The Trailer Gap

In my previous post, I argued that the barrier to bike carrying is mental: once you’ve made the first trip, the model updates permanently.

While that’s true there’s a category it doesn’t fully solve which is transporting the awkward and large object.

For most people, those trips that require transporting an odd-shaped object remain “car-shaped” trips.

I call it “the trailer gap”.

I found my bike trailer through a YouTube rabbit hole. A German YouTuber filmed himeslf bike-camping on a Kwiggle — a tiny folding bike I also own — with a Burley Travoy hitched to the back. It looked absurd yet practical. The next day I bought one off Facebook Marketplace for $75.

The Kwiggle has a non-standard seat post, so the Travoy didn’t attach cleanly. I had other bikes, so I shrugged it off and moved on by hitching it to my e-bike. I realized towing wasn’t especially fatiguing so I mounted it to my regular bike.

The Burley Travoy is a purpose-built for cargo: folding metal frame, bag mounts, and 2 wheels that let it stand like a shopping cart or dolly. My wife uses it that way to haul yoga supplies on foot.

It hooks to the rear seatpost, and it feels more stable than you’d expect even with uneven loads.

The free bench

I was riding past a neighbor’s house and spotted a wooden outdoor bench on the sidewalk with a cardboard “FREE” sign taped to it.

Normally this is a car problem: you note the address, you come back later, the bench is gone. Instead I stopped, unfolded the Travoy, strapped the bench to the frame with a bungee cord, and rode home.

The errand wasn’t planned or requiring an extra trip–and thanks to the trailer I have a new bench at my residence!

Bike trailers convert “I’d need a car for that” to “I wonder if that fits.” And when it does fit it’s a joyous celebration!

Some other illustrative errands with the trailer:

Bags of soil from the Home Depot garden section — the kind that normally require a flatbed cart and a trunk.

Paint cans.

Two furniture boxes from a local furniture store, stacked and bungeed into a precarious but functional arrangement.

A vacuum cleaner, held by a green bungee doing exactly as much work as it looked like it was doing.

“Safe Streets for Everyone” yard signs and an acrylic display stand for a bike advocacy tabling event.

Bringing a kickscooter to help out a friend.

Pizzas for my birthday celebration.

I have even used it as my overnight backpacking rig – with cooking & sleep gear.

The honest limits

The Travoy is not a cargo bike. Its rated capacity is around 60 lbs — which is a lot, but I cannot carry my child to daycare. For that, you want a longtail or a box bike.

Used Travoys show up on Facebook Marketplace regularly, usually in the $75–150 range. New they’re $200-250 – depending on where you live you might try the used market first.

Enjoy!