GrodyGeek

I recently bought a Burley Nomad and found my daily commuter has interference between the rear rack and the trailer hitch. I am using the trailer mostly for errands. Picking up groceries, carpet cleaners, and so on. I prefer to tour using my panniers. For now I have the rear rack off, but I'd prefer to put it back and use another bike.

I was going to build a fixed gear from an old touring frame with long chainstays, and wonder does anyone else pull a trailer using their fixed gear? Or do you need gears because of the added load? I don't have great knees from years of basketball and running. Its why I took up cycling. Would I be better making the touring bike geared?

dolface

there's this https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...hlight=trailer

phidauex

I think you can do it, but you'd want to lower your gear quite a bit, maybe even run something in the 50-60" range. You'd also want a good brake, and maybe even a rear brake, since braking with a load isn't the same as braking without one.

peace,
sam

Bikeophile

Yeah Richard mentions sliding 30feet past the driveway he wanted to go to...Imagine that was a busy intersection. SMUSH.

lilHinault

That guy sure wasn't using a Burley Nomad.

I just got one, and have carried far more than 50 lbs yesterday and today, there's barely more braking force/distance required than there is with the bike alone, or at least it seems that way. The trailer is not even detectable in turns, it's like it's not there, although in the streights there's a sort of "surging" you'll notice, not much of a problem but it's there.

I'm running Conti Gatorskins for tires, they seem to be a long-lasting compound so with my trailer full 0' goodness 100 lbs or so and those on my rims, if anyone slides it should be me. And not a hint of a slide, anywhere.

Now, as to the single speed, I think it's possible, just gear it nice and low and be prepared to spin when you don't need that low gear, the gearing will have to be determined by the hills etc not the flat parts of the road.

Get a Burley.

lilHinault

Oh yeah and I brake front-only, now if you try to brake rear-only, that's where you'll end up sliding all over the place.

r-dub

My situation:
I like riding fixed as much as possible
I co-own a bike cargo company

My solution:
turns out there's not much of a problem. I use cargo bikes for super heave stuff (over 200 lbs,) I've got a fixie I leave in the shop for medium loads that can go on the rack or in a trailer (usually a blue sky cyclecart, perfect for anything up to 200 or so) geared nice and low and with 32mm tires for increased traction, and for light stuff I have my high-geared fast fixie. You think riding a fixie is good training? Try riding a fixie while towing 150# uphill!

mearly

in my collection of bikes i have been getting closer and closer to haveing a fixie with a trailer, i planed on keeping this particular bike for this particular setup. so i really liked the idea of a trailer brake wired all the way up to my bars and then either a front or rear brake.

I see nothing wrong with that, a side from rock on

scroogemon

When I first started riding a track bike about 10 years ago I hooked my Burley trailer to it and found that when I leaned forward to lighten the rear wheel to initiate braking, the trailer weight would want to push me 'Over The Bars' and if it's not a straight stop, the trailer would tend to kick the rear wheel further to one side or the other. Didn't like it. Wouldn't recommend it.

r-dub

yeah, with trailer towing, I rec. against skid stops...for obvious reasons. probably best to have front and rear brakes, but I run just the front and sit down low and back for stopping when dragging a heavy load...pretty intuitive, and your body should do it right automatically if you've been biking for a few years.

CBBaron

I also recommend a lower gear and brakes. I pull my daughter all the time in her Burley without a problem. But that bike has both brakes and crazy low gearing. Depending on the load something in the 60s should be good. My gear is in the 50s but I like to keep a decent cadence when I'm riding with my wife and I occasionally off road with or without the trailer. My daughter loves the "bumpies".
Craig

andygates

I've ridden fixed with a Bob Yak and my usual 68" gear: it's fine until you hit a steep bit, then the damn thing's an anchor

Perfectly doable though. Lower gears if you're hauling all the time makes sense: after all, you'd do that on a gearie too. I've never felt the trailer push, but the Bob doesn't load up as hefty as the Burley.