Black Iron Horse The Pony

Denmark’s Black Iron Horse The Pony is an Optimal Urban eCargo Bike

The Pony is sleek and nimble with many great features for smart e-mobility in any urban setting.

In Denmark, bikes are woven into the fabric of the country’s lifestyle and culture, with massive cycling transportation networks and large-scale secure bike parking. For over 25 years, Black Iron Horse, winner of an IF Design Award in 2020, has been pioneering unique quality cargo bikes from their home in Copenhagen, the country’s renowned cycling capital. When the opportunity came up, eBikes International was stoked to test The Pony model with the help of VeloLifestyle, their dealer in Vancouver. The company’s ethical approach to product development and design is evident in their cargo bikes — most of the materials and parts are first sourced in Denmark and then from other European countries. It’s no surprise that their e-cargo bike’s plastic box is made from 100% locally sourced recycled plastic. Designed for optimal performance in an urban landscape, The Pony is a light 3-wheel e-cargo bike that uses a single rear wheel for unique steering. The in-house welded steel frame is available in a black, blue or green powdercoated finish. Equipped with Shimano’s STEPS E6100 motor with 250 watts of power and 60Nm of torque, it comes with a 418Wh lithium-ion battery that’s neatly secured in the storage behind the seats with the ability to be charged without removal. The Pony uses Shimano’s Nexus 5 fully automatic Di2 electronic five-speed internal rear hub gearing, along with Shimano mechanical disc brakes, complete with a parking brake, ensuring reliable stopping power and control as needed no matter what the load. Strong double-walled 20” wheels are wrapped in Schwalbe puncture-resistant tires and topped with watershedding fenders. The front-mounted recycled plastic box is lined with custom-built steel for strength and durability, for a variety of cargo and transportation needs, and is rated up to 180kg capacity. There are seats and safety belts to accommodate passengers, with a separate storage area behind and under the seats. Multiple accessories are available, and our test model included a Panorama Hood. The unique single-wheel rear steering takes some getting

Seats, safety belts, front lights… all set for any urban e-adventure.

Shimano 250-watt STEPS E6100 motor features 60Nm of torque. Winner of an IF Design award in 2020, Denmark’s Black Iron Horse continues to innovate.

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used to, as it can execute 180-degree turns on the spot. But once you adjust to the sensitivity for tracking and turning, you can truly relax and enjoy the ride. The STEPS 6100 display unit was probably the easiest and most intuitive that we’ve tested. Navigating between essential information was a breeze, while battery consumption was always in view. The electronic Nexus 5 internal geared hub, which offered the choice of manual or automatic shifting, was impressive. The automatic shifting mode matches your cadence and speed to select the appropriate gear, and it automatically returns to the easiest gear when you come to a stop. The automatic shifting worked best in flat, urban settings, while the 5-gear manual shifting, activated by buttons on the right side of the bar, worked best on the undulating, openroad commute to the city. My 12-year-old daughter received her debut ride home from school in The Pony, and she quickly bought in. The Panorama Hood was easily removed to accommodate her height, and a comfortable amount of space for her school books and bag behind the seat. The Shimano STEPS E6100 provided plenty of pedalassist, while The Pony felt stable and at home with my 110-pound passenger in the cargo box. The Pony is sleek for a cargo bike at only 88cm wide and manoeuvres well. More bike lanes and cycling rights of way will go a long way to minimize challenges and encourage more of these versatile vehicles into our lives. The Pony was really at home when I headed downtown with the front box full of bottles for recycling. It navigated the route seamlessly through alleys, side streets and parking lots at a comfortable, controlled speed. The upright seating position provided great visibility, while the quick off-the-line acceleration kept pace with traffic. Once off the bike, it was easy to push The Pony along the sidewalk to the bike rack and use the walk-assist mode when pushing it up a ramp. The parking brake kept The Pony stable on the slight slope. While the stock wheel lock is good for short-term needs, I doubled up and added a heavy-duty Abus Chain Lock to secure it. Using the back of the seat as a handle helped to push and lift the cargo bike, and it also easily accommodated my additional Abus lock, reducing the need to remove the seat when away from the bike. With the front box full of groceries and a dozen Tuborg (my favourite Danish beer), it was time for the return trip home. Along the way I stopped to pick up a pile of firewood left at the side of the road — The Pony was at the ready to accommodate. With rain starting to fall, I quickly and easily re-attached the Panorama Hood. As dusk arrived, the stock front and rear lights provided me with a safe ride home. I easily accomplished everything I would have done with my car, but I had a lot more fun the Copenhagen way. The SRP for The Pony starts at $8,999, which includes the Panorama Hood rain cover and a few other accessories. For more information, please visit www.blackironhorse.com; and

www.velolifestyle.com

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