Re: Trailer Bike info

DaveB

kingsley wrote:
> Bought a trailer bike on the weekend...
> here's my brane-dump before I forget it all:
>
> There are a few brands available locally:
>
> Burley - the 'Piccolo' ~ $900
> Giant - 'Half-Wheeler' ~ $399
> Adams - Trailer-Bike ~ $350 (also a tandem model)
> Alley-Cat - Never saw one ~ (guess) $300
> Pacific - $300 / $350
> Some other brand $275
>
>
> We borrowed a SS alley-cat, to make sure Katia (5) wasn't
> going to say "I hate riding the trailer-bike". Tried it
> out on a bikepath & she loved it.
>
> Poking around on news & the web led me to believe the
> usual failing point is the hitch with the bike. All trailers
> except the Burley connect to the seatpost with various
> different clamping mechanisms. The biggest problem reported
> is the develpment of 'play' in the hitch. Supposedly the
> Burley was immune to this, but I stopped considering it
> as soon as I got the quote (from Greenspeed, the official Aus.
> retailer).
>
> Most of the lower-end trailer bikes are CrMo steel, and much
> the same. Basically you need to spend around $300 to get anything.
>
> When we borrowed the AlleyCat, it was given to us with
> the seat+seatpost attached - this was a fairly good indication
> as to how easily it detached.
>
> Gears didn't interest me - when the kids are big enough to
> get to grips with the gears, they'll probably want their
> own full-size bike. This doesn't significantly affect your
> choice, most trailer bikes can come with or without gears.
>
> Our target application, apart from weekend riding, is to do
> some siginificaqnt touring early next year. So we were definately
> looking for something of quality. Also needed to attach a
> rear rack & mud-guard.
>
> We ended up buying the Giant one, but had to go home from the
> bike shop (45mins each way) to see if, when connected, the
> tow arm will clear the rack (50cm, 700C touring bike). It did!
>
> The giant model is an Aluminium alloy rather than steel, and
> feels significantly lighter than the others. The hitch is a
> quick-release clamp, looks fairly robust (we'll see in 6 months).
> The tow-arm is hinged in the middle, and folds back on itself...
> thus it can fit inside the car (holden stationwagon), 'cause
> these things are a bugger to put on a bikerack.
>
> So, um, that's about it.
>
> cheers,
> -kt
>

Woo Hoo, just picked up the trailer bike and the test ride up and down
the street ended up being up and down and up and down and ...one more
time Dad this is fantastic. Ended up going with the Pacific for $280.
Just one question, I assume the connection between it and my bike is
supposed to allow the trailer bike to swivel on turns, ie. much like a
car trailer would, rather than be fixed into a position permanently in
line wiht my bike's frame?? Everything seems to be as tight as it can go.

Dave B.

flyingdutch

Daveb wrote:
> Woo Hoo, just picked up the trailer bike and the test ride up and
> down the street ended up being up and down and up and down and ...one
> more time Dad this is fantastic. Ended up going with the Pacific for
> $280. Just one question, I assume the connection between it and my
> bike is supposed to allow the trailer bike to swivel on turns, ie.
> much like a car trailer would, rather than be fixed into a position
> permanently in line wiht my bike's frame?? Everything seems to be as
> tight as it can go.
> Dave B.



cool. enjoy!

yep, meant to swivel. if it stayed in line your passenger would be
continuously swiped sideways and the bracket wouldnt last long

the shorter cranks should slow your spped down and hence allow your
stoker to keep at their liked cadence

re travelling with the tandem, its probably going to be a buy-it-over-
there job as prices/choice is so much better in the UK/europe. Have you
seen those (cant remember the name. checkout ThornUK website) links you
can put into a frame to make it collapsible? just a thought...

Take the kids? are you mad



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