Is an Omnium the cargo bike for everyone? Interview with Omnium’s head mechanic
We had the pleasure of first meeting Stefan Stein in Copenhagen back in 2017. Stein, now the head mechanic at Omnium, spared some of his time at their busy workshop and showroom to answer a few questions we had for him on our last visit to Copenhagen. With an impressive decade-long experience in riding cargo bikes, Stein's dedication has been exclusively focused on Omniums for the past Seven years.
1. What would you say to someone who has never ridden a cargo bike?
You need to give living with a cargo bike a try!! It's a whole different lifestyle compared to riding a regular bike, especially if you're in the city. Trust me, using a car in Copenhagen isn't great. It's tough to get around. Parking is a hassle, and bikes always (rightly) take priority.
So, picture this: customers roll in with their cargo bikes for repairs, and we ask them to leave it with us for a day. You can practically see their hearts sink because their cargo bike has become a part of them, like an extension of their soul. They start worrying about how they're gonna manage without their precious cargo bike in their daily life. So for me, it's a mix of bitter and sweet feelings. When they first showed up, they weren't even sure if they really needed a cargo bike, but after experiencing the cargo bike lifestyle, they can't bear to part with it.
That's why this is a great question. It's hard to explain to someone just how deeply attached they'll become to a cargo bike and all the amazing stuff it can do. It's truly enjoyable for us to witness the joy and the vital role it plays in their everyday lives.
We've found that test rides are one of the most effective ways to showcase what an Omnium is all about, whether it's a cargo bike, single-speed, or tall bike. Test rides are fantastic because customers always come back with the biggest smile on their faces.
2. What Omnium bikes do you have?
Damn, I've got a lot of bikes. A Titanium XL cargo WiFi Wide Fit. Then there's the Mini - you'd call it a Classic now, because it's the old V1 model with the 37 mm tires. But I upgraded it to ride on 27.5" at the rear, so it can fit a 47 mm wide tyre, and 406 in the front with a 55 mm tyre. It's kind of a WiFi, just an old bike transformed into a WiFi, the one I lent to Jenny.
Next up is an Omnium New School fixed gear set up with a hydraulic disc brake, perfect for a city-beater fixed-gear bike, the one I lent to Dan.
I also have a CXC titanium gravel bike, which I sometimes use as a road bike.
And then there's the prototype we call "the ship" because it doesn't really have a name. It's a cargo bike with two racks, a really big one on top and a small one at the bottom. It's a quirky bike, not perfect yet - maybe someday. We're still in the testing phase.
There's also a Titanium Track frame hanging on my wall, made for 35 mm tires and equipped with mudguards. I've had it for three years but only took it out for about ten rides. It's like a piece of art to me since I had it custom-made, so it's the only one of its kind. The frame is based on the Omnium Old School - a track frame designed for 20 mm wide tires. I wanted a newer version of the track bike with larger tires so I could do tracklocross and have mudguards, which aren't allowed on real track frames due to velodrome regulations. It's a nice addition to have. And from that titanium frame, we actually created the Omnium New School. It's somewhat similar to the previous bike but a bit pricier - but really nice.
Yeah, I've definitely got a lot of bikes.
We specialise in cargo bikes and custom builds. If you're keen to find out more about what we sell, please check out our range of cargo bikes, and if you would like to book a test ride, please email us
3. What do you love about Omnium?
I have a deep connection with Omnium. I've been a part of it for a long time now, starting at the end of 2016. Back then, it was just Jimmi “Jumbo” Bargisen, Omnium’s Founder, doing everything. When I came in as a mechanic, it was a big deal for me. I had never been trusted with such responsibility before. It shaped me into the person I am today. Jimmi recognized my potential and gave me a chance.
We used to work in a ‘ghetto’ workshop with no windows, like a basement hangout spot. We had leather couches and a flat-screen TV. There, we built all the Omniums for two years until we opened the shop in December 2018. It was a big step for me, and we built a small community around it. The Copenhagen guys, messengers, and my friends were all involved in some way. When we opened the shop, many of them got work because they shared the same passion.
Running the shop is not about fancy stuff. It's just regular people who love bikes talking about a bike we genuinely want to ride. We're not trying to push sales; we just explain why it's a great bike. If someone wants to spend money on a bike, that's their choice; there’s no pressure. Omnium is more than just a bike; it's a lifestyle and a unique brand. That's what keeps me going every day. I still have fun with it. We've been in the shop for three and a half years, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
As a mechanic, it's a rare opportunity to build amazing bikes that I genuinely want to ride myself - but nothing compares to this. We're friends with our customers. We hang out with them, and have a beer outside the shop on Fridays. People come to us not just for a bike, but for the whole experience. It's more than a bike shop; it's something special. Providing that experience to customers is mind-blowing. That's why I love Omnium so much. It's hard to put into words, but it's something truly unique.
4. What is the most awesome thing you or someone else has done on an Omnium- that you know of?
One of my buddies, Alan Shaw, is the founder of a company called Gay’s Okay Cycling, he rode up a freakin' mountain with champagne bottles strapped to his rack on a basic ten-speed Omnium Cargo. I mean, I spend twice the price of a standard Omnium on my own bikes, and even riding 50 km feels like a lot. But he did it on a stock build, and I'm not even sure if he had proper pedals on it. That's just insane, man. He's an amazing rider, and it blows my mind that someone can pull off something so awesome. I usually do a bunch of custom builds, but seeing someone do crazy stuff on a standard bike is just ridiculous, and that's why it's so awesome.
