Ok so what do I pull the trailer bike with?

[Grasschopper]

Ok so I made the post about having gotten a Gary Fisher Freeloader. So far we love it and have done 4 5 miles rides but it will only work on my wife's Specialized Sirrus Sport. What this means is that when we all go out together my wife has to pull it. This wouldn't be so bad but the area we live in has a lot of short steep hills and some longer hills too, add to that my wife is just getting on a bike for the first time since childhood. So long story short my wife has issues on the hills trying to pull our son and the trailerbike up them.

So do I get myself a bike for the purpose of tugging the trailer? If so what kind?

Or do I get my wife another bike to ride and I ride the Sirrus (not a bad fit for me so this could be fine)?

Thoughts are appreciated.

[TechJD]

well if you can ride hers then get one for you that she can ride as well and take turns switching bike while riding :)

[Grasschopper]

well if you can ride hers then get one for you that she can ride as well and take turns switching bike while riding :)

Yea I thought that. Today I went on a longer ride and found out the Sirrus doesn't fit me as well as I thought. It would take several adjustments to get it right (saddle position and height for sure).

My new thought is that I will get her a new bike to ride and also a second seat post and saddle for the Sirrus, that way we just swap out the seat and either I ride my bike or she rides hers. Either way I think I decided the Sirrus needs some lower gearing, there were some hills that a gear more would have been usefull.

[DieselDan]

My recoomendation is a light-duty MTB or a hybrid. If your faithful to Specialized, an Expiditon or a Crossraods would work fine.

Get a second hitch as well. That way you can switch between your bike and the wife's bike.

[Grasschopper]

Very good idea I never thought of getting a second hitch for the second bike (duh). I am thinking something similar to the Sirrus i.e. flat bar road bike. Been looking for a steal on eBay and may just build something up from a cheap frame.

[Grandview]

A flat bar type bike with a little wider hand spacing than a road bike is ideal. It does help with balance and a second hitch so you don't have to switch is helpful. I picked up an Adams Trail-A-Bike and it came with three different sized shims for everything from road bike to mountain bike seat posts.

[Grasschopper]

Well I won an eBay auction last night for a Marin Mill Valley which is one of their ALP road bikes. Flat bars, 9 speed Tiagra, sloping geometry, and can put big fat tires on it. Cost was $410 shipped so an ok deal but not great IMO. Here is to hoping it is in advertised condition. :)