 "Strengths:
Handles very well, surprisingly so. Cheap enough when you compare it to the cost of decent racks & panniers. Robust."
Pete Jones 22/1/02
Changed your mind then?
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hello? hello?
I want an arguement damn you!
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Come and have a go if you think your hard enough!
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he's running scared.
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 He's somewhere in Asia I think.
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Or New Zealand.
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 No, he's been in Merseyside getting a new cast put on his arm.
I also said: "I'll post up another review in six months once I've given it more of a thrashing"
Turned out to be a bit longer than that, but anyway. Mike should be congratulated - a thorough job there, editing out the expletives and at least one possibly libellous statement...
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How is the arm?
So if you didnt like the riding in NZ did you do any climbing?
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good as can be expected - novelty's wearing off now. this cast comes off in a month, have one of the screws through my wrist removed and then it's just physio to get it all working again.
not much climbing, the guy i know down there has got old since i last saw him. didn't really rate the trekking/tramping, whatever in the busier areas where i was - little feckin' signposts everwhere (ooh, watch your step, it's a bit steep here) - i've had more of a wilderness experience walking down to Open All Hours for a pint of milk. i suspect fjiordland or the darrens might be a lot better in that respect.
i think the DoC need lining up against a wall and shooting - they seem to be trying to turn any remaining wild areas in NZ into guided nature rambles. the ironic thing is that by building huts + erecting bridges/signposts everywhere they make it much easier for people to get in who otherwise wouldn't have the nowse/fitness to do so. conserving these areas is the one thing they're NOT doing.
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Good point about the DOC. I found the trekking excellent especially when you avoided the main routes. Some of those routes with the huts wee good to link up the better bits.
Having said that my brother booked me up for the Milford track before I arrived there and it was pretty breath taking. You just had to ignore all the other people.
They have a good selection of Kung Fu movies in Open All Hours. Or they used to anyway.
Maybe the Kea's were attacking the BOB when you werent looking and thats what caused the tyre problems!
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I think maybe the DOC's ploy is kind of an extension of the LDNPA's but catering for a more outdoor type of nation. That is they direct people to certain honey pots to avoid pressure on others. Just think of the Milford track as Cat Bells!
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Queenstown as Windermere!
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with beer like piss, maybe.
say andy - a few years ago i picked up a blencathra centre potwasher who was hitching in from Jnct 40 cos his volvo had crapped out - wasn't you was it?
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Actually it was. Where did that come from?
I have a long history of hitching away from knackered cars! These days I get by without one!
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meant to ask a while back; remembered waiting for bus at penrith yesterday, ruminating on fact that you almost never see people hitching anymore. a shame, as you could give people a lift on the yak trailer - about all it's feckin' good for.
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 not a positive xperience then?
I was thinking about a YAK trailer as I can't fit a rack onto my cannondale or kona (problem with £1000 mtn bikes now is the lack of rck mounts that don't interfere with disk brake mounts)
Possibly won't go that route now having read the slating that it's been given.
I am open to other ideas and suggestions for possible solutions
ed
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My experience is the complete opposite. Did 3000 miles off road last summer towing a 7 year old YAK. Descents were a bit hairy without the weight of front panniers but it climbed well, didn't rust anywhere and the wheel bearings were fine. The tyre did blow about 200 miles from the end of the trip but I had mr tuffies in and unless you move them regularly they wear the inside of the tyre away, hence the loud explosion. I had a full susser and would not have been able to fit panniers anyway so for me it was the only option. Didn't have any trouble with airline check-in either they accepted it as a piece of my luggage and there was no charge. They also make very good camp tables to cook on if you take the wheel off and turn it upside down.
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never take one person's word for it, lefty. i seem to be going against the perceived wisdom on this so i could be talking out me arse. i might even just be trying to stir things up.
as far as alternatives - http://www.oldmanmountain.com/ but be aware of heel strike issues on mtbs with short chainstays, esp if you've got big feet.
if you want to get a bob cheap, mine will be in the classifieds at the end of the month. tell you what, i'll even throw in a free tin of hammerite....
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If I can add my so far limited experience of the BOB from a 5 day trek along the south downs:-
1) There's a great temptation to fill all the large load carrying space, which can therefore become very heavy.
2) It's very narrow, and so goes through tight gaps easier than paniers
3) downhill is bloody scary as if the back starts bouncing, it also effects the rear wheel, and you dont want to brake with just the front wheel touching the ground. This is the worst bit of the Bob IMHO.
4) You'll need to get a super strong rear whell because of the above, and if you havea rear disk, then that makes things even worse.
5) The rucksack style carrying is good
6) pushing is a real pain, so when it gets steep, you'll be making shuttle runs with bike and trailer separately.
7) The rear tyre is a standard kids size, so even the naffest bike shops should be able to sort you out with some form of tyre in an emergency.
8) the weight is kept low and to the back of the bike, so I found steep uphills easier than with panniers as the front tended not to wander as much as unloaded.
9) Great conversation starter (+ve and -ve!)
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I think kit breaks for different reasons. On my trip two people had to weld their YAK's and both ended up getting an Ibex each when we hit civilisation. I have to say though that both of them were compete animals when it came to downhills and speeds of 35mph+ were common. On tarmac they both broke the 50mph barrier, and it became a daily topic of conversation along with comparing odo's. All 13 of us had Bob's and not one rusted or had wheel failures so I would get back to Bob in the US and let them know of your problems. They appreciate feedback on both good and bad points and regularly work with long distance riders so that the trailers evolve and improve. Also is it still under warranty?
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