Discover the Joy of Cycling

Complexity: Simple. 

Tools needed: Wood-saw, hacksaw, hand-drill, drill bit for wood, drill bit for metal, hole-saw or spade bit, adjustable wrench, chain tool.

Purchased components: Bottom-bracket tube, crankset/bearings, cranks/pedals, chain, tires/tubes or rubber tread, metal tube or bolt for pivot-pin, bike seat (or make), fasteners (bolts, screws or nails).

Materials: 2 sizes of dimension lumber (two-by-four and one-by-six)

For whom is the Ursa designed? This compact cargo bike is designed for people who often need to carry cargo or 1 or 2 child passengers over paved or dirt roads and paths. It is designed for those who are able to balance a 2-wheeler, of course.

Who should not get this model? The Ursa will not maneuver easily in a small apartment/office. This long and wide cycle may not be able to make a sharp turn in a narrow hallway. It may not fit on a car’s bike rack. It requires two people to carry it up a flight of stairs.

Whom does it fit? From 4’8” ( cm) to 5’8” ( cm). Full Ground-reach seat position (which allows you to place your feet flat on the ground when seated at a stop) cannot be configured for riders shorter than 4'10”.

What is the Ursa’s cargo capacity? Will carry 2 small children or one middle school passenger. Will carry 4 five-gallon (20 liter) buckets or water jugs. The rear racks are safely behind the area swept by the rider’s feet, and diagonal braces restrict passenger feet and loads from intruding forward into the pedal zone. The seat-post can be pivoted forward, or removed entirely, leaving an open 46” long cargo rail for those persons who wish to pile as much cargo as possible on the bike and then push it. The optional Rhino Rack requires some extra work and care to fabricate, but supports 13” of valuable cargo space above the front wheel, where the rack does not move with steering motions and is therefore easy to balance, as well as its load being directly observable – making it a good spot for small pets.

What is its outstanding capability? The Yalla has large cargo capacity for a bike. The cargo area can be configured to carry unusual or awkwardly shaped cargo. The frame has clearances sufficient to accept 3” wide tires for supporting heavy loads and substantially smoothing rough paths. 

What options will it accommodate? The Yalla can be assembled with or without the cargo/passenger framework around the rear wheel. Passenger rails attach above the bench seat to contain child passengers, giving them a hand-hold and increased impact-safety zone, as well as serving to snugly contain infant bike or car seats. The cargo deck can accept almost any bolt-on fasteners or proprietary quick-release attachment rails for infant seats. Spoke-guard panels are easily added. A front basket can be attached to the handlebar. A rack extension for carrying or towing kids’ bikes can be straightforwardly added. Will accommodate almost any after-market electric assist kit – hub motor or mid-drive.

What are its limitations? Because of the cargo platform, this configuration of bike cannot have Linkage-drive installed, only chain-drive. Because this bike is not recumbent, the Arm-power option cannot be used.

What components will it accept? 26” wooden or wire-spoked wheels with 2” to 3” tires, or 24” wooden or wire-spoked wheels with fat 4” tires. The wooden Simple wheel can have its rim built to be covered by recycled car or truck tire rubber; this is a less smooth-riding but absolutely flat-proof ‘tire’.  The rear tire bears most of the weight of bike, rider, cargo and passengers, and therefore should be wide, voluminous and sturdy. There is room on this model for a top-pivot front derailleur post. You can outfit your Yalla as a single-speed with coaster brake, as a fixed-gear, as a 1X multi-gear, or with a 3 x 8 (or 2 x 5, 2 x 6, 3 x 8, etc.) front-and-rear-derailleur transmission. The Yalla can accept an internal-gear rear hub on a wire-spoked wheel. A two-legged kickstand is included in the Plans.

How big is it? Overall length 91” (228 cm). Standard cargo-area width 24” (60 cm). Weight varies with choice of wood, wheelset and cargo panel material; the Yalla may weigh between 50 and 70 pounds (23 to 32 kg). The Yalla takes up less floor space (approximately 24” x 50”) when standing on its rear end, a position which also gives good access for adjusting or removing the rear wheel, rear brake or derailleur.