My ride with BOB

[Pain Freak]

Well, I finally got it delivered and installed onto a bike, in fact I installed it on 4 different bikes. It's my new (used) BOB trailer.

Bike 1 Turner 5 Spot

This was the first bike I installed it on. I got on the bike and couldn't even tell it was on??? I rode around the neighborhood and couldn't help but think, "Why is this so easy?". I came back home and loaded a 40 pound bad of salt onto it, and left again. Although the handling of the bike suffered some the going was still fairly easy. I rode up a slight incline for a couple miles and then up and over a freeway overpass. Still very easy. Turned around and came back home. Great ride!

Bike 2 Surly 1x1 singlespeed

This was a pleasent suprise. The gearing on the ss works well with the trailer, but going over the freeway overpass, I knew I would not be able to do this for any sustained climbs, still with the steel frame this bike felt the best.

Bike 3 Giant TCR02

This is my road bike and is all carbon fiber. The trailer doesn't work well at all, in fact it literally lifts the front tire off the road. I still road to the freeway and back. This one almost got me though, I forgot with the additional weight I'd need more stopping power. I built up some decent speed around 22 mph and when I went to hit the brakes I wasn't hardly even slowing down. I grabbed as hard as I could before I started to finally slow down. Discs are way better for pulling a BOB.

Bike 4 Bianchi Axis Touring/CX bike

This was the bike I had in mind when I purchased the BOB. I still have the cx tires on so maybe even this will not be a fair review. But even with these tires this was a good bike for the BOB. Handling is not quite as squirrly as the road bike, but not as good as the Turner either, but it does okay. Might be better with the right tires? Going up the hills it was very easy going, but I wasn't pushing either. I put a small ring on this bike because I know I'll be going up some really steep stuff and I want to be able to climb it so I got a triple. On these small hills there really is no need for it though. It climbs very well. This time I decided to ride a little further and ended up going up Lytle Creek. I'm amazed at how easy it is, even though I'm not pushing it. Looks like the main piece of my tour ride has been put together!

[ghixon]

So, you're going to be the designated driver for group rides from now on?

I'd would have thought it would have thrown the 5 Spot off kilter the worst.

[Pain Freak]

Yeah, me too.

[Waldo]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

This one almost got me though, I forgot with the additional weight I'd need more stopping power. I built up some decent speed around 22 mph and when I went to hit the brakes I wasn't hardly even slowing down. I grabbed as hard as I could before I started to finally slow down. Discs are way better for pulling a BOB.

I had to chuckle at this, imagining a traffic report in which the local news bimbette is reporting live from the scene of a jackknifed BOB that's blocking traffic for the afternoon commute!

Thanks for the thorough test report though, and glad you made it through unscathed!

[MTBMaven]

Dude you should have used that thing out on Valley Forge today. Looks sweet. You are going to love how that thing rides on the trail.

[dstepper]

Having watched a few people tow bobs on trail days I really wonder if that shock on some models helps. I have noticed trailers get way airborn after hit a rock or on a log over.

Dean