How to ride a Bunch Bike

A Bunch Bike has three wheels, so there's no balancing to learn — it's stable even standing still. The only real adjustment is corners: slow down and steer through them instead of leaning, since a trike doesn't lean like a bicycle does.

Most people who test ride a Bunch Bike are surprised by how little there is to learn. No wobbly first block, no "trust the bike" pep talk — you sit down, the two front wheels hold you up, and you go. It's the cargo bike we recommend most for parents who tried a two-wheel front-loader and felt nervous about the balance. Here's what actually is different, so you're not caught off guard.

How to ride a three-wheel cargo trike — straight from Bunch.

How to use the parking brake, so it stays put while you load up.

You don't have to balance — that's the whole point

A regular bike (and a two-wheel cargo bike) needs enough speed to stay upright. A Bunch Bike doesn't — the two front wheels keep it standing at a red light, at a dead stop loading kids in, even if you're going slower than walking pace. If balance is the thing that's kept you off a cargo bike, this is the one that removes it entirely.

Slow down for corners — don't lean into them

This is the one real habit to unlearn. On a bicycle your instinct is to lean into a turn. On a trike, leaning does nothing useful and cornering too fast can make the inside wheel lift. The fix is simple: ease off before the turn, steer through it at a relaxed pace, and get back on the power once you're straight again. Within a few turns it becomes automatic.

Give yourself a wider turning radius

Three wheels means the bike is wider than a standard bike and doesn't pivot as tightly. U-turns and tight driveway maneuvers take a bit more room than you'd expect. Give yourself the extra few feet rather than trying to thread a tight gap — there's no need to rush it.

Let the pedal-assist (or throttle) do the work

Bunch Bikes are heavier than a standard cargo bike since they're carrying the extra wheel and frame, plus your kids and cargo up front. That's exactly what the motor is for — trust the pedal-assist (or the throttle, if you'd rather not pedal through a hill or a tough start) rather than muscling it yourself. Smooth and steady gets you there easier than powering through it.

That's really it — Once cornering feels natural, most of the learning curve is just enjoying how relaxed the ride is. Kids sit up front where you can talk to them the whole way, and you never have to think about tipping over at a stop sign.

The best way to feel it out is a few slow loops around the block with someone talking you through the turns — which is exactly what happens on a test ride. Come by the shop and try one for yourself.

A quick start guide to getting to know your Bunch Bike.

Questions about cargo biking in NYC?

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