Toulouse: at Les Minimes, Thomas and Jean recycle old mountain bikes and hybrid bikes into cargo bikes
Because they strongly believe in the public utility of cargo bikes, Thomas Gras and Jean Lagard have embarked on their custom manufacture, in their Minimes workshop.
Their “Botch Cargo Bikes” workshop is located in the former Picto printing works, in Les Minimes. This is where Thomas Gras and Jean Lagard recycle mountain bikes “from the 80s and 90s that people no longer want” into cargo bikes. To do this, they take their steel frames which they cut at the front, at the steering level, and at the bottom at the bottom bracket. Once the diagonal tube is removed, they weld a part at the front, made by their Italian partners, in Modena. The mountain bikes and hybrid bikes that Thomas Gras and Jean Lagard transform are branded (MBK, Peugeot, etc.) and are operated by the neighboring Maison du Vélo with which they have established a partnership.
It takes a day to make the frame of a recycled cargo bike by hand and a week to finalize it, knowing that each model is unique and artisanal. Thanks to this approach, which consisted of giving a second life to objects intended for scrap, “Botch Cargo bikes” fits perfectly into the circular economy, even if the tires and brakes are new.
Armed with his degree in cycle mechanics, Thomas Gras takes care of the assembly while Jean Lagard excels in welding, after having practiced boilermaking for 20 years.
in short or long version
Former editor-in-chief of the Courrier de Russie, in Moscow, Thomas Gras had the idea of founding “Botch Cargo Bikes” when he moved to Toulouse 4 years ago, when he himself wanted buying a cargo bike, “but it was too expensive and there weren’t as many offers as there are today”, he recalls.
As one is never better served than by oneself, Thomas Gras then sets out to make one, to finally decide to make his professional retraining. Today, he works with Jean Lagard to manufacture two versions of cargo bikes: long and short, ranging in price from €1,200 to €2,000.
Among their buyers, they count individuals “who wish to change their means of transport in the city since this bike is used both to transport shopping and children. We also have people who plan to travel with it or even professionals who want to change their image, such as cyclists, plumbers, cyclists, electricians, etc.,” adds Thomas Gras. In one year of existence, they have sold 10 cargo bikes. For the coming year, they put on 40. They even organize workshops where people can come and learn how to make all or part of their bike.