10 Years of Experience with the BABBOE Curve-E Cargo Bike

Update of my blog post from 2017 after 10 years of experience with the Babboe cargo bike: Are you currently considering purchasing a cargo bike? Then you should read on. In this blog post, I would like to share our Babboe Curve-E cargo bike experiences. This bike has been with us for almost 10 years and has become indispensable in our daily life. Since the birth of our daughter, we have used it as a family bike, and even today, I take it for everyday errands. The Babboe Curve-E cargo bike is perfectly designed for transporting children and even replaces the car for shorter distances in our daily life. Since we live in the city, the distances are not too far, making this quite feasible.

Our experiences summarized briefly:

• Ideal for transporting children and offers enough space for shopping
• E-motor support is especially helpful when loaded or on steep inclines.
• Children have visual contact with the rider, which enhances safety during the ride.
• The box is large enough to transport a stroller, diaper bag, or groceries in addition to the child.
• Disadvantages: The cargo bike is relatively heavy, and you need suitable space to park it.
• Particularly well-suited for the city and short distances. Steep climbs can, however, be a challenge.

Riding a Cargo Bike with a Baby, Toddler, and Children

Long-term experience with the Babboe Curve-E cargo bike in family life

By now, the Babboe cargo bike has become an integral part of our family life with children. A “Bakfiets” – as it is called in Dutch – has several advantages compared to a bicycle trailer. I have already listed the benefits of a cargo bike compared to a child bicycle trailer in my blog post about riding a cargo bike with a baby. Especially when it comes to cycling with a baby or toddler, a cargo bike offers many advantages. The most important benefit for me is that I always have my child in sight.

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Bicycles and accessories

When using a trailer, I always worry that a car might overlook it. The bike paths in Karlsruhe are relatively well-developed, but there are some places where it could be better. In my experience, cars show more respect for cargo bikes and give a wider berth.

In this post, I would like to share my previous Babboe long-term experiences, specifically with the Babboe Curve-E. I hope this can help some parents make the decision to purchase a cargo bike. After all, it is quite an expensive investment, and a cargo bike does not have the same pros and cons for everyone. It simply needs to fit the respective family and their daily life.

Decision for the Babboe Curve-E Cargo Bike: The Reasons

We have always been active cyclists. Whether it's cycling into the city for shopping or commuting to work, a solution was needed for cycling with babies and children. The most well-known option for transporting children by bike is a bicycle trailer. We had already sought advice on this. Such child bicycle trailers are not exactly cheap, making it a well-considered investment.

However, my sister-in-law then pointed us to the Babboe cargo bike, which she was already familiar with from her vacations in Holland. There, “Bakfiets” are a popular means of transport for children, whether for school, sports lessons, or outings. We immediately liked the idea of having our children always in front of us, being able to talk to them, and having enough space for shopping or a stroller. Up to four children can be transported in a cargo bike. For people like us living in the city, an electric cargo bike can even be an alternative to a car or second vehicle. When the cargo bike arrived at our home ten years ago, it drew all the attention. However, cargo bikes have also become a popular mode of transport in Germany and are increasingly used by families.

Thanks to the option of installing a Maxi-Cosi child seat in the Babboe cargo bike, it can even be used for transporting babies. Later, toddler seats and benches can be installed.

The Babboe cargo bike also comes with a lot of accessories that make the bike even more practical for everyday use. However, one should keep in mind that additional costs for accessories will add to the price of the cargo bike. For us, for example, the sunshade and rain cover are essential in daily life.

Who is the Babboe Cargo Bike Suitable For?

10 years of experience with the Babboe Curve-E cargo bike

So, anyone planning to cover many distances in everyday life by bike and willing to invest in a cargo bike will have a lot of joy with it. Additionally, up to four children can be transported in the front box. However, those who only ride occasionally and seek a flexible solution for child transport will likely be happier with a bicycle trailer or child seat.

A cargo bike also requires a lot of space when parked. Due to the price, one should also ensure that it is always securely locked. Those living very centrally in the city and possibly lacking a bike storage space may face issues with storage. Due to its weight, it cannot be easily carried up or down a few steps.

