Funny Corgi Pictures

[Bailey's driver]

Originally Posted by dcole

That's a great setup, Bailey's Driver. Wonder if I could rig up something
using a BOB trailer for mountain biking with Trevor???

Here's my opinion from seeing and reading about BOB trailers. I only pedaled one around the block so I could well be wrong about some things.

If the bike falls over so does the BOB. When loading and unloading the dog into the trailer it has to be held upright. It's easy for the dog to tip the trailer and tip the whole thing away from being held up with a kickstand. In other words you need to watch the trailer or maybe even hang onto it all the time if you stop and get off the bike, or just take the dog out. That's one thing I like about the trike, it's stable at very slow speed and stopped. With a BOB at a complete stop be prepared for the dog to rush to one side and tip the thing, don't relax completely. The two wheel trailers allow the bike to fall over and they don't tip. It's great to be able to park the trike and leave Bailey in the basket. As you can see, I can put some water in a bowl for him and not even take him out.
I have seen the BOB with suspension and without. Both are going to give a bumpy ride off road. I think easy trails or dirt roads might be OK, but I don't know about something rough. It's something I have thought about, but right now I don't have access to a BOB to look at it carefully. I could see it being nice for road riding, as it is narrower than the two wheel trailers and the trikes. It sounds like it would be fantastic if it works out well!

[Michael Romanos]

There are several options with trailers for a bike at a large bike shop in New Zealand. None are at the shop because the demand for them is low. But the best seems to be the one with a seat belt, a semi tie up cover and it also comes with a rain cover. The asking price for any of the options us around $500 -$600. So they aint cheap.

[Bailey's driver]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

There are several options with trailers for a bike at a large bike shop in New Zealand. None are at the shop because the demand for them is low. But the best seems to be the one with a seat belt, a semi tie up cover and it also comes with a rain cover. The asking price for any of the options us around $500 -$600. So they aint cheap.

WoW! They are about half that here. They are not usually in shops here either.

[Michael Romanos]

I must buy a new bike - preferably a Mountain-type ( I do live on Blue Mountains Road) and when I get one, I'll buy the child trailer for Taylor. At presnt I have a nice Healing 12-speed racing-type bike which is not suitable for bike trails, hills and rough surface riding. Having said that, during the past four weeks my wife, younger son and I have been on two longish distance Council-organised rough surface bike rides - both were about 20km and both had spot prizes ( I won a very nice yellow shirt) and free fruit, drinks and barbecues.

[Bailey's driver]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

I must buy a new bike - preferably a Mountain-type ( I do live on Blue Mountains Road) and when I get one, I'll buy the child trailer for Taylor. At presnt I have a nice Healing 12-speed racing-type bike which is not suitable for bike trails, hills and rough surface riding. Having said that, during the past four weeks my wife, younger son and I have been on two longish distance Council-organised rough surface bike rides - both were about 20km and both had spot prizes ( I won a very nice yellow shirt) and free fruit, drinks and barbecues.

That's great that the family will ride wth you. It sounds like you had a couple of very nice rides. It sounds as if having Taylor along would be nice.

I would love to see a picture when you do get Taylor riding in a trailer with you.
After two rides in the trike to a park that he likes, Bailey knew the trike ride went to a place he liked. At first I went on short rides, the park is only 1.5 miles. So far he has gone about 30 miles in a day, stopping from 3 to 8 miles apart.
Our ride starts on roads for about a 1/2 mile. Then we switch to a bike path that has a lot of green grass and trees all along the way. Now, as soon as we get on the bike path, Bailey sees the grass and trees and starts getting excited. He knows he will be able to explore and run around on the grass soon. He has also learned that the bicycle shop (about 6 miles away) has dog treats and people that want to see him. He runs to get inside. What a life !

[dcole]

Originally Posted by Bailey's driver

Here's my opinion from seeing and reading about BOB trailers. I only pedaled one around the block so I could well be wrong about some things.

If the bike falls over so does the BOB. When loading and unloading the dog into the trailer it has to be held upright.

Hmmm... I didn't think about that (I don't actually own a BOB yet, either.)

Although I wouldn't plan on riding anything other that relativly flat fire roads thru canyons with Trevor on board, I thought the BOB might be nice for when the road turns to double-track - the single wheel would work out better. But the falling over thing would be a problem (and I'm WAY too vain to put a kick stand on my Santa Cruz ). So maybe I will borrow my friend's Burley Trailer one of these days and take Trev for a ride!

[Bailey's driver]

Originally Posted by dcole

Hmmm... I didn't think about that (I don't actually own a BOB yet, either.)

Although I wouldn't plan on riding anything other that relativly flat fire roads thru canyons with Trevor on board, I thought the BOB might be nice for when the road turns to double-track - the single wheel would work out better. But the falling over thing would be a problem (and I'm WAY too vain to put a kick stand on my Santa Cruz ). So maybe I will borrow my friend's Burley Trailer one of these days and take Trev for a ride!

Anyone too vain to put a kick stand on a Santa Cruz is OK in my book!
What model do you have?

