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CHAPTER 5: CARRYING LOADS WITH YOUR UTILITY BICYCLE
About carrying a load by bicycle
Getting to know your Utility Bicycle
Carrying a load and riding a long-wheelbase bike both require getting accustomed to.
Practice maneuvering and braking on a flat, hazard- and traffic-free street with and
without a load before going out into the world. Carrying a seated passenger or heavy
load involves risks, foremost of which can be decreased braking power and increased
stopping distance. Always make sure you have at least two well-adjusted brakes.
Drum, roller, or coaster brakes are not suited to hilly riding or heavy loads and can fail
under serious strain—when you need them most! We strongly recommend rim and/or
disc brakes, though these carry their own risks: under severe loads (as when carrying a
passenger or cargo at high speed a very strong front brake can lead to failure of the
front fork. For this reason, don't use the front brake by itself; the rear or rear and front
brake should be used in all braking situations.
Seating on carrier seat
Standing, kneeling, or sitting backwards or sideways (both legs on the same side of the
bike) on the carrier seat while the bike is moving or stopped can easily result in broken
limbs, loss of control of the bike, destroyed rims, a destroyed bike frame, or worse.
Children
The user of this product acknowledges both an understanding and an assumption of
the risks involved in cycling, cycling with cargo, and cycling with a passenger. Children
incapable of riding a bike on their own or under the age of 6 should not ride on the
Mundo Utility Bicycle as passengers, unless it's equipped with an approved Child Seat
accessory. Children should not ride as passengers without an adult operating the
Mundo Utility Bicycle.
Use good judgment
No warning is a substitute for good judgement. Use yours always. If you have reason
to suspect that your own judgement isn't great, share your plans with somebody you
respect, and ask for a second opinion.
Pre-ride checklist
that no straps are dangling where they could get caught in the wheels.
that no bag or box or any item are in a position where they could be caught in
the spoke
double check your load for security and stability.
that your brakes are well adjusted
