Having toured with four panniers - and hated every head wind ( "gegen wind"
in Germany) which seemed to double the size of my front panniers -- and also
having the good fortune to "swap" loads with a German guy who I travelled
with for a few days on my trip down and up the Danube -- I have taken
delivery today of my BOB Yak trailer and shall take it out for its first run
on Saturday.
I have looked at these trailers for some time and when Gerhard suggested
that I might like to try towing his trailer for a day I was happy to do
it -- even though it was a heavier load than mine ( he had a wife with
him!).
His fahrad was fitted with front and rear racks as was mine and so there was
no problem of a change over.
I was a fairly instant convert and all of my reservations largely
disappeared during that day. Having ridden my velo for quite a while under
full load and on this years trip was on about day 7 -- the change in the
handling of my velo was fantastic. Of course, going up hill was still hard
work but my velo (a much modified Dawes discovery 501 -- a hybrid) felt so
much more manageable -- as it does normally on my daily home runs. It was
also much easier ( and less dangerous) to mount and especially dismount
after a long day.
All in all I was very impressed.
Until my trip from the source of the Rhein down to Rotterdam, in May/June
next year, I shall tow it most days on my training and shopping runs. I also
suspect ( and hope) that I shall be just that bit more visible to the
blind/deaf /SMIDSY British motorist ( Sorry Mate I Didn't See You) -- being
a bit of an unusual sight -- I haven't seen one in UK yet!
Anyway I can't wait to get it out for its first long run on Saturday.
--
Trevor A Panther
In South Yorkshire,
England, United Kingdom.
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