Yuba ridin’ momma Elle Bustamante of Tiny Helmets, Big Bikes got interviewed for participating in the Cool California Challenge. The shocked and amazed look the reporter keeps giving her blue Mundo makes this video totally worth watching.
What is “Hot” according to Bicycling Magazine? Apparently it’s cargo bike food carts, as embodied by Rose Slam! Johnson’s Hot Bike.
Here’s an article from the Commercial Appeal that mentions our Memphis, TN dealer, Midtown Bike Co:
Cargo bikes make it possible to carry large loads and even for several people to ride together. As bike lanes and bike-friendly pathways multiply in Memphis, these workhorse bikes are increasingly getting a workout.
Kyle Wagenschutz, the bikeway/pedestrian coordinator for the city of Memphis, and his wife share one car, and they have an 8-month-old son.
Typically, Wagenschutz travels by bike, and his wife uses the car to commute to work. Now that they have a baby, Wagenschutz needs a way to move him around when his wife is at work. “But not only do I need to move him, but also all his stuff (diaper bag, etc.) and anything I need to get while running errands (groceries, etc.). Carrying capacity is becoming a real issue, and a trailer really isn’t sufficient to move everything I need to,” he explains.
A friend in Washington was selling a Bakfeits, a Dutch cargo bike used to move children and goods, and Wagenschutz jumped at the chance to buy it. “My friend used it until his son started riding on his own and had nothing but rave reviews about it,” he says.
The bike is at Wagenschutz’s parent’s house in Virginia, and they plan to deliver it on their next visit to Memphis. “I’m looking forward to getting it out, running errands or going to the park without the need to hassle with trailers or bags,” he says.
Wagenschutz says anyone can ride a cargo bike. He has seen two- and three-wheel models. “They are longer than a standard bike, so turns are wider, more like a car. It takes some getting used to, but it’s pretty easy to pick up,” he says. “I’ve noticed a lot of new cargo bikes hauling kids around
lately in Memphis. It’s definitely something I see growing locally and nationally.”
Christopher Shatley, 43, a registered nurse who works in the ICU at Baptist Memorial Hospital, may be one of those people Wagenschutz has noticed around town. Shatley works three 12-hour shifts, so he has four days off a week to spend with his 4-year-old twins — a boy and a girl. Shatley lives in the Evergreen Historic District and likes to ride his bike on the days when he is not working.
Last October, he saw a cargo bike, which he had never seen before, at Midtown Bike Co.
“It was kind of pricey, but I was looking for a way to take the twins around,” Shatley says. “They hated the bike trailer I had been using.”
He purchased a Yuba with two child seats and an added cargo bag for $1,700. He looked at the cost as an investment, since Memphis is gradually becoming more bike-friendly.
Women represented just 24% of bike trips in the US in 2009; across the bike industry in general, it is typical for men to far outnumber women. Parents of young kids are also underrepresented.
Yuba Bicycles is a different kind of bike company. Naturally, our ridership is also atypical; ~70% of Yuba riders are women with young kids.
Here are two videos by Yuba riders showing their chops on their bikes.
This is from Lindsay of You Ain’t Got Jack.
This is from Elle of Tiny Helmets Big Bikes.
Yuba riders know that their Mundos and ElMundos enable them to do things they never dreamed to be possible by bike, including hauling a banquet’s worth of groceries, one, two, three or even four kids, stand-alone paddleboards and more!
The word must be getting out about Yuba, because a bunch of articles have been published lately about inspirational Yuba riders:
Mark Stosberg’s Car Replacement Vehicle (slideshow)
Gourmet Tacos Delivered by Hot Bike (that’s right, we made the food section of the SF fashion magazine!)
There are a growing number of people who are blogging regularly about their experience riding their Yubas. They are an awesome and intrepid bunch of writers and are quite inspirational:
A new Yuba customer got written up in 7×7 magazine. She is going to configure her Yuba Mundo to make and sell tacos on the go.
