Trailers

Trailers let you do things with bikes which other options simply can't match.Try carrying a cello on a bike, or the contents of a flat, or a sack of flour. Panniers front and back are great for many tasks, but when the volume and weight of your cargo rise above a certain limit, trailers are the thing. They can be attached to your favourite bicycle or shared with the family or friends. Some are designed to be pushed as trolleys so you can wheel them into buildings or through pedestrian areas. Some are substantial enough to carry children or to be used for business deliveries.

Trailers come in many shapes and sizes - indeed, the variety and number of trailers on the market can be bewildering. However, in much of Europe, a remarkable business has cut through the confusion and has done much to raise the profile of cycle trailers, both for the cycle trade and in the eyes of the general public.

Zwei plus zwei ('Two plus Two') was set up in 1992 by Andreas Gehlen and his business partner Walter Röpling, both from Cologne, Germany. They act as a sort of clearing-house for bike shops or individuals who wish to order trailers. Although based in Germany, they have a distribution structure across Western Europe. The beauty of their operation is that by acting as wholesaler for all of their trailers (which are made in various countries) they can handle the intricacies of sourcing and importing. It's simple for a bike dealer, faced with a customer interested in a trailer, to order through their national Zwei plus zwei agent, rather than trying to deal with the individual trailer manufacturers.

The Zwei plus zwei catalogue, distributed to dealers, displays a wide range of trailers with helpful advice for the buyer. A British agent, Stuart Morris of Bike-Hod, has recently joined the network, and the catalogue is now available in English as well as German.

What should you consider when choosing a trailer? According to Andreas Gehlen, the main distinctions are between one and two wheels, and between those trailers which attach at the seatpost and those which attach at hub level.

Single-wheel trailers can usually carry no more than about 30kg, but their advantage lies in their low weight and good 'tracking' behind the bike - running in the path of the towing bike's own tyres.These are often useful off-road, where other types become unwieldy.

Two wheeled trailers can carry much more - the practical limit seems to be 100kg or so. Although some trailers can carry more than this, it's debatable whether human power and standard bicycle brakes are really up to the job, especially in hilly areas.

A drawbar which attaches at the seatpost often makes an excellent handle for using the trailer as a handcart, and it's at a convenient height.With heavy loads, though, a low hitch is less likely to affect the handling of the bike.

There are specialist trailers these days for carrying anything from canoes to pets. Many intensively-developed designs make safe and comfortable carriers for children. It's surprising what can be managed safely and without resorting to petrol power. Hitch one to your bike and see how easy it can be. Zwei plus zwei, Bismarkstr. 56-62, 50672 Köln, Germany. Tel +49 221 951 4700 Fax +49 221 9514 7020

Two plus two UK, Bike-Hod, 2 Middle Way, Lewes, Sussex, BN7 1NH, UK.Tel/Fax +44 1273 480 479