Panniers or Bob trailer?

wiredued said:

Which one is a more efficient way to carry your stuff can you ride longer distances with panniers or a trailer?

That would depend on what you're carrying, over what sort of terrian and grades.

Panniers are fine for carrying spare clothes, a bit of shopping, going to work / uni etc.

If you're wanting to move very heavy stuff, or stuff that may be oversized or hard to balance up, then the trailer. EG. a week's shopping

Scotty

Lets say 75 lbs of stuff that could be balanced in panniers or put on the trailer going over hilly terrain. Would one be better than the other for covering more miles per day?

scotty72 said:

That would depend on what you're carrying, over what sort of terrian and grades.

Panniers are fine for carrying spare clothes, a bit of shopping, going to work / uni etc.

If you're wanting to move very heavy stuff, or stuff that may be oversized or hard to balance up, then the trailer. EG. a week's shopping

Scotty

wiredued said:

Lets say 75 lbs of stuff that could be balanced in panniers or put on the trailer going over hilly terrain. Would one be better than the other for covering more miles per day?

Gee, I generally don't carry that much stuff.

However, I would wonder if, especially if you're a big guy, you're not putting a lot of extra weight on your rear wheel carting 75lbs around. Also, make it a little hard to steer. A trailer would distribute it more evenly.

In short, I'll let someone else give you a definitive answer.

🙂

Scotty

wiredued said:

Which one is a more efficient way to carry your stuff can you ride longer distances with panniers or a trailer?

Check out my setup at http://www.geocities.com/xilios/index.html
I had 75lbs on my tour, no problems, even going over the Alps.
I've never tryed pulling a trailer, but I wouldn't change my set up though.

cheers

That looks like a handful great accomplishment you must have alot of stories from that trip. Just looking into either setting up my MTB with panniers or getting a trailer for my road bike. Looks like you use a flat handlebar did you miss having the multiple hand positions of road bike drops?

xilios said:

Check out my setup at geocities.comindex.htmlOpen ↗
I had 75lbs on my tour, no problems, even going over the Alps.
I've never tryed pulling a trailer, but I wouldn't change my set up though.

cheers

wiredued said:

That looks like a handful great accomplishment you must have alot of stories from that trip. Just looking into either setting up my MTB with panniers or getting a trailer for my road bike. Looks like you use a flat handlebar did you miss having the multiple hand positions of road bike drops?

I do have many good memories of that trip. I'm definetly hooked on touring.
I can't think of a beter way to visit an area or country.
Once you try it you never want to stop. 😄
Using a flat-bar was OK, but I will be switching to a Butterfly-bar (like my wifes bike) for the next tour.
I don't think drop bars are a good choice for touring.
Naturaly it would be more confortable to have a three hand possition bar.
On second thought for a mountain bike I would go with a trailer. Easyer to set up, and you can leave the trailer at the campground for some offroad.