form of transportation. With a few buss and train exceptions for longer trips. This has coincided with me temporarily moving to a much flatter area then where I used to live. And so far it has been no real issues. My only problem has been the inbetween weather. When riding in slush I have had problems with the gears getting clogged with snow/ice and the bike being barely usable. But when it's fully winter or just wet or dry I am very happy. It is absolutely something I am happy I did. And when I move back home to my colder, more hilly and less central location I will 100% try to keep biking everywhere. If there is ever an update to this video, then I will try to update on my feelings after moving home.
I sold my car a few years ago. I'm not strictly car-free (my wife still has a car which I can borrow if she's not using it, and I can use the work van if I'm feeling lazy), but for the most part, my 32 mile round trip to work and back is done on a bike, whatever the weather. It's not always easy, especially as my job is fairly physical (I'm a brewer) and I have to get up an hour or so earlier than I do on car days, but it does wonders for my fitness. I haven't gone down the ebike road yet - most of my mileage is on an old 1990s Audax bike with mudguards, good quality hub dynamo lighting and 3x7 gearing in "traditional" ratios - but I'm thinking about it as I approach my 50th. I'd certainly sooner have an ebike than go back to a car!
Hang in there, I just turned 63 and I am feeling a little stronger than I did at 60! Yeah, it could be just a perception! My old Raleigh commuter bike has been regulated to "trainer duty", but I did enjoy its practicality. It climbed well, and was cheap. Keep on keeping on Rag Wort, stories like yours inspire me!
Keep it up guys, I'm just shy of 30 myself but remember seeing a gentleman who looked to be in his 60s riding his bike standing i.e. putting a fair bit of force on the pedals. That's what encouraged me to keep going! If the bike can keep someone in that shape i want to be a part of it!
This is especially thought out for ebike-rides longer than 10k: Barmits, Overshoes, a windshield that keeps the cold off of the body a helmet with a visor and a Poncho for the really bad days. Now you're ready for anything. Sissys like me add a hot water bottle and a thermos for refills when you need to stop for any reason. You might bring tea for the optional warm drink. Make sure the poncho fits and isn't flaffing about to avoid unnecessary drag, but with an ebike you won't know the difference anyways. For those who need to pass through unhabited areas without decent lighting, add a bright LED onto your helmet, (the ones from China are best value) and you'll have built in curvelights as well. Plus the occasional hog or rabbit at night will be additional compensation for the cold. Enjoy.
@@ronbell7920 The lights on my bike weren't bright enough even though I bought the best ones for quite a price, then I went on and bought the cheap Chinese torch and this thing ... Now it's a different world out there. The big bonus is that you have the cycle paths almost to yourself. :)
Every single right hand turn you guys make gives me heart palpitations. My brain knows you are driving on the left side and that you can see traffic coming but my American heart just doesn’t understand. Lol.
I’ve been largely doing this for the past 2 or 3 years, since just before the pandemic. Biggest reason? I got tired of having to deal with the aggressive, distracted drivers on my daily 6 mile commute. Switched to an e-bike in the morning commute, then home again for lunch to let the dogs out, then back to the office on a normal bike for the afternoon, with a longer ride home after work - and… it’s 95% on bike paths here in the Chicago area - we have it good. Still have the truck with bike racks for those far away rides, but the bike is now a primary form of transportation.
I have the same routine on a regular bike. Bike to work 3 miles, back home for lunch to let the dog out then bike back to work. Watching this vid because an ebike would be a big help the first half of the day.
I definitely want to bike more in the winter here in Ontario. I just hope the snow plows will be up to par with clearing the roads and side roads for easier access.
I think you can dress and bike through practically any kind of weather, and I've done that, but when you have a 30+ mile commute to work and 5-10 miles to get to a grocery store etc., and major highly traveled roads are the only realistic access routes (unless you want to go cycling through back yards and industrial warehouses) I'd say a car is often the only non suicidal way to get around. I do enjoy cycling through winter for fitness but that would be it. The kiddos are incredibly cute BTW.
Yes, lack of (good) infra is definetely the biggest hurdle to cycling more. You can dress for some rain, but no helmet is going to save you and/or make you feel safe enough to ride in a car lane with trucks going > 80km/h. Looking at the Netherlands this shouldn't really be a suprise but alas, here we are.
@@LiamHaHaX Yeah and it seems to me that there would be other circumstances where biking even limited distances to work would not be a good idea. There are cities where drivers just go way too carelessly for my tastes and I just don't care to be one of those guys with a war story about getting hit by a speeding truck that's running a light. I save my biking for recreation.
yop, if they build cycle route next to highway it would be pretty straight forwards route for me, but now I only occasionally use bike for work. I can't get out of bed in the morning so 25 min drive is better then 1,15 h.
Just think how much money and resources could be saved by building bike lanes instead of endlessly widening highways and strodes. And people would be happier and healthier, too!
great video Si! I own 2 ebikes, an in-town for shopping and a road bike for enjoyment. I find that the added speed I can get on climbs helps reduce the bit of weaving I have when I can't manage more than 3 - 4 mph. And on steep descents the added weight of an e-bike helps reduce or prevent the speed wobble I sometimes have. All in all my ebikes are some of the best investments I've ever made. Oh, also, I live in sunny California, so winter weather is less of an issue here.
I have never had a car, yet. First half of this week I rode to work in -12 Centigrade. Three layers everywhere but on my torso, where I have four. Luckily there was no wind and at that cold it is not slippery. Things got worse Thursday, when it was less cold and salt had been added to the roads. Then I could only ride in the tracks cleared by the cars. I'm in Sweden.
I’m a Canadian and it regularly gets down to -40C in the winter, but I sold my car in August and spent all winter bike commuting. I can easily say this has been the best winter of my adult life, and even on the coldest days I still show up to work a bit sweaty. I encourage my fellow Canadians to give it a try, it’s not nearly as daunting or extreme as you think.
Can we all have a moment of sympathy for Si’s daughter? The poor girl suffered through the whole video with Si’s backside in her face and she didn’t moan once! Definitely earned a good Christmas present
I live in Cambridge UK, which is neither Switzerland, nor the Netherlands nor Denmark, but a lot of people use their bikes all year round for everything, from commuting, to school runs to groceries. What differentiates Cambridge from most towns in England is the critical mass of cyclists using the roads everyday, in here facilitated by the universities' students not being allowed to owe cars. That's the thing about infrastructure: it helps making cycling more safe, so towns can achieve that critical mass. Cambridge is not that well infrastructured, but cycling is super safe just because of the sheer amount of people in their bikes.
The biggest problem/fear I have with using bikes for riding in city is bike theft. There is no problem for commuting purposes, since we have a safe bike storage at work place, but I just can't leave my bike in some crowded city place (where you wouldn't want to go by car) and not to worry about it all the time. The only solution I found so far is using cheap, unatractive for thieves bike whenever I need to park for long time in public space.
@@josephlee2131 Yes, but the more organized thieves just chuck your bike in the back of a van :( I've seen some attempts at very secure bike parking which even allows for charging your e-bike, though you have to carry your charger with you, but it is only a few places in my country currently (Denmark). A simple to implement solution could be to mount motor cycle bolts into ground og a bicycle parking area, which then allows you to run a heavy duty chain lock through it.
The excitement and fun you get from going around the city with your bike is something that is so overlooked by people who don't ride bikes. I HATE running errands on my car, but I actively try to find excuses to ride my bike, especially, like you mentioned, when you move faster than traffic. The freedom and power you feel!
I use a Tern GSD as our 2nd car. It's mega with the kids. I've taken 2 kids with both kids bikes using a bag'n'drag technique with the front wheels in the bags and the rear wheels on the ground behind.
Would recomend Rainlegs, which are waterproofs that just cover the front of your legs from waste to just below the knees. Covers the parts of your legs the rain actually lands on when cycling, but still lets the air in to your legs. Takes up very little room in your bag if not needed. Have worked well (over trousers and with mudgaurds) for a glasgow commute
Saw a few of those. The spray coming up from the road and from the wheels gets forgotten, and you still arrive soaked :). People saying rain only comes from above have not been on a bike in the rain :)
@@jorismak You are correct :P Because my mudguard covers most of my front wheel and its just a twenty mins commute I get away with it in most rain. When its heavy/sideways rain and/or I have to go through puddles I can end up with damp legs from the shin down unless I roll up me trousers. Because I work in different shoes and trousers from the ones i commute in this is not a problem for me. It is something i should have mentioned but was just throwing down a random comment to feed the algarythim as much as anything :) Still love me Rainlegs (other brands available I assume) which i can put on and off in 5 secs without taking shoes off, and still wouldn't want full on waterproof leg traps (for completion i will also say commuting can wear a hole in the bum of you commuting trousers so don't use your best strides)
I got rid of my car and started cycling and it's the best decision I have ever made in my life. I sold my car last year and now I'm officially relying on my ebike to do my weekly shopping and go to work. I feel more happy and healthy cycling everyday. Guys cycling is the future and the way forward, you won't regret it.
For me, the biggest single barrier to using a bike for every day journeys is having no easy, convenient or safe place to park it. There's always someone waiting to steal it or steal parts from it.
As a retired Brit living in rural Massachusetts, I quit continuously owning a car about 15 yrs ago. Drivers generally pass us rare cyclists here with far more space than I recall way back in UK. First I tried a few gas motors on budget bikes then moved to electric motor kits as soon as they came out 6 or 7 yrs ago. Then I tinkered with home made recumbents. Four years ago I bought a Cruzbike T50 recumbent bike frame set where the bottom bracket steers above the front wheel and drives the front wheel. I installed a Nuvinci CVT geared wheel in the front and a 2 speed hub motor front wheel in the rear. This cost about $2,200. Roads here are a bit rough without suspension so I swapped the alloy forks for a fat tire suspension fork, added a mtn bike rear triangle, ground down its BB axle to fit the T50 rear drop out and welded up a steel bracket for the shock. With the wheel base increased some 20", I made a plywood grocery box about 24Lx18Wx10H behind the seat. This is my all purpose e-bike and even my beagle loves riding in the back to the parks.