Just remember Trev will have no suspension and no padded seat. Even the tires are smaller and will have probably more pressure that your Santa Cruz. It would be like riding on a bike rack on a non suspension bike with more tire pressure. Maybe not quite as bad, the floor of the trailer has some give to it. Also two tire track things bounce side to side, your bike doesn't. Run whatever the minimum tire pressure is on the trailer if you're not on pavement, and go slow. Did you ever ride in the back of a pickup truck on a very rough road? Like a relatively flat fire road.
Ouch.

I'm not trying to discourage you from doing it. You can have a good time. But the kid trailers are designed for on the road. Just don't go fast over any bumps.

And if you do go for a ride, please bring a digital camera, for photos on the forum ??

[Michael Romanos]

Short rides to start off with - yes, good advice. I don't know wherther to get a trailer with spoked wheels or one with smaller wheels, still inflatable but plastic covered. Guess the spoked wheels would mean a more comfortable ride for a child or Corgi on rough surfaces. Does Bailey mind the rough rides?
I can picture Taylor and me on our bike and in our trailor, in the Upper Hutt City Christmas parade. I have never seen live, a dog in a bike trailor or cart so it must be unusual.

[dcole]

Originally Posted by Bailey's driver

Anyone too vain to put a kick stand on a Santa Cruz is OK in my book!
What model do you have?

Heh, I have a Blur (see below.) Not the XC or LT, but the "classic" (and the best, IMHO )

Of course I would only take Trev on the "gentlest" of rides. Good tip about lowering the tire pressure, too. Hmmm, I have a friend who welds. Wonder if I could rig up some VPP suspension for the trailer! Dang, I should have studied mechanical engineering in school instead of Comp Sci.

[Bailey's driver]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

Short rides to start off with - yes, good advice. I don't know wherther to get a trailer with spoked wheels or one with smaller wheels, still inflatable but plastic covered. Guess the spoked wheels would mean a more comfortable ride for a child or Corgi on rough surfaces. Does Bailey mind the rough rides?
I can picture Taylor and me on our bike and in our trailor, in the Upper Hutt City Christmas parade. I have never seen live, a dog in a bike trailor or cart so it must be unusual.

In general......

spoked wheels have aluminum rims and can take more tire air pressure. Better for a long ride on smooth pavement. Spoked whees are lighter, so less work for you. Larger diameter wheels give a better ride over bumps, they don't sink down into a bump as much as a small wheel. The trailers I have seen typically have the spoked wheels on a trailer that costs more and everything on the whole trailer is a little nicer. The plastic wheels are cheaper.

I would get large diameter spoked wheels if you have a choice. If possible the 26" Mountain Bike standard size. This would allow me to get very big wide and smooth Mountain Bike tires. On a dirt road I would go down to about 25-40 psi (it depends on the exact tire). On pavement on a long ride I would go to the maximum pressure for the tire. A big smooth tire is going to make more difference than the type of wheel. Smooth rolls easier. Big allows lower pressure without hitting the rim on an object or a hole. The aluminum rim allows for high pressure when desired.

Do the parade yes! Bring a digital camera !

I would agree, most places it is unusual to even see a trailer, never mind a dog in one. I live near the nicest bike path for miles around so I see trailers with dogs, small dogs in baskets on bikes, even another trike with a dog.

Because of the very smooth bike path and good roads around me I have skinny high pressure tires on the trike to make pedaling easier. I don't take Bailey on rough roads or dirt roads I don't have to. I could, but it would be very slow, and my 39 year old antique trike only has one gear. I have slowly gone down a dirt path or two. I have Bailey's basket padded with about 3" of foam on the bottom.

Most of my rides are on this type of road.




or this very smooth bike path. I can go 28 miles without leaving the path.

Originally Posted by dcole

Heh, I have a Blur (see below.) Not the XC or LT, but the "classic" (and the best, IMHO )

Of course I would only take Trev on the "gentlest" of rides. Good tip about lowering the tire pressure, too. Hmmm, I have a friend who welds. Wonder if I could rig up some VPP suspension for the trailer! Dang, I should have studied mechanical engineering in school instead of Comp Sci.

Very nice bike.

Suspension on a trailer? Good idea. If you did not mind the work of soft big tires you can do the same with huge tires. I have some big tires on an MTB that go down to 25 psi. Lacing up some double wide sun rims and some huge tires would let you go down to 5 or 10 psi. As good as simple bicycle suspension, ligher, and much easier to build. Slow but nice.
You could do that to many trailers, not all. It has been proven, is widely used, and works great.

[Mvons]

[quote=Bailey's driver;29756]my 39 year old antique trike only has one gear. I have slowly gone down a dirt path or two. I have Bailey's basket padded with about 3" of foam on the bottom./QUOTE]I'm so glad you have this posting. I had won a Monty trike on Ebay but never received and Amex took 2 months to refund. I need to look at Craiglist. I am short and can only fit a 24 inch 2 wheeler but never comfortable balancing. I thought a trike would be great to go up and down the paved hills for the mile to get our mail (no delivery here).

Your posting has inspired me to craig list a large Fugi bike (need a 36" inseam) and see if I can get money to buy an adult trike. Now with your information, I could give our puppy a ride using the travel harness. thanks.

Merrie