Bullitt. “Cars are just so last year.”

White Line Hotels collaborator Bullitt, from Larry vs. Harry, have a quirky sense of humour and the fastest cargo bikes on the planet. We caught up with Harry just after one of many recent trips to one of Europe’s most bicycle friendly cities – Berlin. Based in Copenhagen, Bullitt bikes can be found carrying almost anything and everything across the globe.

There’s certainly a need for cargo bikes – was there an Aha! moment of inspiration, or did the idea develop slowly?

Larry spent 3 years, developing the best trike for Winther bikes. Still, it didn’t look or ride as well as my 50 year old Long John. At least for Larry, that was a moment of Aha!…

For readers who aren’t familiar with the Bullitt bikes – what would you say in 3 words?

Speed, freedom, and coolness.

I’ve checked out the blog and wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t seen the pictures – it’s amazing what you can carry on a Bullitt – there’s Skipper the cargo Bike King, the Pigbullitt, cases and cases of beer, and speakers! What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever seen?

It always amazes me, to see and hear about the guy in Berlin riding an 8000€ monster hi-fi on his Clockwork. We sold two bikes to a Zoo; I keep on thinking of a Bullitt loaded with 100 kilos of elephant shit…

Bullitt bikes are produced in Copenhagen, where you also live. Where do you find inspiration in the day-to-day life of the city?

Copenhagen is a fairly small capitol and bicycles can take you anywhere you want to go. Shopping for groceries at the foreign shops at Vesterbro, going for a shawarma at Nørrebro or a little smoke at Christiania. And of course – watching the busiest bike lane in the western world, right outside the windows of the Larry vs. Harry shop.

Copenhagen is known as one of the most bicycle friendly cities in the world, what other cities have you travelled through by bike? Favourites?

Larry and I have been to Berlin almost ten times the last two years. Never used the U-Bahn, only Bullitts. It’s fast to get around, plus there’s a lot of challenging cobblestones and big boulevards where you can ride side by side.

You have a Bullitt bike theme tune available on your website! How cool is that?

The band was paid in absinth to make us a tune we could use for the website!

Bullitt was the name of a 1963 action thriller starring Steve McQueen, in fact all of your bikes have inspired names as well as icons emblazoned on the bikes. What role do these figures play in inspiring you?

The icons on the bikes are our heroes. Why hasn’t anyone done that before? Volkswagen named a Golf “Rolling Stone”, but what about a portrait of Mick and Keith? The name Bullitt is actually my middle name, given to me by my grandfather. So far, I’m the only Bullitt in Denmark!

The name of the company Larry vs. Harry and the bikes both have a sense of humour, how does this factor into the concept?

One of the most boring products that the famous Danish design has given us, are the Danish cargo bikes .Why do you have to lose your integrity just because you want to live your life without a car?

We named one Bullitt after movie, one after a drug, one after an atomic bomb and one after a cigarette brand. For some reason a lot of left wing American west coast hippies don’t find us funny – perfect! If you can make people react and discuss, laugh or be furious, just by looking at a bicycle, you apparently did something right.

Which Bullitt bikes do you currently ride?

I ride a Bluebird´71. Larry rode a Clockwork but I sold it one afternoon he went out for cigarettes, so now he rides whatever has two wheels.

Larry vs. Harry and Firmacyklen organized the first Svajerløbet (National Championship for Cargobikes) last year, what can we expect this year? Have you set a date and location?

The 8th of May will be the 50th Svajerløbs anniversary. The 28th of May is the European Championship in Budapest; this year it’s named the Bullitt Cargo race (money talks!). We’re meeting up with Andreas from Stockholm (5th place in 2009) and G from Paris (4th in 2009) we will enjoy the cocktail of travelling, racing our favourite bikes and partying in the beautiful city of Budapest.

Check out the White Line Hotel’s Collaborators page where you can find out more about Bullitt and link to the website and blog where you can download the Bullitt theme, order a bike, or find out where you can test ride a Bullitt near you.

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