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Bicycles Accessories

Here are some of my favorite bike accessories.

CycleTote Trailer

Here is our CycleTote trailer, Alden's personal transportation pod.

(Click thumbnails to see larger pictures)

Here is the trailer hitched to my e-bike--extra power to pull extra weight.

The CycleTote is an great bike trailer for a couple of reasons:

• It attaches to the bike not at the rear wheel hub, but at the seat post. Some advantages of this are that it doesn't interfere with the electric motor on my bike, and should I ever lay my bike down completely, the trailer will remain upright. Here is a detail shot of the trailer hitch:

• This specific CycleTote has its own braking system. When the forward momentum of the trailer exceeds that of the bike, the trailer's hub brakes activate and slow the trailer gracefully. Here is a detail shot of one tire hub and brake:

• It has 27-inch wheels, which are cantered in slightly for a stable ride.

The CycleTote can accommodate two small children, but I have it rigged for one. It also has a little "boot" in the back for additional gear.

The trailer weighs in at about 30 pounds. To that add Alden (currently about 40 pounds), and I'm towing 70 pounds in all. I find the ride pretty smooth, as does Alden. As you'd expect with any children's trailer, it's impossible for Alden to stick a hand or foot out of the trailer, and two roll bars and a horizontal perimeter bar give him good protection should the trailer ever bump into anything or go airborne. With his bike helmet on he has a couple inches of clearance, but I expect him to outgrow the trailer in a year or two.

WhipLock Bike Lock

I have a heavy-duty bike lock, but most of the time I just need enough of a lock to prevent somebody from wheeling my bike away, or removing the front tire. More than anything else, though, I need the lock with me. A good solution I have found is the WhipLock. 

(1) the WhipLock is tucked into the handlebar tube. See it?

(2) Twist and pull...

(3) and out comes the WhipLock. It's long enough to reach around the frame tube, front tire, and a fairly thin stationary object such as a bike rack or signpost, but not a telephone pole.

 Updated 02/25/02