PoorBob

Good evening to all,

Getting ready to start my next build, and I am heading in a different direction then I would go in the past.

Looking to build a bike for utility and to eventually pull a child trailer.

Wish list.
1. Still want to run drop bars
2. 1x group set, likely a MTB set up for that giant pizza dish cassette
3. Aluminum frame
4. 42mm minimal tires

Looking for frame ideas to start. As mentioned I am going in a different direction with this build. Its been gram crunching carbon all road up till now. .

Thanks,
Bob

Bill Kapaun

Just me, but if I was pulling a trailer, the wide gaps between gears would suck.
I'd do a 3x9 with a closer spaced cassette and a bit of thought on chain ring sizes to give me 3 useful ranges with closer ratios. You ARE basically driving like a truck when towing.
You can't safely pull a trailer if you are going too fast to stop and maintain control, so those 11T cogs probably won't get used.

Ironfish653

PoorBob the Surly Straggler would be a good bike to pattern your build off of. Drop bar, 1x, big tires (comes in 700 or 650B). Pitched as a do-it-all all-surfaces kinda bike. Steel frame, but lots of options for how you can fit it out.

​​​​​Don't cheap out on the trailer, either. A good trailer is so much more comfortable and easier to use. Chariot (THULE) are probably the class of the field.

Nope, having to make front shifts under load sucks. Due to air drag at speed, and weight drag on hills, trailers will kill your momentum fast. Even making big jumps on a wide range cassette, you're out of the power for a lot less time than it takes to soft-pedal a front shift.


I also don't know where the " they're so heavy you will barely be able to control it!" comes from? You're carrying little kids, not construction equipment. If your bikes brakes are sufficient enough to skid a tire on dry pavement under the riders' weight, they'll have enough power to stop your trailer rig, too.

Bill Kapaun

Probably your lack of reading ability.

Ironfish653

>incoming thread derail

Wow, okay......
I should have been more clear, that I wasn't just replying directly to your post, but to a number of comments whenever trailers come up, that you have to have upgraded brakes, or it will knock your back wheel out from under you, or you shouldn't ride more than 10 mph, or that it's like driving a truck.
Sure, it's not exactly the same as riding around solo, but I've pulled a lot of things behind a lot of vehicles, both two and 4 wheeled, and I don't see what the big deal is, and why there's so much hand-wringing about it. Just because I don't have as much white in my beard as you do doesn't mean my experience isn't valid.

PoorBob

Folks...

I appreciate both of your suggestions on the gears and range. I suspect like much in cycling it really comes down to many factors that are all rider specific.
I will take both angles into consideration.

PoorBob

Frame Option

One thing I overlooked is an old Nashbar 29r single speed that I have collecting dust.

It has external cable mounts for derailers already, current free hub will except a 10spd.

Biggest issue is it has no on frame derailleur hanger mount and has horizontal dropouts.
I have come across a few aftermarket conversions. One that slides in the dropout and the skewer will hold it all in place.

Wondering if I these hold up, hold everything in line, or am I better off looking for a different frameset?

squirtdad

this seems to get good reviews.....but I have no hands on with it https://www.jensonusa.com/Problem-So...hoCPRgQAvD_BwE

wouldn't take much to try, unless you want N=1....then of course you need a new frame

bboy314

I have a bike I built with this hanger adapter I’ve ridden for several years without issue, including MTB trails. Make sure to use a decent quality internal cam QR skewer if you go this route.