Is An E Cargo Bike Better Than A Car? | Head-To-Head Challenge!

[@gcn]

Would you consider swapping your car for a cargo bike? 🤔

[@johnmccrossan9376]

It's one of those things that sounds brilliant in summer but you'd regret it if you were running late, or the weather wasn't cooperating or just if you were knackered some day. Replacing a car with something like a bike is a lovely idea but it's just not practical for normal life, you need a proper vehicle not something where you're the engine. Tell you what would be good though is if we made cities more space efficient so the people who lived in them could do that

[@cauldron101]

I wouldn't dare cause of the hilly terrain of the city I live in. Going up hills with a cargo bike sounds like a bad idea.

[@markpeterson8978]

I have gone carless. I still own a car but I don't use it. I use my fat cargo e-bike for everything and I love it. Every trip has transformed from a chore to an adventure, from work to fun. True some days in the winter were, how should I say, Viking like but with the proper apparel and attitude, no worries. I only use my vehicle for very specific things; So specific that I can't think of an example at the moment. Any way, get out and ride, Cheers! - M

[@michellezevenaar]

​@johnmccrossan9376 I use mine every day for the school run even in the winter! The kids are dry inside too. I use a rain poncho if it's raining and there were only like 10 days I needed rain gear. The great thing is that with the electric bikes it's super easy to go up hill or against the wind ect. Biggest problem is forgetting to charge the battery. 50 to 80km is like a week max 2 weeks of biking.

[@coryascott]

@@johnmccrossan9376 it’s totally practical when the infrastructure is designed to make it easy to cycle like Amsterdam and Copenhagen. There’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong outfit. I live in the rainiest part of the US, what kind of Washingtonian would I be if I let the rain bother me? Snow isn’t a big deal either, I actually feel more comfortable cycling on snow with studded tires than trusting that other car drivers won’t lose control and hit my car

[@guitsynthcw]

On vacation, currently in Copenhagen, a city that has an amazing bike infrastructure. So many bikes! Saw a front loading cargo bike with 6 little kids, 3 on each side of the box facing the others. In the US where I live, the same trip would have been done in a massive SUV. Bikes rule.

[@gcn]

They are doing it right in Copenhagen! Did you get the chance to ride a bike around the city?

[@CsabaV]

I visited Copenhagen few times and I always tried to go by bicycle. So much fun and the infrastructure is simply unimaginable in my country. Way ahead... If I'd be living in a city like Copenhagen, replacing the car would be a no brainer.

[@DslainteC]

At 6:42 I assumed Manon was backing into the spot with Conor's bike, thus pushing it back into the bushes to ensure her a mighty victory!

[@LukaszMielczarek]

not Connor bike 11:18

[@brucerichard954]

I've run this race locally (I live in a Boston suburb): Commute: 70 minutes by bike ($0), 35 by transit ($4.25), 25 by car ($20 parking and tolls) Groceries: 30 minutes by bike, 15 by car Traffic and parking is just not an issue for where and when I travel, so the car is always faster. And yet I still ride my bike for both of these options as much as I can!

[@TomK32]

American suburbia is designed for cars, European cities were designed for people and even though cars have taken up a lot of space we can't put more lanes or stroads into our inner cities and cars are being pushed back like in Paris.

[@martinjoyce779]

Good man! Also in Boston area - my current commute isn't feasible by bike but I hope it will be soon. Traffic in Boston is nuts, though.

[@davethedogdude]

Last time I was in Boston people drove on the sidewalk to get around red lights, so...

[@brucerichard954]

@@TomK32 I’m lucky; I live near the Charles River and can ride a bike path along the river almost the entire way.

[@scruf153]

it takes me closs to the same amount of time on a ebike as with a car ditched the car in 2020

[@ZratP]

It's great that GCN do more videos like that about urban mobility. Don't get me wrong, I don't think bicycles can replace cars in every situation YET. If you live in the countryside where everything is far apart, car is sometimes the only solution for some people. BUT it means there is no excuse for urban planning to not develop bicycles infrastructures in CITIES. Cities are where walking, public transportation and lightweight vehicles like bicycle shine. And first and foremost, cities built around PEOPLE are much more awesome than cities built around cars.

[@gcn]

We agree! Cars will be hard to replace in those rural and harder to reach spots. In a city though the bike really shines! Easy to zip around town and load them down with shopping. Would you like to see more cities build with Cycling infrastructure as the first though?

