Tips for riding with a trailer

LSMike said:

I've recently started trailering my toddler to/from nursery school, and
wondered if any regulars have some tips above and beyond the principle
of BIG and of course Cyclecraft.

Never used one. But in a similar principle to child seats, remember
that the child will not be exercising and will therefore not generate
much heat.

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LSMike said:

I've recently started trailering my toddler to/from nursery school, and
wondered if any regulars have some tips above and beyond the principle
of BIG and of course Cyclecraft.

Not much else really - you should find it pretty easy as motorists will
give you a much wider berth.
Its obvious really, but make sure toddler is strapped in and can't throw
teddy out (it makes a good game.
Also on't have the front open while riding as all manner of nasties can
be thrown up by your back wheel. A mudguard is highly advisable, and I'd
also suggest you attach a good long flap to it.
Enjoy - people will wave, so wave back :-)

And when you get to school everyone else will look at it with envy.
"I wanna ride" - and that's just from the other parents.

John B

in message <[email hidden]>,

LSMike (') said:

I've recently started trailering my toddler to/from nursery school,
and wondered if any regulars have some tips above and beyond the
principle of BIG and of course Cyclecraft.

I haven't trailered kids, just luggage, but I used to do that a lot. And
the main tip I could offer is don't try taking corners really really
fast. Also, balancing the rig while getting on and off can be more
complex than with an ordinary bike.

But apart from care when mounting, dismounting and cornering /fast/, no
problems.

--
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LSMike said:

I've recently started trailering my toddler to/from nursery school, and
wondered if any regulars have some tips above and beyond the principle
of BIG and of course Cyclecraft.

Ignore all the warnings that come with it. My one came with stickers
saying something along the lines of "do not use in traffic", "wear a
helmet and seatbelt", "do not corner above 5mph" etc.

I forgot that I was towing it once and took a corner at the bottom of a
hill v.v. fast. No problems.

On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 14:33:06 +0000 someone who may be JohnB
<[email hidden]> wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

Also on't have the front open while riding as all manner of nasties can
be thrown up by your back wheel. A mudguard is highly advisable, and I'd
also suggest you attach a good long flap to it.

In the summer the net will keep most things out, apart from the fine
powder found on many Sustrans paths and where cattle use the road.
Also riding through wet patches in summer will throw water onto the
occupant. All of this may put them off, so the plastic cover needs
to be deployed when necessary.

Think of where the trailer wheels will go and try to avoid sudden
bumps, as the occupant will probably not be able to prepare for
them. While it is difficult to turn a child trailer over, single
child trailers are more susceptible to this.

--
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LSMike said:

I've recently started trailering my toddler to/from nursery school,
and wondered if any regulars have some tips above and beyond the
principle of BIG and of course Cyclecraft.

A bit different, but while we're on the subject.

I've just started taking my youngest (6 yo) to school with a trailer bike my
lessons learnt would include:

Fit mudguards to you bike and the trailer bike, include a crud catcher on
the
trailer downtube or a very long flap on the rear of you bike.

Get (you and your passenger) used to the wobble on quite roads first.

Go into corners much slower, you cant chuck it around.

Even when riding it without a passenger, think twice before overtaking slow
or stationary traffic, you need a larger gap to get back into and have less
acceleration.

Always carry waterproofs and a hat for your passenger, they get cold and
desponendent vary quickly when went.

Its a real gas init?

--
Andy Morris

AndyAtJinkasDotFreeserve.Co.UK

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On 20/1/05 10:43 pm, in article [email hidden],

David Hansen said:

On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 14:33:06 +0000 someone who may be JohnB
<[email hidden]> wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

Also on't have the front open while riding as all manner of nasties can
be thrown up by your back wheel. A mudguard is highly advisable, and I'd
also suggest you attach a good long flap to it.

In the summer the net will keep most things out, apart from the fine
powder found on many Sustrans paths and where cattle use the road.
Also riding through wet patches in summer will throw water onto the
occupant. All of this may put them off, so the plastic cover needs
to be deployed when necessary.

Absolutely, but in the summer the plastic cover can act as a greenhouse.. Do
stop and check the occupants fairly frequently, especially those who are
less able to communicate.

Quoted message said:

Think of where the trailer wheels will go and try to avoid sudden
bumps, as the occupant will probably not be able to prepare for
them. While it is difficult to turn a child trailer over, single
child trailers are more susceptible to this.

In my experience (Winther Dolphin tractor driver for seven years), a good
trailer will be very difficult to turn over accidentally on a flat road. You
will need to hit a bump or some such.

1. Stability. I find the trailer aids bike stability. When riding up hill
and being overtaken by asthmatic joggers, I found balance was fine until the
front wheel started lifting off..

2. Wheel tracking. Do watch where the wheels go and know how wide it is. I
tried to get through some gates/kerbs where the trailer was marginally wider
than the gap.

3. Suspension. For vvery young children you may want to run the trailer
tyres at reduced pressure to make a softer ride. Even the paint on double
yellow lines can provide enough vibration to upset a cranky rugrat. AS they
get older you can pump the tyres up harder.

4. Keep out a bit further than normal, you need to keep the tyre clearance
from the kerb. Cars will leave you space.

5. You cannot bunnyhop a bike/trailer combo.

6. If you are doing the shopping, put the weight over the axle. (good
principle anyway for weight carrying). Don't leave anything that can be
opened (bread, sticky buns, fruit, yoghurt etc) within reach of the
passenger.

7. You may want sun shades for the summer. I made little popper on curtains
for my trailer and they were very useful.

Have fun.

...d