No convincing necessary Cy. Sold my car 6 years ago and haven't looked back. I occasionally rent a car, which is peanuts compared to owning one. I don't miss road tax, license and insurance fees, and don't miss the incredible depreciation on most cars, if you bought new for instance. I love my cycling, and life is sweeter. Thanks for the great video
In cities, possible, however you should see the infrastructure in Northern English suburbs (Leeds) you'd last 5 minutes before being mowed down by a few chavs or more likely the angry man in the BMW.
You pretty much got this right. The last vid was close. This is closer. I’ve been car free 10 years and cargo biked up for four. No going back once you’ve had the freedom of the cargo bike. And I’m also a member of a car share system. It’s the best mix
Love this and agree with everything you say 100% but there's still a big issue and I think the biggest drawback to going car free that it would be good to see you cover and that's the high nick-ability of e-bikes. Unfortunately, fact is that it's still loads more secure to park your car outside the supermarket then it is your e-bike.
Fact mate, I used mine for commuting and going to the gym on and then it was stolen one morning outside the gym at 0630. It is the only reason why I won't be using one anymore as I just can't afford to loose another.
guide of 10% value on locks still holds... £300-600 buys you a lot of lock! ebike, especially cargo, negates weight issues. i devote a bunch of that to a tracker (whisper it, in the motor, acts as immobilizer) thankfully not needed, but hire shop in the city has theirs recovered by police within the hour
Yep, absolutely you use the best locks you can afford and hope for the best. I’m happy to lock my ‘pub bike’ (approx value £50) outside Tesco or the gym (or the pub) for half an hour or more but not any bike with a value of £2k+. I know people with commuter e-bikes and they love them but for any situation that would require them to leave their bike unattended in public for more than a couple of minutes they’ll always use their car instead. Having said that you’d think that e-bikes would have much more scope to solve this problem than acoustic bikes. Perhaps we’ll see some more creative solutions from e-bike manufactures in the future that start making their security more comparable with that of cars? I dunno, touch ID enabled bikes? bike alarms? SMS tamper alerts?
I've been immune to the allure of an e-bike, even with other serious cyclists around me being converts to their occasional use. This vid tipped my feelings on them. Si makes some excellent points, most by putting them in a context that counts. Thanks for this!
the two simple problems which need to be answered yes in order for cycling to become a feasible option for people 1) is there a network of safe bicycle paths 2) is it possible to get to where you want to go without having to share the road or regularly cross paths with high speed motor traffic. many studies have concluded the weather has zero impact on cycling uptake, its the two points above which effect cycling uptake the most, Bristol and Bath where you filmed this is somewhat a yes on both fronts, many other cites, and especially rural areas in the UK its a hard *No* unless you have a deathwish.
My primary reason for owning a car is for LEAVING the city. In London, driving sucks, but I like to visit my mother in Cornwall and my friends elsewhere, none of whom are well served by trains. Using the car in the city feels daft, but we're otherwise still such a car dependent country that it's hard to live without one.
@@nialltracey2599 Trouble is I think I need them just that bit too often to make any kind of saving. The other issue with the hire car solution is that yes, they're very convenient in the sort of place where there's a tube stop right by the depot, but dropping off a hired car in the countryside means driving 25 miles to an industrial estate and relying on a car owning friend for a lift back (and incurring the fees for not returning the car to the same location). We need a proper national cycle network really, and better facilities for taking bikes on trains. Until then, this is a seriously car dependent nation with the exception of two or three slightly progressive cities.
I'm fully car-free. I relied mostly on public transit pre-pandemic before I started biking everywhere. I rode through the Boston winter this year just fine. Good gloves are essential for wind chill, consider ski goggles or similar too. My eyes get dry after a while. What really bugs me is that getting a mouthful of cold air triggers my asthma, but covering my mouth is difficult because it fogs up my glasses, so I started experimenting with a winter-optimized motorcycle helmet. It feels like biking with a mask on -- restricts airflow a bit, but workable if you're pushing the ebike motor. Rain continues to be my nemesis year-round because of glasses. It's making me consider lasik. I need like, little windshield wipers or something.
I live in México City, I’m car free since two years ago. I mostly ride a nice carbon fitness bike for my daily commute, but I own an eBike and a Burley Travoy trailer for shoping or carring big stuff. It is a lot more fun, and fast, to go shopping vs driving. And my daily commute to work is a lot faster than it was in a car, plus the fun, plus the health benefits.
try -30 Celsius never mind -10, northernmost Canada might see even -50°C or colder... here in Albany New York it usually gets about down to -10 during late January, the Canadian border is 80 miles north of me (2hrs drive)
I have a custom titanium commuter bike with 29er wheels w/DT hubs, 700x35C Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tour tires, hydraulic brakes and di2 for all-weather reliability, no electric assist, steel Nitto B123 Keirin handlebars for strength, clip-on aero bars and a few different trailers that eliminate the need for a car or truck. I could carry ten xmas trees or upward of 500 lbs in my biggest trailer and the smallest one carries a 95L plastic tote with lid to repel rain, rolling on a single wheel behind the tote. The middle sized trailer has a 200L tote with a lid and two wheels. The small trailer is used for most jobs including grocery store trips. Where I live on rural Vancouver Island it rains often outside the summer and occasionally snows during the winter. The typical ride for shopping errands is about 40km round trip. Occasionally it is over 100km. This is a great way to accumulate aerobic base while knocking off errands. When my kids were young I accompanied them to school on bike and eventually left them on their own. Now they ride their bikes to school and work. The sides of the roads here where bikes are expected to be ridden are very messy with mud, sand and salt this time of year, so I have to sometimes take the lane when the debris is judged to be unsafe or too unkind to my bike. We have next to no dedicated bike infrastructure unfortunately, so it can be frustrating when motorists don't want me in "their" space, but, after doing this for over 20 years, it seems like such a wasted opportunity to be stuck behind a wheel when you can be taking a much more active role.
Been doing this in the foothills of ca on my diverge and tarmac for 7 out of the last 10 years, 1000 feet of climbing for every 10 miles. It’s 90% great. Getting a lot of groceries or when it’s pissing down are the only times I hate it. It’s good to combat laziness, you also don’t pop out to get things you don’t really need. And the environment of course. Have the same fox water pants, si, you havnt used those have you? They’re not that water proof when it’s absolutely pouring
Love the video. We sold one car earlier this year as it had little use during the Pandemic period. I bought a Bullitt and love the riding experience, the versatility, freedom, the looks and faces on people when I ride it around the South Coast where these bikes are few and far between. I shop weekly with it, go to DIY stores carrying wood and even 300 ltrs of soil on it. Would highly recommend taking one step forward if you have 2 cars in the family.
I wonder how this would work in the suburbs on AZ, Most of my trips are ~ 10 miles each way, but traffic that goes 45-50mph next to me and countless driveways make any street riding seem dangrous. Also while winter is great, what does one do for 110*F afternoons?
Wear very minimal clothing and abandon any notion of helmets. You may not want to do that last bit considering you will likely be cycling fast and in difficult conditions, but it works.
Riding fast is a bit like turning on a fan 😉 I got pretty used to riding in about 40 degrees C in the UAE, the trick is not to stop! But still 110F sounds a bit much to be honest, especially when waiting at a traffic light. Also I got a couple of beer bottles thrown at me in Phoenix AZ when I rode through there. The driver in question seemed to think bikes were supposed to be on the sidewalk, which was news to me as a) that isn't what we do in UK and b) no one else seemed to have the same point of view despite me having ridden from San Diego already. Great state for riding once you're not in the city mind you. Amazing landscapes
In a city with decent PT it should be easy on any bike, if there is (almost) no PT an ebike would be nice. The biggest problem is lack of safety. When roads are safer people will cycle more automagically. If you then build dedicated infra even more will. It's all about being and feeling safe. If it's safe loads of people are willing to endure a bit of bad weather (with clothes they often already have anyways) when it's quicker, cheaper, more accessible and easier to park than a car. This is ofc only true in a proper, dense cities like London/Paris/Amsterdam/etc. Any european city really. In an American city that's 80% car parks and huge urban highways you would have to cycle enourmous distances and have 0 trouble parking your car even with Black Friday.
Canadian here. I've sold my sports cars for a motorcycle. And then I sold the motorcycle for an ebike. Both the sports car and motorcycle I didn't drive/ride in winter, but the ebike I do. It's literally more practical. For long distances or holidays I just rent a car like you mentioned. Even at $40/£30 a day it ends up being much cheaper than owning a car. I feel that as more people realise this, the economies will change and car rentals might become more expensive, to the point where owning might be more sensible, but for now car ownership is still on an uptrend so cyclists still have the upper hand. I also have large grocery orders delivered. Costs me about $20/month and actually saves me an hour or so of commuting.
I've been living in China for several years now with children car free and love it. Taxis are very inexpensive here when we do need to go somewhere the bike won't take us, and the weather is suitable. Winter is the dry season, so although it's cold enough to snow, it only happens once or twice a winter. Infrastructure, well, that's a different story. I feel like drivers are very used to cyclists though and generally more accommodating than they would be back home in the states.
I love these videos that look into bike commuting, etc, especially in winter. That said, I live in Minneapolis, MN, quite famous for its harsh winters. Makes the scenario that you film to be a bit unrealistic for folks like me. That being said, I still bike commute all year round! You should do a winter video in some harsher climates. It’d be great to see you guys traverse the snow of Minnesota!
I've been car free for over 4 years now...yes, in Canada! Winters aren't nearly as bad as presumed; and cycling keeps you warmer than walking! Keep the hands, face, and feet warm, and you're golden.
My main car (van) use is taking my bike to races... not sure that works on a cargo bike. From where I am there are 2-3 races a year I can ride to and from, the rest are all 1-3hrs away. 60Miles to the courses up at Stirling, 100 to the Fife ones. That's quite a haul on a eBike, with a TT bike attached to it. Would be fabulous to arrive like that though. I am considering an eCargobike for our small veg farm/field - it's about 1.5miles (uphill) out of town, so not a long haul, ride up on the MTB a lot, schedule training rides to stop on way home etc, but carrying capacity is limited. One of those bathtub type cargo bikes would fit in a lot of kit and produce!
