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The original travois was actually designed for dogs that were bred for pulling the contraptions over the Great Plains. Horses didn't come onto the scene until the Spanish arrived and their runaways were picked up by the Native people. That's why those of us on the prairies have a weakness for the Burleys -- they're just modern updates of local carry-alls (yes, now with wheels).

https://esask.uregina.ca/entry/travois.html

https://www.womenofthefurtrade.com/wst_page16.html

https://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/blackfootshi...%20Travois.pdf (I live in Blackfoot country.)

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Received my order confirmation today. I'll be dragging the Burley Travoy through the snow in the New Year!

fietsbob

Careful some plastics get brittle in the sub zero weather ..

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We'll see what it's made of -- metaphorically speaking. I don't see a big problem using it all winter for hauling groceries because I certainly won't be the first to do so: https://www.calgaryherald.com/news/fr...430/story.html . It also dawned on me that most strollers and baby buggies these days have similar plastic components and they're out and about at subzero temperatures -- as are many plastic car parts. If the Travoy can't hold up in normal winter weather, I'll be absolutely shocked.

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Another jaunt on a Brompton with a Travoy tagged on behind: 640km trip to the Baltic Sea https://www.rebelbike.com/index.php?c...mu-mo%F8i-2011 .

I've asked Burley what the low temperature rating on the plastic parts is and will pass that along if they answer. Keep in mind that Burley has a three year warranty on those parts so you're covered for that length of time after purchase.

cpg

The phenomena is known as "the glass transition temperature" and as the name suggests, its the temperature at which a polymer becomes brittle. If you know which polymers are used in the plastic parts you should be able to find the glass transition temperature with an internet search.

fietsbob

When I 1st saw them I thought a back country hike and bike tour combo was possible.
just pack your back pack , and strap it on, looks like Our Czech cyclist did just that.

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Hmmmmm....I know absolutely nothing about Tg (the glass transition temperature) but this article implies that it's the temp at which you can pop a cooling plastic part out of its mold: https://www.misumi-techcentral.com/tt...-plastics.html . Only a few of those plastic materials indicate subzero usage. I'll let Burley have the final say but the car-less Calgary family that's linked upthread in the Herald newspaper article told me that they regularly use their Travoy at -10 C with no problem. However, they also brought up the issue of freezing temperatures and plastic parts so I'm guessing they use backpacks if the temps drop below that range.

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The backpack-Travoy combo seems to work very well over long trips: https://gearjunkie.com/burley-travoy-bike-tour .

Or you could add a box https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8426/7...bb12e79c7d.jpg and follow in the tire tracks of world roamer Louise Sutherland: https://cycleseven.org/louise-sutherl...ore-i-was-born + https://www.kennett.co.nz/product/louise-sutherland/ . Ms Sutherland credited her lack of flat bike tires with the weight of her gear being on the trailer. Her bike? A Raleigh, of course!

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Here's the word from Burley (note: the marketing side not the technical side):

Thank you for contacting Burley Design. Our trailers are tested in cold weather and show no signs of struggling in those low temperatures. As always, we recommend examining your trailer before each use to guarantee it is in top working condition. If you have any further questions please let me know.

Whitney Root
Burley Design
Marketing

Guess that's a Ho Ho Ho! from Burley.*

Merry Christmas to All!

*And in true Santa Claus fashion, UPS showed up at the door about 7pm on Christmas Eve with the boxed Travoy. Can't beat Amazon on price or (free) delivery!

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Pacificcyclist: Have you ever noticed any stability issues going downhill with a good sized touring load on the Travoy? I ask because this article https://gearjunkie.com/burley-travoy-bike-tour brought the subject up and it was seconded in one of the comments (the last one after that article). Perhaps that issue only applies on non-paved surfaces?

BTW I would have sent you a PM but I can't until I have 50 posts under my belt!

bjorke

The one issue I used to have with my travoy was having the (stock) bag slide to the side and rub against the tire. I switched to a rigid market bag and all is a-okay

Mr. Jim

I have been using my Travoy with my BF NWT for 2 years now, no issues.

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Any problem going downhill at speed with heavier loads?

fietsbob

Physics. ... like masses in motion at various vectors of an arc..

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Up, down or sideways, it's all physics. Loaded or not. Fast or not. But I was wondering how skittish the Travoy is going downhill with a fair load on pavement and off pavement -- and how skittish it makes the bike in front of it.

fietsbob

I'd moderate my down hill decent speed ..the surge of sudden braking on a steep hill

will only slow the Bike down and , as you can see the connection to the bike is elastic.

Basically, you have to discover some things on your own.


In particular I wouldn't choose to stop the bike at speed while the bike with a trailer load,
is in the midst of turning a down hill corner.

.. in general establish the speed to take the corner , before you enter it.

Mr. Jim

I haven't had any issues with hills. To be honest it is fairly flat around here but I have used it touring on hills with no issues, juist remember to favor the rear brake.

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Nice pic! Is that a full size suitcase on there? It looks a little heftier than a rigid market bag!

bjorke

That's my Bike Friday case, heh. (actually a bit smoother than using BF;s wheels!)