up an old stove.]
Portland resident Patrick David Barber doesn’t own a car, but that doesn’t stop him from being self-sufficient and hauling all sorts of loads on his bike.
Here are just some of the things he’s carried:
- An industrial-strength dehumidifier
- A table saw
- A carpet-cleaning machine
- A vintage sewing machine (during a bike move, see photo)
- A 200-pound hog, for a friend’s pig roast
For Patrick, giving up his car was the culmination of much more than simply finding a good trailer. In an essay he wrote for Bicycle Fixation, he says:
“For me, the ability finally to give up the car involved a combination of changes and efforts over the past 20 years: the gradual development of our home business; a string of moves to cities that support small-radius urban lifestyles; a move away from some of the activities I practiced when younger (playing in rock bands, going on antique hunts); and, positioned near the end of this path, researching bike trailers and procuring this Bikes at Work trailer.”
Here’s another impressive shot of a Bikes at Work trailer:
For more on Patrick’s adventures and perspectives about living with his Bikes at Work trailer, read his very good essay/personal history, “Trailer Treasure” over on Bicycle Fixation.
Thanks for reading.
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Let me also add that Patrick has contributed homely but serviceable old parts to my “unstolen bikes” project, which helped at least three bike commuters get back on the road after their rides were stolen.
I spent my formative years in Ames, IA where those lovely trailers are made and many of my friends worked for the Fresh Air Delivery Service. I never did because I was a snot nosed punk bald legged bike racer and I did not want to compromise my training but I always appreciated seeing those riders out there with their massive trailers piled hight. I have used an 8 foot trailer a couple of times and our local Bike Library just purchased one. I am car free and hope to purchase my own in the coming year. A friend of mine with one tells me I will be a trailer snob after, I can’t wait.
I’m a little curious about that design as it looks like it’s going to be placing a ton of weight on the frame itself rather than over the trailer axles. Anyone more informed care to comment?
At first glance the Bikes At Work trailer design does seem to fly in the face of conventional trailer design wisdom, which holds that the weight should be centered on the axle, between the wheels. The BAW puts the weight substantially forward in order to transfer a portion of the load to the rear axle of the towing bike, thus improving traction. The frame is a truss design, and can support the weight with ease. With the loads these trailers are designed to handle, it would be extremely easy to lose traction on even a slight upgrade without some extra weight on the rear wheel.
thanks for the plug, Jonathan!
It should be noted that the super-huge trailer in this page’s photos isn’t actually mine; I have the smaller 32″ model.
Thanks Val for the explanation of how these trailers work. One of those things I understood but couldn’t explain.
–patrick
Hooray for Patrick! w00t!
The folks at Bikes At Work also recommend using a bike with 26″ wheels and (obviously) the tougher the better for durability. Check out their website and you can see photos of the trailers carrying all manner of heavy stuffs and they have been doing it for 15 years or so. As Van Halen so eloquently said, “Only time will tell if we stand the test of time.” Rockin!
I love reading about all these industrial-strength cargo trailers, and I even lust after one occasionally; but without a garage and living as I do at the bottom of a long hill, I’m not inclined to graduate from my old Burley Encore anytime soon.
Bravo on the car-free thing, Patrick! I sold my car 17 years ago and will never own another one. It’s been worth it.