Review: Woom NOW 4 Kid’s Cargo Bike – The bike I wanted to love
As my kids bike to school daily, I love the idea of having a bike designed for the job. Woom launched their NOW series a couple of years ago, and I’ve had the good fortune to review one. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been the perfect bike for my family, but maybe it is for yours.
This is a premium lightweight kid's city bike! A cycle truck cargo bike design for kids ranging from 6-14 years old.
3 sizes available, and on huge sale from Woom right now
The NOW is a cycle truck design with a small front wheel and a larger rear wheel. They do this so you can load down the front folding rack and keep the weight low.
Woom NOW Key Features
- A built-in dynamo hub on the front wheel powers the front and rear lights, so anytime they are moving, they have lights on
- The front rack that folds down
- Fenders
- Disc brakes
- A frame bag
- And twist-grip bell (our favorite feature)
- Lightweight considering all those features from 23.4 – 28.3 lbs
Main Concerns
Twitchy Handling
The bike’s handling was not enjoyable for either of my two very experienced kids. We live in a hilly area, and the small front wheel was twitchy. Additionally, the front handlebar can’t be adjusted like the other Woom Original bikes, so it is in a fixed position.
I Hate The Front Rack (sorry)
The front rack is a great idea if your kids are really conscious of where the backpack straps are. I prefer a rear rack because if something gets in the rear wheel, it will just stop the bike instead of flipping it over the handlebar. It also was unnerving for them not to see their front wheel when descending some of our hills or navigating our tight routes.
A Cargo Bike Needs a Good Kickstand
The kickstand placement was a surprise. The other Woom bikes have it placed further back, and a front-loading rack like this could really benefit from a center dual-sided kickstand for a steady bike when parked.
Grip Shift Didn’t Shift
The original Microshift Grip Shift was tough to turn, even for me. I switched it to a trigger shifter, which is now shifting great.
Conclusion
The bike may not be for us, but it could be for you. I have several friends who own these bikes for their kids and love them.
If you have bike paths or less crazy hills, it’s a great concept, and I wanted it to work for our family. They are currently on sale, so if they seem interesting, grab one!
What do you think of the bike and design? If you own one, please review it in our bike database.
