BUnG it up!

In my last post I mentioned that, as a cargo cyclist hauling kids and gear around, it is impractical for me to focus on strength-to-weight ratio. I am also mostly unconcerned with equipment weight. Family biking is a totally different animal than competitive road cycling, so unless you're planning to cycle through the Grand Tetons (which I actually did with my dad in seventh grade, long before I considered myself a Cyclist), don't worry about added weight, especially if it provides durability, convenience, or reliability.

Our current bakfiets weighs about 75 pounds. Add two kids, a sturdy lock, water for everyone, and miscellaneous kid gear for another 75 pounds or more. That means I'm using my own power to propel at least 150 pounds, plus my own body weight, around town. With numbers like that, I figure it is worth adding a little weight for a lot of comfort. To highlight some of my favorite items, I have decided to start a series of posts on gear I love that would make weight-conscious cyclists' skin crawl. I'm calling it Best Unnecessary Gear: BUnG it up!

First item: I admit I took a page from the auto industry's book and outfitted my bike with not one, but two cup holders. Actually, I shouldn't take credit. Kevin (aka Daddy) purchased both cup holders for me, knowing my enthusiasm for hydration generally and decaf mochas specifically.

Any parents out there drink coffee?

The gadget on my handle bars is the PDW Bar-ista™. While it is not compatible with my Thermos® Nissan™ and a variety of children's sippy cups, it holds pretty much everything else, including standard cycling water bottles. At coffee shops, I usually order my coffee in a too-big cup so it doesn't spill on my ride. Bonus: Extra room for the whip cream I can justify by cycling around with a load of 150 pounds. The joy this item brings to my rides is well worth the extra 2.5 ounces of weight.

Even Thumper wants coffee.