FAQ

Who and why?
Will it fit on my bike?
Will it affect my steering?
What is an A-head stem?
Is my stem strong enough?
How much weight can the Bike Porter hold?
How strong is Bike Porter?
Will it slip in the stem?
Can I fit it?
I have an old bike with a quill stem. Does this mean I cannot use a Bike Porter?
Will my grips fit on the bike porter?
What size stem will the Bike Porter fit?
How is it made?
What is it made from?
Why not steel?
Why are there holes on the bottom of the Bike Porter?
What is powder coating?
What is sandblast anodized?

Who and why?
Copenhagen Parts is, unsurprisingly, based in Copenhagen, Denmark. As typical Copenhageners, cycling is a way of life for us. It’s how we get to work, how we pick-up groceries and how we take the kids to school. Copenhagen Parts developed the Bike Porter, with the design firm Goodmorning Technology, in response to our experience of cycling in the city everyday. The reality is, sometimes you need to carry stuff. We wanted something that would extend the usefulness of the bike for getting around town without sacrificing style. The Bike Porter is our solution. Something to carry your gym bag, a couple of pizzas, a bag of groceries…..regular ‘stuff’.

Will it fit on my bike?
Bike porter will fit on the majority of road and city bikes. If you have a smaller frame, you may need to double check that there is sufficient clearance over your front wheel/mudguards.

It will also fit on many mountain bikes but if you have suspension on the front forks you should check the clearances.

As bike geometry and set-up varies so much it is best to check with your stockist if you are unsure. Even if the Bike Porter does not fit with your current set-up, it will often be possible to make adjustments or change, for example, the stem so that you can use it.

Bike Porter only works with A-head or 2-part stems (see below for more).

Will it affect my steering?
Carrying a load on your bicycle will affect how it handles but our experience is that people adjust to using a Bike Porter after just a few minutes. How much it affects the handling will depend on the weight, dimensions and distribution of the load carried. It’s best to keep the weight evenly distributed with the centre of gravity as low as possible. We also recommend the use of straps to keep larger loads stable.

What is an A-head stem?
Traditionally, bike stems were one piece (usually known as quill stems). To change a handlebar involved sliding the bar into the stem from the side. Ahead stems are a 2-part stem. The front part of the stem clamps around the handlebar and secured with 2 or more bolts. This has the advantage that handlebars can be changed without stripping the bar of grips and other fittings. Bike Porter only works with 2-part stems.

Is my stem strong enough?
Most 2-part stems will be strong enough to use the bike porter providing the bolts are securely tightened. If in doubt, ask your stockist.

How much weight can the Bike Porter hold?
We recommend that you do not carry more than 15kg on the Bike Porter. We have tested the Bike Porter and have found that it can comfortably carry heavier loads but as we have no control over the quality of the stem used or how well it is fitted we have set a recommended limit of 15kg. It is up to you to assess the risks if you wish to carry heavier loads.

How strong is Bike Porter?
The Bike Porter is made from heat-treated 6061 alloy. This is a light and strong material which has been tried and tested and widely used for bicycle parts. The smaller diameter ‘tubes’ are in fact rod – ie they are solid. Although this adds a little to the weight, it makes the product much more durable. The clamp area has been machined (instead of the normal process of bulging). This results in a stronger product which will not deform when securely tightened in the stem.

We have tested the Bikeporter to very tough standards. In fact, we applied the most stringent test for handlebars – normally reserved for mountain bikes – and the product passed with flying colours. This does not mean the Bike Porter is suited for mountain biking but it means that it can easily cope with normal urban cycling.

Will it slip in the stem?
As long as you have a reasonable quality stem and the Bike Porter is securely fastened, you should not encounter problems when carrying normal loads (see more about load-carrying capacity here). A-head or 2-part stems were first developed for use with BMX and mountain bikes and the clamping-strength of the stems are sufficient to cope with using the Bike Porter.

Can I fit it?
Fitting the bike porter is a fairly straightforward task that does not require expertise or specialist tools. In some cases, you may need to adjust the length of gear or brake cables. If you do not know how to do this but would like to have a go at doing it yourself, check out the helpful videos here: http://bicycletutor.com/part/cable/. Alternatively, it is a simple job for any bike repair shop.

I have an old bike with a quill stem. Does this mean I cannot use a Bike Porter?
No problem. You have a couple of options. You can buy a 2-part quill stem. This is a stem which mounts on the bike like a regular quill stem but the clamp is in 2-parts. Alternatively, you can buy a quill to a-head converter. Ask your stockist for advice.

Will my grips fit on the bike porter?
The diameter of the tube in the grip area is 22.2mm. This is the standard inner diameter for grips.

What size stem will the Bike Porter fit?
Traditionally, stems had a clamp diameter of 1 inch or 25.4mm. Many stems now have a clamp diameter of 26 or 31.8mm. The Bike Porter fits 25.4mm stems as standard but can be fitted to larger diameter stems with steel shims. These are thin, semi-circular strips of steel) which fill the gap between the clamp area on the Bike Porter and the clamp on the stem.

How is it made?
The tubing is cut to length before being  bent using a CNC bending machine. This is a computer controlled process which results in precise and consistent bends. The rods and tubes are then welded together by hand by skilled welders. The Bikeporter then undergoes a number of finishing processes including anti-corrosion; powder coating or anodizing; and a clear coat for added protection.

We apply quality control checks after each step including a final check before it leaves our facility.

What is it made from?
The Bikeporter is made from heat-treated 6061 aluminium alloy. This is a light and strong material which has a proven track record for use in bicycle components.

Why not steel?
Producing the Bikeporter in steel, even in CrMo, would result in the Bikeporter being twice the weight. Our thinking is that the Bikeporter should be used for carrying loads not for being a load in itself. Alloy is lightweight and easily strong enough for its purpose.

Why are there holes on the bottom of the Bike Porter?
The Bike Porter goes through a number of finishing processes to ensure it has a long life. This involves immersing the product in solutions (eg anti-corrosion, anodizing). It is important that these solutions reach the inside of the tubing and can drain properly after treatment. The holes do not affect the strength of the product.

What is powder coating?
Powder coating is a very durable painting process. The paint is applied as a powder and then baked in an oven to form a very tough finish. We then apply a clear coat for added durability.

What is sandblast anodized?
Anodizing is a surface finish which can be used on aluminium alloys. It is a very durable way of adding colour and toughness to aluminium alloy. The sandblasting produces a pleasing matt effect and actually increases the strength of the material.