I checked in at Cozy Beehive the other day (all you Mechanically-Inclined-Bike-Nerds will want this one on your blog rotation) and there was a post with some great archival images of bike trailers from the Modern Mechanix blog. Pretty cool.
Bike Shop Hub Center:
This section of our blog focuses on what we are up to here at the shop. Along with announcements of new products and sales, we talk about the daily grind... errr I mean the 24 hour party here at Bike Shop Hub. We discuss various aspects of being involved in the bicycle industry and talk about the cycling community here in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Submit Your Cycling Photos
Here at the Bike Shop Hub we are big fans of collecting photos of the cycling products that we love in use. The Bike Shop Hub Blog is really driven by your photos and stories of your cycling experiences. We specifically are after user photos to publish in the 4 sections of the Bike Shop Hub blog: Bike Trailer Blog, Epic Bike Tours, Bike Tech Blog and Family Cycling Blog. Join us in creating a great resource for cyclists.
Monthly Archives: April 2010
Trail Maintence Trailer
Dean found that walking to different parts of trails that required maintenance and carrying tools took way to much time out of the day, and sometimes when you only have one day a month do to trail work time is of the essence. Dean felt that pre-made retail bike trailers where not cost effective, So he decided to design a bike cargo trailer that he could attach to his mountain bike and that would allow him to carry the tools he needed for effective trail maintenance.
Worldwide Ortlieb Panniers
Our friend Cass Gilbert sent us this inspiring picture of these well traveled Ortlieb Panniers. I’m not sure what the story is behind them, but they are inspirational. For more bike touring inspiration, check out Cass’s blog, While Out Riding.
Hand Built with a side of Toughness
Pete sent us some pictures of a bike cargo trailer he made for hauling gear, some where in the Western U.S. he tells us. This doesn’t look like the yuppie trailers roll’n around suburbia America. This is a working mans trailer. Pete constructed this ox from old road signs, bolts and wood, with 20″ Northern Tool HD rims toting a 200 lb working load each. Burly.
Pete claims the trailer has been tested at 40 mph+ with 100 lbs on the hwy, I’m wondering if these numbers were from being pulled by a bike or a duelie. He also says the trailer has pulled 480 lbs a.k.a six buckets of sand weighing 80 lbs a piece, at lower speeds. I really hope its flat were Pete lives with a tail wind coming from every direction.
New Bike Shop Hub Location’s Layout
In anticipation of our upcoming move, I’ve been planning the layout of our new location. This is the pretty color coded CAD drawing of the layout of our new location. The right side is the workshop where the Wandertec BONGO bike cargo trailer and other Wandertec products will be designed and manufactured. The top left is the office where we will answer calls, order products, list and blog about products, fine tune the websites and keep track of numbers. The center top is the shipping center where great cycling products from Bike Trailer Shop, Bike Kid Shop and Bike Bag Shop are sent out from. The bottom left and center is where all of those great cycling products will be organized and stored. We are anticipating getting in there in about 2 or 3 weeks from now and will likely have a Grand Opening celebration sometime in June.
Tout Terrain Singletrailer, MTB Bike Child Trailering, Or Brain Damage?
For some, simply taking the little one on paved paths and roads, dirt roads or the occasional double track just isn’t enough. If you simply can’t bare to be away from your child but can’t stand to be away from the single track then take a look at the Tout Terrain Singletrailer. For me personally I like the thought of having a little alone time in the woods, shredding my favorite trails just by my self, away from the family for a little while. The Singletrailer bridges the gap between a normal bike child trailer and having your children live with you till they’re thirty.
Don’t get me wrong it’s a really cool design and a great idea, I just think a line should be drawn between what is realistic and what is a little unrealistic. Is it realistic to want to include your child with you on bike rides, so they can share and enjoy your passion along with you, yes. Is it realistic to spend 2,500$ on a bike child trailer that allows you to probably put your child in a situation they shouldn’t be because you bought some BA off road single track trailer? And now you think you can rage the single track and your kid will be fine, cause you spent 2,500$ and anything that expensive must be safe, right? Wrong.