[@Theroha]

Imagine cities built around bikes where cars have bike racks as standard. Rural folk coming into the city park in garages then bike around the city for all their needs. Streetcars connecting the different districts of the city for those who can't or don't want to bike or walk the distances. Only returning to the car at the end of the day to go home. Cities without smog where children can play in the street. That's the dream.

[@questgivercyradis8462]

I'm a geologist, and I live in a city. I want my city to be bikeable for most daily activities. Not going to replace a truck for hauling furniture, and not going to replace a car for mobility impaired folk. But if general life necessities were biked by most people, even car transit could be better for those who need them! Most city trips are what, under 5 miles? That's biking range, even for casual riders. And parking a car is so annoying, plus paying for parking? Ack! I would like a little electric commuter car someday for days when I want to go outside my normal riding zone, or have parents visiting. And a Jeep for going deep into the rural areas in search of rocks. It does occur to me however, that a Jeep plus a big clunky electric cargo bike could potentially go deeper into the wilderness than a Jeep alone, in search of rocks! A cargo bike could have a solar panel put in - camp out in the desert for a while and slowly recharge, eh?

[@georgehsu1085]

I have swapped my car for a (non-E) cargo bike, for my shopping trips and other short trips, and it's been fantastic!

[@Jamesbearlion1987]

Can you imagine how much quicker you can be with a cargo bike if the cities were made for bikes rather than cars?

[@ynotnilknarf39]

Like shutting down strategic roads for bikes only and making others bi-directional for riding and one way for driving. Segregated infra is not the solution, taking back whole roads or taking half the existing road is quicker, cheaper and more convenient for mass cycling.

[@tomscully9589]

@@ynotnilknarf39 But I think that's unrealistic for the moment at least in places like London where there is so much traffic from cars and pedestrians, the space has to be shared. The dutch have the best cycling infrastructure but central London has come a long way too.

[@tomscully9589]

@@ynotnilknarf39 I work as a courier in central on an e cargo bike and one time I got a job helping one of our van drivers load and unload his van because it was an especially large job. I arrive 15-20 minutes earlier than him and after loading and going to the drop off had to wait 20-30 minutes to unload it. Traffic was bad and I filtered through cars a lot more than used cycle lanes, but both can be advantageous.

[@cumpootuhruser9355]

@@ynotnilknarf39 I think both are valid approaches. Segregated infrastructure is better in the long-term, but building well-thought-out protected bike lanes along existing road infrastructure is a good place to start. As long as we're building high-quality infrastructure to make cycling safer and more practical, that's what's important.

[@snowstrobe]

Exactly.

[@staffostaffo]

Great content. Good to see everyday cycling showcased.

[@playerforty4621]

Since when did a electric cargo bike become an everyday cycle?

[@staffostaffo]

​@@playerforty4621 Going to shops is everyday cycling + e cargo bikes becoming increasingly common sight, especially in cities

[@MarioGoatse]

People really underestimate just how fast a bike is in the city. Just today I pulled up to the lights and a $95,000 Audi RS3 rocketed out to beat me from the lights, then a car in front put their blinker on to park and he was stuck behind. I simply weaved around him and got all the way to the next lights, looked back, and he was still there just as I was leaving the next green light lol. The ability to split traffic is a game changer. His car was beautiful though!

[@kurre_kallkvist]

Eventhough I live about 12km outside a small town with virtually no traffic or parking issues, a cargo bike would only cost me a few minutes on the daily school run thanks to speed limits and a few bike path shortcuts. Unfortunately, the first 5km are on an 80km/h road with heavy traffic, no hard shoulder and no viable alternative so unfortunately the commute just does not feel safe enough...😢

[@Boopop1024]

I'm 33, car free, have had a cargo bike (LvH Bullitt) since 2019, and conveniently live a 2 minute walk from the train station. Concerns about sitting in traffic and finding somewhere to park go straight over my head!

[@vincekerrigan8300]

Tom. At 33 that's fine - wait until you are 83 or 93 and you'll change your tune. Why is it people pushing these sort of ideas don't seem to realise that they don't suit everybody?

[@Taser3141]

Even though I live in a small town and my job is 30 miles from my home, I do commute by bike to take care of light shopping or similar errands. Where I live, a bike really excels when I combine several stops into my errand run as traffic and parking are less of an issue when using my bike.

[@royconestoga7326]

Should have brought in The Stig as a ringer.

[@markricketts6957]

The first time my uncle used an ebike he locked it up outside the supermarket and it was nicked by the time he got out. Same with my mountain bike the first time I locked it somewhere public. I now only ride when I know I can stay with the bike or secure it inside and out of sight.

