disappointed rant..

[Karma007]

This whole thread is fascinating to me. When my daughter was born,we didn't have a car. We scored a trailer with our tax refund, and at the age of 4 months old, she was being wheeled behind a bike! I figured out how to strap in her car seat, and we used to go everywhere. I was 21, and it never even occurred to me to do anything differently! I applaud you, hebe!

[hebe]

Thank you Karma, what a lovely story.

I tipped the (empty) trailer over today on the way to pick dd up from nursery I ride down a road, then go straight over a dropped kerb to join a shared pedestrian/cycle path. Every day it works like a charm. Except today I had a car sitting alongside the end of the trailer which wouldn't either go past or drop back (it happens a bit, tends to be older couples peering into the trailer). So I took the dropped kerb at a narrower angle than I would normally do as there was no space to move out, and the trailer went onto its side on the pavement (sidewalk). Followed by the woman in the car yelling "Is there anyone in there? Is there anyone in there?" at the trailer before her husband sped off while she was still shouting. I checked the bike and trailer all over, phoned the LBS and checked it all over again, and then rode to nursery and brought small girl back very slowly and carefully. Other than one small rip to the outer cloth and a scuff to the paintwork on the bumper it is fine. I still feel a bit shook up but will learn from this to take a bit more of the road earlier on and to hold my nerve even when people are driving too close. They had ample time and space to pass me, and complete visibility of the road ahead. I'm very grateful that it didn't happen with dd in the trailer.

[Biciclista]

wow, Hebe, I'm glad the trailer was empty too your daughter would NOT have been pleased. The sad part is the drivers have NO idea what happened.

Keep trying. we're all enjoying your adventure

[hebe]

Thank you. the Mister has just got home and checked everything over, so we'll be back on the bike and trailer tomorrow a little bit wiser, a little bit further out from the kerb and a little bit slower when going over it. A loaded trailer helps a lot in terms of stability, it's definitely more flighty without Small Girl in it.

I forgot to say, I spent a good hour reattaching the spare hitch point to the Marin last weekend and testing it and it's fine now. The Spesh is easier for getting the trailer up the hills but the Marin has better visibility from its more upright riding position, and also rolls a bit faster as it has more road-friendly tyres.

[Bike Writer]

Thank you Karma, what a lovely story.

I tipped the (empty) trailer over today on the way to pick dd up from nursery I ride down a road, then go straight over a dropped kerb to join a shared pedestrian/cycle path. Every day it works like a charm. Except today I had a car sitting alongside the end of the trailer which wouldn't either go past or drop back (it happens a bit, tends to be older couples peering into the trailer). So I took the dropped kerb at a narrower angle than I would normally do as there was no space to move out, and the trailer went onto its side on the pavement (sidewalk). Followed by the woman in the car yelling "Is there anyone in there? Is there anyone in there?" at the trailer before her husband sped off while she was still shouting. I checked the bike and trailer all over, phoned the LBS and checked it all over again, and then rode to nursery and brought small girl back very slowly and carefully. Other than one small rip to the outer cloth and a scuff to the paintwork on the bumper it is fine. I still feel a bit shook up but will learn from this to take a bit more of the road earlier on and to hold my nerve even when people are driving too close. They had ample time and space to pass me, and complete visibility of the road ahead. I'm very grateful that it didn't happen with dd in the trailer.

You must have been pretty shook up. I'm sorry this happened to you but glad that your little girl was not in it. Sounds like you learned a lesson the easier way, scary none the less.

[limewave]

Glad you are alright. That is scary. I have that happen sometimes too with cars, they slow and hover just behind me. Always creepy.

One time I rolled the trailer with DD in it, I think she was 1.5 years old at the time. It startled her, but the roll cage worked perfectly and she was very secure in the trailer. Phew!

[hebe]

Thank you both. She has a helmet and a 5-point harness in there, so I'm sure (in my head at least) that she is well protected. Thinking about it this morning there is a fractionally longer route I can take to the bike path that eliminates the dropped kerb.

Limewave, that must have been startling for you too. It's very reassuring that I'm not the only person to have done this.