jbpence

I just finished a tour in colorado, San Juan MOuntains. Slumgullion pass coming from the north is STEEP.

I toured with a trek 520 pulling an ''extrawheel' trailer. The total load of trailer and gear was 40 pounds, and I had a handlebar bag - ten more pounds including the bag. add another 8 pounds or so of water for a total load weight of 68 pounds. the trek weighs about 28 pounds with the fenders and rear rack.

My first attempt using a trailer, and I'll do it again. The trailer is a marvel of simplicity, carries the load low, so the heavy items are below the trailer's axle. I usually could not tell the trailer was even there, even downhill. Well not quite: down hill going very fast, (35-40 MPH) a slight movement of your body will cause a reaction in the trailer, so sit still. I was never very comfortable travelling over 25 MPH downhill with this bike loaded with 4 panniers.

the BEST thing was that it balances the bike so well that standing while pedaling is a breeze. I was not very comfortable doing that with the panniers either since the bike gets rather wobbly as the rear panniers react to the motion of pedaling while standing.

like other revierers, I was suspicious of the yoke that attaches the trailer to the supplied rear skewer, but it function flawlessly. It just looks 'too simple' to work. this trailer is really an engineering marvel, IMHO.

it worked so well that I'd like use my tricross (18 pounds) to pull it rather than my touring bike (probably 28 pounds including back rack). my tricross (campact double) is geared too highly though. I still needed the 17.5 gear inch granny on the trek to get up slumgullion pass, which climbs probably 2500 feet in 6 miles or so, and i dont think taking ten pounds off the bike would have helped much.

northboundtrain

Congrats on a successful tour. How was the traffic along 149 this time of year? When I did Slumgullion in May, I saw a total of four cars from Lake City to the top. I'd like to know what to expect in summer if I do this route again someday. Thanks

wheel

I used a bob on AZ,UT,WY,CO.

So many raves can you say added food

knobster

Switch the double for a triple. I switched mine on my Tricross from a Ultegra double to a 105 triple and only had to switch the crank, bottom bracket and front derailleur. Cost $100.

jbpence

northboundtrain:
of course this was the week right before labor day, so there is generally less tourist traffic everywhere. traffic was a breeze - the heaviest was in the late afternoon from highway 50 to lake city. after that, no problem. traffic was surprizingly light, cars were respectful. sometime i didnt see a car for ten or fifteen minutes.

that slumgullion climb from the north IS something, isn't it? I really took my time, riding a mile or two, resting.

the downhill run from the top is also someting!!!! LLLLOOOOOONNNNG and fast

knobster:
thought about switching the tricross to a triple , but decided NOT to use the tricross to tour. no fender or rear rack eyelets (sworks aluminum frame). I like fenders. I'm not always touring in the arid SW.

I could BUY a used tricross sport for what it costs to switch my tricross over. and it would have eyelets. because I'd use a MTB crank and LOW geared chainrings, I'd need to replace both delraileurs. and tank bag i have wont fit without going to bar end shifters (I have STI), then brake levers...... yada yada

still, I've decided just to use the trek 520. it would be nice to drop ten pounds when pulling the extrawheel, but I dont need another bike (have 6)