Posted on 17 March 2022
TOP TEN REASONS THE NIHOLA FAMILY IS AN AMAZING CARGO BIKE
Nothing is a better testament to how good a bike is than to see it used like crazy. We can remember our first trip to Copenhagen back in 2008 (we were there to visit Nihola!) and seeing the Nihola Family everywhere. Like, everywhere! It seemed you couldn’t blink without seeing another one go by. And, while it was one thing to visit the factory - where we saw the bikes lovingly made by hand - but quite another to walk around and look at how well the Nihola Family has stood up to decades of Danish weather. But, the best thing about Nihola is not just it’s durability, but how it works with your life. Want to learn more? Here’s our quick review on the Nihola Family!
1. KIDS ARE UP FRONT!
One of the most beautiful things about watching people use their Nihola Family is seeing how parents can talk to their kids and enjoy the ride together. The whole ride becomes a great conversation!
2. NOT JUST STORAGE, SAFETY
We’re seeing a lot of newer and inexperienced cargo brands make cargo bikes with lots of storage in the box, but no box safety. The Nihola Family takes safety seriously with a tough steel frame surrounding your kids and high-impact Lexan plastic (same clear plastic used for hockey rinks) to ensure safety in traffic.
3. IT'S A TRIKE!
Nihola was designed back in Copenhagen when the bicycle was a lot like North America today: severely lacking. This lack of infrastructure became part of the Nihola design process: how to build a cargo bike that feels really safe on streets that don’t always have bike lanes? The answer is to increase stability, and nothing is more stable than a trike. Unlike two-wheeled cargo bikes, a Nihola has pretty much zero learning curve.
4. AMAZING HANDLING!
The one problem with trikes, however, is that they all seem to steer by swinging the box left and right. That’s correct: on most cargo bikes the wheels are bolted to the box and it’s the entire box that steers. That means most cargo trikes are stable, but have very poor reaction time. The Nihola uses independent steering - just like a car! That means that just the wheels steer, meaning you can guide your precious cargo safely everyday.
5. LOTS OF ROOM!
The Nihola Family comes with tons of room! The inside of the box comes with a comfy padded bench and a Y-belt for smaller kids and a seatbelt for bigger kids. You can also buy an extra Y-belt if two smaller kids are in the box. Have a baby? Nihola makes a great baby seat made of impact resistant EPP foam that reclines your baby so there is no neck compression. The Family also comes with an X-strap system on the bottom of the bucket so you can tie down your picnic basket, or even a car seat! The hardest part is choosing what colour rain tent you want!
6. UPRIGHT SEATING POSITION
One of the weird things about most bikes sold in North America is that they force the rider to hunch way over the handlebars. We can’t figure it out. If you’re riding in the city, chances are good that you want to see and be seen, and that you’re probably not trying to win the Tour De France; especially when riding a cargo bike! The Nihola riding position is gloriously upright, and it fits anyone between 5’0” and 6’6”.
7. IT’S REALLY REALLY LIGHT
Another thing we can’t figure out about a lot of cargo bike brands is why they make such heavy bikes! Most three wheeled cargo bikes are in excess of 130lb! The Nihola Family is nearly half the weight of its competitors, only 70lb! Great if you’re riding longer distances or climbing hills.
8. ELECTRIC ASSIST
Another thing we can’t figure out about a lot of cargo bike brands is why they make such heavy bikes! Most three wheeled cargo bikes are in excess of 130lb! The Nihola Family is nearly half the weight of its competitors, only 70lb! Great if you’re riding longer distances or climbing hills.
9. LOW MAINTENANCE
We’ve been selling Nihola’s in Toronto to people who store it outside all year long, and we can tell you: this is one low maintenance bike! The frame is finished with a very chip-resistant powdercoat and the gears and brakes are both sealed from the weather rather than being totally exposed (like most North American bikes). So, whether you ride year round or not, a Nihola is meant to keep repair costs low.
10. LOTS OF GREAT EXTRAS!
Look a little more carefully and you can see that the Nihola comes with a couple of handy things. First, the tires are super puncture resistant! Second, there’s a built-in lock on the rear wheel that lets you quickly lock the bike to itself while you're dropping the kids off at school or grabbing a quick coffee. Third, the Nihola comes with a chainguard! One thing we love about Denmark is how people dress up to ride their bikes. That’s because the chain-guard keeps all the grease off your clothes! Dress up and ride away!
