Sep 04, 2026
Bike Check; Andy's Omnium Nano Cargo Commuter.
Words: Braden Govoni Photographs: James Wainscott
Omnium has a focused approach with a small lineup that seems to say they do their unique thing well and put their energy into that passion instead of chasing industry hype.
I haven’t bought a brand new bike in at least a decade. During that time I added a few different bikes to my shed, picked up a few second hand frames and parts. Plenty of cool things have come and gone, but nothing brand new caught my eye enough to really jump on. When I saw the Omnium Nano I decided I had to buy a new bike.
I’ve been watching Omnium bikes for a few years and it always warms my heart to see dogs cruising off the front, boxes piled high, and all the unique cargo designs and builds being enjoyed by riders living in a world where a cargo bike can thrive like a beach cruiser at the oceanfront.
I commute daily and usually ride my Endpoint basket jammer. It’s a blast and it isn’t going anywhere, but something about the Nano called to me. It is childlike and at the same time it feels an evolution for me as I grow into other adventures and ways of living. The calling was a bike that could slow me down on stressful work days, extend the trip a bit, move a few rare car errands to the bike, and put a smile on my face. I’m also looking forward to stoking my dog, Dewey, when we sort the front deck with a box and leash.
The calling was a bike that could slow me down on stressful work days, extend the trip a bit, move a few rare car errands to the bike, and put a smile on my face.
The Nano sits on 20” wheels, which I had custom built up by Braden. I’m trusting 200+ pounds of cargo on Velocity rims with a Dynamo Hub, and Schwalbe cargo rated tires. The Dynamo runs a SON Ladelux front headlight that includes high beam (rear light to come later) and USB charging capabilities. I shift a 1x11 SRAM Apex setup from my SimWorks Fun Bar. It has enough range to get me around town or up a steep hill. The moto style kickstand is a nice surprise and makes it easy to manage this tiny monster.
When I used to ship jerseys and small parts from the bike shop my favorite setup to ride was the Cannondale Hooligan. It was a 20inch compact urban bike, think a Brompton that didn’t fold. The bike shop had a few over the years before I left. We’d throw basket bars and rear racks on them, some oversized tires, a coffee cup holder, we really had a lot of fun with it. One time we sent someone in a gorilla suit to the grocery store to buy bananas. It was pure joy and a kind of grounding for what bike shops should be. Really cool, functional, always approachable and never too serious.
One time we sent someone in a gorilla suit to the grocery store to buy bananas. It was pure joy and a kind of grounding for what bike shops should be.
The Nano takes everything one could love about a compact bike and adds a massive front cargo platform. For my first ride, I carried home the Endpoint bike I rode over to pick it up. Wheels on the rear, frame on the front. The next ride I found a perfectly working 43” inch TV on the side of the road!
When the front platform is combined with a really clever rear “racsimile” from Omnium fans Sentient Works in the UK, you get this extended platform flexibility and a pretty generous weight capacity. The Sentient also adds 3-pack cargo bosses, and the position allows for full-length spans of cargo from front to rear. Imagine carrying a few pieces of lumber running the length of the bike. It’s next up on my list of things to try.
While I’m currently grappling with never riding as much as I want, maybe another bike wasn’t 100% necessary. And despite the fact that I’m having to play a tetris in the bike storage space (the Sentient rack let’s me store it upright if I want), I am so happy to have the Omnium Nano to keep my imagination going, take me new places, and make carrying extra things that much more fun.
Huge thanks to the team at Omnium, The Outpost Service Dept., and Sentient Works for helping to make the full build possible. Make sure to check them out and give them a follow.
Specs.
Frame: Omnium Nano pastel pink
Fork: Omnium Nano
Stem: Parts bin 120mm
Bars: SimWorks Fun 3 Stealth
Seatpost: ProMax
Saddle: Fizik Aliante
Shifters: SRAM Apex
Derailleurs: SRAM Apex 11
Crankset: SRAM Apex 42T
Cassette: SRAM 11-36
Chain: Sram 11-speed
Brakes: Avid BB-7
Wheels: Velocity Blunt, Shutter Precision PD-6 / SRAM
Tires: Schwalbe Big Apple 20x2.15
Grips: Vans
Pedals: Deity
Rear Rack: Sentient Works Racsimile
Light: SON Ladelux
