The History Man wrote:
Trailer or panniers though? Is it easy to unhook the trailer for a pootle to shop etc once you get somewhere? Or am I missing the point?
How far is a good day's ride 40 ish miles it seems? Thinking I get dropped by the boss out of area and ride back for two or three days at first.
The trailer / pannier argument has no clear answer.
Trailers:
FOR: tracks the bike, best for singletrack, saves weight on the back wheel, don't affect handling
AGAINST: more weight to haul uphill, unwieldy to turn round, more to go wrong, shunts bike downhill.
Panniers:
FOR: Compact, simple, cheap
AGAINST: can affect handling, low panniers can strike objects on singletrack, extra weight on bike and wheels.
I've toured with both, if I was doing very broken singletrack I'd take a trailer, otherwise panniers are great. The trailer gets used for anything outsize like our 4-man tent.
For camping touring then 50 miles is comfortable, for B&B then 60+ is fine. Adjust for terrain!!! B&B touring in Devon on the tandem with No.1 son on the back and No.2 son in the trailer 30 miles was easily enough!
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Ride it or milk it!