While serving in the Navy, I was stationed on Anderson AFB in Guam. I rode a bike, an aluminum Fuji to which I installed racks and front & rear panniers. I used it for my daily commute and to get groceries, as well as just for fun. I rented a car a couple of times a year if I needed to get to the others end of the island, but overall I was in the saddle the vast majority of the time. Granted, Guam is a tropical island, so weather was not very challenging most of the year, but it was a heck of a lot of fun. I could easily see commuting to/from work if it were not for my current situation…right now there is no route to work from my home where bicycles are permitted, unless I ride well over 60 miles each way. But, once I retire in a few years, I will have eliminated this problem.
I appreciate your enthusiasm regarding riding your bike in winter. Where I live in the north, there are some bike trails in and around the city. They are not plowed in the winter. Not maintained at all. Biking on the road is dangerous at best and during the winter it’s pretty damn scary. If you buy studded tires that’s great but you’re not always on ice so the studs can wear down after a few hundred miles. It’s just tough riding on ice, sometimes snow, sometimes ice warmed by the sun, which is slick as heck, sometimes unpaved road and sometimes blacktop without any ice or snow. I think I’ll probably settle on trying to ride only in the ice free months. Maybe drive the car once a week, maybe put a battery charger on it, something to maintain its charge. I would say whatever you do, while you’re biking, protect those kids at all costs. I don’t trust anybody behind the wheel of a car to be paying attention, not texting, stoned, drunk, whatever. Lost a good friend last year, good rider, new the rules of the road and had been an biking to work for 20 years. Hit by a pick up truck. No reason for it. Anyway, thanks for the great video! Hope everybody has safe travels!
I have an R&M Load 75 and live in Milwaukee WI with minimal safe bike infrastructure, a lot of which isn’t plowed in winter. Studded tires on the load 75 worked great last year. Only time I couldn’t ride was in many inches of fresh snow. The child cover helps a lot with the cold/wind/rain.
Thanks for a great video, as the comments suggest, it is possible to go car free but even in the Netherlands, many have cars they use for specific journeys e.g. longer distances or to carry a large amount of stuff. Personally, I have an ebike that is used for shopping and most of my urban transportation as it’s quicker, parking isn’t a problem, no ulez or congestion charge and I enjoy it. I also have a mountain bike and road bike each has its own niche use but what you really need is a garage to store them. Try carrying an cargo ebike up two flights of stairs if you live in a flat!
Best thing is that people who bike to work and school are happier than people who drive cars (and that's a hard fact)! However, in some countries distances are generally too long for biking. Urban sprawl in the US makes it difficult for many people to make the switch. In Europe cities are on average more dense and cities like Copenhagen, Paris and Barcelona and many more offer excellent biking opportunities and bikes are seen as an alternative because they are supplemented by great public transport options when you need to go longer. Biking has been a key element in the great urban revival that we have seen the 20 years with cities everywhere trying to become more liveable and happier places. And in some places in the US such as NYC bikes are taking off in a big way.
I live in Canada. Your winter day looks like a cool day in November, prior to the snow. Take the temperature down to minus 13 degrees Celsius and add a lot of snow and ice. Couple that with minimal bike infrastructure, and a bike is a non-starter. In my city, the snow from the road is literally plowed into the bike lanes. The bike lanes are not cleared. The politicians talk about leaving the car at home, but unfortunately it's only talk. They are not prepared to clear the snow from the bike lanes, create safe, separate bike lanes, or even create safe areas to park, to protect against theft.
Theres a little fort that keeps the kids dry, which we use the kids love that. Lots of options for taking kids bikes on a Tern GSD, highly recommend you actually join the GSD group and look at what people do, you can take a cargo trailer for example which can be hitched to the back, bag and drag even, or use the panniers or the storm box which can fit kids and lots of shopping, not to mention the front rack has a weight limit of 20kg, that would mean kids and shopping! No need to rent a car for that stuff. A bit more research probably needed to be done in that regard!
Thanks to this video I have kinda decided to show winter e-cargocycling to work and from work during winter here in Finland Tampere. I just bought e-cargobike to replace my car for short trips. So far during summer it has been very nice thanks to weather being sunny / cloudy, hasn't rained but I will probably experience it soon enough.
First let me say Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, for making this video. I am getting close to retirement and I have never owned a car. My company owned it and I could use it in any way I wanted to. But my mother has own her cars for many years and she hardly ever goes anywhere. She pays for licenses, monthly payments, insurance, etc and to me that is just a waste of money. Anyway, I am struggling with the choice. I ride a bike a lot so I am fit for it. I worry that going to stores my bike might or probably would get stolen. And where I live I wouldn't exactly say it is bike friendly although we have made improvement for people who live in the city. Out in the suburbs and countryside there isn't even a berm where it is safe for cycling. I would like to see more content like this, it helps me to learn more about it and may just help me make up my mind.
Great video! I don't have an eBike (yet), but I got a bike trailer a few months ago, and I've been doing nearly all my local shopping by bike. You mention that cars give you more space with the cargo bike. I've found the same thing when towing the trailer. I've also found it much more fun shopping by bike. I generally come home from the supermarket with a big grin on my face. Sometimes I ride with the trailer even when I don't have any shopping to do. You need a bike trailer that you can load your kids BMX bikes on, then hitch to your cargo bike with your kids on board.
I would love to get rid of my car and do this. Expected of the backwards thinking in America, car sharing is not available in Michigan and there is almost no public transit. Thank you for the lovely video, I love to dream. Si, your kids are adorable. 💜
Lived in London, Shanghai and Singapore and never owned a car. After 16 years commuting by bike I worked out I had saved about one years worth of salary vs. using public transport, not a bad return for something so fun! (Compared to running a car here in Singapore it's a laughable comparison - in the region of £10k a year easily!)
Great video as always, and your kids are adorable. If you're open to suggestion for future videos: I have an e road bike like the orbea gain, Scott addict e-ride, or Bianchi Aria e Road and I hate it. The pedal assist cuts out at 20 mph, which is fine I suppose for a hybrid or city bike, but for a road race bike it's a complete joke. Additionally, it is a rear Hub motor which uses a direct drive system and therefore it has no Freewheel in back. Instead, the magnets on the direct drive motor creates friction that slows the bike whenever you stop pedaling. The reason this is bad, is on descents, where your buddies are running hard, you eventually spin out. This is usually when you would tuck in and freewheel down the descent. However, with these types of motor systems, the friction from the rear hub motor feels and acts like a brake. The bike is literally slowing, as if a giant hand had grabbed you by the scruff of your neck and is yanking you back up the hill while the rest of the group is pulling ahead of you. Would really appreciate GCN's take on this problem. It is something that is not mentioned in any of the promotional materials for these very expensive bicycles, and something you only find out the hard way after you've spent a lot of money on them. FSA has recently released a system comprable to the ebikemotion x35 system which they claim has eliminated or at least greatly improved the friction resistance so the bike performs more like a normal bicycle. I am anxiously awaiting the opportunity to give that a try. At the moment, FSA is not selling the system retail, it is only an oem purchase. All of which is to say, yes, e bikes are lots of fun. But e road bikes, at least those with the rear hub Drive, are really not ready for primetime. I am enormously frustrated and disappointed. If the road bike can't keep up with the group, they should at least tell you that when you buy the thing. Really would like to see a GCN video about this. Thanks
Great video. I did a mix of road bike and my Gocycle last winter and would rather be in the rain on the bike, than be stuck in traffic. Very rare for me to drive any more. I just feel so much happier and fitter that way.
Before I retired (over 25 years ago!) I commuted my 13 miles each way on an old Higgins TWD trike when it was icy or snowy. I found I got a lot more overtaking clearance from cars as Simon found with a cargo bike. However, we don't have any children to cart about but lots of people I knew in the Tandem Club towed trailers with children. Surprised you didn't suggest trikes - they're huge fun. We toured Nepal back in 1989b and once witnessed a roll of corrugated iron being transported on a cycle rickshaw. It almost completely blocked the road, which wouldn't go down well over here. Incidentally I also persuaded a rickshaw rider to let me do the pedalling while he sat in the back. That was good, too. I'm afraid most (all) of my cycling is electrically assisted these days as I've converted both mine and my wife's bikes with simple FWD set ups. I also tend not to ride after dark now. Old age, isn't just a number after 8 decades as some might claim.
My biggest concern is having it stolen while I am in the shops. I've had bikes stolen before even though they were locked up with a D-lock. Do you carry around a big chain to lock it up when you are at the supermarket ?
I've been road cycling for 4 years and have a hybrid for town. In September I sold my car. My wife has one for work, so during the week, I'm carless. It is so much quicker and considerably less stressful walking into town or cycling to run errands and shop. Won't be replacing the car!
Have you dropped the car for a bike or e-bike?
I never had a car to begin with. In the United States though, ditching your car for a bike is often ill-advised.
no, because i dont have the required 2-3k to spend.
The only thing that got dropped was Ollie...
After watching Not Just Bikes' video on "Why Finnish people cycle in the winter (But Canadians can't), I challenged myself to do just that. I grabbed a commuter bike with belt drive, fenders & pannier, got studded tires, and I'm 500km of winter riding in Winnipeg Canada.
I live in Eskilstuna, 110 km west of Stockholm, in southern Sweden, which I think is a bit colder than southern Britain in winters, even though we have scarce with snow in wintertime nowadays due to global warming. I almost always use my bike (a 29" Scott Aspect 930 MTB) year around. I own a car but use it quite seldom, usually only when visiting relatives in Stockholm or on our car hiking vacations. My family is I, my wife and 3 kids aged 11 to 19. When shopping groceries I use a Burley Nomad cart attached to my bike, which I can highly recommend. It weighs just 6,5 kg but can carry 45 kgs, or 6 shopping bags with groceries. Wintertime I use studded tires. So absolutely! You can go car free in winter. It is just a matter of attitude, and clothing. There is no bad weather, just bad clothing.
Great video! The UK has a similar climate to the Netherlands where people do everything on bikes, including groceries and taking the kids to school. What British towns need is infrastructure to support the everyday cyclist.! The Dutch urban planning strategy defines cycling as a means of transport, not a sport. A similar mindset in UK town planning would go a long way. Perhaps GCN could do their bit to help bring this about with a "cycling during rush hour in the Netherlands vs cycling during rush hour in the UK" video! Show Britain what is possible.
