ego.istic.org

I wrote the following as a quick post to the Cambridge Cycling Campaign members' list, and it turned into a bit of an essay, so I thought I'd add it here as well. You need to register to view the list archives, which means no Googlability. Also the list archiver doesn't understand OpenPGP, which is somewhat failing. CamCarts are cargo cycle trailers made in Germany (under a different name, I suspect) and sold at reasonable prices from Cambridge. Local delivery is by hand, but if you order from elsewhere they are couriered.

As an ex-CamCart user, I find three main shortcomings with them.

1. The hitch attaches at the saddle-post. This makes them significantly less stable than the usual Burley hitch that attaches at your rear axle. It also means that if you have one of these new-fangled saddle-post clamps without a removable bolt or with a small Allen bolt, you will need to rig up an extra collar to fit the thing. Even if you have a traditional saddle-post clamp with an 8mm diameter, you'll probably need to go to MacKays to buy a longer bolt, and you won't be able to find a QR one long enough. When you overcome all these difficulties and finally attach the damned hitch, if you're a short-arse like me you may find you no longer have any room on your saddle-post to attach your rear light.

2. They don't fold or dismantle to be stored indoors, although the box part (which looks like a Council black recycling box, but larger) comes out in a most useful fashion.

3. Although they make pretty good hand-carts when off the bike, their utility in this regard is limited by not being able to stand upright on their own. I once had the front of mine propped up on a small wall for unloading, and I unthinkingly removed a heavy item from the front to prop a door open, and thus unbalanced, the rest of my load did a rather amusing backflip onto the floor. Although it was absolutely hilarious, it is not something you'd do more than once. I know that many trailers share this property, but it annoyed me. The designers clearly thought about this, as the front of the trailer has an otherwise unnecessary bit that sticks out downwards, but it doesn't go low enough IMO, and I suppose you couldn't have one that did without turning into a kick-stand.

Notwithstanding the above, they're pretty sturdy, stable as long as you don't over- or under-load them or take them off-road, and like Burley child trailers have the property that you can have the bike fall over without the trailer toppling (though I've not tested that personally). They also come with the legally mandated reflectors, and seem to not suffer from the usual complaint that trailers are invisible to motorists. I've not used any other trailer, so my basis for comparison is only what I've heard from other users.

Also worth mentioning is that the website says they are shipped flat-packed, but if you order to be delivered to Cambridge (with the discount), the chap assembles it himself and delivers by the simple expedient of hitching it to the back of his bike.