some trailering questions for a noob

[77midget]

hello all- I have gotten back on the bike recently, and have been commuting to and from work every day, 10 miles each way. I would like to eventually get a trailer to do more errands, but honestly, I am a bit nervious about the weight, and what the adjustments are in terms of extra pulling, drag, etc. Anyone have any feedback as to the ease of pulling a trailer behind a bike?

I am planning on getting a trailer that doubles as a child trailer, since we will be adopting a child by next year.

Am I overthinking this, or should I be working on specific areas of biking in preparation, like hills, etc, or should I just jump in?

thx in advance.

[donnamb]

Just start riding and keep at it consistently. If you do that, you will be ready to pull a child when the time comes. When I got back into riding, I rode consistently for a year before I bought a utility trailer. That worked for me.

[CommuterRun]

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/200/446469959_e0e15b6d56.jpg

Pulling a trailer is really not a big deal, from a physical demands on the rider standpoint. Now let me qualify that statement by saying that I don't really know how hilly Boston is. Hillier than Wakulla Co., which is almost as flat as the top of your desk, I'm sure. But probably not as hilly as Okinawa, Japan where I started using a trailer.

My other trailers are a Burley Flatbed and a Burley Solo. These two I pull behind any of my bikes. The Wike Woody Wagon with a canoe or kayak on it, being by far my longest, heaviest trailer, I only pull behind my Townie. That being my most inherently stable bike.

I can't speak of single wheeled trailers, having no experience with them.

There will always be noticeably more drag with a trailer than without, of course. The hardest part with a heavy trailer is getting up to speed, but even that isn't all that big a deal. Once you're moving you can use the momentum from the trailer to kind of help push you along.

Just jump in. Don't forget to carry spare tubes for the trailer.