Better infrastructure would unlock so much suppressed demand for cycling in the UK. Unfortunately it is rare that decision makers see it that way
What a good video idea!
Great idea, I know lots of people that won’t cycle because of our (UK) roads and the attitude that motorists have towards us.
I am Dutch but I have also lived in the UK for about 7 years. Infrastructure and motorists' attitude are part of it but geography is also an issue. If you live in a hilly area it takes a lot of effort to get around on a bike. I found it was doable because I was young (at the time) and fit (at the time) and had a job where it wasn't a problem when I was sweaty or dirty on arrival.
@@GHWMR this is a good point, if you live somewhere like the Peak District it can be very hilly but this is where e-bikes and electrical assist would help those that want it.
I just moved to Copenhagen, people use their bikes all year round for basically anything, and the city is organized for it which i think is a major factor using bikes in winter - bike paths are always cleaned from snow immediately.
Finland has the same options for biking aswell.
And as the saying in Denmark goes, there is no such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong clothes!
I lived in Copenhagen for 6 years without a car. Just bike and public transport. Back home in Australia now but miss Copenhagen terribly.
I lived in Copenhagen for 6 years without a car. Just bike and public transport. Back home in Australia now but miss Copenhagen terribly.
I'm in Gothenburg which also has an excellent cycling infrastructure and is usually well set up for cycling year-round. Unfortunately the recent heavy snowfall hasn't been dealt with optimally so I am currently back to using trams and avoiding slush and ice.
You guys should do a collab with Not Just Bikes about cycling infrastructure. I think his audience is mostly Dutch, but they have already figured it out.
I would love to see more on what is currently being done in places that are at the start of this journey.
Top idea. Far too many half baked cycle routes in my area many are 2m long in places.
His audience has a ton of jealous Canadians too.
@@adune23 and one Indian
[ I think his audience is mostly Dutch]
I don't know what his viewership IPs are, but he has a huge following in Canada and the US.
@@adune23 lol...you beat me to it, eh? First one I watched, I could tell he's a Canuck from his accent (although some New Englanders have similar) and sure enough, he's from Trana (Toronto) and Waterloo.
We’ve been doing this (in Bradford, UK) with the bike featured, the tern gsd, for a couple of years and our kids LOVE it. And to answer a couple of the things Si said weren’t possible - with our huge panniers we can fit 2 kids AND a full trolley load of shopping on the bike, and we regularly ‘bag and drag’ their bikes to the park. We wouldn’t go back now, and have ditched our car, meaning we’ve been able to get a campervan that we wouldn’t have if we needed it for city driving.
I have the same bike too. It’s been life changing. I’ve nearly eliminated all my car journeys. I even shock myself with some of the items are carry on my bike.
How did you manage to use the panniers with the kids? Their legs dangle down over them.
@@simonrichardson5259 their legs just kind of sit on top/either side. I think you might have been using the newer slightly smaller panniers but they’re pretty much the same. We also use two yepp junior seats rather than the clubhouse, but I think we might get the clubhouse now ours are a bit older as they’re a little more protected.
@@simonrichardson5259 We have the 1st gen GSD in Bristol with the clubhouse and panniers. Having the larger front rack helps as it takes a big bag easily. With a bag in each of the panniers and the tops rolled back the kids feet either have space within or just sit on top of the shopping.
Agree, felt a bit like the video wasnt well researched, strange.... maybe they should have joined the family cycling group of FB or the GSD / Riese and muller cargo bike group before making these assumptions. However its still good press for cargo bikes!
Awesome! We sold our car three years ago and bought an pair of e-bikes. Haven’t looked back since. Can really relate to the experience of realizing how nice and convenient it is (and also the possibility of renting a car when in need). The kids like it as well and are now more accustomed to riding on the bike then being in a car. With good clothes the rain or snow (although you need glasses to protect the eyes if snowing) can almost feel invigorating. Never thought it possible when owning a car but I do write this in all sincerity even though it might come a cross a bit one-sided. But as conveyed in the video it is strangely fun to ride the e-bike, especially past long rows of traffic. And my experience so far is that within the city limits it is almost always as fast or faster compared with a car.
As a slight negative I could mention that it does take some time to kit up with all the stuff you need to keep warm, dry and safe.
Living in Finland and not owning a car. Yes, it has been possible! Even with children. Weather gives sometimes obstacles (snow storm or icing rain) which in that case makes cycling impossible, but just for a few days in a Year. Now at beginning of December it has been -15C up to -24C and even shopping at supermarket from 8km (16km total) distance is just like any regular day. In ”real” (not like Yours there south, sorry) winter You need a special kind state of mind, bit crazy one, for hard core cycling. :)
Love Finland in winter its very beautiful.. however the winters are not comparable... you have cold but dry weather.. in the UK its cold but wet meaning it rains all day every day where as in nordic nations its showing and the snow settles making a compact dry surface..
@@boomchakalaka3715 erm Denmark and Netherlands have very similar climates to UK (if not even wetter and windier) and they don’t seem to have a problem.
Living in Finland also. Haven't had a car in I think 6 years and really don't miss it. One of the good sides is not being afraid of random repair bills if something goes wrong with it, not to mention saving a lot on the running costs. Work and shops are walking distance away. Don't have kids though makes it a lot easier.
Glad someone from Finland chipped in 🇫🇮
We had -20C last week. Car wasn't really an option as it wouldn't have started anyway
Si's kids are adorable. They truly looked like they were having a great time tagging along with Dad on his "work" adventure. Well done!
given si's actual age in relation to how young he looks, his kids could be anywhere from 7 to 35 years old
Love this!
How old is he?
@@oscar5423 Late 30s I believe
Yeh I think he's catching the oap lloydy up lol
@@leedorney Hehe - Old man Lloydy is younger than me (and I guess many of us GCN fans) so I'm not sure what they're banging on about when they give him a hard time for his age :D
Bravo! I have been in love with all forms of cycling for almost 40 years now. The advent and growth of ebikes is going to be a game changer. As a Canadian, winter road cycling and commuting can be a challenge at times but as my Finnish cousins point out, there is no bad weather, just poorly planned infrastructure. Often, when winter weather is bad enough to stop cycling it’s also generally too bad for driving.
On another note, the motorists in Bath seem to be exceptionally patient. I don’t know if your filming would be as safe a venture in the typical mid-to large metropolitan centre in North America.
Cheers and happy riding!
Oofff winter Rd cycling in Canada..some dedication that is. Is it very difficult?
Not with you on E bikes, just another peice of world dug up and costing a fortune to manufacture, dispose of and the running costs over a simple bicycle. They make great sense for disabled people but when ive seen old ladies riding every day to Town on old bicycles and back. It goes to show how lazy the world had become.
@@derf9465 Unfortunately people aren't thinking nor are they too concerned about the environmental costs in the production of the batteries.
Daniel, have you seen this video, about winter cycling in Oulu, Finland? ua-cam.com/video/Uhx-26GfCBU/v-deo.html
@Daniel Brown, I was so impressed too with the patience of drivers in this video. I've been without a car since I moved to the Bay Area ~4 years ago, and based on how intolerant folks can be when it's just me commuting to work, I can't imagine the response I would get biking an 8-foot tree home!
One point that has been overlooked and that is key to a safe use of bikes as primary means of urban transport is infrastructure such as secure parking spaces.
Especially when chaining cycling with public transportation. This is the way to seriously extend your ability to go anywhere; a 45 mile ride is far less accessible than a 25 minute train ride and a 15 mile ride, or something along those lines.
@@markosverdhi Yeah I would ideally bike to the train on my commute but leaving my bike at the train station is like a 99% chance im not gonna have a functional bike when i get back lol , the walk isnt too horrible but biking would be more pleasant and efficient for sure
@@trystanswansonart the trick is to get a shitty 50$/€/£ bike that you don't care about getting stolen but is still faster than walking
In USA any bike valued over $200 will be stolen in an instant. There are fleets worth of $100-$20 bicycles sitting around, half of them abandoned.
Luckily I'm from the Netherlands, our bike road infrastructure makes it easy to go all bike the whole year around.
So envious!! 🇨🇦
Me too 🇩🇪
Jealous here too! 🇬🇧
For a dad to a 2 and 4 yr old and have recently given up the car (Portsmouth). I love these vidoes exploring this topic. All the hurdles can be overcome - the biggest hurdle is the mindset and keeping prepared. At the moment I use a cycle trailer and this keeps the rain off and its about layering up to match the conditions. Kids love it and with it being Christmas they are absolutley loving seeing all of the Christmas lights because your taking less busier roads and going a bit slower. Going forwards I'll be going to a cargo bike with enclosed cover for the kids.
Its simpler for us to be car free as the kids are now older (eldest now at uni) but we never saw the need for a car and have been car free throughout our lives here in Belgium. When the kids were young it was a challenge - but that was often more about logistics than anything else and that was pre e-bikes too. There have been costs - our house had to have a garage to accommodate the bikes and trailers etc. And its location had to be good for amenities and public transport. All of which made the house more expensive and our mortgage larger. But without the costs of running a car that was easier to afford and so instead of owning the depreciating asset of a car we've owned an appreciating asset of a house. Happy days!
I've often wondered if there was anything more wholesome than Hank and his dad... Apparently, it's Si and his sprogs.
Makes perfect sense. Marvs. x
I live in Alberta, Canada and commute by bike nearly year round. There are a couple weeks every year that are too cold (about -30 Celsius), but outside of those rare really cold days biking in the winter is honestly pretty pleasant as long as you got the right clothes.
I live in Canada and I have 5 kids… we chose to go car free 6 years ago. Watched about a million videos about it and just put our van on storage insurance for a year to try it out. We take the bus, cab when we need to, and I bike with my youngest two on my self styled, electric wheel added, rickshaw adult trike. In our city (London, Ontario) it is totally doable!
That’s so awesome, inspiring. I’m in Wisconsin and starting on the same path.
im in calgary and dont have any kids but thats the first pro-massive suv argument here, i have a coworker with 2 kids who swears he needs a chevy suburban
A vehicle has to be insured even if it's just being stored? Gosh. yet another reason to avoid the automobile scam altogether. They drain money so perpetually, and in the most insane ways.
