My car-free day
 

I'm setting up a new (and much larger) office, so time to get a few luxuries. One bar fridge, one microwave oven, and (in the yellow bin) a coffee-maker and two bags of groceries. I'm not sure if this is a record for me on the trailer, but certainly comes close.

http://clients.patcroteau.com/pat/DSCF0002-s.jpg

While I was loading the trailer I had a chat with a nice couple. They had just unlocked their bikes, and wanted to know about the trailer (its a Wike). It turns out they are car-free too and had considered getting a trailer, but hadn't really spoken with anyone who used use regularly.

Who needs a car?

That's a great trailer. Do you regularly haul groceries or other cargo with it? If yes, do you notice any wear on the rear wheel or hub?

I haul groceries with it every other week, using two yellow bins like the one in the photo (about 2/3 of a grocery cart). I also haul photo gear with it, and moved most of my stuff to the old office using the trailer. In summer the trailer is used about twice a week, sometimes three times, distances of up to 15km (but usually about 5). In winter it sees less use, because I get lazier.

I did have to replace the dirt cheap rear wheel that came with the bike, but in addition to the trailer I often have full pannier bags, and/or a heavy back-pack, and/or stuff bungeed to the rack. The current rear wheel has been there almost two years, cost me about $70CAD, and has been trouble-free.

patc,

That's great; I wish I had taken a picture of my bike the other day when I brought home a handtruck (dolly) from the hardware store zip-tied to the rear rack. If anyone ever wondered, the bearings in the wheels of a typical handtruck hold up pretty well at 30MPH:)

If I can get nearer to car free, I would definitely consider a trailer made up the road, versus one made 25,000km away in the worlds biggest slave labour camp. I wonder if they have a corporate store, where you can go in, buy your trailer with cash and ride home with it, saving the shipping costs. Guelph isn't really that far from Toronto:D

patc, I am curious about the construction of the wike trailers. Seems like all the joints on the frame are plastic. I was considering this trailer a few years ago but did not trust its strength. Did you use it in the winter? I know the cold plastic are not good friends.

Yup, I use it in winter. I was not concerned about the joints - there are many types of "plastic", some very strong. The joints show no sign of damage. I was worried about the blue rubber bit that attaches to the hitch (lets the trailer twist as you ride), but it has survived winters just fine too. I've never tested the trailer at its rates capacity (125lbs if I recall), but it has taken plenty of abuse and survived just fine.

Call 'em and ask! http://wike.ca/contact.htm

If you got 2 trouble-free years out of that wheel, you are very fortunate. I normally carry 10-15 pounds on my rack about 60 miles a week and I've been through 3 wheels in the last year. I finally broke down and got my own truing stand and tension meter. Every couple of months, I have to re-true the real wheel.

One thing about the trailer though is that it should not be as hard on spokes. I think it would harder on the hub...