[@magicknight8412]

Same here, unless me or a friend is right next to my bike I do not leave it anywhere. Had 3 bikes nicked in the past and learnt my lesson.

[@staffostaffo]

You need to ensure you have angle grinder resistant lock + additional lock, that goes for locking any bike worth decent money for extended periods outside

[@L83467]

if you ride a cheap bike to do your everyday tasks you wont need to worry about it getting stolen cause you can easily replace it

[@elliotpollard9083]

Where do you live?

[@markricketts6957]

The ebike was nicked in Cardiff and the mountain bike in Bristol.

[@geoffreyhoney122]

Stellar content again gcn and Connor and Manon! So much fun and makes the very real point that a good cargo bike can make your car-go(away)! If our family were young ('kids' are 35 and 32) I would purchase one of these. As we are empty nesters, my commuter with milk crate and cloth shopping bags attached, can carry the weeks worth of groceries! More of this content please gcn!

[@gcn]

Love to hear that you've given in to the cargo life 🙌 We love talking about this kind of cycling! Did you catch Si running us though how he got on living with a cargo bike 👉kzbin.info/www/bejne/aV6lpWqCm9h8idk

[@geoffreyhoney122]

@@gcn Yes! That's a wonderful video too and I think that it will help people get their heads around the shift! Great content gcn!

[@tedallenwolff]

I ride a robust ebike with a large sturdy basket on the back. I do all my errands on it. Worth noting that all ages can enjoy pedaling around town. I'm 71 and my ebike is a joy to ride.

[@pituife]

She really did hit that parking lot sign! 😅

[@hes_no_rocketsurgeon]

Conor pointing at a fairly new Mercedes, " That is your typical car." Sure I guess, for people who think a top spec Pinarello is a typical bike.

[@pointydeity4865]

I used to live in a city where my commute was much faster and more pleasant by bike than by car or mass transit. That Merc hot hatch is pretty sweet though.

[@isaacbrascoupe]

I'm getting a e-bike, my retirement ride!!! Grand-kids will LOVE it 🎉

[@andrewmcalister3462]

3:23 Conor demonstrates the dangers of the cargo bike. 😮🤕

[@gcn]

We think he's just demonstrating the dangers of being Conor 😂

[@edb8120]

I recently saw a Carla cargo trailer. It will handle 200kg, it has its own battery, motor, and brakes. The motor and brakes will interface with your eBike so that you are not relying on the eBike to pull and stop. The one that I saw was a mobile workstation for a finish (trim) carpenter. He does nearly all of his work in the city in old homes.

[@geo3802]

That was very fun and does make a good point. Now, when it is raining, really cold, really hot, etc, most will jump into the automobile. Now, if Manon hadn't spent all that time backing into the parking space and bashing the sign she might have saved the 5 minutes 😃

[@mattproctor9470]

I love these challenge videos. Whether it's bike Vs something else, or presenters competing, they're my favourite content

[@gcn]

We love shooting these two! Always a fun day out.. who would of guessed, if you put a load of ex pros against each other it can get pretty competitive! 😂

[@mikeymike1792]

'Let's sprint to the Bath Bun Café' Manon then proceeds to casually stroll down the road. 😆

[@jeffreylee5770]

I do most of my errands on a pretty light e-bike with a rear rack and a few bags to carry things. It is often faster or as fast as a car for short errands in the city. BTW it was funny when Connor quoted Maximus from *Gladiator.*

[@gcn]

That sounds really cool! We're sure you leave the cars in shadows and dust 😉 - If you ever fancy taking that Ebike off the streets EMBN is the place to go 👉 www.youtube.com/@embn

[@QwoaX]

I think competetive cargo bike racing should become a thing. It would be ridiculous but fun to watch. Bring a list of items from point A to point B, multiple rides are reqquired and any damage to the items result in time penalies. Heavy bike handling skills, fitness, stategy and tetris skills are required to win the only bike race more prestigious than the TDF.

[@questgivercyradis8462]

Also needs to be in a hilly city, carrying a variety of different items. Non-electric cargo bikes for this, or do we add electric with specific range capacities for the mental challenge of managing the charge?

[@QwoaX]

​@@questgivercyradis8462 I think they should be electric to have some strategy with battery usage and whether or not the contestants bring a 2nd one. Kinda like the ERS in F1. Also hardly anyone uses big non-electric ones nowadays, so electric ones are needed to keep it relevant to the consumer.

[@TomK32]

I've transported bookshelves and medium sized wardrobes with cargobikes, I simply don't have to think about wether it fits into a car boot.