You need the smallest child on the back so the airflow clings on for a little longer...... Well that's what Ollie would do😂
If Ollie had kids and they were on the back, they would defy all physics and pass him and he get dropped.
@@douglaspate9314 if Ollie had kids, every night they would be put to bed in an aero pod so they would grow into an aerofoil shape ✈️
I feel a wind-tunnel experiment coming on.
Hi, I’m leaving in Geneva Switzerland, with an average weather looking like UK but colder and with snow (someday). I ride an e-bike (45km/h) since 6years instead of my scooter 250c2, with no problem in winter if your are well equipped. By the way I’m a lawyer so I’m wearing formal shoes and suits and I do not transform to ride (that’s why I choose a 45km/h) and now I have a child that I ride school, with a e-cargo (45km/h). And it is working fine!
I would be terrified if I were your kid 😂 going 45km/h in the snow on a cargo bike.
@@Ramon314 you’re right, so I don’t do it! When it snow I also know how to walk to school…and also, 45km/h is a max…you can ride slower 😉😂
As a dutchie, this feels so alien. It's almost 2022 and you're still making a video about 'can we so without a car' and here it's the norm since the 80s
British ignorance is legendary! I mean they did Brexit... Nuff said.
@@Certago Nice nuanced argument there.
@@WillyJunior Very subtle indeed.
@@Certago That's nothing. You should hear Americans blabber on about how you need a car for everything, including quarter mile trips to the bar in nice weather (somewhere they shouldn't be driving home from to begin with).
Most younger (
I lived in east London for two years, my home town is Halifax and I can quite confidently say that absolutely nobody needs a car in London, unless it's 100% necessary for work.
People who live there really don't appreciate how awesome the public transport and ability to cycle easily over flat ground is compared to other parts of the UK. It boils down to plain laziness and entitlement.
I'm a carpenter and for the first time in my life I lavished in the ability to cycle to work, I had a DIY cargo bike I made out of a 70's puch which quite often was stacked with materials and tools.
Halifax in the uk or Canada?
As a motorcyclist I was once given some advice - never wear the same colour as a wet road on a dark night….it’s served me well
I live in Sydney & I’ve been cycling to work for around 5 years & I bought a ebike May 2020. It’s replaced my car for most trips within a 5km radius ie shopping. I also use it on days I need to carry extra stuff to/from work where it’s not practical to use my road bike. My car usage in the last 12 months was 7000km. The only thing that has stopped me from getting rid of my car is there aren’t enough car share vehicles in the suburb where I live. For families that own two cars a ebike could largely replace the need for a second car.
For inclement weather of all types, get some waterproof workwear - overalls and jacket will sort the majority of your body and boots will keep your feet warm and dry. Many overalls can also be had with detachable winter lining, allowing you to use them all year. It's workwear, so it'll often be breathable as well as it's meant to be comfortable to use while doing manual labor.
Since it's not cycling clothes but just workwear, it's also clothes you can use when working in the garden or just outside in general in inclement weather. It's even perfect for taking a regular walk in inclement weather.
As an added bonus, workwear can often be had as hi-viz, which makes you a LOT easier to spot in the dark and even in daylight, making you safer as well.
Doing winter cycling for the first time this year (Ottawa CA) , not doing the e-bike route, more just put studded tires on my everyday bike and going with that.
A lot of what is said is fairly true but would like to add my 2 cents.
Make your self move visible, cars don't expect to see you and seeing as snow tends to take out bike lanes and forces you into the car lane, you need to make your self seen. With that be more aware of your surroundings.
Clean your chain/bike almost every time you go out. Can't speak for elsewhere but Canada uses a lot of salt on the roads which eats away at your chain and frame, so washing and re-lubing your chain is twice as important.
Great job GCN for presenting bike as alternative transportation. We have become a 1 car (from 3 cars) household since the 1st video. Like Si I am keeping the EV but will be driving it less moving forward.
Something Ive often thought about whilst watching GCN videos is couldn't GCN themselves use some kind of E bike / cargo bike to do the filming from whilst out on the road? it would certainly be quieter and the presenters would have cleaner air to breath too.
Watching this video I was having EXACTLY the same thought . . . .
Yep, totally agree. An e-moped seems sensible. I imagine they have this in the pipeline anyway, whoever edited the sound in this video will be badgering the bosses.
It's going to be tricky to do that. Using motor bikes allow the camera man to easily ride around the subject being filmed. Going ahead and staying back as necessary for the desired camera angle.
And cargo bikes are generally slower than regular bikes; so if they used cargo bikes to record someone using regular bikes, that's going to be a speed mismatch.
@@yvrelna Well then they should just hire Mark Cavendish as the cameraman. He could get up in front faster than any motorbike, probably even with a cargo bike. And he's between teams right now anyway.
If Canadian complains about snow and negative temperature, they should try Oulu in Finland, one of the Northest cities in the world and a hub of winter cycling.
I'm Canadian and I don't think it is a fair comparison. I do go to university by bike in the winter, but our cycling infrastructure so much lacking and neglected in the winter that most places I go by bike in the summer seem like an extreme sport in the winter. My university just happens to be next to one of very few open cycle lanes in the winter.
Now, we COULD have numbers like in Finland if the government cared. We are making progress, but we are still way behind Finland in terms of infrastructure in the winter. Since most people just go about their lives (are not in the government), most people do think winter cycling is ridiculous
I've been arguing with an american or a canadian about that. He is thick and obsessed about cars, there is no reasoning him.
how much snow do you guys get there?
@@better.better Snow is the best.
I'm in Paris, so, less than a year, and that's a pity.
You just need to lace your tire with a cord, or zipties, and you get a good grip.
On the other hand, cars (as there is rarely snow over there, they are not equiped), go really really slow. In fact, they are going arround at the speed they should always be, for it to be safe for everybody.
It feels way safer, and I'm going almost faster than the cars.
Plus, the snow muffling all the sound, get the experience really great.
PS: Maxime Laroche response is also spot on.
@@better.better About 3 meters/year. The snow is clear from the driving lane...on the cycle lanes. It does eventually get cleared from the cycle lanes a couple of days later. Many cycle lanes are on bumpy ice covered with a little snow.
But we are making progress. The current mayor made takes cycling as a mode of transport seriously and the cycling network (both the for the summer and in the winter) expanded a lot in the last couple of years.
It is my first year of biking during in the winter. I had tried it before, but I did not feel safe. The new mayor improved the cycling network enough for me to give it a second chance (and I actually think it is doable this time)
I was car-free from 1995-2014 including a couple winters in Maine. Studded tires and disc brakes were the key. I found it was better to store the bike outside in a shed. If you store it inside, any ice on the chain or cables will melt overnight, then refreeze when you take it out again, jamming up the shifting. I abandoned any hope of keeping a chain clean. I just used cheap chains and didn't worry about the road salt rusting them.
Coldest ride was -25c. Had to wear good eye wear cause if the wind hits your eyes and they start watering, the tears would freeze on your eyelashes. You'd blink and your upper and lower eyelashes would freeze shut together.
I can remember a couple of times when I made it to work while coworkers in cars were not able to make it in. There's little more peaceful than riding on a thin 1" carpet of snow at night.
I've been car free for six years! So yes, absolutely!! 🚴♀️
Here in Louisville KY I commute year round by bike. Change to wider tires with more tread in winter.
@@TracyIrvin1 awesome! 😃💪🚴♀️
As a dutchie, yes, had to cycle every day to school no matter what the weather
Which is fine since it's often dry, but I sure can't count the amount of times I've arrived drenched at school on my fingers and toes. The freedom to leave when you want and go somewhere after school makes all this worth it thought, easily.
i wud walk
It seems as though you Dutch people, and maybe even Europeans in general, have a much better relationship with nature than Americans do. Americans will literally run to their cars and hide in them until it stops raining. Or likewise, we won't leave air conditioned cars/rooms all summer. We're very fragile compared to Europeans. I've heard most Italians don't even have air conditioning, and it gets wildly hot down there. They're just used to nature. Unlike Americans who spend 90% of their lives sheltered from nature.
One of my preferred times to bike is dead winter in the snow! I find it is extremely enjoyable, even with disconnected infrastructure (Canada...). Definitely slower in the winter, but an e-bike would be the thing to fix that. The biggest obstacle I run into is a lack of bike racks - some places don't have them (I've noticed it particularly at government buildings and doctor's offices, which is a real shame) and some places take them away for the winter! But the journey is still great, even if it is paired with a hopeless search for a post to rack my bike to.
Yes, here in Ottawa the bike racks go south with the geese in the winter. I lock my Batavus to "No parking" sign posts !
I got rid of my car in 2018 and cycle year round in southwestern Ontario. I commute to work everyday and some of my best rides have been riding home at 5pm in the dark of winter. With good tires and appropriate clothing, weather is rarely an issue, save for one evening it was below 40c with the windchill. That was the only time I have abandoned my bike in my office and took a taxi home. Bad day at the office? No problem. Get up in that saddle and put the hammer down. The bad day dissolves away by the time I get home. Thanks for the video Si!
Looks like having a film crew with you helps stop close passes. I need to get me one of those. 😂
Or having kids.
@@tonyedgecombe6631 if only that made a difference. Unfortunately plenty of people still drive dangerously round me and my kids.
If you ride in the gutter it encourages close passes
@@steve00alt70 yep but no matter where you ride some drivers will try it anyway!
I heard mounting a flag horizontally (sticking out to the side) helps a lot. But I guess that complicates parking your bike.
I have for the past 6ish months started using a bike as my only form of transportation. With a few buss and train exceptions for longer trips. This has coincided with me temporarily moving to a much flatter area then where I used to live. And so far it has been no real issues.
My only problem has been the inbetween weather. When riding in slush I have had problems with the gears getting clogged with snow/ice and the bike being barely usable. But when it's fully winter or just wet or dry I am very happy. It is absolutely something I am happy I did. And when I move back home to my colder, more hilly and less central location I will 100% try to keep biking everywhere. If there is ever an update to this video, then I will try to update on my feelings after moving home.