But you know what's really cool? Seeing people use the Omnium in their everyday lives. They haul their kids, and their dogs, and even have barbecues on it. It's hard to pick just one thing because people get so creative with how they use it. It's like every day you see something and think, "That's so dumb, but if it works, it works." I've seen you guys riding your Omniums too, when you’re camping with your dog, taking the barbeque to the beach, or carrying a whole sound system for an event.
5. You recently celebrated your 10-year anniversary! Congratulations. How was the party?
The party was really good! We headed out to this warehouse, like 10 kilometres away from the city, we had super bad weather and got soaking wet - luckily, we had spare clothes; we even packed extra shoes and underwear. We braved the elements and cracked open some bottles, raising a toast to everyone from Omnium.
And then, the crowd started rolling in. We organized an Alley Cat race that ended at K-bar, where the party was going down. We set up a checkpoint there, and it was funny to see Jimmi and some of the old-timers running like crazy to make it in time. It was really fun to see everyone riding in and joining the party where we had free hot dogs and booze - we had a really good party.
I crashed and ended up with a concussion. But my friend came to the rescue on his cargo bike and rushed me to the emergency room - another great use for a cargo bike. I spent the whole night there, from 2 in the morning till 10. But hey, even with all that, I didn't forget a single moment of the party.
We specialise in cargo bikes and custom builds. If you're keen to find out more about what we sell, please check out our range of cargo bikes, and if you would like to book a test ride, please email us
6. Omnium has some of the best paint jobs in cycling, who comes up with them?
Over the past few years, we've become much more professional in our approach. We now carefully consider what sells. Personally, I have a strong aversion to white bikes, so I vetoed that option completely. Instead, we're exploring more fun and stylish colours.
We'll soon be introducing bikes in pastel and flat shades without glitter. I've had a chance to see some of these new colours, and they are absolutely stunning. We've moved away from the matte black trend that was popular until last year. I'm tired of seeing matte black bikes everywhere. That's why we came up with the Galaxy black, featuring shiny black and silver glitter in, which has been a hit with many people. And then there's the Blurple which is like the ‘Disco bike’, which truly shines when you take it out in the sunlight. It's easier to see when the sun's rays illuminate it. We've also been experimenting with test colours, and the glitter on our steel bikes is a nod to the NJS style. It adds a beautiful touch. The glitter trend started around 2017-2018. Before that, we had more plain colours with just a hint of glitter. Now we've gone all out with lots of glitter. Personally, I love it because I enjoy showing off a bit, you know, adding some bling. Of course, there are also many people who don't care for glitter, and that's perfectly fine. We strive to cater to different preferences.
7. How is Omnium seen price-wise compared to other cargo bike brands?
When it comes to bike prices, I haven't really compared them extensively. However, based on what we've heard, we're probably on the more affordable end. Considering the equipment we have on our bikes, it's nearly impossible to find a bike with similar features at the same price.
Our dynamo lights, for instance, are quite expensive but are among the best on the market. We also incorporate internal cable routing by drilling the frame, which minimizes the risk of the lights getting damaged. In Denmark, where the weather can be terrible, and I imagine it's the same in England, anything electronic should be hidden as well as possible. It provides a clean look. I initially did it on my own bike, and now we offer them for sale. I thought we would sell around 10 sets a year at that price, but we've been surprised by the high demand.
Approximately 60% of our customers are either busy individuals looking for convenience or people with kids or dogs. Although I haven't had children myself, I've had a few dogs, and I believe that being able to pack the bike with a child or a dog eliminates the hassle of having to unpack them when retrieving forgotten items. It's one less thing to worry about—charging and remembering lights. Our lights are designed to be convenient, serving as both a real light source and a reliable fixture when mounted on the bike.
We specialise in cargo bikes and custom builds. If you're keen to find out more about what we sell, please check out our range of cargo bikes, and if you would like to book a test ride, please email us
8. Do any companies or organisations use Omniums?
There are various types of businesses that use our bikes. Wine shops, bakeries, and even artists make use of them. Carpenters find them useful for quick fixes within the city.
Lots of companies use our bikes for the small stuff, as they are accessible to everyone in the company. One of the biggest advantages is that anyone can ride them.
People who visit our shop have previously tried other types of cargo bikes and are surprised by how easy it is to ride an Omnium in comparison. The Omnium is a standard bike with a really big rack on it - that's the easy way to explain it to a person that hasn’t ridden one. It’s a real cargo bike - that rides like a normal bike.
9. What is the link between Omnium and couriers?
Jumbo (Jimmi Bargisen), the founder of Omnium, worked as a messenger for 20 years and soon realised the need for a cargo bike specifically designed for messenger work. This realisation inspired him to start Omnium. As other messengers saw Jimmi using the bike, they also recognized the practicality and usefulness of having a cargo bike for their work.
Over the years, Omnium has attracted a diverse range of customers. In particular, in the last three years, there has been a shift from it being primarily associated with messengers to everyday people riding cargo bikes. While Omnium's initial concept and founding stemmed from the messenger community, it has expanded to serve a broader clientele.
10. What does the future hold for Omnium?
Omnium just expanded to distributing in North America. Big things are happening, but I can't spill all the details yet. We want to grow bigger and open more stores. We have Matias, AKA Fergie, who joined us at the end of 2019. He and Jimmi are controlling the ship, and they’re doing an incredible job. I handle questions in the shop, and while I excel in bike mechanics and running the store, numbers and computers aren't my strong suit. Together Matias and Jimmi have lifted the company in so many ways. If they keep it up, Omnium will be even bigger than expected. In 2016, we were in a basement. Now we have a large firm, a huge shop, and we sell many bikes. Our growth is beyond what I thought possible. It's amazing to think about!