[@murtheblur33]

Great video! Have been using an e-bike to commute to work and really enjoying it. Would've loved to have seen a scene where Conor pays Hank to make an appearance as an inconspicuous driver to slow Manon down! :)

[@matthewvelo]

I use a Topeak Journey trailer to do my shopping, as cargo e-bikes in Australia are around the $6k to $8k mark.

[@snowstrobe]

I kinda think this might be a better option, then you only need to connect it up when you need it. I'm considering this over an e-cargo.

[@matthewvelo]

@@snowstrobe They work pretty well, but wouldn't use the trailer on a carbon frame.

[@snowstrobe]

@@matthewvelo Right.

[@simonmandrakejones]

A few weeks back, I wad cycling back from.the shops on my 20 year old hybrid (definitely not an ebike), when I was passed by a bunch of teenagers in a VW Polo. They shouted out the window at me (although I wasn't in their way and was in the bike lane...they were just being a***holes), and drove on sounding pleased with themselves. Or they did until they started to hit traffic, and I passed them. I could see they guys shrinking into their seats as I rolled up by them. I didn't say a word. There was really no point. But it happened a few more times as qe moved along the main street, whereupon I overtook them and went on my way.

[@christianb.1028]

Bike people describing cars: black, four wheels, motor. Bike people describing bikes: year, manufacturer, model, groupset, wheels, tires, weight, hubs, bottom bracket, handlebars, seat post, pedals, geometry, handling, feeling, cda, Watts at 40 kph (never ridden, but read in a magazine)...

[@khas01_earthling]

Use right tool for each job. Problem is too many drive really short distances.

[@nonegone7170]

Often enough i'll go speeding past cars on my non electric cargo bike, so i can imagine with the extra range added with a motor really makes it a full on car replacement.

[@Jayneflakes]

This was a really thought provoking video and especially interesting for able bodied people who can ride easily. The big advantage to getting fossil fuel driven traffic out of built up areas is the improvement in air quality as well as a reduction in CO2 emissions. What would be nice to see though would be an affordable method for disabled people like myself to use for those annoyingly short journey's that require my using the car or motorbike, when a cargo bike would do the job. This would also require a change in infrastructure such as safe parking for such large bikes. Leaving a multi- thousand pound bike unlocked or unattended in a parking space like Connor did would give me a worry that leaving my locked car in the same place does not. Great work as always GCN, may you all continue to inspire us all.

[@cryogenii]

I've been getting my groceries and doing other errands with a "cargo bike" (alright, a regular bike with panniers on the front and grocery baskets out back) for over a decade now. Only ice and torrential rain get me in the car now!

[@SuziMoore]

The reality is you cant just leave your bike, Id love to commute on my bike, but without a camera crew following me, its the car i can lock up at the hit of a key fob. Until infrastructure improves to keep bikes safer my bikes are my hobby X

[@WaechterDerNacht]

I've been considering to get a cargo e-bike lately to go out to do some wildlife photigraphy. The two things that kept me from it currently were the prices for the faster ones and that i haven't found one with a carrying system that i would to put 14k of camera gear on in traffic... So currently staying closer to home, which sometimes isn't the most interesting area at times.

[@gcn]

Cargo bikes offer a great option for lots of people! Perhaps this video from Si will help you out 👉kzbin.info/www/bejne/aV6lpWqCm9h8idk 👀

[@bubblesezblonde]

Loved the challenge. The Giant Leprechaun and the Welsh Dragon Queen always make me smile. I love not dealing with parking lots and vehicle traffic. Thanks for the vid!!!

[@guessundheit6494]

The problem with bicycles is not speed or carrying capacity, nor the weather. The problem is car companies encouraging and selling driver entitlement, encouraging violence against anyone not in a car.

[@khazza930]

one thing that would worry me with a cargo bike is how safe it is from theft... I'm already always worried about my regular bike. The idea of not being able to lock the cargo bike to any immovable object (or indoors at night) worries me too much. Anyone able to shed some light on that, please?

[@mirador1987]

Same - I'm not carrying it up three flights of stairs to my flat, and no chance is it lasting a night either in my stairwell or on the street. Bikes are fantastic, and we should use them more, but a bit of acknowledgement that they're not the solution for everyone gives a lot more credence to the argument. (not to mention the difference in 'enjoyment' when it's blowing an absolute gale and sideways rain...)