I sold my car a few years ago. I'm not strictly car-free (my wife still has a car which I can borrow if she's not using it, and I can use the work van if I'm feeling lazy), but for the most part, my 32 mile round trip to work and back is done on a bike, whatever the weather. It's not always easy, especially as my job is fairly physical (I'm a brewer) and I have to get up an hour or so earlier than I do on car days, but it does wonders for my fitness. I haven't gone down the ebike road yet - most of my mileage is on an old 1990s Audax bike with mudguards, good quality hub dynamo lighting and 3x7 gearing in "traditional" ratios - but I'm thinking about it as I approach my 50th. I'd certainly sooner have an ebike than go back to a car!
Hang in there, I just turned 63 and I am feeling a little stronger than I did at 60! Yeah, it could be just a perception! My old Raleigh commuter bike has been regulated to "trainer duty", but I did enjoy its practicality. It climbed well, and was cheap. Keep on keeping on Rag Wort, stories like yours inspire me!
Keep it up guys, I'm just shy of 30 myself but remember seeing a gentleman who looked to be in his 60s riding his bike standing i.e. putting a fair bit of force on the pedals. That's what encouraged me to keep going! If the bike can keep someone in that shape i want to be a part of it!
This is especially thought out for ebike-rides longer than 10k:
Barmits, Overshoes, a windshield that keeps the cold off of the body a helmet with a visor and a Poncho for the really bad days. Now you're ready for anything.
Sissys like me add a hot water bottle and a thermos for refills when you need to stop for any reason. You might bring tea for the optional warm drink.
Make sure the poncho fits and isn't flaffing about to avoid unnecessary drag, but with an ebike you won't know the difference anyways. For those who need to pass through unhabited areas without decent lighting, add a bright LED onto your helmet, (the ones from China are best value) and you'll have built in curvelights as well. Plus the occasional hog or rabbit at night will be additional compensation for the cold.
Enjoy.
Great tips, I really do not cycle after dark, think of the experiences that I am missing out on!
@@ronbell7920 The lights on my bike weren't bright enough even though I bought the best ones for quite a price, then I went on and bought the cheap Chinese torch and this thing ... Now it's a different world out there. The big bonus is that you have the cycle paths almost to yourself. :)
Every single right hand turn you guys make gives me heart palpitations. My brain knows you are driving on the left side and that you can see traffic coming but my American heart just doesn’t understand. Lol.
Watch it in a mirror 😉
I got genuinely scared when he turned without stopping to enter the tree farm...
I’ve been largely doing this for the past 2 or 3 years, since just before the pandemic. Biggest reason? I got tired of having to deal with the aggressive, distracted drivers on my daily 6 mile commute. Switched to an e-bike in the morning commute, then home again for lunch to let the dogs out, then back to the office on a normal bike for the afternoon, with a longer ride home after work - and… it’s 95% on bike paths here in the Chicago area - we have it good. Still have the truck with bike racks for those far away rides, but the bike is now a primary form of transportation.
I have the same routine on a regular bike. Bike to work 3 miles, back home for lunch to let the dog out then bike back to work. Watching this vid because an ebike would be a big help the first half of the day.
WE need a FULL time cargo/E bike channel!!!!!!!
I definitely want to bike more in the winter here in Ontario. I just hope the snow plows will be up to par with clearing the roads and side roads for easier access.
I think you can dress and bike through practically any kind of weather, and I've done that, but when you have a 30+ mile commute to work and 5-10 miles to get to a grocery store etc., and major highly traveled roads are the only realistic access routes (unless you want to go cycling through back yards and industrial warehouses) I'd say a car is often the only non suicidal way to get around. I do enjoy cycling through winter for fitness but that would be it. The kiddos are incredibly cute BTW.
Yes, lack of (good) infra is definetely the biggest hurdle to cycling more. You can dress for some rain, but no helmet is going to save you and/or make you feel safe enough to ride in a car lane with trucks going > 80km/h. Looking at the Netherlands this shouldn't really be a suprise but alas, here we are.
@@woutervanr That is dead on and I'd say it's a worldwide issue.
@@LiamHaHaX Yeah and it seems to me that there would be other circumstances where biking even limited distances to work would not be a good idea. There are cities where drivers just go way too carelessly for my tastes and I just don't care to be one of those guys with a war story about getting hit by a speeding truck that's running a light. I save my biking for recreation.
yop, if they build cycle route next to highway it would be pretty straight forwards route for me, but now I only occasionally use bike for work. I can't get out of bed in the morning so 25 min drive is better then 1,15 h.
Just think how much money and resources could be saved by building bike lanes instead of endlessly widening highways and strodes. And people would be happier and healthier, too!
Love seeing the GCN presenter's family in the videos.
great video Si! I own 2 ebikes, an in-town for shopping and a road bike for enjoyment. I find that the added speed I can get on climbs helps reduce the bit of weaving I have when I can't manage more than 3 - 4 mph. And on steep descents the added weight of an e-bike helps reduce or prevent the speed wobble I sometimes have.
All in all my ebikes are some of the best investments I've ever made. Oh, also, I live in sunny California, so winter weather is less of an issue here.
I have never had a car, yet. First half of this week I rode to work in -12 Centigrade. Three layers everywhere but on my torso, where I have four. Luckily there was no wind and at that cold it is not slippery. Things got worse Thursday, when it was less cold and salt had been added to the roads. Then I could only ride in the tracks cleared by the cars. I'm in Sweden.
I’m a Canadian and it regularly gets down to -40C in the winter, but I sold my car in August and spent all winter bike commuting. I can easily say this has been the best winter of my adult life, and even on the coldest days I still show up to work a bit sweaty. I encourage my fellow Canadians to give it a try, it’s not nearly as daunting or extreme as you think.
Can we all have a moment of sympathy for Si’s daughter? The poor girl suffered through the whole video with Si’s backside in her face and she didn’t moan once! Definitely earned a good Christmas present
I live in Cambridge UK, which is neither Switzerland, nor the Netherlands nor Denmark, but a lot of people use their bikes all year round for everything, from commuting, to school runs to groceries. What differentiates Cambridge from most towns in England is the critical mass of cyclists using the roads everyday, in here facilitated by the universities' students not being allowed to owe cars. That's the thing about infrastructure: it helps making cycling more safe, so towns can achieve that critical mass. Cambridge is not that well infrastructured, but cycling is super safe just because of the sheer amount of people in their bikes.
The biggest problem/fear I have with using bikes for riding in city is bike theft. There is no problem for commuting purposes, since we have a safe bike storage at work place, but I just can't leave my bike in some crowded city place (where you wouldn't want to go by car) and not to worry about it all the time. The only solution I found so far is using cheap, unatractive for thieves bike whenever I need to park for long time in public space.
If you remove a pedal that be hard to ride away.
@@josephlee2131 Yes, but the more organized thieves just chuck your bike in the back of a van :(
I've seen some attempts at very secure bike parking which even allows for charging your e-bike, though you have to carry your charger with you, but it is only a few places in my country currently (Denmark).
A simple to implement solution could be to mount motor cycle bolts into ground og a bicycle parking area, which then allows you to run a heavy duty chain lock through it.
The excitement and fun you get from going around the city with your bike is something that is so overlooked by people who don't ride bikes. I HATE running errands on my car, but I actively try to find excuses to ride my bike, especially, like you mentioned, when you move faster than traffic. The freedom and power you feel!
Quality, wholesome content. Thank you GCN.
I use a Tern GSD as our 2nd car. It's mega with the kids. I've taken 2 kids with both kids bikes using a bag'n'drag technique with the front wheels in the bags and the rear wheels on the ground behind.
Would recomend Rainlegs, which are waterproofs that just cover the front of your legs from waste to just below the knees. Covers the parts of your legs the rain actually lands on when cycling, but still lets the air in to your legs. Takes up very little room in your bag if not needed. Have worked well (over trousers and with mudgaurds) for a glasgow commute
Saw a few of those. The spray coming up from the road and from the wheels gets forgotten, and you still arrive soaked :). People saying rain only comes from above have not been on a bike in the rain :)
@@jorismak You are correct :P Because my mudguard covers most of my front wheel and its just a twenty mins commute I get away with it in most rain. When its heavy/sideways rain and/or I have to go through puddles I can end up with damp legs from the shin down unless I roll up me trousers. Because I work in different shoes and trousers from the ones i commute in this is not a problem for me. It is something i should have mentioned but was just throwing down a random comment to feed the algarythim as much as anything :)
Still love me Rainlegs (other brands available I assume) which i can put on and off in 5 secs without taking shoes off, and still wouldn't want full on waterproof leg traps
(for completion i will also say commuting can wear a hole in the bum of you commuting trousers so don't use your best strides)
I got rid of my car and started cycling and it's the best decision I have ever made in my life. I sold my car last year and now I'm officially relying on my ebike to do my weekly shopping and go to work. I feel more happy and healthy cycling everyday. Guys cycling is the future and the way forward, you won't regret it.
For me, the biggest single barrier to using a bike for every day journeys is having no easy, convenient or safe place to park it. There's always someone waiting to steal it or steal parts from it.
As a retired Brit living in rural Massachusetts, I quit continuously owning a car about 15 yrs ago. Drivers generally pass us rare cyclists here with far more space than I recall way back in UK.
First I tried a few gas motors on budget bikes then moved to electric motor kits as soon as they came out 6 or 7 yrs ago. Then I tinkered with home made recumbents.
Four years ago I bought a Cruzbike T50 recumbent bike frame set where the bottom bracket steers above the front wheel and drives the front wheel. I installed a Nuvinci CVT geared wheel in the front and a 2 speed hub motor front wheel in the rear. This cost about $2,200. Roads here are a bit rough without suspension so I swapped the alloy forks for a fat tire suspension fork, added a mtn bike rear triangle, ground down its BB axle to fit the T50 rear drop out and welded up a steel bracket for the shock. With the wheel base increased some 20", I made a plywood grocery box about 24Lx18Wx10H behind the seat. This is my all purpose e-bike and even my beagle loves riding in the back to the parks.
You guys could each do an episode presenting your personal bikes and their story 🙂
😎👍
Very few people truly need a car. What a great video showing how achievable it is to be car free. Loved it..
