Practical and worthwhile for confident cyclists: bike trailers
Perfect for shopping, transporting your luggage on a cycling holiday, trips with the kids or picnics with friends!
Bike trailers are a great option for you if you use your bike as a means of transportation. There's no need to worry about being impaired whilst cycling thanks to their aerodynamic designs.
Child, transport and cargo trailers
A bike trailer's features depend on its area of use. If you want to take your kids out and about with you, but they're too young to ride themselves, then a child trailer is a great idea. These trailers are comfortably padded and have safety features, such as a seat belt, a baby seat with seat inserts and roll bars.
In addition, a pannier won’t usually offer enough space for your weekly trip to the grocery store. So, you can safely place heavy, bulky items, such as bottles crates, in a bike trailer with a sufficient carrying capacity. Surprisingly, good models can be converted for different uses in a few simple steps. For example, by removing the backrest and the hood, a child trailer can easily become a transport trailer. There are even special dog trailers for all you dog lovers out there, so your four-legged friend can come along for the ride.
What to look out for when buying a bike trailer
Just like a car, a bike trailer is a long-term investment, so you’ll want a trailer that is reliable and easy to repair. Trying to find replacement parts for high-quality models from manufacturers, such as Thule, won’t be a problem at all.
With bike trailers, as with other bicycle accessories; if you buy cheap, you'll probably have to buy the product twice. Or, you might get frustrated when your trailer rolls away on its own because your model doesn’t include a parking brake. Moreover, the trailer's tow bar can either be attached to the seat post or the rear hub. The advantage of a hub attachment is that it tends to bounce around less and doesn’t exert as much force on the frame.
A practical range of features gives the trailer a wider range of applications and improves handling
Practical accessories, such as additional wheels, can turn a child trailer into a buggy that can be pushed along without the need for a bike. In addition, a model with an adjustable suspension is recommended to improve the ride when transporting varying loads. Some other convenient features include durable spoke wheels, an axle and a push handle. A push handle allows you to wheel your purchases all the way to the front door as if the trailer were a regular shopping cart.
In addition to the standard features, safety features, such as reflective elements on the trailer and the wheels, and a safety flag on the back of the bike, are also important.