Many bikes handle well off-road; other bikes carry things well. Few can do both.

The Trash Panda is inspired by cycle-truck style cargo bikes; by attaching the load to the frame instead of the steering, the bike maintains nimble handling while carrying serious cargo. Cycle-trucks use a 20” front wheel, leaving room for large cargo to stay out of the handlebars’ way. This type of rack, if mounted on a 29” wheel, leaves little room before the cargo prevents the bars from turning. A 26” wheel is the ideal compromise, providing sufficient rollover and efficiency for rugged terrain, while still allowing for a cycle-truck style cargo rack.

The rear-end geometry was developed by framebuilder Leo Cruces, inspired by years of bike touring on the rugged forest roads of the Oregon Cascades, with special influence from studying the Soma tradesman, Jones LWB, various Rivendells, and the very first mountain bikes from repack era Marin county.