[Yak] Trailer vs panniers

[scott.laughlin at att.net]

Hi George,

There's got to be something to the extra rolling resistance.  It sounds as though you weren't tempted to load up, as so many are.

I met a young fellow on the Southern Tier who had come from Eastern Canada somewhere.  When I met him he'd logged something greater than 6600 KM.

He'd began with four panniers.  Someplace in Florida he'd ruined his wheels with so much weight.  So, after having new wheels built he bought a trailer.  He'd loaded that thing down like you wouldn't believe. It was heaped, and it was heavy.

He still had to go to California then up to Canada and across to get home.

The funny part was he'd gotten a degree in something.  His girlfriend was three months short of finishing nursing school, but he bolted before she was done and left without her.  "Do you suppose she's waiting for you?"  I asked.  He looked at me with an expression as though he'd never doubted her until that moment.  

de Scott in Texas

-------------- Original message from "George Pitlik" <gpitlik at consolidated.net>: -------------- 


> Greetings, 
> 
> I just completed a 900 km tour in rural Yucatan, Mexico. I used my 2004 NWT 
> and an older Samsonite suitcase/trailer. I found it difficult to keep up 
> with the pannier guys and ladies. Not having ridden with them before I don't 
> really know if it was me, them or the extra weight of my rig. 
> 
> I weighed my empty trailer setup - 18 pounds 
> My empty panniers and foldable rack (which all remained home) weigh a total 
> of 5 pounds. 
> 
> It seems to me that the increased rolling resistance of two additional tires 
> and an extra 13 pounds requires more energy to roll down the highway- 
> especially on hills. 
> 
> Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Especially from physics majors. 
> 
> Thanks: 
> 
> 
> 
> George in Houston 
> 
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