The Heavy-Duty is Gazelle’s cargo bike. It is unashamedly large, unpretentiously styled, and clearly built for a tough life. The frame is made from aluminium, and in order to give the strength and rigidity of a cargo bike, the tubes are oversized and quite chunky looking. Fat tyres absorb bumps, and the huge Selle Royal saddle makes sure that you are scarcely even aware of them – it’s actually quite pleasant to ride! The frame has been improved over the 2018 version, and the seat tube angle is more relaxed offering a more efficient riding position.
In addition to its front and rear racks, the Gazelle Heavy Duty includes three key adaptations that make it a formidable cargo bike; these include, the strong and sturdy bi-pod kickstand, the wide handlebars (for control), and the steering lock (which prevents the bike from tipping while it’s being loaded).
Interestingly, the adaptations that make the Gazelle Heavy Duty a good cargo bike also make it a very competent family bike as well. The bike’s designers obviously knew that this would be the case, as they thoughtfully included a Yepp Easy-Fit adaptor for a Yepp Maxi childseat in the rear carrier. The super wide kickstand keeps the bike stable when the kids are on board, and the front rack provides a useful cargo bay when the rear rack is occupied – brilliant!
All in all, the Gazelle Heavy Duty is a formidable cargo bike, family bike, or ‘ready for anything’ city bike; as adept at carrying kids and shopping as it is at casual cruising and carrying crates of beer. Needless to say, it’s a great Dutch bike, and we love it.
