A new year, a new e-bike to review, and something entirely different this time. Harking back to the good old days when local shops got lads on bicycles to deliver goods to your door, I have been looking at the latest Cargo e-bike from Swedish firm Cake. The Åik is a sweet ride, as I found out.
Many decades ago, before the days of DHL, USP, DPB et al., delivered anything from the Internet to an address of your choice, local shops were your only choice to purchase items. It seemed like every shop also employed a lad riding a bicycle, who would deliver the items you bought to your door. Along came the online retail giants initially distributing products from their garages, and the goods arrived at your door. But the expansion of this booming business and the subsequent food delivery sector has put millions of vehicles on our roads, causing congestion and damaging emissions. Many manufacturers are keen to change how deliveries are made and are returning to the past to move forward.