The experiment: car or cargo bike?

While cargo bikes are slowly becoming a force to be reckoned with in cities, the situation in the countryside just isn’t the same. Cars still dominate as the convenient vehicle of choice, but perhaps we’ve just mixed that up with a combination of laziness and habit. To find out if it can be done differently, we’ve switched out a small car for a cargo bike, stashed our stand-up-paddle board in and headed straight to the waterways, much to the envy of trendy inner city dwellers.

You can see it like a David vs Goliath duel. Based purely on visual indications, you might feel there’s already an outright winner in the Fiat Panda vs Riese & Müller Packster cargo bike battle. After all, when € 6,000 gets you a used Panda with barely any kilometres on the clock, space for 4 people, a 70 horse power motor, and no need for any physical exertion on your behalf, it’s hard to argue with that value for money. All things considered, the Packster 60 should probably just go home. It’s ‘just’ a bike, right?

Fortunately, this electric cargo bike has a lot packed up its sleeve. Powered by a Bosch Performance CX motor with a dual battery and a plush 1000 Wh capacity, the Packster has a hold of 60 cm in length, providing space for the substantial weekly shop, one or two kids, and your sports equipment of choice. With adjustable settings for the bar height and saddle, the Packster brings great versatility to multiple users. Depending on the spec, the Packster values at roughly the same price as the Panda – if not exceeding it.

This experiment began over a year ago, exactly on the day that Manu and Anne, two good friends, brought a Fiat Panda. They’d weighed up the decision, and settled on this car for ‘practical decisions.’ As they’re usually found cruising in their lovingly self-refurbished VW T5 campervan, the arrival of the Panda brought a little shame to their eyes, but you could tell it had a purpose. It was to be used for driving to work, the supermarket, and for making short trips to the lake in the evenings. It immediately caused a reaction amongst our group of friends, jokingly christened ‘a roller skate for an elephant’, amongst other names. In short, the awkward little Panda just didn’t seem in sync with their sporty and savvy lifestyle.

You are what you ride!

**Adjustable**
As the height of the bars and saddle can be altered in a matter of seconds, a range of riders will be able to hop on a ride the Packster.

**Comfortable**
The fork is pretty sensitive, which makes for a comfortable ride. The light mounts elevate its practicality so you can keep riding in the dark without concern.

**Huge!**
The Packster’s load measures 60 cm in length, and has a lot of space. Riese & Müller also have a child’s seat available as well various covers.

Love at first sight

As soon as the two brand new Riese & Müller bikes landed in front of Manu and Anne for the big battle, the pair were immediately enchanted by the elegant, linear designs of the Packster and the New Charger Mixte. Urban bikes, it transpires, are no longer just for the retired community. On the first day of the test, Manu took the cargo bike to work, a 6 km commute that usually involves tinny acoustics from the Panda’s unrefined build. It’s a different scene with the Packster: helmet on, motor on, and he’s off. In the dappled morning light, the Packster cruised along comfortably, easily reaching the 25 km/h limit on the flat. A slight incline and he pedaled harder, encouraging the powerful Bosch motor to dish out more support. Even on sweat-inducing climbs that demand a little effort, the Packster effectively gets him and the fully packed hold up the ramps. Covering the route of quiet b-roads and bike paths quicker than usual, Manu took a few minutes to enjoy the cool breeze and collect his thoughts. By the time he reached work, that extra hit of endorphins were kicking in and the bike got its share of admiring glances from colleagues in the car park. Strange that no one had even raised their head when he chugged into the lot with his Panda.

Eye catcher – electric cargo bikes are major attention-grabbers.

Virtually bottomless space in the hold! Weekly shops just found their new home.

**Helmets** Giro Aspect & Camden MIPS | **SUPS** Fanatic Diamond Air & Pure Air

Space for the big shop

The number in the name of the Riese & Müller Packster 60 is a clear statement of intent: at 60 cm in length, the load area is substantial, and we mean substantial! Despite knowing they could take a whole crate of beer as well as the fully weekly shop, or even two kids on route to kindergarten, Manu and Anne opted for inflatable stand-up-paddle boards from Fanatic as well as two-part paddles, pedalling up to the Chiemsee with the load packed. Even though loaded, the bikes demonstrated agility to manoeuvre through traffic as they left the city behind them, smugly soaring along the bike path past the rush-hour traffic. The bike’s over-sized dimensions took some getting used to, but once the pair had taken stock of how it rides – especially those hairy, one-handed moments when signalling to making a turn – they felt happy riding through the traffic, learning when their core muscles needed to be extra active. Quicker than in the car, the pair reached the lake and unloaded the Fanatic SUPs from the front of the Packster – they were surprised that there was more physical exertion inflating the boards than riding the bikes! Compared to the effort of stand-up-paddle boarding, one-handed riding with the Packster proved to be child’s play.

But what does convenience really mean?

For Manu and Anne, the word ‘convenience’ doesn’t just refer to ‘having’ something on tap – it’s more akin to feeling comfortable with their surroundings and their impact on the world. In concrete terms, they care more about movement, having a clear conscious about the environment, and having the luxury of gathering their thoughts as the wind rushes by them. This lends a convenience to their lifestyles that is held hostage from them when they’re sat in traffic. Two electric cargo bikes won’t save the world, but they will make your own world that little bit better. Of course, they still like Pandas – but they’re more into the black-and-white fur-clad ones! Much akin to David and Goliath, the car-centric, muscle-clad power is falling at the hands of eco-friendly, considered alternatives.

For more information about the cargo bike head to r-m.de

Update 2020: If you are now looking for a cargo bike, you will find a lot of suitable content in our sister magazine DOWNTOWN, which is all about urban mobility. For example a comparison test with 9 cargo bikes or lots of valuable tips for everyday life with cargo bikes.

Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of E-MOUNTAINBIKE, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality cycling journalism. Click here to learn more.

Words & Photos:

Love at first sight

Space for the big shop

But what does convenience really mean?

This article is from E-MOUNTAINBIKE issue #014

You may also like