I think in order to use this trailer you should have to pass a MTB skills test, not only to prove you have what it takes to handle yourself and your child in an off road situation but to also show that you have the ability to exercise restraint as well. Kind of like getting your upgrade sticker for a child trailer, if you’re not pro, stick to something a little more moderate, like a Burley Child Trailer. Take Dara and Troy Marino for example, I would trust these two to operate a vehicle such as this, Joe Schmo who just bought his first full suspension bike and has raged a couple of the dirt trails that parallel the local bike path that the BMX kids built to hit on the way home from elementary school; Not so much.
OK I might be being a little harsh here and probably should take my white wig off and stop judging. All I’m saying is that I have seen it many times where people believe because the equipment is capable so are they. I would hate to see little Timmy stay in the first grade for five years cause mommy thought she was racing the World Cup in Chamonix.
Would I use one of these? Yes if someone gave it to me. Would I buy it? Probably not. Would I probably go too fast with my child in it? Yes, but I am also a skilled professional, and I know my limits and the limits of my equipment, so I think.
If you have the cash to spend on a bike child trailer then by all means get this one, if you have the cash but are a little more sensible, then I would recommend checking out a suspended Chariot trailer such as a Chariot Courgar or Chariot CX or a Burley trailer such as the Burley d’Lite or Burley Cub. The Singletrailer is cool, it’s very cool, but it has a large price tag and it’s not that I doubt the performance of such a child trailer, but I question peoples’ ability to judge the situation that they might put themselves and their children in. Maybe humanity just isn’t ready to shoulder the responsibility of the Singletrailer, but then again I would use one, off road, and go fast, with my child in it.
All in all, I do like it, it has clean lines and a simple design. The seat post mount design looks to leave plenty of room for trailer/bike maneuvering and the rear trailer suspension is a great a addition, it even comes with a kickstand. So, If you don’t mind dropping the duckets and your are able to remain responsible and safe riding off road with your child then I would recommend the Singletrailer.
To wrap this up, check out this “hardcore” MTB child transportation video.
To BOB or Not to BOB
There are a lot of bicycle cargo trailers in the world, some follow the single wheeled premise others subscribe to two wheels. When it comes to off road riding I think it is well accepted that single wheeled bike trailers are the ticket. They track well behind your bike and can still carry a significant load. One of the most well recognized names in single wheeled cargo trailers is BOB Cargo Trailers. BOB has been making single wheeled cargo trailers since the early 1990′s, and have established themselves as the leaders in bicycle cargo trailers.
We’ve got BOB Trailers on the brain as we currently have the BOB Trailer Spring Sale running at BikeTrailerShop.com. BOB Yak Trailers are currently on sale for $259 while BOB Ibex Trailers are only $319!
Prototype Long Hitch Arm for Wandertec Bongo Trailer
Here at the shop, we’re working on making our Wandertec Bongo Bike Cargo Trailer more versatile and useful. One of the many projects in the works is an extended hitch arm for carrying longer cargo. It won’t be ideal for hauling really heavy stuff, but it’ll be great for moving a little lumber, a ladder, or lightweight boats. The prototype pictured here is about 3 1/2 feet long, which allows you to center an eight foot long load over the trailer axle. We’re considering making it a little longer, or possibly offering two sizes. What do you all think? What kinds of long cargo do you want to haul with your bike trailers?
And for those of you who want to carry the long and/or heavy stuff, check out industrial strength offerings over at Bikes At Work.
Thanks for reading, and thanks for riding bikes.
-Casey
The kids Vote on Child Trailers
There are a lot of bike child trailers out there, some good, some not so good. As the parents who pull the child trailers we never truly get to form a solid opinion as to what it is really like to be pulled inside a child trailer. What do the kids think? They’re the ones who have to endure a rough ride or be lowed to sleep by a smooth ride. How do we know what bicycle child trailers are comfortable and which ones are like ridding in a wagon train across the prairie one hundred and fifty years ago.
Bicycle Parked in the Streets of Chicago
Walking around Chicago, came across this utility bicycle. Note the nice handlebar bike rack, double kickstand, pants fenders, internal gear, easy step across and other great features for urban living.