But it’s probably not as much as you’d think: it can be as little as +300g over a set of racks and panniers. When comparing like-for-like in terms of storage and waterproofing, there’s no doubt that trailers add a bit of weight. But you may find that the true weight difference is quite negligible. One of the reasons people avoid trailers is due to their weight. Weight The Aevon KIT L80 folds for plane travel. Some trailers have been designed to fold into a small package so that you can pack them away into a bike box with your bike. Two wheel trailers tend to be better for around town as they’re easier to load and are more stable at low speeds. This is because they are generally narrower, lighter, have a lower rolling resistance, are more manoeuvrable (as they lean with the bike), have one less wheel to puncture and can better avoid potholes. You’ll notice that most bicycle touring trailers listed are single wheel. The disadvantage is that the rear wheel cuts corners when you turn, so it’s impractical on off-road trails. The key advantage of seatpost mounting trailers are that they offer a tighter turning circle as they pivot closer to the front of the bike. Got a 12mm rear axle? Check out any of the ‘seatpost mount’ trailers (more below), the Topeak Journey TX trailer, the Burley Coho XC trailer, and the aftermarket axles from The Robert Axle Project for BOB trailers. Despite what you may be thinking, trailers put a surprisingly low-stress on bike frames. The rear axle is the most common mounting location and is often the quickest for trailer installation and removal. The Sentier Trailer/Trolley (above) even has a retractable handle and trolley wheels built-in! Bike Trailer Design It’s often easier to cart around one bag off the bike rather than the complete suite of panniers. Given the large single storage space of trailers, you can fit long tent poles and other bulky items into trailers. Trailers are able to easily cradle large bags. If you’re biking and hiking, it can be awkward to carry a decent-sized hiking pack on the bike. This not only allows you to use lighter weight bikes and components, but permits the use of mountain, road, cyclocross and folding bikes (as touring bikes). Trailers eliminate the need for heavy-duty frames, forks and wheels. This is just a few reasons to ditch the panniers… This article will look at the best bike trailer options for touring… but first, a little intro about bike trailers and trailer design. While somewhat true – when you match a trailer perfectly to your use, you may find it’s better than using panniers. There tends to be the perception that bike trailers add a lot of weight and can be cumbersome to use. flat pedal debate, bike trailers are very polarising amongst cyclists.
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