My lightweight commuter bike can
now be transformed into a workhorse. With the simplest press of a lever I can
attach the Burley Travoy, which I rode out to REI this morning to purchase.
A little back-story. I first read a
review of the Travoy on Kent’s Bike Blog – a neverending source of useful
information on all things bike – and thought it was the device to solve many of
my bike transport problems. But I balked at the $300 price tag and couldn’t
quite bring myself to rush out and buy one.
Then, last Monday, I attended the
National Women’s Bike Summit, which, lucky for me, was in D.C. It was a treat
to be surrounded by hundreds of bike enthusiasts, make that women’s bike enthusiasts, and to meet in
person some folks I’d only “met” over the Internet (Elly Blue who was kind
enough to publish my essay in the Childhood
issue of “Taking the Lane” and Barb Chamberlain who tweets out 500+ women’s bike
blogs, including mine).
When the first Women’s Summit was
held last year in Long Beach, I was disheartened to hear (I didn’t attend) that
it included a fashion show. Could anything be more stereotypical and trivializing
of women’s biking, I thought? Yet I’ll be darned if I wasn’t drawn to the super
cute accessories in the pop-up shop at last week’s summit. I hereby confess
that I bought a very stylish and elegant bike helmet that is covered by a broad
brimmed, red straw hat, complete with a black band and flower, which will, I
think, be the perfect accoutrement for summer biking (surely just around the
corner). So, munch, munch – I’m eating my words, or – well – my thoughts.
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| Really, it's a helmet! |
I had the privilege of lunching
with Georgena Terry – pioneer custom builder of bikes for women – who had been
the morning speaker. I decided to seek her advice on my biking dilemmas. I
described the diverse needs I have for my biking: a hilly ten mile commute to
work; toting groceries; shorter rides of all sorts; and being able to lift the
bike onto the rack of the bus (and carry it up and down a flight of stairs)
while still rehabbing from shoulder surgery. My commuting bike can’t handle
hauling groceries or heavy loads, as the panniers unbalance it; but my heavy
workhorse bike is a slog on hills and impossible to heft onto the bus rack in
my present state. After listening patiently Georgena asked, “Why not get a Burley
trailer?”
The Burley Travoy is designed for
the urban cyclist who likes to run errands on the bike, perhaps making multiple
stops – that’s me! The device is essentially a lightweight dolly that attaches
to a pin – the only equipment you need to leave attached to your bike. With one
simple twist of the wrist, the towing bar flips up or down; one more twist of
the wrist and the dolly folds in half and can be carried, if you don’t care to
roll it. The specifications say it can handle up to 60 pounds. It comes with
one large shopping (or carrying) bag, which snaps onto the trailer in seconds.
Additional bags can be attached to the upper portion.
So, indeed, why not give it a try?
Perhaps I needed the permission of a wise woman of bikes to legitimize the
expenditure. I rode the less-than-ideal Carlin Springs Drive (too many hills
and cars; no bike lanes) to REI, where they were very accommodating about
attaching the hub for me so I could ride home with it. It turned out that,
because I’m short and my seat isn’t very high, they had to remove the rear rack
and bag I had on the bike – both of which easily fit into the Travoy’s carrying
sack, with plenty of room to spare.
On the way home, I finally located
the path that goes from Carlin Springs through the Long Branch Nature Center,
connecting up with the Four Mile Run Trail. This allowed me to avoid unpleasant
traffic, and gave me a new bike adventure. I slowed for the amphibian crossing
and noted with appreciation the volunteers who were cleaning up the park. The
trailer maneuvered like a dream – I didn’t even know it was there. I can’t wait
to go grocery shopping with it tomorrow to see how it handles fully loaded.
After I unhitched the Travoy, my bike looked strangely naked
without its rear rack. I’m thinking – perhaps I’ll get a cute little front
basket for days I have just a few things to carry and don’t need the trailer.
