31 July 2008
I went down, but the trailer didn’t
Posted by todd under: Bridgestone XO-1; Burley D'Lite; Crashes; Riding; Riding with children .
I crashed while pulling the bike trailer a couple of days ago. Fortunately, it was at low speed, and damage was minimal (the right wrist still hurts a little).
The abbreviated version: While pulling my Burley D’Lite trailer behind my Bridgestone XO-1, I tried a sharp U-turn. Just before I fell, I thought: That’s gravel, and I’m going too fast. The front wheel skidded out from under me, and I went down on my left side.
Two things to note about this mishap:
1. There’s no reason on earth to attempt a sharp turn on gravel.
2. More significantly: While the XO-1 and I pancaked somewhat spectacularly on the pavement, the trailer was affected not a bit. This was possible because the trailer has a (very) flexible part on the shaft where the trailer connects to the bike. (My 3-year-old daughter was sitting in the trailer at the time of the crash.)
I wouldn’t want to replicate this field test, and I hope you don’t, either — but just know that the D’Lite
will stay upright even when you don’t. That’s one major advantage, in my view, that the trailer has over those child seats that attach to the bike’s rear rack. If your child is sitting in a seat behind you on the bike, he or she is going down with you.
2 Comments so far...
Laura Says:
31 July 2008 at 10:53 pm.
Hey Todd…
Since I don’t have twitter (yet?!) I will reply here. NO, that was not an update, but YES, today’s entry is 🙂 Also… months ago you asked me for my old bicycle photo, then you never posted it! Boo-hoo. I wanna be famous. 🙂
LD
Hey, you asked for it, you got it! 🙂
mother of the 3 year old inside the bike trailer Says:
8 August 2008 at 12:36 am.
Thankful that you bought a bike trailer that would stay standing when you crashed and keep the precious cargo inside safe.
In fact, I almost ALWAYS wear one (while riding a bike anyway). (On the other hand, if YOU don't want to wear a helmet, I have no problem with it.) I don't remember what happened on this particular day. Fortunately for all of us it makes for a less-nerdly picture. My exceptionally talented professional photographer friend Charles Bertram took this photo.
I asked my 6-year-old son, Caleb, an avid bicyclist and artist, to draw a bike for me. I think he did a great job!