Gourmet Tacos Made and Delivered by Hot Bike
Rose Johnson (middle) of Hot Bike
San Francisco’s food by bike business is booming. All across the city, bike-loving chefs are pedaling their tasty wares to hungry, mostly late-night customers. The latest bike chef to join the pack is Rose Johnson, of the catering group Apothocurious, who just launched her latest venture: Hot Bike, a mobile bike kitchen where she whips up delicious, organic, California-style tacos.
Hot Bike’s menu includes roasted sweet potato and broccoli tacos with apple salsa, and a signature dessert taco with roasted apples, drizzled chocolate and whip cream. I caught up with Rose to talk about her tasty ride and how to get my hands on some Hot Bike treats.
Where did the idea for Hot Bike come from?
Apothocurious started as a weekly delivery service. We delivered Hummus, Salsa, Salad and Pesto by bicycle to customers all over SF. In year three I was asked to set up a taco stand for a few events. I carried all of my supplies by bicycle, and was constantly developing my set up to make things easier and more efficient. It became obvious that a bicycle that carried and served the food was the next step.
What kind of food will we find you cooking on your Hot Bike stove?
I am mostly known for my tacos. They are simple California style grub with roasted veggies or sweet beans, gluten free, mostly vegan (with an add bacon option), and great vehicles for SAUCE. I love making apple salsa, flavor slam sauces, and a variety of vegan pesto.
Are you adding anything new to the menu in the near future?
I am planning to launch my grilled cheese menu on April 20 at El Rio. The grilled cheese will include cheddar and bacon, mozzarella and caramelized onions and pepper jack with pickled apples. Veggie burgers are on my radar too.
Your bike serves as the delivery and cooking vehicle. Tell us about the set-up.
I am using a Yuba Mundo and attaching a propane powered stove. I will have an electric set- up for indoor events that swivels out to create a decent size kitchen prep and cooking area. Rock the Bike is helping with the designs.
Where can we find Hot Bike?
I’ll be at The Lookout on April 5 for Super Sonic. We’ll be making Korean tacos! And we’ll be at El Rio on April 20, serving up grub from 4-8 pm.
Congratulations – Team Yuba! The 5th annual Supermarket Street Sweep was a blast, and Team Yuba took honors after donating and delivering 544 lbs of food on a single Mundo. It’s amazing to see a Mundo cruizing along with over 500lbs on it. Thanks to everyone who joined us in the fun. SMSW in a grass roots event that collects food for the San Francisco Food Bank. This organization collects millions of pounds of food each week and distributes it to thousands of people throughout the Bay Area who would otherwise go hungry. A very worthy cause.
Team Yuba at SMSW 2010
Yuba Bicycles strengthens its Leadership in the Utility Bike Market
Yuba Bicycles, LLC, makers of the Mundo Cargo Bike has hired Robin Sansom, designer of the Kona Ute utility bike and former director of the Globe brand, an urban transportation product line by Specialized. Sansom will head Yuba’s product design and development team to further Yuba’s lead in the utility bicycle market.
The market for Utility Bikes and especially Cargo Bikes continues to grow. “You can see that the Utility Bicycle Market is really taking off because the larger bike companies are now copying the Mundo”, says Ben Sarrazin, Founder of Yuba Bicycles. “We are jazzed to have Robin joining Yuba so that we can continue to make the most innovative Utility Bikes out there.” “I am excited to be working with Yuba where the alignment of our deep passion for this lifestyle will continue to lead to new and exciting solutions for sustainable transportation alternatives”, Sansom says.
Ahh, fall is the best time of the year in the Bay Area. Great weather and the bikes are out. Why not come to Fairfax and be a part of the great BiketoberFest?! Yuba Bicycles will be there in Style. Wanna ride with us? Please do! Come to Yuba headquarters at 2350 Marinship Way in Sausalito (car access via Road 3 off Harbor Drive). Please arrive by 8:30. We’re leaving from Yuba headquarters at 9:00 sharp and riding to San Anselmo hauling all our gear – no cars! Who’s with us? Details: call Steve @ 415-710-6659 (cell).