[@XEinstein]

8:07 yeah walking your bike up to the shop where you need to be still works in the UK where bike use is limited. Here in the Netherlands though bike usage is so much that we get bike parking congestions in the centres of the cities so many cities now limit bike access into the pedestrian parts of the city and have designated bike parkings in and around the centre. So you still end up having to walk from the bike park to the shop.

[@douglaspate9314]

Absolutely! I run errands on my bike where I live in Andorra la Vella. My errands are collecting and delivering documents from banks, lawyers, notaries, government offices, and the like. In summer in Andorra la Vella, which has a disastrous traffic system, even worse parking facilities and zero consideration for bikes (actually that is not true, it is in fact worse than zero). And I get in the metres climbing training at the same time. A no brainer!

[@danielpedersen1688]

those errands u do is it for a company u work for? as in ur a delivery rider? if so may i know the name of the company? sounds like a nice job. I work as a delivery rider for Wolt where i deliver food in Copenhagen been doing that for 2 years and i do it on my ebike which i love so much.

[@zackgray2212]

I live near Bath. Ride into the city regularly on my E-Bike. I don't have a cargo bike. But I find panniers work well just for a top-up shop. Is that starting point Newbridge park and ride?

[@smudger404]

Was that a Taken / Gladiator movie quote crossover from Conor?! If I left my bike outside a supermarket, I'm sure it wouldn't be there by the time I bought a baguette :P Love these mad challenges though!

[@questgivercyradis8462]

In Vancouver, some paramedics use cargo bikes. There is an opioid epidemic, and overdoses are common in some of the sketchy neighborhoods. An ambulance is disruptive to the populations there, and is more hindered by traffic in downtown (east downtown is where the trouble is - most of the rest of downtown is quite nice). There are also ally-ways that ambulances can't reach. Cargo bikes can reach people in trouble better than ambulances in those areas, while being less threatening. They can hold as many supplies as needed for OD victims, and potentially even pull a wagon to get them to a hospital. Downtown Vancouver is small, only a few miles across, so the distance to a hospital is low. I didn't often see general commuters on cargo bikes while there because the distances were such that walking to a grocery store was usually fine, or a commuter bike with panniers (that was very common - and my setup). But paramedics? Heck yeah.

[@cruachan1191]

Certainly seems a nice option at this time of year, sadly in Scottish winter when we get about 6 hours of "daylight" and it's freezing and wet would no doubt be less appealing. Never heard of a Bath Bun before but now I kind of want one. 😋

[@agenthypo]

Been using a cargo bike in Scotland for 6 years, all year round, the right coat easily makes up for the weather and lights integrated into the battery make for nevery worrying about losing them or having charged lights. Most Scots are more durable than that. ;P

[@ZratP]

As some people say in Scandinavian countries: there is no bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. :D

[@cruachan1191]

@@ZratP We say that in Scotland too, even though it is offically "taps aff" weather here at the moment!

[@ZratP]

@@cruachan1191 oh I didn't know it was used in Scotland too! Good to know! But yeah weather will definitely have an impact for adoption. I think though that infrastructure is the most important. If you feel safe on protected lanes, I think people will learn to gear to feel less miserable during poor weather. But Netherlands and some Scandinavian countries are paving the way and show that it can be done.

[@MiniMuon]

A Finn here, from northern part, with no light in winter and freezing temperatures (but I think my sugary skin would get damaged with your damp and cold winds!) I think in the morning, it is so much nicer to pop on a bike than go scratch your car windows, sit on a freezing bench and start warming up everything (when you don't own the best of the best car model). Specially if the car ride takes 30min or less, when you get out of work, it's still an ice block waiting to steal your body heat. At work, I just take the outer layer of clothes and go for a coffee maker with red cheeks. I think rain is the most difficult for me, because shoes goes wet and if it's cold weather, you can't use small shoes that are easy to bike with. So you have to deal with big warm clumbs at your workplace, but it's very rarely that I have even thought about taking a car or a bus ride. I've biked my whole life to school etc. so it's very natural, I hope you try it out if you have a change and interest. :) In here everybody bikes the whole year, kids to elder people.

[@emeQve]

I live in sydney which has ok bike infrastructure and own an omnium mini-max cargo bike. Has absolutely made our life easier in every way.

[@popeyebouldercreek]

I noticed you picked a California style day. Not sure it would be such fun on a rainy day…

[@Khalil.8611]

The chilling sound of manon not replying to Conor multiple times during thid vid 😅

[@Speichenbieger]

I was buying my first Cargobike 6 years ago. Currently we have two cargobikes. One of them are a leasing bike because carrying my Kids. Now my kids are riding her own bikes over longer distance. After the leasing time next year I will give the bike back and than we have the "bio cargobike" for transport some things and for holiday trips with camping. Now it is five years ago as we sell our car because we don't need it any more.

