The Larry vs Harry Bullitt Cargo Bike
Danish Designers Revive a Classic
Photography: Ben Johnson
My work as a home energy consultant entails carrying 90lbs of equipment (blower door kit and a step ladder) to all the homes that I visit. The job could either have been my worst nightmare (spending the entire day driving everywhere) or a dream job of cycling to every house call.
So I began a quest to find a way to do my job by bicycle. I started off with an Xtracycle with wide loaders and a Stokemonkey electric assist. My needs were being met, but my curiosity brought me to the Larry vs. Harry website.
Like discovering that a wonderful old wool sweater is as warm and breathable as the latest petrochemical fabrics, the creators of the Bullitt have looked to the past for inspiration.
"Larry" and "Harry are actually Lars Malmborg, 46 and Hans Fogh, 44. Hans explained that the name Larry vs Harry was "what happened when we became international. The "vs" refers to the chemistry in our working process; best friends and worst enemies. Behind every little process, there is a great discussion/argument."
I asked Hans about the inspiration to create this bicycle: "I have had my own company as a carpenter for 15 years with an old Long John bicycle as my only transportation. After a few modifications, I had the fastest cargo bike I had ever dreamed of.
"Meanwhile Larry was designing the Winther Kangaroo (a child-carrying trike), in my opinion, the best three-wheeled cargo bike in the world. The problem was that my modified Long John was much faster, with a larger range. If a 50-year-old, two-wheeled cargo bike was able to beat the crap out of the Cadillac of cargo bikes, it was time to make a modern version of the
Long John."
There are ten models of Bullitt available, each with slightly different components and colour. With names like Bluebird '71(bright blue), Clockwork (orange), and Little Boy (pink), plus the faces of icons like Burt Reynolds, Steve McQueen, and Albert Einstein emblazoned on the frames, each bike seems to have its own personality.
The aluminum frame is the same in all models, but riders can choose from Shimano Alfine, Nexus, XT drive and SRAM i-motion drive trains. The prices range from M1800 to M2680 based on the components included. There is also a whole page of accessories available such as boxes, billboards and a front hub dynamo.
The Bullitt Clockwork is more than an everyday load carrier. Every aspect of this bike, from the Shimano Alfine 8-speed internal hub, to the hydraulic disk brakes and Schwalbe puncture-proof tires, is meant to turn heads. Hans says, "In order to make people believe in the idea of cycling, it is important that the bikes look cool and ride like they have a tailwind. We have tried to make the Bullitt a 21st century bike, packed with style and humour."
The Bullitt is unique in that the frame integrates with the cargo flatbed. The flatbed is made of a light honeycomb material and measures about 28?x16?. This keeps the overall weight of the bike down to a reasonable 24kg (52.8 lbs). The low centre of gravity, plus the fact that the cargo is closer to the middle, allow you to easily carry a load without even strapping it down.
The two-leg kickstand is sturdy and leaves no doubt that you can load up without any fear of the bike tipping over. Under load the steering remains very easy and free.
Vancouver has 100 per cent more hills than Copenhagen. So I was pleasantly surprised to find that the gear ratios available with the Shimano Alfine 8-speed internal hub allowed me to go up steep hills with all my equipment comfortably. I was even able to stand up and dance on the pedals and found that the load and the bike stayed very steady.
The Bullitt's design and purpose seem to be immediately appealing to onlookers. Everybody from seasoned truck drivers, bottle collectors, gardeners, professional painters at the hardware store, and even children saw in it something useful.
As cycling becomes a greater part of our lives in North America, we have something to learn from these two Danish entrepreneurs. They have taken a great old design and breathed new life into it. My hope is that more work in cities will be done on the backs of bikes like the Bullitt.
How to get one in North America?
Calhoun Cycle in Minneapolis and Circumference in Ann Arbor Michigan are currently the only listed dealers.
www.larryvsharry.com/english
www.kangaroobike.com
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