Bike trailer

[Raven]

Does anyone here use a trailer much? Got it online from a bike shop in Cambridge. I did a search and only found a couple, one for children and one for dogs :) I've used mine for shopping, it can hold a weeks shopping easily and doesn't affect the handling much, just don't try to beat anyone off the lights lol and make sure you leave room for it. Click the thumbs for full size pics :)

[Homemade]

I use a big bag on the back of my luggage rack to carry all my gardening tools around. Luckily I don't have far to go as it is a bit unwieldy when full. If I had a trailer I would be tempted to overload that too and I wouldn't get up the hill at all, just grind to a standstill lol. That does look a neat and useful piece of kit though, and no fuel bills.

[4pigs]

Wow that is very impressive and so useful. Great for shopping as you said but also for those with allotments. It beats trying to balance the weight of heavy bags onto handlebars which tend to swing around causing "the wobbles of terror."

I have seen people with children in little trailers and I dont like that - far too dangerous to have them that exposed especially when you cannot see what they are doing - but for shopping and transporting things I think they look fab! I love it.

Jo

[Raven]

It is handy :) I used to transport 15kg sacks of dog food without any problems and the trailer's rated at 40kg max load. I swear I've topped that sometimes shopping I'd load it up so much only the cover and the straps kept the stuff in! Got it from here - http://www.bikecare.co.uk/cargotrail.html

[4pigs]

Thanks Raven - i'm going to have a look. Jo

[secret squirrel]

Do you live in a rural area.? I think if you had one of those around here you wouldnt last very long. Its nice and neat though and an interesting idea.
Lorna

[Raven]

No I'm in Northampton. Trust me, it stays well locked up! But to be honest I've not had any problems, an occasional person asking about it but other than that I'm just seen as a bit wacky lol

[secret squirrel]

I was thinking more of being mown down by someting bigger than yourself. Slightly. My highly intelligent youngest daughter, with 2 degrees, 10 GCSE`s all at A or above, an IB and no common sense thought that Northampton was next door to Southampton,.
But then she did go to Soutwold via Petterborough and wondered why she took 6 hours to get there.
Lorna

[Raven]

Ah right, gotcha No, I've never had any problem with cars or lorries. I do make sure I take up extra room though, and if the lane gets tight the only way past is going to be through me.

It does help that the cover of the trailer is bright yellow. I do keep thinking of adding a flag or 2 though.

[bluebell]

Orfy has one of those fab trailers for his four legged friends. Will look for a link to his thread, now.

[bluebell]

This was Orfy's thread -

viewtopic.php?f=31&t=11080

[4pigs]

Have taken a look at Orfys doggy transport - that is fab and I do understand the need. My parents always seem to have one old doggy and a more lively young one and it works really well except for walkies. They have an old "baby buggy" and strap the old ones in when they get tired and continue with the walk. It takes a couple of times for the dog to get used to it but it means that nobody else is being restricted. I would say that i fear for my dad who is in his 70's!! He seems to cope ok though.

Jo

[GrahamNR17]

Looks like a really useful bit of kit

I've considered one often, but narrow Norfolk lanes and yokels that drive down them at 60mph has put me off

[Raven]

To be honest it's no wider than the handlebars, so if they were going to hit the trailer they'd most likely have hit you anyway.

[saint-spoon]

I have seen quite a lot of folk using them to transport their camping gear and supplies whilst away on a cycling/camping holiday; I have even seen one modified so that it unfolded into a small kitchen complete with stove and prep area with a small oven underneath, the gas supply sort our slotted into the middle once it was all folded back down. I don’t know if the chap did it himself or if it was done by a company specialising in such stuff. I’m not sure if I agree with children riding in them, after all they are at the exact level f all the exhaust pipes kicking out toxins and fumes.
Personally I use a backpack to carry foodstuffs back from the shops, but then again I ride past them every day on my way home.