Bicycle Trailers
Other than panniers, how else can you carry your luggage? Trailers!
Trailers are growing in popularity as a convenient and versatile method of hauling loads. Other than cycle touring, they can be used to great effect in the domestic environment. Children can be carried and even pets, or you can collect a week’s shopping or take rubbish to the dump or the recycling centre. The range of trailers is becoming wider and wider as cyclists are finding the idea more and more appealing.
One of the advantages of a trailer, is that you can customise the luggage, you are not stuck with cycle-specific equipment, so a whole world of diy methods or even suitcases can be strapped on to the load-bed. Sports bags and holdalls are easy too, and plastic or aluminium boxes, but whatever you use, it must be weather-tight of course.
Trailers seem expensive, expect to pay more than £150, but a decent set of racks and panniers could easily cost that, so it doesn’t seem too much if you look at it like that.
Trailers come in a wide variety of designs and sizes, and also different methods of attachment to to bike. The best are ones that attach at the rear wheel axle, but whether you chose a two wheeled or one wheeled version is up to you and what sort of riding you will be doing. As buying anything expensive needs to be looked on as an investment, you should work out what you may be using it for after your E2E ride.
Here’s some food for thought:
One wheel or two?
This depends on what you want. There are advantages and disadvantages to either.
Two wheels - for
Stable and versatile
Little or no nose weight on the bike as the weight is centered about the trailer axle
Can carry heavy or large loads
Absolutely best for road use
Two wheels - against
Wide - hard to get through narrow gaps
Unstable off road - can be bouncy
One wheel - for
Fast and narrow - easy to get through gaps
Stable off road and on rough terrain
Simpler design
One wheel - against
Puts up to half the weight onto the bike
Long - difficult to get round tight corners
Trailers vs Panniers
You have to be aware of the trailer all the time, taking corners and avoiding hazards.
Can be more expensive than cheap panniers and racks.
You have to develop a smooth riding style.
Trailers are better suited for heavier loads - for lighter loads it is best to use panniers.
Easy to unhitch a trailer, not so easy to remove racks from your bike.
Trailers are far more efficient with heavy loads.
Your bike will still feel like a bike with a trailer.
Heavy panniers make your bike feel like a tank.
No excess tyre wear with a trailer - heavy weights carried on a bike wears the tyres out.
Neutral handling - heavy panniers hinder balance and make for heavy steering.
Trailers have good wind resistance rather than large bags hung on the bike.
Some makes to look at:
Webber Mono-porter http://www.edinburghbicycle.com
Carry Freedom http://www.carryfreedom.com
Bike Hod http://www.bikehod.com
Bob Yak http://www.bobgear.com/trailers
Extra Wheel http://www.extrawheel.com
Burley http://www.burley.com
Croozer Designs http://www.croozerdesigns.com
[img]http://forum.ctc.org.uk/userpix/109_PICT0131_1.jpg[/img]
[img]http://forum.ctc.org.uk/userpix/109_PICT0132_1.jpg[/img]
[img]http://forum.ctc.org.uk/userpix/109_trailer_1.jpg[/img]
[img]http://forum.ctc.org.uk/userpix/109_open_1.jpg[/img]