No convincing necessary Cy. Sold my car 6 years ago and haven't looked back. I occasionally rent a car, which is peanuts compared to owning one. I don't miss road tax, license and insurance fees, and don't miss the incredible depreciation on most cars, if you bought new for instance. I love my cycling, and life is sweeter. Thanks for the great video
In cities, possible, however you should see the infrastructure in Northern English suburbs (Leeds) you'd last 5 minutes before being mowed down by a few chavs or more likely the angry man in the BMW.
You pretty much got this right. The last vid was close. This is closer. I’ve been car free 10 years and cargo biked up for four. No going back once you’ve had the freedom of the cargo bike. And I’m also a member of a car share system. It’s the best mix
Love this and agree with everything you say 100% but there's still a big issue and I think the biggest drawback to going car free that it would be good to see you cover and that's the high nick-ability of e-bikes. Unfortunately, fact is that it's still loads more secure to park your car outside the supermarket then it is your e-bike.
Fact mate, I used mine for commuting and going to the gym on and then it was stolen one morning outside the gym at 0630. It is the only reason why I won't be using one anymore as I just can't afford to loose another.
guide of 10% value on locks still holds... £300-600 buys you a lot of lock! ebike, especially cargo, negates weight issues. i devote a bunch of that to a tracker (whisper it, in the motor, acts as immobilizer) thankfully not needed, but hire shop in the city has theirs recovered by police within the hour
Yep, absolutely you use the best locks you can afford and hope for the best. I’m happy to lock my ‘pub bike’ (approx value £50) outside Tesco or the gym (or the pub) for half an hour or more but not any bike with a value of £2k+. I know people with commuter e-bikes and they love them but for any situation that would require them to leave their bike unattended in public for more than a couple of minutes they’ll always use their car instead. Having said that you’d think that e-bikes would have much more scope to solve this problem than acoustic bikes. Perhaps we’ll see some more creative solutions from e-bike manufactures in the future that start making their security more comparable with that of cars? I dunno, touch ID enabled bikes? bike alarms? SMS tamper alerts?
I can't see why a E-Bike wouldn't have a key just like a motorcycle. Seems like the manufactures of these products are just being cheap.
@@davejohn5876 As Si showed in the video with the cargo bike some have a head unit that acts like a key.
I've been immune to the allure of an e-bike, even with other serious cyclists around me being converts to their occasional use. This vid tipped my feelings on them. Si makes some excellent points, most by putting them in a context that counts.
Thanks for this!
how aero are the kids? i think an aero test is required
the two simple problems which need to be answered yes in order for cycling to become a feasible option for people
1) is there a network of safe bicycle paths
2) is it possible to get to where you want to go without having to share the road or regularly cross paths with high speed motor traffic.
many studies have concluded the weather has zero impact on cycling uptake, its the two points above which effect cycling uptake the most, Bristol and Bath where you filmed this is somewhat a yes on both fronts, many other cites, and especially rural areas in the UK its a hard *No* unless you have a deathwish.
My primary reason for owning a car is for LEAVING the city. In London, driving sucks, but I like to visit my mother in Cornwall and my friends elsewhere, none of whom are well served by trains. Using the car in the city feels daft, but we're otherwise still such a car dependent country that it's hard to live without one.
Surely that’s a good case for hire cars as and when needed though?
Would a 45km/h ebike be something for you?
Yeah in some cases if you dont have car you are "dead"...
@@nialltracey2599 Trouble is I think I need them just that bit too often to make any kind of saving. The other issue with the hire car solution is that yes, they're very convenient in the sort of place where there's a tube stop right by the depot, but dropping off a hired car in the countryside means driving 25 miles to an industrial estate and relying on a car owning friend for a lift back (and incurring the fees for not returning the car to the same location).
We need a proper national cycle network really, and better facilities for taking bikes on trains. Until then, this is a seriously car dependent nation with the exception of two or three slightly progressive cities.
@@Ramon314 Again if trains accommodated bikes better then maybe, but the countryside's accommodation for bikes is still severely lacking in the UK.
I'm fully car-free. I relied mostly on public transit pre-pandemic before I started biking everywhere. I rode through the Boston winter this year just fine. Good gloves are essential for wind chill, consider ski goggles or similar too. My eyes get dry after a while. What really bugs me is that getting a mouthful of cold air triggers my asthma, but covering my mouth is difficult because it fogs up my glasses, so I started experimenting with a winter-optimized motorcycle helmet. It feels like biking with a mask on -- restricts airflow a bit, but workable if you're pushing the ebike motor.
Rain continues to be my nemesis year-round because of glasses. It's making me consider lasik. I need like, little windshield wipers or something.
If you have the right attitude there is no bad weather
“If it rains let it rain, yea the wetter the better“
Tougher than me MJ2K17, way to go!
I live in México City, I’m car free since two years ago. I mostly ride a nice carbon fitness bike for my daily commute, but I own an eBike and a Burley Travoy trailer for shoping or carring big stuff. It is a lot more fun, and fast, to go shopping vs driving. And my daily commute to work is a lot faster than it was in a car, plus the fun, plus the health benefits.
You could do a video of the "Extreme Commutes" in countries like Canada, Finland and Norway.....what measures people take in minus 10c weather 🤔
Actually, "not just bikes" made a very interesting videos about this subject: ua-cam.com/video/Uhx-26GfCBU/v-deo.html
@@CJrasp Yep, it's an excellent video.
Some car centric guys in the comment are so thick though, it's a little bit annoying.
try -30 Celsius never mind -10, northernmost Canada might see even -50°C or colder... here in Albany New York it usually gets about down to -10 during late January, the Canadian border is 80 miles north of me (2hrs drive)
@@xmtxx I love his videos and it really does make me want to move there
honestly what I'd like to see is Blake on his Fat Bike in some deep snow somewhere
I have a custom titanium commuter bike with 29er wheels w/DT hubs, 700x35C Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tour tires, hydraulic brakes and di2 for all-weather reliability, no electric assist, steel Nitto B123 Keirin handlebars for strength, clip-on aero bars and a few different trailers that eliminate the need for a car or truck. I could carry ten xmas trees or upward of 500 lbs in my biggest trailer and the smallest one carries a 95L plastic tote with lid to repel rain, rolling on a single wheel behind the tote. The middle sized trailer has a 200L tote with a lid and two wheels. The small trailer is used for most jobs including grocery store trips. Where I live on rural Vancouver Island it rains often outside the summer and occasionally snows during the winter. The typical ride for shopping errands is about 40km round trip. Occasionally it is over 100km. This is a great way to accumulate aerobic base while knocking off errands. When my kids were young I accompanied them to school on bike and eventually left them on their own. Now they ride their bikes to school and work. The sides of the roads here where bikes are expected to be ridden are very messy with mud, sand and salt this time of year, so I have to sometimes take the lane when the debris is judged to be unsafe or too unkind to my bike. We have next to no dedicated bike infrastructure unfortunately, so it can be frustrating when motorists don't want me in "their" space, but, after doing this for over 20 years, it seems like such a wasted opportunity to be stuck behind a wheel when you can be taking a much more active role.
Glad to see that gcn has the balls to speak up against the horrible car industry ❤️
Been doing this in the foothills of ca on my diverge and tarmac for 7 out of the last 10 years, 1000 feet of climbing for every 10 miles. It’s 90% great. Getting a lot of groceries or when it’s pissing down are the only times I hate it. It’s good to combat laziness, you also don’t pop out to get things you don’t really need. And the environment of course. Have the same fox water pants, si, you havnt used those have you? They’re not that water proof when it’s absolutely pouring
One way this whole argument falls down is when you say it saves money. My 10 year old Vauxhall estate is worth about £1500. I pay £30 a year tax and
Bike insurance and cycle to work schemes can definitely reduce some of the costs and worries.
Love the video. We sold one car earlier this year as it had little use during the Pandemic period. I bought a Bullitt and love the riding experience, the versatility, freedom, the looks and faces on people when I ride it around the South Coast where these bikes are few and far between. I shop weekly with it, go to DIY stores carrying wood and even 300 ltrs of soil on it. Would highly recommend taking one step forward if you have 2 cars in the family.
I wonder how this would work in the suburbs on AZ, Most of my trips are ~ 10 miles each way, but traffic that goes 45-50mph next to me and countless driveways make any street riding seem dangrous. Also while winter is great, what does one do for 110*F afternoons?
Wear very minimal clothing and abandon any notion of helmets. You may not want to do that last bit considering you will likely be cycling fast and in difficult conditions, but it works.
Riding fast is a bit like turning on a fan 😉 I got pretty used to riding in about 40 degrees C in the UAE, the trick is not to stop! But still 110F sounds a bit much to be honest, especially when waiting at a traffic light. Also I got a couple of beer bottles thrown at me in Phoenix AZ when I rode through there. The driver in question seemed to think bikes were supposed to be on the sidewalk, which was news to me as a) that isn't what we do in UK and b) no one else seemed to have the same point of view despite me having ridden from San Diego already. Great state for riding once you're not in the city mind you. Amazing landscapes
In a city with decent PT it should be easy on any bike, if there is (almost) no PT an ebike would be nice. The biggest problem is lack of safety. When roads are safer people will cycle more automagically. If you then build dedicated infra even more will. It's all about being and feeling safe.
If it's safe loads of people are willing to endure a bit of bad weather (with clothes they often already have anyways) when it's quicker, cheaper, more accessible and easier to park than a car.
This is ofc only true in a proper, dense cities like London/Paris/Amsterdam/etc. Any european city really. In an American city that's 80% car parks and huge urban highways you would have to cycle enourmous distances and have 0 trouble parking your car even with Black Friday.
This video looks more like the summer time in the Scandinavia 😉
Canadian here. I've sold my sports cars for a motorcycle. And then I sold the motorcycle for an ebike. Both the sports car and motorcycle I didn't drive/ride in winter, but the ebike I do. It's literally more practical. For long distances or holidays I just rent a car like you mentioned. Even at $40/£30 a day it ends up being much cheaper than owning a car. I feel that as more people realise this, the economies will change and car rentals might become more expensive, to the point where owning might be more sensible, but for now car ownership is still on an uptrend so cyclists still have the upper hand. I also have large grocery orders delivered. Costs me about $20/month and actually saves me an hour or so of commuting.