[@whatwelearned]

Conor ducking that barrier was a great edit

[@notl33t]

I live in a very urban, dense area. While I could use a cargo bike, I primarily do all my shopping etc just on foot or on one of our local bikeshare bikes. Takes less time than a car or a cargo bike, and it means i am more frequently moving around.

[@roberthaston459]

Consider a very old " true MPH or KPH" formula that is amazingly under used. Divide your annual driving miles by the hours worked to generate the after tax income for all your car expenses, plus your hours spent driving. Now do the same for your bike, but subtract any hours that qualified as useful exercise. And subtract the cost of bike tires and chain compared to running shoes or a gym. What you will find is that unless you are a rich guy with a cheap car, true miles gained per hour spent for a car is similar to bike speed, while cycling is essentially "instant and free" until you exceed your fitness goals.

[@scareneb]

3:22 didn't blur the rear registration plate lol.

[@ViveSemelBeneVivere]

Should have done a three-way comparison - Car + Cargo + Escargot

[@TemwaJ]

My favorite part of this comparison is adding the difference in cost of the two modes of transport, which also gives a "speed difference". A car is AT LEAST €200 a month more expensive than a cargo bike. That's around 10 hours that you'll need to work to earn that money. That makes you 10 hours a month slower than you think you are in your car.

[@donball370]

Helluva bar bag on the front of Conor's cargo bike 😂

[@Seppster58]

LOL. Manon "I definitely did not hit that" while the sign post shakes...😆Now we know where those "scratches" come from 😁

[@nathanm5594]

In London there is an organisation called 'our bike' who will hire out e cargo bikes for a small fee. Really useful service have used a couple of times!

[@L5GUK]

Honestly, 5mins isn't really that much of a difference. But that only serves to show that there's little reason to not use a bike if you have one if the circumstances allow. ...also, it looks like Manon hit that sign ;)

[@gcn]

5 minuets may not seem much here but after a day of runnings errands... we know where would would rather spend those 5 mins! 🚲

[@L5GUK]

@@gcn absolutely would rather take an e-cargo bike for errands or a commute on a nice day. However, when it's not a nice day...or you don't have an e-bike it's not so easy to choose the bike anymore!

[@royconestoga7326]

@@gcn The horse track?

[@arcticrunning8370]

5min per day makes up a huge amount.

[@L5GUK]

@@arcticrunning8370 that's a rediculous notion. Time isn't money, you can't save it up to spend at a later time. What can you do in 5minutes that's truly meaningful to your life, really? You also assume this is a repeatable event, that traffic and other conditions are identical from one day to the next. You may save 5mins on average during term time on a commute, but in the holidays you may save 20mins by driving. Etc etc etc ad-nauseam.

[@boerhenkcb]

(excuse my english, i'm not a native speaker) I just can't get my head around the bike infrastructure in the UK. I live in Belgium, the dutch speaking part (Ghent). My wife and I have three girls (6y, 4y and 2 years old) and we replaced our second car for a cargo bike about 5 years ago. Actually we now have two cargobikes, a semi-posh electric one and a cheap-ass secondhand non-electric one. We ride plus 3.000km a year with the electric one (it has 16.000km on the ODO) and about 1500 with the non electric one. We absolutely love it. Our childeren always prefer going by bike instead of the car. The oldest one cycles herself (on a UK made Frogbike, yeay!) and the middle one choses a seat in the cargo bike when we have to ride over 5km, other wise she also choses to ride her bike. But i have to say, i wouldn't cycle so much if the infrastructure would be as bad it is in the UK. We live about 10km out of the city (Ghent), but i can cycle up there on secured bikelanes all the way, without a single junction or crossing with cars. Going even further out of the city, it is just so much saver then in the UK. i don't understand why the UK infrastructure is so anti biking. How can you get youngsters into cycling if it is that dangerous? Anyway, i realy enjoy being out on the bike. We both started to ride our bikes so much, that we are starting to dislike taking the car. And now i'm replacing my old Oxfort city bike (Fireland) for a gravelbike! For the first time in my live, i'm buying a proper bike (Merida Silex 400 but with 32mm roadtires, delivery next week)! With a racing handlebar, just like a dremt of since i was i kid. And because cycling is so much safer, i set myself the target to go atleast 20 times to work with it next year (45km one way, 90km a day). So i'm binchwatching all the GCN video's to get prepared - being blow away by the quality content on the one hand and the unexisting bike infrastructure of your country on the other hand. BTW, in Flanders most of us get compensated to go to work on are bikes. 0,27 euro/km. And some (like me) even get a 37% tax reduction when buying it (it is could mobility budget, but you only get that if you don't take a compagny car). So if i cycle 44 times to work, i've earned my bike back. So who's laughing now Mr John Cleese (ref his famous for calling the Belgian people dumb).

