Riese & Müller Packster2 70 CT

The Packster2 70 is a front-loading cargo bike with a Bosch Cargo Line motor, EPP impact-protection box and cable-controlled steering — the bike most families buy for the school run and then discover handles everything else just as well. It comes in two forms: the standard Packster2 70, with a Suntour front suspension fork, and the full-suspension Packster2 70 CT, which keeps that fork and adds Riese & Müller's Control Technology rear swing arm for the smoothest ride over rough roads. At 249cm overall — 251.5cm for the CT — it is around 15cm shorter than a typical full-size cargo bike and navigates London streets with a composure that longer bikes cannot match. The EPP box is what sets it apart from other R&M front-loaders: an impact-absorbing, fully recyclable material that gives genuine side-impact protection for children, and a secure, weatherproof enclosure for cargo. Internal cable steering gives a tighter turning angle than most bikes its size, and the internal battery keeps weight low and protected from the elements.