Test / Cargobike: Cargobikes are likely to produce the most innovations on the bicycle market at the moment. Manufacturers dare to try new concepts and have the courage to think "out of the box". The best example is the Gleam Escape - a cargo bike that does just about everything differently than the competition. We tried it.
The idea for Gleam was born back in 2010: A Vienna-based bicycle delivery service dreamed of a universal vehicle for this special area of application – also because the solutions available on the market never quite met the requirements. From the idea onwards, a team slowly emerged from a wide variety of areas, which soon developed the first prototypes until the bike was ready for series production the previous year. A very important driving force for Gleam was also the idea of sustainability: This is one of the reasons why the production of the bike (apart from a few attachments) takes place entirely in Europe. For example, the frame is built in Italy, the assembly itself takes place in the Netherlands.
The technology behind the Gleam Escape
The Gleam Escape is certainly one of the most unusual and exciting bikes that we have had for a review in the editorial office lately. Of course, this is primarily due to the decision to place the loading area behind the driver and to give the bike not only two rear wheels, but also a tilting system with full suspension. A look "under the hood" of the bike also shows the great effort that Gleam put into making this vision a reality. This is also shown by the considerable development time of seven years - but it was worth it. Without wanting to go into too much detail at this point, a few words on the basic principle: Both rear wheels are suspended on their own swingarms, which are sprung independently of one another with their own dampers. This means that the rear wheels can move up and down independently of each other. In conjunction with the inclination of the loading area, driving maneuvers are possible that you would never expect from a bike with these dimensions.
The power of the drive and the legs reaches the rear wheels via a total of three carbon belts - the main belt drives a shaft in the rear triangle, which then in turn transmits the power to the two wheels and thus to the road via two shorter belts. Thanks to the very stiff belts, all this is possible without a great loss of power. Speaking of which: Our test bike is powered by a motor from the Italian manufacturer Pollini, which offers an impressive 90 Nm of torque. From late summer, however, the Gleam Escape will also be optionally available with the Bosch Cargo Line motor. Of course, there is no place for a derailleur gear in this system - instead, an Enviolo shifting hub ensures the right gear ratio.
But wait a minute: tilting technology? Doesn't the bike just fall over when loading? First of all: The Gleam Escape cannot fall over - we have tried that in great detail. At a certain angle, the incline is stopped and the bike remains firmly on its three wheels. On the other hand, the tilting technology can be easily locked from the handlebars, which should definitely be used for loading. Thanks to a parking brake, the Escape can also be conveniently parked anywhere; even if releasing it on the brake lever is a bit tricky.
Despite all the special features, the Gleam Escape is "officially" a very ordinary e-cargo bike. This not only means that you can use all cycle paths with it, but it is also approved for the many funding programs.
Modular concept not only for business
Okay, we have now talked in detail about the bike, the technology, the manufacturer - but one important question remains: For whom is such a bike the right one? On the one hand, it is very heavy at 70 kg (without body) and is not necessarily compact. On the other hand, it offers a payload of a whopping 200 kg and very universal handling. In view of these key data, it is not too surprising that Gleam primarily wants to address commercial customers with the Escape: delivery services or tradesmen, for example. Incidentally, one of our own shows that the wheel is already being used successfully here section on the official website.
The loading area measures 60cm x 100cm and can be equipped with a variety of superstructures. For example, the lockable FLEX.Work Box is available in two sizes (350 and 500 L). The FLEX.Cover offers even more volume – a structure with a truck tarpaulin that offers a volume of up to 590 liters and is compatible with euro boxes. Individual designs also make the cargo bike interesting for this target group. If you want to use different superstructures, you can change them safely and without tools using a rail system. This system is also a major reason why Gleam calls the Escape a "multi-use bike" - a cargo bike for a wide range of applications.
Brand new this summer is FLEX.Life – a wooden construction for the family. There is not only space for a double seat, but there is also plenty of space for other luggage. A rain cover will also be available in the near future. We had a not quite final version of the FLEX.Life structure in the editorial office; Insertion is very easy thanks to the precisely fitting rails and there is really a lot of space, even beyond the two passengers. While our prototype still had a rigid seat, this will be adjustable and movable in the final version. In addition, the backrest can be removed with one hand using a quick-release fastener if you want to transport other things.
Driving the Gleam Escape: Surprisingly Ordinary!
In view of the numerous special solutions, the new concept and so much technology, one does not necessarily expect the Escape to ride like an "ordinary" bicycle or e-bike. After a few meters of practice, however, that is exactly what happens! If you move the cargo bike like a normal e-bike, you might be surprised how unobtrusively the 70 kg heavy and quite long vehicle can be moved from A to B. This is not least due to the tilting technology in the rear, thanks to which even tight curves can usually be mastered without any problems. Nice: Even when walking slowly, the Gleam Escape does not tilt to the right or left - other multi-track cargo bikes with tilting technology often have to struggle with this.
The Austrian cargo bike is not inconspicuous at all when it comes to comfort: the full suspension can play its cards to the full on poor ground and iron out even really deep potholes or rough cobblestones effortlessly. Even curbs elicit no more than a weary smile from the bike up to a certain height. Thanks to the independent wheel suspension at the rear, you don't have to worry at all if, for example, there are small obstacles in your way. With ordinary tricycles, these can otherwise lead to the bike becoming wobbly; not so with escape.
Of course, the bike has its peculiarities. Starting off in particular needs a little practice at first, until you can move safely and quickly from the spot. A short push off with your foot, half a turn of the crank and you are moving on safe terrain, even with a heavy load. Of course, the power of the electric motor also helps here; In our case, the Pollini unit was installed, which we had absolutely nothing to complain about. Above all, the strong support even at a low cadence helps in everyday life. With its 90 Nm maximum torque, the engine also has enough power to cope with a climb even with a heavy load. However, such scenarios quickly eat away at the battery; Even if the specific range always depends on the respective area of application, we would definitely recommend the double battery option. This means that ranges of around 50 km should be easily feasible.
The base price of around 8.000 euros for the Gleam Escape seems reasonable given the high level of construction work and the convincing, high-quality equipment. The bike can be configured on the official website – here the guys and gals from Gleam also offer an online advisor to find the right bike for your individual area of use as quickly as possible.
