long vehicle

[ray]

Free at last from using the car for doing the shopping!
Nobody abused me for taking precious road space from the Great God Car
this morning, but the bike trailer got a few interested stares.
Recommended top speed is 16 k/mh (I exceeded that by 25 k/mh on the
first hill) and rated load is 29 kg. I don't think four bags of shopping
was anywhere near that.
Riding with it empty was no problem, just had to remember not to cut
corners. Riding with it full was another story. Strange push-pull
sensations accelerating due to the heavy load hung off the rear, and
coming up the hill home was a real grunt.
Some modifications from first operational run. Despite reduced
visibility, orange flag came off, this was a nuisance. Spring washer
placed on mounting nut to stop it vibrating loose, but it looks like a
more solid mounting is needed.
Apart from that, generally very good. My estimate is I saved around $2
in car fuel/maintenance by not using it. At this rate, assuming I don't
pike it and use the car when it pours, will take about a year and a half
at current petrol prices to pay itself off, less if they go up again.
Cheers,
Ray

 

[Terry Collins]

ray wrote:
> At this rate, assuming I don't
> pike it and use the car when it pours, will take about a year and a half
> at current petrol prices to pay itself off, less if they go up again.

Are you going to invest in dry bags for shopping in the rain? {.

 

[Euan]

ray wrote:
> Free at last from using the car for doing the shopping!

Cool! What sort of trailer are you using?

Also when at the shops how did you secure it? One of the main barriers
for me doing the shopping with a trailer is that securing it seems
problematic.
--
Cheers | ~~ __@
Euan | ~~ _-\<,
Melbourne, Australia | ~ (*)/ (*)

 

[Terry Collins]

Euan wrote:
> ray wrote:
>
>> Free at last from using the car for doing the shopping!
>
>
> Cool! What sort of trailer are you using?
>
> Also when at the shops how did you secure it? One of the main barriers
> for me doing the shopping with a trailer is that securing it seems
> problematic.

Well, with mine, it is 15mins with the spaner to disconnect it, unless
they think they can shatter two 1/4" hi-tensile bolts quickly. Actually,
I secure it with 2m of chain inside old tube and decent padlock. runs
through trailer frame, rear wheel, bicycle frame and ideally around a pole.