Touring - BOB Yak vs Burley Nomad

Which would you choose for touring and why?

I will be touring on a Cannondale Cyclocross Disc
I estimate to be carrying about 30 lbs of luggage, so the maximum luggage capacity isn't a concern

I haven't used a Bob trailer, but for the Burley I would go with a Flatbed (http://www.burley.com/products/trailers/default5891.html?p=Flatbed&i=7) instead of the Nomad. Much more versatile of a trailer.

I haven't used a Bob trailer, but for the Burley I would go with a Flatbed (http://www.burley.com/products/trailers/default5891.html?p=Flatbed&i=7) instead of the Nomad. Much more versatile of a trailer.

I was actually considering the Nomad as I'm looking for something that is quite waterproof

I've done a long tour with a BOB and I have a Nomad for grocery shopping and other stuff around town. If you choose to tour with a trailer, I'd go with the BOB because of it's solid connection to the bike/axle and single wheel. It feels much more efficient and more comfortable to ride with. When I've got the Nomad loaded up, it has a slinky feel to it and kind of hesitates with each pedal stroke or bump. Plus, the drybag is legitimately waterproof, whereas the Nomad is very water-resistant, not -proof. If you go with the Nomad, be sure to have a nice long mudflap on your rear fender so that water does not shoot up under the cover. The Nomad is a very good utility trailer, but I don't think it'd be that great for touring.

When I toured with the BOB trailer, my companions and I were all at the same level of speed and intensity. I was on a MTB with slicks and the only one with a trailer. Everyone else had panniers with a mix of road and MTB. I found that I consistently struggled to keep up when I normally would be right with them. Because of that experience, I won't tour with a trailer again, unless everyone is. I think the BOB would be great for an offroad tour, though.

Because of that experience, I won't tour with a trailer again, unless everyone is. I think the BOB would be great for an offroad tour, though.

Unfortunatley, I don't believe a cyclocross bike and paniers are a good mix, therefore a trailer is really my only option

FWIW...Merriwether did a FANTASTIC writeup on this subject:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=56285&highlight=burley+nomad

Well, when we did the Northern Tier, I used a bob, and our daughter used the Nomad. Because Bob is single wheel, it takes some getting used to. My forearms were sore for about the first week from trying to balance the bike and loaded trailer. But, it goes on narrow shoulders while a two wheel trailer may not fit.

My forearms were sore for about the first week from trying to balance the bike and loaded trailer.

This is not common experience, in our case at least.

Though Nancy and I tour mostly using panniers, we both have BOB trailers we've used both road and mtb touring and in the first week of any of these tours we've not felt taxed due to the trailer having one wheel. I guess what you're speaking of could also have something to do with how you distributed the weight within the trailer or the differences in the bikes being used. We've only pulled these extensively with our Klein mountain bikes.

Just another data point.


And to the OP... personally *I'd* still use panniers with my Bianchi Axis cyclocross bike but I understand that perhaps your bike isn't fitted to accept racks or you can't get heal clearance with rear mounted panniers, you may just want a trailer, etc..

Cheers,

Miles2go, I agree, I found the BOB very easy to ride with right from the start. Even bombed down some decent hills no-handed with no problems (not advisable, but fun). It was mainly the efficiency in comparison to my companions that turned me off to it.

I've done a couple tours on my Rocky Mountain Rail cyclocross bike with rear panniers and a handlebar bag. It worked quite well, was comfortable and efficient. But, I realize cx bikes are all so different that many would not work for touring with panniers...