[@boerhenkcb]

BTW, if you ever want to do a video about cycling in another country and the gouvernance about cycling, i would be happy to provide you with some numbers and stats.

[@rolffuchs2737]

Yesterday I took the Ebike through town, because I thought it was less stressful. It was pure horror and that is the point, infrastructure is still no good for cyclists. The cars have to roads in each direction and I have to share one path with the cyclists coming towards me.

[@Y3riel]

But but Manon waited for conner at the supermarket in the first challenge. She should have left while Conner went in to get a baguette

[@snowstrobe]

I thought she had just come out of the shop?

[@salzhaltigersalzhaufen586]

Well I dont have a cargo bike but also I´m just 19 and still living with my parents but for all the short trips like getting to and from school nothing beats a bike on a nice sunny day and yes I have my license but I still prefer riding my bike to school or taking the bus it´s just more enjoyable and I also dont live in a city

[@racyagentmac]

Manon keep doing ur thing another awesome vid❤️glad to see u had so much fun in this one😁👍

[@matthewgburnell]

4:57 "the music of the birds and the bees"!!? 😉

[@daLoerdchen]

What I found interesting (meaning wonderful) is the fact that I saw little to none SUVs on the road. Compared to the German city where I live the cars look quite small and way less dangerous than the "tanks" you can see rolling through our streets. Some people are joking that, with such an amount of tanks, the war in Ukraine would have already been decided...

[@MrTitusDenis]

I can readily help to clarify the question on what a chariot is - one must watch ‘The Chariot Race’ from the 1959 movie Ben Hur. Simply untouched. No CGI. Gone are the days when movies were made with blood, sweat, tears and broken bones.

[@powerarmourknight]

This feels like a top gear top challenge

[@gcn]

We'll take that as a compliment 😉

[@simonmandrakejones]

Not enough casual racism 😉

[@MrCyclist]

Prior to COVID I would use my SUV to transport my bike and myself to remote starts outside of my city of Toronto. Now, I use the subway/Tube and the urban trains to get to the same remote starts. I avoid the major car clogged highways and arrive home relaxed.

[@princeandrew5430]

Anything's better than a car! Even these heaps on manure

[@Gekoman333]

“Why’s it beeping?” *keeps backing up* 😂

[@coklyu]

Love this content! But I always wonder what the version of this would be in a SE Asian city - flash floods, humid weather, and potholes included 😅

[@ebikescrapper3925]

Cargo bikes are great things but you need the space to store them.

[@leanneearle3652]

I haven't owned a car in...6ish years and I have never, ever missed it. I can get anywhere I need to go faster and with more fun on my bike!

[@liamm8992]

You joke about a chariot, but on a recent trip to Germany, we turned onto a segregated cycle path to be faced with a miniature chariot being towed by a pony! The right infrastructure allows all kinds! :D

[@nickiannacone7196]

I have a Matt black bike. After I’m done washing, cleaning and drying what can I use on the black Matt black paint to make it look real good. Can I use car detailer. Thanks Nick

[@rangersmith4652]

I'm not accusing anyone of anything, but GCN could have shot a dozen iterations of this before the E-bike won, or they could script it to make sure the E-bike won. This evening, in a city of 230,000 people, including a major military installation, I'm meeting a friend for dinner. To get there, I'll be traveling almost 20 miles in rush our traffic, 1/3 of the distance very near that military base. As much as I love cycling, there's no way I'm taking on such a trip on a bicycle.

[@KaushikNSanji]

3:22 Modal filter for people like Connor!

[@michellezevenaar]

Could you also talk about maintenance of the cargobikes? Tips and tricks for keeping them in tip top shape.

