We deliberately chose the motorless version when we ordered our test bike: finally a fully-fledged cargo bike that relies on pure muscle power! At least that's a consistent realisation of the concept of sustainability. And the likeable start-up project from Frankfurt/Main also pursues this idea right down to the choice of materials: The elaborate tubular frame with its folding mechanism is made of welded steel tubes. This is because they can be manufactured in an energy-efficient manner, are repairable and can be optimally recycled. Frame construction and parts assembly take place in Hungary. Compared to production in Asia, this reduces transport distances and facilitates communication.
Change from city bike to cargo bike
Industrial designer and Convercycle founder David Maurer-Laube had the innovative idea for the folding frame back in 2017 while studying at the University of Applied Sciences for Design in Offenbach: only a versatile bicycle that combines passenger and cargo transport has a serious chance of replacing the car in urban centres. However, an everyday bike must be manoeuvrable, easy to ride, durable and easy to store. Cargo bikes are not that by nature. That is why its Convercycle If required, the bike can be converted from a city bike to a cargo bike by folding the rear triangle backwards around a pivot point behind the folded rear wheel. This increases the overall length from 2.08 to an impressive 2.74 metres and creates a loading area that is around 60 centimetres long and 40 centimetres wide. It fits a standard crate perfectly and is non-slip, but the gap through which the rear wheel ran in city bike mode remains in the centre. The design effort involved results in an extremely unwieldy total weight of 36 kilos. Moving the bike into a narrow garage or over stairs, steps and even kerbs is difficult. In (short) city mode, the frame touches down on steps with the rear triangle, which only leaves a very tight ground clearance of 12.5 centimetres. On stairs, you often fail because of the two-legged kickstand, which reduces the clearance under the bottom bracket.
Even the city bike mode is special. If you are cycling on a flat road, the high weight, the stiff spring that dampens the steering angle and the 18 centimetre wide trellis frame around the seat tube take some time to get used to. When pedalling, the calf and heel graze the frame; you quickly train the necessary slight bow-leggedness. The makers want to achieve more legroom in the future by bending the stays more strongly. However, the Convercycle definitely does not offer light-footed cycling in city mode. The continuously variable hub gear works effectively and offers 380 per cent gear range. However, due to its own weight, the bike can only be pedalled well uphill with motor assistance - our mistake when ordering? The riding position is relaxed and upright, and thanks to the generous top tube length, the power of the legs can be easily transferred. The wide handlebars and hydraulic disc brakes also generate good control and safety. A clear weak point is the thin stem with stem clamp and adjustable joint: it cannot withstand the longitudinal twisting in the bike, but is to be replaced in the next frame generation by a more stable Aheadset system with external clamping.
Over the long or short term
Let's switch to cargo mode: turn the somewhat wobbly aluminium mudguard 180 degrees backwards, unlock a pivot lock, lift the rear triangle by its grips and swing the rear swingarm downwards with your left foot: voilà, the Convercycle releases its transport surface. We insert the appropriate crate and load it up generously. Although the bike wobbles precariously on its two-legged stand, in the end the payload is 57 kilos, ridden by a rider weighing 75 kilos. The total weight including the bike is 168 kilos, just twelve kilos away from the maximum permissible weight limit (180 kilos). Both testers agreed: "Just about rideable!" The huge wheelbase, the thin tubes and the folding joints make the bike very susceptible to lateral twisting. Precise steering is also unfamiliar and difficult at the beginning: you have to swing out wide before tight bends, as the rear wheel takes a much tighter turn due to the overall length. There is a powerful coil spring between the fork and down tube. It prevents the handlebars from turning uncontrollably when parked on the two-legged stand. When riding, however, it works noticeably against the rider's steering force. In tight, fast city bike traffic, this requires a lot of practice and sophisticated riding manoeuvres. Our impression after several laps: At times when there is little traffic, on a flat stretch of road and with plenty of space around it, a strong, experienced rider can move all sorts of things with the ambitiously designed Convercycle. Its basic idea is captivating, but unfortunately the teething troubles are not quite over yet.
Test summary of the Convercycle Standard
Take one, ride two - the realisation of the Convercycle has not yet been as simple as we thought. The heavy-duty folding bike is not really convincing in either city or cargo mode.
The bike costs 2,848 euros.
