Page 2 - panniers verses trailers

06-01.-2004, 05:57 PM	#16
lpschafer Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Phoenix, Az. USA Posts: 19	BOB trailer valygrl, Major bummer about your crash. I've been using my BOB for about five years now. I have learned to load heavier stuff on the bottom and to the rear. How it is loaded does affect handling a lot. I have carried a boxed 25" screen TV, 12 miles. My fastest speed then was 15mph and it was really touchy handling. The bike I use most with it is a Cannondale hybrid. I think the beefy aluminum frame contributes a great deal to stability with heavy loads. When I use on my old steel framed Stump Jumper, the heavy loads tend to twist the frame around quite a bit. I do use panniers with a Blackburn expidition rack. I have four different pairs that I use depending on requirements. Larry S.

07-01.-2004, 01:59 AM	#17
Insight Driver Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 490	thanks valygrl for your input. It's got me thinking.

13-01.-2004, 05:31 PM	#18
Maq Dreqan Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Ames, Iowa, USA Posts: 22	It should be worth mentioning in the same breath as trailor loading that panniers can be quite dangerous at speed if loaded incorrectly as well. You must be sure to keep the weight low, centered, and balanced, (left right and 60/40 back to front) or risk high speed shimmy that will cause the bike to be nearly uncontrollable. If you do encounter any of this, try holding the top tube between your knees while riding, and it will help bring it back under control. __________________ www.teamroadshow.com \| www.roadshowusa.org

15-01.-2004, 11:05 PM	#19
hardee2 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3	I've pulled a "Quik lite" 2 wheel tailer on many trips with no problems at any speed. I normaly carry over 50 lb. with only 3 lb. on the rear axel. Can't think of any reason to switch.

16-01.-2004, 08:56 AM	#20
rurmonas Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1	I have only just come across this forum, so hopefully my comments are not too late. Two things that no-one has mentioned about trailers are the high rolling resistance. Adding an extra wheel or two increases the rolling resistance a lot more than adding weight to the bike (not to mention the trailer is heavy). Secondly the problems on bumpy roads. This is more an issue with two wheel trailers as you then have 3 sets of tyre tracks which need to avoid holes/bumps, though a single wheel trailer also suffers this due to the increased length. (As the bike swerves it follows its own path). As for the discussion on paniers (I use panniers when touring). I find they greatly increase the the stability of the bike. In fact during a tour if I take them off to dash to a shop the bike feels very unstable at first. My wife almost came off her bike the first time she made this change. I have never had stability issues when riding with panniers, regardless of loading. As for using panniers, I think a lot depends on your organisation. I have a spot for everything and so know exactly were to find things. It is quick and easy to pack, I can break camp in 10 minutes if feel motivated.

23-01.-2004, 03:53 AM	#21
Insight Driver Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 490	Greetings rumonas, Your comments are certainly appreciated by me. I keep reading and learning and have not bought a trailer yet, though I am leaning toward a 2-wheeler now. As there is an excellent bike trail so close to where I live my riding consists of taking 20 to 30 mile quick rides from home and back. In this winter time this works out to taking only weekend rides since it's dark when I get home from work. I'm long-term planning things. My wife and I discuss touring but have not taken a trip yet. Ironicially I have a Giant OCR2 which has no provision for putting a rack on (which would limit me to clamp-on types) where my wife's OCR1 has the braze-ons for a rack already, go figure. I would be the one who would be the pack mule on a touring trip, being the stronger rider. Slightly off-topic, the wife has the faster bike as a sort-of "equalizer." If I were dragging 50 lbs it would be a bit more equal. Now wanting further feedback, I have seen some trailers have brakes on them. Does anyone have experience with the higher-end touring trailers?

23-01.-2004, 04:28 AM	#22
Maq Dreqan Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Ames, Iowa, USA Posts: 22	I would say trailers don't need brakes. I used to work for bikes at work (bikesatwork.com) where we pulled upwards of 600 pounds of recycling on a 9 foot long two wheel trailer. (note, don't buy one of these for touring, they're built for freight.) I never had a problem with the trailer not stopping, although I did burn through a set of break pads every winter (blame road salt and sand). The only trouble I ever had was emergency stopping on ice while riding downhill where occasionally the back wheel would get pushed around, but that's a pretty rare occasion. I'd say if my 5-600 pounds of newspaper and bottles don't need brakes, your 60 pounds of gear certainly won't need them. On my xcountry trip we saw a fair amount of other riders, all using either panniers or one wheel bobs. Two wheel trailers really seem like a waste of power and they don't track as well. __________________ www.teamroadshow.com \| www.roadshowusa.org

26-01.-2004, 07:10 AM

#23

tgg

Junior Member

Join Date: Jan 2004

Location: Victoria B.C.

Posts: 1

Re: panniers verses trailers

Quote:

Originally posted by Insight Driver
My wife and I are relatively new bicycling enthusiasts and we are thinking about doing some touring. We have road bikes. I have been looking at bicycle trailers because my reasoning is that I could pull a trailer with my Giant OCR2 more easily than I could mount panniers on that compact frame. I also think the tongue weight of a two-wheel trailer would add less strain to the frame than the extra weight of fully-loaded panniers.

I've looked throug the touring thread and saw no mention of bicycle trailers at all. I am interested in all feedback possible on this topic.

