Kiddo haulers are a favorite over here, and what better platform exists than a titanium Omnium Cargo? Let’s check out Michael’s build in a really rad Readers’ Rides!
Before we go any further, can you guess what my daughter’s favorite color is?
When thinking about how this bike came to be, I realized that a lot of what I wanted to say had already been said better by [Riley’s description of building his Chisel]:
“… there exists the very material consideration that is the terrain and topography upon and through which the bike is to be ridden. I am a strong believer in the _local bike_, of building or designing a rig informed by the sites that one seeks most to ride.”
I think a big part of building a *local bike* is honesty about the type of biking you’re actually going to do the most, vs. the most exciting upper end you *could* do. I spent 6 years in Bike Heaven (Davis, CA), where my bike was an extremely practical tool. It took me everywhere I needed to go, rain or shine, but it didn’t really spark a whole lot of joy. I then spent 2 years in Bike Hell (Houston, TX), where I rode very little and missed the joyful integration of cycling into my daily life. Two years ago, I returned to Minnesota and found myself a) pulling a kid in a Burley a lot, and b) loving my new basket bike.
I began dreaming of the ultimate *local bike* for the kind of riding I do most. I wanted a bike that could haul a kid and supplies, do grocery and hardware store runs, get me and my stuff to work, and still be fun for the odd bike camping adventure. I wanted a bike that could transform the everyday trips into something more exhilarating, adding a dash of joy and getting the blood pumping. I wanted a bike that was so practical and so fun that I had zero excuses not to ride.
I think Riley’s idea of the pragmatic-romantic perspective describes this balancing act perfectly:
When putting together a bike, I find it useful to approach the task with a sort of Janus-faced perspective, twin gazes looking towards two poles of reference: the pragmatic and the romantic.
If one leans too far towards the romantic, then a beautiful tool is produced, but one that functions best on the showroom floor; contrarily, if one overemphasizes the pragmatic aspects, then a performance machine is all but ensured, yet one that rarely stirs the spirit to song. How delicate the dance!
Taking all these perspectives into account, it seemed like the Omnium Cargo was a perfect choice. A cargo bike, yes, but one that seemed equally practical and joyful. A bike that just begged to be taken out, a bike that stirs the mind and spirit in equal measure. After further deliberation (and securing a side gig to help with the bike fund), I opted to go for a titanium frame, which I ordered through a shop a mile from home, The Cargo Bike Shop in St. Paul, MN. The preorder process also gave me a lot more time to sit and consider the build, which is where the pragmatic-romantic balancing act really came into play.
Lots of little flourishes, from the shiny purple bits, to the leopard print webbing from Juicy Bike Works in Berlin, to the Kyoot top cap that lets a Lego guy hitch a ride, make this bike feel fun and not too serious. Most of the build, however, is pretty pragmatic in terms of capability and cost. 160mm Race Face Turbine cranks, Magura MT5 brakes, Velocity Cliffhangers, Shimano SLX derailleur and cassette, and DT Swiss 350 and SON 28 hubs are all components that I hope will perform well and last a long time without breaking the bank (too much). I certainly could have gone for even more blinged out options (purple anodized rims were on the table), but I think the overall balance works as-is. I also prioritized secondhand components as frequently as possible (looking at you, Rad Bazaar and FB Marketplace). I somehow found someone getting rid of a pair of custom Doom bars that had the exact dimensions I’d have ordered myself.
One thing I never quite knew about toddlers was their complete lack of distinction between utilitarian and aesthetic considerations; if a 3-year-old doesn’t like the way a jacket looks, good luck getting them to wear it, even if it’s below freezing and you’re about to get on a bike. I’ve noticed about a 20% increase in the utility of any given item if it’s purple, and hey, purple looks pretty good with silver and black bike parts. As I planned and waited, my daughter would talk about “the purple bike” in hushed tones, this long-awaited prophecy that would take approximately 1/4 of her lifetime to come to fruition.
After about 10 months of waiting, I’ve been riding the hell out of the bike all autumn. This thing is an absolute blast. The ride quality is incredible for a bike this sizeit’s responsive and nimble, and it handles wonderfully while loaded down. The upright stance and 160mm cranks have been very nice to my tight hips and creaky back (I’m now a full-on short crank evangelist), even while pushing around a toddler and gear. I’ve taken my daughter on some longer rides, including a little [Genosack ATB] group ride on some sandy singletrack, and she’s been loving it compared to the trailer. She can hunt for the last vestiges of alleyway raspberries, chat with me more easily, and she gets to be the one to press crosswalk buttons. We weren’t able to fit an overnighter in yet this year, but I’ve got some big plans for next spring.
I finally got around to snapping some glamour shots of the bike the day before the first snow of the year. I opted to shoot in a gravel alleyway a block from home, a fun little jaunt that my daughter and I often add to the end of the ride home. Sometimes we rip down the alley, sometimes we take it slow to “look at the trees better” and try to spot bunnies, but either way it’s a joyous end to a very pragmatic ride home from school.
Build Spec:
- Frameset: medium Omnium Cargo Titanium
- Front wheel: Velocity Cliffhanger 32h, SON hub, 180mm Magura rotor, Schwalbe G One Brompton 20×2.1″
- Rear wheel: Velocity Cliffhanger 32H, DT Swiss 350, 180mm Magura rotor, Rene Herse Oracle Ridge 29x48mm
- Fenders: stock Omnium
- Cassette: Shimano SLX 11-51t
- Derailleur and shifter: Shimano SLX
- Brakes: Magura MT5
- BB: Wolf Tooth
- Cranks: Race Face Turbine 160mm
- Pedals: Velo Orange Sabot
- Chainring: 32t Garbaruk non-boost MTB chainring
- Saddle: Brooks B17
- Seatpost: Thompson
- Seatpost clamp: Wolf Tooth
- Main headset: Wolf Tooth
- Fork headset: stock Omnium
- Stem: Send It Safely / Monē 90mm Shim Reaper
- Handlebars: custom Doom risers
- Grips: Wolf Tooth Fat Paw
- Stem cap: Kyoot/Yellow Bird Threadworks Brick Buddy
- Lights: Edelux II front, B&M Secuzed rear
- Rack webbing: Juicy Bike Works (purple leopard print) and Pel Mel Workshops (black with D rings)
- Bottle cage: Widefoot cargo cage
- Saddle bag: Outer Shell rolltop
- Top tube bag: Beard Bags (shoutout to James)
- Handlebar bag: Blue Lug bike pouch
- Kid seat: Burley Dash RM with the leg shields cut off, attached to Omnium’s child seat rack
- Bell: Spurcycle
- Pump: Silca Gravelero
- Lock: Litelok X1 with tactical mount
- Mirror: VZDWorkshop Rack Mounted Mirror
We’d like to thank all of you who submitted Readers Rides builds to be shared here at The Radavist. The response has been incredible and we have so many to share over the next few months. Feel free to submit your bike, listing details, components, and other information. You can also include a portrait of yourself with your bike and your Instagram account! Please, shoot landscape-orientation photos, not portrait. Thanks!