This year, five members of the Bullitt HQ took on a challenge involving swimming, cycling, and running around the beaches of Copenhagen. Yes, you guessed it, we did the 4-18-4 triathlon hosted by Ironman.
Don’t get us wrong, we’re not taking anything away from the Ironwomen and Ironmen who crushed it two days later in the full Ironman. But we want to show you what’s possible on a Bullitt. We didn’t show up to win, but we didn’t hold back either. This is what you can do with your Bullitt too.
People often ask why they should choose a Bullitt over another cargo bike or even better, over a car. Well, one thing we stand by is this: the whole team rides Bullitts. Not because we get them for free, not because we’re forced to, and not because we’re brainwashed (though that last one’s debatable). We ride them because we love them.
Some of us use our bikes for the classics: kids, groceries, partners, everyday life. But some of us still like to go back to the roots of what a Bullitt is and show up to races. Yes, it’s a cargo bike and yes, it can carry stuff. But it’s not just any cargo bike. It’s fast, easy to handle, and with the right set of legs, you can push it to the limit. The Bullitt was built to make you want to ride it. Loaded or not. We’re not just about practicalities.
The 4:18:4 Copenhagen race takes place the Friday before Ironman Copenhagen. We only had to request authorisation to make sure our Bullitts would be accepted on the track. And they were.
After a day at the office, Natasha, Harry, Jerk, Vincent, and Nick showed up for the bike registration. We definitely stood out among the throng of high-tech machines around us. We got a number of curious looks and comments – “You’re brave to race on that.”
They weren’t ready. You only know once you try.
The second challenge came with the bike racks. The Bullitts were well outside standard sizing. We tried the normal racks, quickly gave up, and lined ours up to the side.
We’re just a different breed right?
With Natasha on her Miss Bullitt, Nick on his Major Tom, Jerk & Vince on their Milk Plus and last but not least, Harry on his Love Ride Ltd. Edition, we were ready to take on the challenge.
An overview of the challenge. 400m swim, 18km bike and 4km run.
Needless to say that our strong point was not swimming. Yet we all managed not to drown, which is in itself good news for all of us.
For the swimming stage, Vincent took the lead on this one, only 2 seconds ahead of Jerk.
Transition is an art. Jerk, still sharp from his Ironman days a few years back, nailed it. After just 2:55, he was on his bike and in the lead, which he kept until the finish. Sorry for the spoiler.
Now for the real highlight: the bike leg.
Natasha:
Nick:
Vincent:
Harry:
Jerk:
Hats off to Jerk for pulling off +30km/h on a cargo bike.
Going fast on the corners.
Trying some different positions on the bike. All for the watts.
Harry was there to show the youngsters how it’s done. He placed 10th in his age category overall. And the outfit is well worth mentioning. We’ve seen Harry in Elvis clothes, in a Senna cap, in pink socks. But this was new: red speedos, worn for the swim, the bike, and the run. Another lesson from Harry. Ride hard, but always ride in style.
Then came the hammer time: the run. Natasha absolutely crushed it, covering 4km in 16:44 and claiming second place within Team Bullitt. Nick was right behind, finishing in 18:03 and securing third. Vincent and Harry closed it out, finishing in 20:23 and 25:38 respectively.
Overall Finish time for the team:
Jerk: 1:06:14
Natasha: 1:08:56
Nick: 1:09:22
Vince: 1:09:53
Harry: 1:15:21
And most of all, a lot of smiles.
We ride cargo bikes for their utility, but never forget what makes a Bullitt a Bullitt. It’s fast, it’s elegant, it handles beautifully and above all, it’s great fun. Larry & Harry built a machine that ticks every box.
So take your Bullitt, get out there, and enjoy the ride. We hope to see more Bullitteers on the starting line next year.
