Peter’s Tern GSD cargo electric bike: making music in Brisbane

When Peter & Sandra moved from NZ to Brisbane they wanted to be more environmentally conscious. Peter, a musician, opted to supplement using public transport with a Tern GSD cargo ebike. Rocking up to gigs, collecting the post, family outings with Daisy their dog, the Tern GSD is proving to be the perfect ‘car’.

EBB: What got you interested in an e-bike? Why electric?

When Sandra and I were planning our move to Brisbane from Christchurch NZ, getting around was an important part of this. We had been over for a few holidays and knew how good public transport was, but needed more independence.

As a musician, I also needed to think about transporting gear to gigs. Living close to the CBD, an eBike became a distinct possibility. I didn’t want to arrive already exhausted from peddling around a heavy bike with bass amp, cables, mic stand etc on board, so it really HAD to be electric.

EBB: Why the Tern GSD cargo e-bike? 

I wanted one that was easy to get into our apartment and easy to handle when not being used as a cargo. The Tern GSD made sense. It had plenty of load space, but was like a “normal” road bike if you didn’t need to carry stuff.

I then saw one at a local Christchurch cargo bike shop and was able to take it for a spin. I loved it! I was very surprised how quickly it got up to speed so. A few clicks up through the gears, with a whine like you’d imagine an electric formula 1 car to have! With more eBikes showing up, it’s still great to have something a bit special with a unique look.

EBB: Has having an electric bike lived up to your expectation? What do you mainly use it for? 

Yes, absolutely surpassed any expectations I had. It’s our “car”! We decided to be more environmentally conscious and as we’re close to most places we need to go, a car just seemed irresponsible!

"We are close to most places we need to go, a car just seemed irresponsible!"

So, it’s our grocery fetcher, our parcel post fetcher, transport for music gear, trips into town for random shopping or just cruising to a cafe.

I have the seat pad attached to take my wife Sandra on the back. We worked out how our little dog Daisy could come with us too and have a pet soft carry bag that fits on the front tray.

I ran out of battery power on one journey and realised just how much assistance the Bosch system gives you...especially with another adult on the back! When not carrying anything, it’s a cool bike to ride. Very manoeuvrable! 

EBB: What is the best reaction you have had?

Best reaction was when I arrived to play a gig, with my electric upright bass on my back and Sandra on the seat behind. A lot of people at the venue came out for a look!

Here’s a pic of the Tern in it’s role as band wagon.... Electric Upright bass over my shoulder, cables, effects etc in the bag on the front tray and bass amp strapped to the back. Can wheel the bike straight into most gigs, unload onto the stage or band area and park outside. Way easier than messing around with a car and good luck finding a car park after you’ve loaded gear in!

It’s also great meeting other people with a Tern too. It’s like you have membership to an exclusive club. Conversations about how great our bikes are always ensue :)

EBB: Any tips for others considering getting an ebike?

I think the main thing is to have a good idea of how you are going to use it. Commuting for just yourself, commuting with kids etc or just enjoying biking around with less effort. The electric assistance removes any barrier to riding.

For a cargo bike, it enables you to forget about whatever load you’re carrying. While the initial cost seems high, if you’re clear on how it’s going to be used it’s easy to justify. 

About the Tern cargo electric bikes

Tern Bicycles offers an excellent selection of high-quality mid-drive compact electric cargo bikes that can fold and be stowed away very easily. Their cargo e-bikes are rated to carry 170kg+ and are built without compromise for the job they are intended for: carrying loads and people safely.  Here is a summary of the long-tail Tern cargo ebike models available in Australia for 2020.