Cargo Bike No. 3 rolls across the border and into Tucson
Leif just sent me a picture of his new Mercurio Cargo Bike, purchased in Nogales. Below is his account of his adventure. He got his for about $35.00 less than Lauren and I paid for ours. Like we did, it appears he rode it right out of the shop and across the border.
Erik,
I retrieved a Mercurio today. VH didn’t have them today, but Coppel (another department store a few blocks further south) did. Price = $USD 186 after 10% discount due to scratches and blemishes on the new product. I agree it was pretty squirrely to ride back to the border, but that was really fun, all the same. I’m hoping I can upgrade some of the components on it becasue they seem highly unreliable, and also make multiple modifications. Like a need another project. Anyway, I’m really excited to have finally gotten one of these.
Just remember, ride these things carefully! They flip in a heartbeat . . . .
–Erik Ryberg
December 16th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I saw one of these at Albertsons last night. A guy said he got it at a yard sale.
December 17th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Even loaded they flip?
December 17th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Oh yes, they are much more likely to flip if you’re loaded. Just ask Lauren sometime why she stopped using hers to get to and from the bar.
EBR
December 17th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
If they weren’t than it wouldn’t be so easy to pop one wheel up and ride around on just two – that kind of defeats the purpose of the bike but it’s still fun to do.
December 17th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
BTW, who was selling theirs at the swap meet? I *really* wanted to buy it, but not having a garage I would have to keep it locked up outside, and I can’t even hang on to lawn furniture where I live.
December 17th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Hey Scott, that was Lauren! She is going on permanent bike tour soon and will be riding a bike built by Ed Foster of La Suprema, a custom-built longtail that we will be talking about a lot in the coming month.
So anyway she had to part ways with the cargo bike.
EBR
March 12th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Hello, I’m just returning from Mexico were we saw lots of the Mercurio Cargo Bike in use and I want one back here in Portland Oregon! Is the instability caused by it wanting to “jackknife” or rotate the front suddenly about the steering stem? I was thinking that a steering dampener might help that. Thanks!
March 12th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Hi Bob,
The problem seems to be that the front section wants to turn whichever direction it is already going. If it is slightly pointed right, it will veer more right, slightly left, veer left. This means you have to be constantly working the bars to keep it going straight. Take your hand off to wave at somebody and you are immediately on two wheels.
Interestingly, once up on two wheels the bike becomes considerably more stable. But not steerable.
If you have a hundred pounds or so in the front, it rides pretty well unless you get up any speed.
The bike is basically designed to go 6 mph and slower, with a lot of weight in the front.
Maybe steering dampeners would work. If you try it, let me know!
–EBR
March 13th, 2009 at 10:17 am
That would make sense, seeing as how it’s hinged vertically at a point *between* the contact patches of the front and rear wheels. Since it doesn’t bank into the turn, inertial (centrifugal) force acts away from the direction of the turn, pushing outward on that hinge, making the bike “want to” steer tighter and tighter into the turn until it hits the steering lock – unless the rider diligently resists that force of course. The faster you go, or tighter you turn, the greater that force. Unfortunately, a damper would slow down but not prevent this process – it’s a steering geometry design issue. This tendency can be eliminated by locating the hinge axis of the steering on or a little in front of the front axle like Worksman Cycles do.
October 6th, 2012 at 4:42 pm
I just purchace a cargo like the one you have, I am wanting to restore it, there are no wheels on it, and I’m wondering if maybe you could help me out , by letting me know were i can get tires and wheels for it,also any infro. would really help me, like age and were it was made,ect.Is it worth restoreing or did I make another bad buy?I have no idea of what size wheels or tires to look for. Thanks, Gregg
October 10th, 2012 at 2:44 am
I just brought one like this, but needs alot of work, anyone know any infro. on theses please let me know wheels tire size, Thanks