[@lukewalker1051]

No real difference compared to basic ebikes. Chain stretch can be real due to the weight...but most cargo bikes are hub motor driven which have pedestrian bicycle chain tension because the motor drives the bicycle outside gear usage unllike a mid drive. Biggest factor with all ebikes is battery cell balance and integrity which all starts with the quality of the battery cells when the battery is created and how well they are maintained and if the owner makes every effort to have a large enough battery to only charge to 80% capacity and never deplete to less than 30%. Staying inside this window, maximizes battery cell cycle life. A dirty little secret of the ebike industry and why I build my own batteries is...manufacturers cheap out on battery cell integrity which causes batteries to have lower capacity than purported and die sooner due to unbalance as cells were never balanced in the first place and a BMS can only do so much to compensate for poor battery cell quality.

[@donaldpyper4627]

Most have hub gears and disc brakes so maintenance is very much lower than ‘normal’ bikes

[@cra_55]

I find it funny how you guys picked one of the most aerodynamic cars on the market

[@shanomarmota]

I really love my stride 2, I do my big shopping, go to the river or beach with my children, and yes, kids love riding the bike

[@frankyro]

Try this at 0 degrees C…. And icy rain 😂

[@johnlieto8906]

This made made my day! Happy Friday. The GCN Crew are great! Did a Wahoo RGT ride this am, the updated program is very good

[@mcilwraithha]

Being a pedant and Bath local... Those in between clips were pretty jumbled. Cycling past the lidl junction and then arriving at it after manon in the next clip for instance

[@grahambermingham295]

Well done Conner for slipping in all those innuendos.

[@Frostbiker]

3:20 While I understand, it is a little sad to see so many parked cars around GCN Megabase. It only goes to show that our streets are not as cycling friendly as they should be.

[@MaxZappa1]

It would be interesting to see how this challenge would have panned out on a rainy and windy day.

[@daLoerdchen]

The bike would have won by even a considerably bigger margin, because the traffic on rainy days is far worse...

[@MaxZappa1]

@@daLoerdchen Maybe, but I was thinking of the reduced breaking performance of a bike in the wet, cornering and likelihood of the cyclist being blown over.

[@daLoerdchen]

@@MaxZappa1 I don't live in a really windy area, and there hasn't been a day yet where i nearly got blown over, so i can't comment on that. But, i guess considering the bike tires of the cargo bike and factoring in, that you can't go much above 25 km/h with an e-bike, i think that those factors wouldn't really make a difference. Strong winds could be another story, but just like i said above, no experience with that.

[@tatumboy]

"still going to nail you on the next challenge" classic Connor 😂

[@ecopennylife]

Cool challenge, I use my eBike for commuting, may get a trailer for grocery shopping as well later?

[@MVDP23]

Manon with the Merc - fancy!

[@mikewade777]

I'm sure it would depend on a set of very specific circumstances, both are best but. If i was buying a weeks worth for two, i can do it on a bike. If buying a weeks worth for twenty, a car would be better. However if I was taking twenty on a day out, a bus would be better... If i lived on an island off the mainland, i'll need a boat also.

[@bimbogiallo]

Yeah now do it in the rain :) Jokes aside you'd still need a car, but it would be a very reasonable replacement for a *second* car.

[@scruf153]

I have not owned a car since 2020 e bikes and regular bikes are just as quick and way more fun no traffic no high gas no high insurance no high auto repair

[@killerqueen9298]

Great video guys. This would only work if you live in a city, even the outskirts. Where i live the car would win hands down every time. The nearest small town is nine miles away and the nearest largish town is thirteen miles away😀🥰

[@stevewindisch2882]

Not surprised a bike won, given this is GCN. Was a lot more humorous that Top Gear couldn't make a car win when they tried a similar challenge

[@uranium5694]

The only problem with cargo bikes is that they cost as much as an economy car. Not as much as a Mercedes but still you can buy a brand new car with the money of a cargo bike. Secondly I can personally use the car in the winter while commuting with a bike in harsh winter conditions is punishing to say the least. For someone who has the money to buy a cargo bike it is definitely great to use in the summer and keep the car locked in the garage all summer long.

[@geoff5623]

The ongoing cost of a cargo bike is pretty minimal though, so if you can use it to replace car trips (or even replace a second car for a family), that makes it a more cost effective option when considering the total expense over a few years. Many places are also providing subsidies for purchasing e-bikes - often adjusted for income too so they're a practical alternative to purchasing a cheap car for people with lower incomes.

[@kang0o]

I really liked this video. A breath of fresh air from all the watts per kilo or crazy expensive road bike stuff. Although, obviously i love that too. Everyone in the GCN Megabase needs to give themselves a pat on the back. #GCNjunkie

[@grahammitchell9415]

Had no pleasure yesterday driving the 20 miles from Hearn Hill Velodrome to just east of Heathrow, nearly 2 hours of absolute misery.