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Original poster

Bike trailers

19 replies

tribpot · 17/03/2007 14:58

I've had a look through old threads but just thought I would canvass current opinion on these for transporting kids around.

We're thinking about getting something like this for dh to use. Not with a bike but with this .

We've spoken to Remap who think it's a goer technically, but just wondered if anyone had any views on their usability. Dh would be on the pavement, not the road, not sure if it wouldn't be too wide/cumbersome?

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FrannyandZooey · 17/03/2007 15:02

Oh how funny, I have just started a thread about trailers too! We have just bought one which looks very similar to the one in your picture.

Original poster
tribpot · 17/03/2007 15:03

Oh sorry F&Z, I hadn't spotted your thread! How is your trailer?

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FrannyandZooey · 17/03/2007 15:03

I am thinking that the trailer is quite wide to use easily on the pavement - similar to a double buggy. I don't think it is impossible, but hard to maneouvre when it will be behind your dh?

Original poster
tribpot · 17/03/2007 15:04

Your thread which I shall now watch carefully

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FrannyandZooey · 17/03/2007 15:04

No your thread was before mine!

I don't know, we literally just bought it on eBay and haven't collected it yet. I am getting scared as I don't cope too well with new gizmos

Original poster
tribpot · 17/03/2007 15:08

At least all you have to do is attach it to a bike, not have a part custom-made for it (which will invalidate the warranty of both trailer and wheelchair probably). That should cheer you up

Yes, am worried about the handling, have visions of ds getting swung into lamp-posts and similar Wonder if we should scale things back to a single trailer (poss off ebay although have never ebayed and was worried about the safety of buying something like this off it) and see if it is actually feasible.

As you'll see in the Edinburgh Bike Cooperative review, the guy took it out without kids for a test run, definitely the way forward!

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FrannyandZooey · 17/03/2007 15:10

Yes good point tribpot, about the custom made thing

I was thinking more about crashing into pedestrians, really, and people getting narky about it. What are dh's experiences of using his vehicle on the pavement, are people co-operative or awkward, generally?

Original poster
tribpot · 17/03/2007 15:14

People tend to stare at him with ill-concealed curiosity like "what the hell is that thing?" since it doesn't look like a standard wheelchair. No-one's been narky - even in London! (My benchmark for narkiness, although in fairness Leeds is not noted for its friendly locals).

He could go on the road, might be easier (although I would worry more about cars) - the wheelchair's speed has been capped at 4 mph as that's as fast as you're allowed to go on the pavement, though.

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FrannyandZooey · 17/03/2007 15:22

I am laughing at the gentleman from Worcs who commented

"Mr Loosely's trike is quite a talking point in the village"

on the website you linked to

I am sorry I don't have more idea about whether this would work. It seems like a good idea to me, but?

I would think it worth trying - trailers seem to be going for between £50 - 100 on eBay atm and have good resale value if it doesn't work out.

I think it's safe to buy a product like this on eBay if you know how to use the site safely - was there anything in particular you were concerned about?

Original poster
tribpot · 17/03/2007 15:39

Just been looking at eBay, I'm assuming you've bought one of these almost-identical-yet-subtley-different German ones which are up for grabs?

Re: using eBay, having never bought from there I'm not sure how one goes about being reasonable sure of 'winning' (never heard of it being winning if you have to pay!) without obsessively sitting there adding an extra penny on to your bid as the seconds tick down ...

I do have a Paypal account though, so that's something!

I think we will give it a go, one of the German models looks as if it has a better sort of coupling device. If we could get away with only modifying the wheelchair and not the trailer at least we would be able to resell it.

It's a bit wider than dh's wheelchair but not massively so. Still rather concerned at sending pedestrians flying, although as I won't be there when it happens I shan't care too much provided everyone is unhurt.

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LadyOfTheFlowers · 17/03/2007 15:45

am glad this thread is here as i was thinking about this as i dont drive...

ami right in thinking you would be allowed to use it on the pavement? or would you be expected to use it onthe road, as i wouldn't be too keen on that tbh?

FrannyandZooey · 17/03/2007 15:45

Erm, no, I think ours is a second hand one, although the German ones looked quite good we thought?

The thing about eBay is to bid your maximum as near the end as you can manage. Don't sit and bid up little by little - bid ONCE, for the absolute most you would be prepared to pay. Then if someone bids more, well, they were just willing to pay more than you, so you haven't lost out.

Bidding late just means that there is less chance of your bid being "nibbled" away by someone trying to get the lead. Sniping systems which place your bid for you at the last minute work well (www.vrane.com is great), or doing it manually if you have access to a pc at the time the auction ends.

But putting in your bid on the day of the auction closing is also a good strategy - just make sure you put your absolute maximum in, so you won't be going "oh bugger, I wish I had bid another £5".

FrannyandZooey · 17/03/2007 15:46

LOTF if you are using it with a bike you would have to be on the road or cycle path. Tribpot's dh uses a mobility vehicle like a wheelchair which is allowed on the pavement.

dingdongjustforyoufg · 17/03/2007 16:00

we got a spokey joe trailer from ebay about a year ago, DTs were about 2.4 at the time, DT1 loved it, DT2 wouldn't go near the thing...we re-sold it in the end, which meant I can't take them out on my own on my bike

Pixel · 17/03/2007 16:45

We got ours from ebay, no probs. It's one that converts to a three-wheeler buggy so if you're going to end up somewhere busy like a shopping centre you can chain the bike up and use the buggy on the pavement without anyone tutting at you. I haven't tried taking it in any shops though!

Original poster
tribpot · 17/03/2007 16:47

Well, I guess dh will have to blaze a trail and see which shops he can use it in - he nearly ripped half a hand off (himself) getting the wheelchair into a restaurant in London, it's a learning curve for us!

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FrannyandZooey · 17/03/2007 17:20

Blimey I never thought about shops. Is dh quite intrepid tribpot?

Original poster
tribpot · 17/03/2007 21:00

He's desperate to regain some independence, hence buying the wheelchair in the first place. And equally desperate to be able to take ds out on his own (hasn't been able to do this basically since ds was born) so hopefully we can get some type of contraption working. The shopping is optional, although I would like it if he could pick up some of the chores, like post office or bits from the supermarket; supermarket should definitely be doable. (Vision of ds and dh parading up and down the aisles in Waitrose, ds waving to the crowds like the Queen on parade!)

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Original poster
tribpot · 13/06/2007 19:53

Just to add to this old thread, the bike trailer has now been modified and is brilliant, heartily recommended.

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