I've been living in China for several years now with children car free and love it. Taxis are very inexpensive here when we do need to go somewhere the bike won't take us, and the weather is suitable. Winter is the dry season, so although it's cold enough to snow, it only happens once or twice a winter.
Infrastructure, well, that's a different story. I feel like drivers are very used to cyclists though and generally more accommodating than they would be back home in the states.
I love these videos that look into bike commuting, etc, especially in winter. That said, I live in Minneapolis, MN, quite famous for its harsh winters. Makes the scenario that you film to be a bit unrealistic for folks like me.
That being said, I still bike commute all year round! You should do a winter video in some harsher climates. It’d be great to see you guys traverse the snow of Minnesota!
I've been car free for over 4 years now...yes, in Canada! Winters aren't nearly as bad as presumed; and cycling keeps you warmer than walking! Keep the hands, face, and feet warm, and you're golden.
My main car (van) use is taking my bike to races... not sure that works on a cargo bike. From where I am there are 2-3 races a year I can ride to and from, the rest are all 1-3hrs away. 60Miles to the courses up at Stirling, 100 to the Fife ones. That's quite a haul on a eBike, with a TT bike attached to it. Would be fabulous to arrive like that though. I am considering an eCargobike for our small veg farm/field - it's about 1.5miles (uphill) out of town, so not a long haul, ride up on the MTB a lot, schedule training rides to stop on way home etc, but carrying capacity is limited. One of those bathtub type cargo bikes would fit in a lot of kit and produce!
While serving in the Navy, I was stationed on Anderson AFB in Guam. I rode a bike, an aluminum Fuji to which I installed racks and front & rear panniers. I used it for my daily commute and to get groceries, as well as just for fun. I rented a car a couple of times a year if I needed to get to the others end of the island, but overall I was in the saddle the vast majority of the time. Granted, Guam is a tropical island, so weather was not very challenging most of the year, but it was a heck of a lot of fun. I could easily see commuting to/from work if it were not for my current situation…right now there is no route to work from my home where bicycles are permitted, unless I ride well over 60 miles each way. But, once I retire in a few years, I will have eliminated this problem.
I appreciate your enthusiasm regarding riding your bike in winter. Where I live in the north, there are some bike trails in and around the city. They are not plowed in the winter. Not maintained at all.
Biking on the road is dangerous at best and during the winter it’s pretty damn scary.
If you buy studded tires that’s great but you’re not always on ice so the studs can wear down after a few hundred miles. It’s just tough riding on ice, sometimes snow, sometimes ice warmed by the sun, which is slick as heck, sometimes unpaved road and sometimes blacktop without any ice or snow.
I think I’ll probably settle on trying to ride only in the ice free months. Maybe drive the car once a week, maybe put a battery charger on it, something to maintain its charge.
I would say whatever you do, while you’re biking, protect those kids at all costs. I don’t trust anybody behind the wheel of a car to be paying attention, not texting, stoned, drunk, whatever.
Lost a good friend last year, good rider, new the rules of the road and had been an biking to work for 20 years. Hit by a pick up truck. No reason for it.
Anyway, thanks for the great video! Hope everybody has safe travels!
I have an R&M Load 75 and live in Milwaukee WI with minimal safe bike infrastructure, a lot of which isn’t plowed in winter. Studded tires on the load 75 worked great last year. Only time I couldn’t ride was in many inches of fresh snow. The child cover helps a lot with the cold/wind/rain.
Thanks for a great video, as the comments suggest, it is possible to go car free but even in the Netherlands, many have cars they use for specific journeys e.g. longer distances or to carry a large amount of stuff. Personally, I have an ebike that is used for shopping and most of my urban transportation as it’s quicker, parking isn’t a problem, no ulez or congestion charge and I enjoy it. I also have a mountain bike and road bike each has its own niche use but what you really need is a garage to store them. Try carrying an cargo ebike up two flights of stairs if you live in a flat!
Best thing is that people who bike to work and school are happier than people who drive cars (and that's a hard fact)! However, in some countries distances are generally too long for biking. Urban sprawl in the US makes it difficult for many people to make the switch. In Europe cities are on average more dense and cities like Copenhagen, Paris and Barcelona and many more offer excellent biking opportunities and bikes are seen as an alternative because they are supplemented by great public transport options when you need to go longer. Biking has been a key element in the great urban revival that we have seen the 20 years with cities everywhere trying to become more liveable and happier places. And in some places in the US such as NYC bikes are taking off in a big way.
I live in Canada. Your winter day looks like a cool day in November, prior to the snow. Take the temperature down to minus 13 degrees Celsius and add a lot of snow and ice. Couple that with minimal bike infrastructure, and a bike is a non-starter. In my city, the snow from the road is literally plowed into the bike lanes. The bike lanes are not cleared. The politicians talk about leaving the car at home, but unfortunately it's only talk. They are not prepared to clear the snow from the bike lanes, create safe, separate bike lanes, or even create safe areas to park, to protect against theft.
Theres a little fort that keeps the kids dry, which we use the kids love that. Lots of options for taking kids bikes on a Tern GSD, highly recommend you actually join the GSD group and look at what people do, you can take a cargo trailer for example which can be hitched to the back, bag and drag even, or use the panniers or the storm box which can fit kids and lots of shopping, not to mention the front rack has a weight limit of 20kg, that would mean kids and shopping! No need to rent a car for that stuff. A bit more research probably needed to be done in that regard!
Thanks to this video I have kinda decided to show winter e-cargocycling to work and from work during winter here in Finland Tampere. I just bought e-cargobike to replace my car for short trips. So far during summer it has been very nice thanks to weather being sunny / cloudy, hasn't rained but I will probably experience it soon enough.
First let me say Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, for making this video. I am getting close to retirement and I have never owned a car. My company owned it and I could use it in any way I wanted to. But my mother has own her cars for many years and she hardly ever goes anywhere. She pays for licenses, monthly payments, insurance, etc and to me that is just a waste of money. Anyway, I am struggling with the choice. I ride a bike a lot so I am fit for it. I worry that going to stores my bike might or probably would get stolen. And where I live I wouldn't exactly say it is bike friendly although we have made improvement for people who live in the city. Out in the suburbs and countryside there isn't even a berm where it is safe for cycling. I would like to see more content like this, it helps me to learn more about it and may just help me make up my mind.
Great video!
I don't have an eBike (yet), but I got a bike trailer a few months ago, and I've been doing nearly all my local shopping by bike.
You mention that cars give you more space with the cargo bike. I've found the same thing when towing the trailer.
I've also found it much more fun shopping by bike. I generally come home from the supermarket with a big grin on my face. Sometimes I ride with the trailer even when I don't have any shopping to do.
You need a bike trailer that you can load your kids BMX bikes on, then hitch to your cargo bike with your kids on board.
I would love to get rid of my car and do this. Expected of the backwards thinking in America, car sharing is not available in Michigan and there is almost no public transit. Thank you for the lovely video, I love to dream. Si, your kids are adorable. 💜
Lived in London, Shanghai and Singapore and never owned a car. After 16 years commuting by bike I worked out I had saved about one years worth of salary vs. using public transport, not a bad return for something so fun! (Compared to running a car here in Singapore it's a laughable comparison - in the region of £10k a year easily!)
Great video as always, and your kids are adorable. If you're open to suggestion for future videos:
I have an e road bike like the orbea gain, Scott addict e-ride, or Bianchi Aria e Road and I hate it. The pedal assist cuts out at 20 mph, which is fine I suppose for a hybrid or city bike, but for a road race bike it's a complete joke. Additionally, it is a rear Hub motor which uses a direct drive system and therefore it has no Freewheel in back. Instead, the magnets on the direct drive motor creates friction that slows the bike whenever you stop pedaling.
The reason this is bad, is on descents, where your buddies are running hard, you eventually spin out. This is usually when you would tuck in and freewheel down the descent. However, with these types of motor systems, the friction from the rear hub motor feels and acts like a brake. The bike is literally slowing, as if a giant hand had grabbed you by the scruff of your neck and is yanking you back up the hill while the rest of the group is pulling ahead of you.
Would really appreciate GCN's take on this problem. It is something that is not mentioned in any of the promotional materials for these very expensive bicycles, and something you only find out the hard way after you've spent a lot of money on them.
FSA has recently released a system comprable to the ebikemotion x35 system which they claim has eliminated or at least greatly improved the friction resistance so the bike performs more like a normal bicycle. I am anxiously awaiting the opportunity to give that a try. At the moment, FSA is not selling the system retail, it is only an oem purchase.
All of which is to say, yes, e bikes are lots of fun. But e road bikes, at least those with the rear hub Drive, are really not ready for primetime. I am enormously frustrated and disappointed. If the road bike can't keep up with the group, they should at least tell you that when you buy the thing.
Really would like to see a GCN video about this. Thanks
Great video. I did a mix of road bike and my Gocycle last winter and would rather be in the rain on the bike, than be stuck in traffic. Very rare for me to drive any more. I just feel so much happier and fitter that way.
Before I retired (over 25 years ago!) I commuted my 13 miles each way on an old Higgins TWD trike when it was icy or snowy. I found I got a lot more overtaking clearance from cars as Simon found with a cargo bike. However, we don't have any children to cart about but lots of people I knew in the Tandem Club towed trailers with children. Surprised you didn't suggest trikes - they're huge fun.
We toured Nepal back in 1989b and once witnessed a roll of corrugated iron being transported on a cycle rickshaw. It almost completely blocked the road, which wouldn't go down well over here. Incidentally I also persuaded a rickshaw rider to let me do the pedalling while he sat in the back. That was good, too.
I'm afraid most (all) of my cycling is electrically assisted these days as I've converted both mine and my wife's bikes with simple FWD set ups. I also tend not to ride after dark now. Old age, isn't just a number after 8 decades as some might claim.
My biggest concern is having it stolen while I am in the shops. I've had bikes stolen before even though they were locked up with a D-lock. Do you carry around a big chain to lock it up when you are at the supermarket ?
I've been road cycling for 4 years and have a hybrid for town. In September I sold my car. My wife has one for work, so during the week, I'm carless. It is so much quicker and considerably less stressful walking into town or cycling to run errands and shop. Won't be replacing the car!