Scott P

I'll be riding in my first MS150 next month. As a stay at home dad of 15 month old twins, I pretty much only have weekends to put miles on my bike. The weather has finally turned warmer, so I can toss the kids into the bike trailer and get out for a bit in the afternoons. Right now, I do my regular riding on my Defy 2 and tow the trailer with my old Gary Fisher Marlin. I've treated riding with the kids on a mountain bike as a bit of a resistance workout.

I am curious though, should I be towing the trailer with my Defy since that is the bike I will be riding in the MS150? Or, will the added mass, etc. of the mountain bike provided a better workout since the ride is shorter, only an hour or so? Plus, will the added weight of the kids and trailer cause any undue strain on my Defy?

prathmann

My vote would be to do the rides with the Defy. The more time on that saddle and in the same position as on the MS ride the better. A trailer doesn't add any significant extra strain on the towing bike compared to the loads it already has from the rider.

chaadster

I think it doesn't matter one bit.

Carbonfiberboy 

There were a couple of riders who used to come out with us while towing a large lab in a kiddie trailer. You didn't want to mess with them. They'd kick your ass on a hill if you tried to come around. They didn't do it for the training, just to be sociable. I think some winters we were the only game in town that rode at a slightly challenging speed.

CliffordK

I don't think it matters which bike you tow the kids with. You'll get a workout just the same.

I tow a kids trailer (with cargo) using my Colnago Super, and now my Litespeed Titanium. Of course, perhaps they are a little different from an Aluminum bike.

Do you use cleated shoes and clipless pedals on both bikes (doesn't have to be the same).

A couple of thoughts.
Endurance requires time on the bike. A half an hour pulling a trailer isn't' the same as an all-day ride.
The loaded trailer may only make a difference if you maintain the same speed as you normally would ride. Although, I suppose I've pulled a trailer enough to know it is a real drag.

Scott P

I only recently bought a second set of SPD pedals for my mountain bike, so I haven't used them with the trailer yet. I did find myself going slower on the MTB with the trailer by about one minute per mile. I might have to give things a try with my Defy. I don't recall if the trailer will hold up the bike without a kickstand. I'll have to try that out before I attempt the ride. It's certainly a longer process getting ready for the ride for sure.