On cargo bikes carrying kids, the rear deck turns from cargo capacity into kid capacity, which means that riders need to find new places to store stuff. On most long-tail cargo bikes, mounting a front rack is a useful place to do this.
While many bike companies offer front baskets, they often are insufficient for cargo needs.
High quality storage has the properties that it is:
- Sturdy: Can hold heavy loads.
- Deep: Shallow baskets and bumpy roads go poorly together. A deep front storage area is very useful.
- Large: You’ll want something that can carry a lot.
The solution that we’ve found works best for the Abound is a double-wide rectangle milk crate from Milk Crates Direct, combined with the Front Utility Rack and some mounting hardware.
Aventon Abound
| Item | Typical Cost (Individual pricing) |
|---|---|
| Front Utility Rack | $70 |
| 24 qt milk crate | $10, plus $11 shipping |
| 2 M5 bolts and nylock washers | $3 |
| 2 1.5" fender washers | $2 |
The Aventon front basket is too small to serve cargo needs for many users, which is why we go with the crate.
Tern HSD, GSD, Quick-Haul
On a Tern, you can replicate the setup by using the Hauler Rack.
| Item | Typical Cost (Individual pricing) |
|---|---|
| Hauler Rack | $140 |
| 24 qt milk crate | $10, plus $11 shipping |
| 2 M5 bolts and nylock washers | $3 |
| 2 1.5" fender washers | $2 |
The 24 quart mik crate is large enough to carry two bags of groceries; fit several kids backpacks, etc.
If you have already purchased the Transporteur Rack for your Tern, the Grainger 5YN07 crate is reported to work well with it according to Ashburn Bicycle Repair.