Today, I’d like to introduce a truly "working bicycle."
The owner, a professional gardener, came to me with a request: "I want to carry my work tools, like pruning shears and stepladders, to visit clients, and in the future, I want to be able to travel while working on my bike."
There is something incredibly exciting about a requirement that is so clear and demanding. After many discussions with the owner, we arrived at the choice of the OMNIUM Cargo.
How did the owner decide to build up this bike—a Danish-designed machine known for its superior balance of ride quality and load capacity, and above all, its excellent structural design? Following our previous feature, this is the next entry in our series showcasing our customers’ bikes.
OMNIUM Cargo
The Cargo we delivered this time is the flagship of the OMNIUM lineup, boasting the greatest load capacity and straight-line stability.
While the mid-sized Mini-Max—often compared to this model—is designed with the front wheel positioned roughly under the center of the cargo bay to ensure quick handling, the crucial structural difference of the Cargo is that the front wheel is placed at the very front of the massive rack.
Because of this extremely long wheelbase, heavy items like large amounts of work tools fit snugly into the lowest position between the wheelbases. The design prevents the handlebars from suddenly tucking in or wobbling, no matter how heavy the load.
The geometry is entirely focused on the goal of transporting heavy loads safely and reliably to a destination, even at the cost of some maneuverability in urban areas, making it the optimal choice for this particular order.
Durable running gear for heavy loads and a hassle-free dynamo light
In a cargo bike, the component under the most stress is the front wheel, located directly beneath the cargo bay. For this build, we used a VELOCITY Cliffhanger rim paired with a SON NABENDYNAMO SON28 disc hub.
While 20-inch small-diameter wheels are inherently rigid due to their shorter spoke lengths, choosing a 36-hole count ensures absolute durability, guaranteeing it won't budge even when carrying heavy work tools every single day.
Powering the bike is the SON Edelux II dynamo light, fed by the SON dynamo hub. For a professional whose routine involves traveling in the early morning or after sunset, being able to ride without worrying about charging is essential. Furthermore, given the nature of the long Cargo frame, the light's beam pattern—which illuminates a wide area from the ground up to the distance without dazzling oncoming traffic—is a necessity for work-touring.
Choosing brakes for both serviceability and stopping power
When riding with heavy loads, the most important thing is being able to stop reliably. While I generally recommend hydraulic brakes for this type of bike, I proposed a mechanical cable-actuated system for this build.
If the brakes are damaged by branches at a work site or an unexpected incident while touring, a hydraulic system is extremely difficult to fix on the spot. In contrast, a cable-actuated system can be repaired on the same day at any bike shop in the country, minimizing any impact on the owner's work.
For the calipers, we chose PAUL COMPONENT’s Klamper, which offers top-tier stopping power among mechanical brakes, and paired them with PAUL’s Love Lever, which is equally renowned for its durability.
Furthermore, we used 180mm Catalyst Pro Disc Rotors in the front and 160mm in the rear. By using larger-than-standard rotors, we ensure more than enough stopping power for even a heavy cargo bike.
A standout, beautiful drivetrain
For the components, we went with Italy's INGRID. While it’s easy to be captivated by their beautiful silver designs milled from blocks of aluminum, their true value lies in the high rigidity and light weight provided by that CNC machining.
The high rigidity converts pedaling force into forward momentum without loss, even when loaded, and the precision of the machining ensures accurate shifting even under harsh working conditions. These aluminum components are a stunning contrast to the heavy, matte-black frame.
Instead of carrying heavy loads on his back, he now entrusts them to the bike. From a client's garden to the next site, and eventually, to a distant city with his tools in tow—with this bike, the boundaries between the owner's work and his travels will dissolve, becoming a more seamless experience.
There are as many ways to use a bicycle as there are people, and the same frame can become a completely different machine depending on the parts chosen. We are here to propose a bicycle tailored to your specific needs. Please feel free to consult with us.