Those who want to remain flexible should rather opt for a child seat for the bike or a child bicycle trailer.

Babboe Curve-E Cargo Bike: Experiences in Everyday Life

Anyone choosing a Babboe cargo bike must be aware that it does not provide as flexible a solution as a bicycle trailer. Using both separately is not possible. When in the city, after locking the bike, one must transport the child in another way. If the children are still small, this can easily be done with a baby carrier or sling. When my daughter was still a baby, I always had the Ergobaby in the Babboe with me. However, not all babies like to be carried.

As a toddler, she was already walking well, but she couldn't manage long distances yet. Additionally, I couldn't always let her walk freely in the city chaos. She didn't like holding hands and rarely went in the direction I wanted. However, she had become too heavy for the baby carrier.

Since our Stokke X-Plory stroller can be used as a buggy but doesn't fold down very small, we had to get a handy buggy. This definitely fits in the box of the Babboe cargo bike. We used the Babyzen Yoyo for this, which we also took with us on vacation to Langeoog with our toddler, where I introduced it to you in more detail.

How does it ride on gravel paths with the Babboe Curve-E?

On paved roads, riding the Babboe Curve-E cargo bike is very pleasant. Gravel paths are also possible, but it can be quite bumpy in the box. Cobblestones are even more uncomfortable. The mount for the baby seat had some suspension, but the toddler seat did not. Fortunately, there are many well-developed bike paths in Karlsruhe. However, on our multi-day bike tour to Strasbourg, not all bike paths were paved and were sometimes unpleasant to ride. At least I ride very slowly over bumpy roads because I don't want my daughter to be jolted around, and it surely isn't good for the cargo bike in the long run.

Electric Cargo Bike: E-Bike Support for Climbs

How to set the speed on the Babboe cargo bike with E-motor at the handlebars

An electric cargo bike makes riding significantly easier, and I would recommend it to anyone considering buying a cargo bike. Especially when the box is heavily loaded, it is difficult to ride uphill without electric support.

Even with a regular bicycle trailer, one has to pedal quite hard on an incline to get up the hill. Therefore, some people combine a child bicycle trailer with an e-bike. If one wants to use both independently, that is, of course, an advantage. You can also use the e-bike without a child bicycle trailer and use the trailer in the city or on outings as a stroller substitute. With a cargo bike, this is not possible. Investing money in an electric cargo bike makes one less flexible, as logically, you cannot use both separately.

During our cycling vacation, we did not have a spare battery with us, and I was very economical with the electric support. By the end of the day, however, there was still enough battery power left. The box was quite full, and the bike was heavy to ride. That's when I realized how pleasant it is to have e-bike support. And on very steep climbs, even with the highest level of e-bike support, it can be strenuous to ride uphill. But this is probably the case for almost every cyclist wanting to ride up a hill. The only difference is that I cannot simply stop with the cargo bike, as I fear rolling backward. Fortunately, there is a button that provides electric support even when pushing uphill.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Babboe Curve-E Cargo Bike

How far can I go with the Babboe Curve-E without a charging break?
The range is about 40 to 60 km with normal use. However, with heavy loading or many inclines, it may be shorter.

How many children can the cargo bike accommodate?
Up to four children can ride along. There are two benches in the transport box, each seating two children. There are straps available for securing them.

Is the Babboe Curve-E also suitable for poor surfaces or terrain?
In our experience, it rides best on paved paths and in urban traffic. On gravel paths or cobblestones, it can be quite bumpy and uncomfortable to ride.

Summary of Babboe Curve-E Experiences: Would I recommend the cargo bike?

I have often been asked by other parents for my opinion on our Babboe Curve-E cargo bike, as they are considering purchasing a cargo bike for their children as well.

Now, 10 years later, I have gathered some experiences with the Babboe cargo bike. For short distances in the city, it can be very practical, but longer outings with the Babboe are also enjoyable. In the box, there is space for groceries or a small buggy in addition to the child. By now, our daughter has outgrown...