Hi
I've had a B.O.B. since 1995 and now have logged 6 major trips all between 2500 4600 miles and have had a little problem here and there but nothing that would make me switch back to bags .I still use front bags to carry food a rain gear , things that I use most often. If you load properly you can ride without the wobble noted above I've desended at over 50 mph without a wiggel. I've just bought a new B.O.B. with the shock and will be doing the northern tier this summer.
tgg

26-01.-2004, 07:17 AM	#24
Insight Driver Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 490	Thanks tgg Interesting to note that you have had no wiggle problems. I would want to know a lot more about trailer behavior since some people have reported they had crashed due to an oscillation that developed.

09-03.-2004, 09:41 AM	#25
jabantik00 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 9	i use a bob have ridden the pacific coast from port angeles to san francisco, and from san francisco to oceanside with a bob trailer. have ridden from san francisco to el rosario, baja using panniers. my first bob experience wasn't very positive, but i think it was due to how it was loaded, and perhaps the bob quick-release skewer wasn't in the dropouts properly. it wobbled at speed and didn't feel very stable. i returned it. some years later, i tried a bob again, and discovered i very much prefer to pull a trailer. i can easily stash all my camping gear, clothing, food, etc in the waterproof bag, and various small items and personal things go in a small pannier or bag. the problem i have with it is transporting it and that it doesn't provide a secure means to lock your belongings if you leave them unattended. if you have a place with a good return policy such as rei, you might try a trailer such as a bob and see for yourself if it's for you or not. return it if not.

13-03.-2004, 03:26 PM	#26
Eidetic Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: HNL, HI Posts: 144	I prefer the BOB single wheel trailers over panniers ... but you've got to load it right. If you have wobbles, stop and reload the trailer, heavy stuff center and rear. I have had zero wobble during high speed descents with my BOB COZ ... you don't know the trailer is there (unlike ascents). For the older BOB trailers made before the yoke redesign, use a heavy rubber band to keep each locking pin engaged, and Loc-tite or superglue on the hex nuts on the QR skewer ends. The most problematic part of the entire design is the yoke/skewer interface.

13-03.-2004, 06:27 PM	#27
darkboong Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,534	With panniers you just have to make absolutely sure that the rack and luggage on the rack never moves. It has to be at one with the frame, if it ain't it will feel nasty. I detest front panniers. I hate the heavy feeling in the handle bars. My bikes have tended to be fairly lightly built at the front, very heavily built at the back, and I've had to be very careful to make sure my wheelbuilders understand this. They haven't let me down yet, not one broken spoke, touchwood. __________________ Free Beer !

16-03.-2004, 05:46 AM

#28

CayoMan

Junior Member

Join Date: Mar 2004

Location: Cambridge UK

Posts: 4

Re: i use a bob

Quote:

Originally posted by jabantik00

the problem i have with it is transporting it and that it doesn't provide a secure means to lock your belongings if you leave them unattended.

This is another reason why the Weber Monoporter shines (http://www.weber-products.de/monoporter/index.html). You can lock it easily to your bike and the bag also has provisions to be pad locked. I think it is possibly a superior product to the Yak - although that has to be seen, as we are awaiting arrival of the monoporter ! ;-)

CU,
Sven

22-03.-2004, 03:49 AM	#29
Eidetic Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: HNL, HI Posts: 144	Another factor in monowheel trailer stability is tracking of the trailer wheel. Using a T-gauge off my truing stand, I found that if the wheel axle is fully inserted in the trailer fork of my COZ, the wheel midline is not the trailer frame midline. Substandard QC in manufacturing. I now measure tire sidewall to fork distance and make L and R distances equal. I've noticed that the ears that mate with the rear bike wheel skewer are getting easier to deform. Could be why BOB redesigned the yoke to that in current models. Last edited by Eidetic : 22-03.-2004 at 04:51 AM.

07-04.-2004, 01:25 AM	#30
lou_n Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 22	jumping in late- Done both panniers and Bob as well. I'm much happier with the Bob overall. As far as handling, it's really a matter of personal preference. Never had a problem with mine, but I did several practise rides loaded with full milk cartons first. Best advice - rent or borrow a YAK, or any other trailer you're considering. Try the same ride LOADED (very important)- but not fully loaded until you're used to it. Start with about 20 lbs. , and with panniers LOADED with the same weight. Make sure you get some time on soft shoulders, over curbs, etc. staying straight on narrow paths, etc., uphill, downhill. You'll find what you like and don't like about each very quickly. Try CAREFULLY doing a slight 'slalom' stretch, as if you're going in and out of pylons. You'll see the wagging effect very clearly. Personally I don't mind it. The Bob does 'wag the dog' but with my setup, it's only been a problem at low speeds, and usually in soft dirt or loose sand. If I'm tired, I have to remember to respect the weight behind my back wheel. As far as locking the Yak contents, it's just a matter of using a bit of creativity. I've tried several methods, all worked OK but I'm now working on a lightweight locking 'lid' made of mesh for mine. I've already built a kickstand for my YAK which works great, so that problem's solved. Check out http://www.caravan.greatnow.com to see the kickstand. cheers Lou Last edited by lou_n : 07-04.-2004 at 01:49 AM.

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