Welcome to the Cargo Collective!

Did you think cargo bikes are just for summer - sunglasses and sun lotion, not a cloud in the sky? Lots of people do! But as parents with cargo bikes, we can tell you that is absolutely NOT the case.

Cargo bikes are all-weather solutions for whizzing your family from A to B. If you are thinking about getting a cargo bike, let us help you navigate the journey to cargo bike nirvana! Ask us all the stuff the bloke in the bike shop won't know - like how to keep the kids warm on a winter's day. [See below].

We run events in the spring / summer months and have a supportive WhatsApp group for South East London the rest of the year. If you already have a cargo bike, join us too! We need your wisdom and expertise. Click on the button below and get say hello.

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A winter wonderland of cargo bikes!

“My kids love being in our cargo bike when it’s cold,” says Hannah. “In fact they’d rather I take off the little waterproof tent, and tuck them in with blankets and a hot water bottle. They like the feeling of being outside.”

Kate agrees. "Rain covers are great, they keep the kids toasty when it’s really cold. But on milder days when it’s not raining, we don’t use it as my kids love the social element of a cargo bike. They love being able to wave and chat to people on the way to school."

But it’s true that while you’re keeping warm with all that pedalling, your children will need something extra. Here’s our guide to keeping cosy in a cargo bike:

Layers are key. 

“Blankets, duvets and a rain cover are important, they keep the wind out and the kids toasty,” says Kate, who has a box bike, which allows for flexibility when it comes to layering up. Long-tail cargo bikes are less forgiving as blankets mustn’t get caught in the wheels. This means a brand specific and well-fitting rain cover is key, and then some inventive layering of clothing keeps kids cosy.

“I got a second-hand pair of kids' ski salopettes from Vinted for £8,” says Sacha, one of our Cargo Collective. “They are great: super warm and snuggly, pretty rainproof, and they go on top of normal clothes. Snoods are great for pulling up over their faces to keep the cold out.” If the homemade ensemble of warm clothing isn't quite cutting it, there are lots of very cute lined and waterproof and windproof all-in-ones, like this, which will do the trick. Look for second hand versions on Depop or Vinted.

Hot stuff.

Pocket warmers, hot water bottles or microwavable heat packs (that look like a Schnauzer!) are all popular options. Or go for a double whammy - a ceramic travel cup that keeps little hands and drinks warm. Something like this one with a flip top lid should be pretty childproof.

Unintended benefits.

A car journey will usually entail wrapping children up, unwrapping them to get them in the car, and then wrapping them up again at the other end of their journey. A great benefit to a cargo bike journey is that you need to bundle your child at the start of the journey, but after that they can stay as they are, until you reach your final destination. Significantly less child-wrangling. Hurrah!