Hey OlePhart, (still can't get over the name you chosen and love calling it out, lol)
Happy to help with all I have learned and from first hand experience, all here in a thread where others can add thoughts and readers can see what we have shared.
Lots to share here, in no particular order, but I will number each item for reference.
1 - Trailer Choice
Awesome choice of trailer, in particular going with the two wheel configuration. I recall you suggesting your pups are in the 50-85lb range? Here's why I mention the 2 wheel trailer configuration:
I have a single wheel trailer for my rides. Grocery runs and soon camping trips pulling my camping gear - I'm not a minimalist when camping - Tent I can stand up in and keep my bike in at night (20lbs), decent inflatable mattress with built in pump (10lbs), pillow/sleeping bag/12" stakes/comfortable lawn chair (15lbs) - coming in at 40-45lbs carry weight.
Of course the camping gear idea wasn't thought of when I bought the trailer rather came to me as life evolves and I realized, I could.
Here's a photo of my Burley Coho XC with my current road going bike:
The single wheel configuration tracks perfectly behind me, leans with me when I turn and I can go up to 45-50kmph downhills without issue.
But.
That's with up to 45lbs of weight in the trailer.
I tried putting 60lbs (batteries make great testing weight, lol) and the front wheel lifted so much I couldn't steer even at 20kmph...and the 'Tail was wagging the dog'.
I even tried spreading the weight out. I have panniers for the rear rack - putting 15lbs in the panniers and 45lbs in the trailer still had the front wheel lift sensation and too much weight going side to side - don't forget I'm a 270lb rider up on top as well, lol.
I learned through testing I have a trailer (23lb) and 45lb payload limit with my current road bike. I will repeat the testing when I finish my new bike build this summer and update you how I made out.
So again, great choice going with the two wheel configuration. What you give up in 'single tracking' and perhaps top speed you gain so much in stability and towing capacity. I wanted to share all of this with you and a final thought:
Before testing with the pups in the trailer, perhaps do some test rides with weighted items near their weights to see how you handle the trailer effect when you're riding.
2 - Using a trailer to carry your pups.
In my research for trailers I found this video and went to find it again to share with you. This gent has the same trailer as I have hence I found it - but the creator's experience and insight is of great value.
Describes his experience training his pup to ride in the trailer and the thoughts to his tie down point and length of leash.
3 - Insulated Water Bottles (and bonus, water backpack idea)
CamelBak makes awesome fluid transporting products. Famous for their 'backpacks' that can carry 1-3.5L of fluid and have a scubba diver type setup where you bite down on the mouth piece and get your fluids while riding. For example my favorite backpack style is:
Camelbak Rogue:
I put about 2.5L of water (and only ever put water in it is my recommendation) in it and found a spot in the fridge to keep it 24/7. This keeps the water cool and always ready to go a moments notice and stops the growth of mold - only have to wash it out every 6 months because I think I should, lol.
The cool water on your back is a bit of a bonus on hot rides and the two pockets are great - large pocket on the main flap takes my cell phone and the bottom pocket takes wallet and house keys. I use this for quick rides, trail riding in particular and the weight (when full) is only 5-6lbs (maybe a little bit more?) which isn't a bother on the ride at all.
I share this with you as you may want to have say 4-6L of fluids with you on the hot days you get there and going for long rides - might end up with a pack and bottles - lots of options for you to consider.
As for the bottles, I found the Camelbak 'Podium Chill' and 'Big Podium Chill' work awesome. There is 3 generations of them out now - small changes such as spout size at the top - all work great. Some reviewers will complain about one generation to another, but in general they all like them.
The 'Podium Big Chill' I find work best. They come in 21, 24 and 25 oz sizes - this only really matters when buying multiple and wanting them to be the same size.
One key measurement - the 25 oz model is just a hair under 11" from bottom to tip - most bottle mounts will accept a bottle that long/large (behave now when you reply, lol
) but wanted to mention it to you - and yes I just pulled out a tape measure to measure one of mine here on my desk at the moment.
Here's the Amazon link to the bottles I suggest, Camelbak Podium Big Chill 25oz:
Price will vary week to week as supplies of each colour comes available. Also if they are price gouging you can look at the slightly smaller choice:
Camelbak Podium Chill 21oz:
The 21oz has the same width and top/spout as the Big Chill - just a bit shorter and slightly lighter as it has 4oz less capacity.
Water Bottle Tip:
I have a rotation of 8 bottles I collected over a few years. I fill each bottle to 1/3 and leave it in my freezer with the lid off. When I'm ready to go for a ride I grab a couple bottles and fill them up with just water, water and mix, whatever I want - each bottle now has a fist size ice cube in the bottom.
First bottles go on the bike, extras go in the carry bag. I did a ride recently in 90F heat and at 6 hours into the 8 hours I was out in the sun, the last 2 bottles I pulled out of the bag still had some of their cube block at the bottom and were cold/cool to drink until I got home.
4 - Jones Bars and Ergon Grips
Love my Jones Bars. I started out with mountain bikes last year and still love the wide flat bars for trail riding for 1-2 hours at a time. When I switched to road riding and going longer than 2 hours the flat bars were giving me wrist and elbow grief (and I'm half your age, har har har) so I went looking for a solution.
The Jones Bars are 45 degree swept back and completely change the riding position/grip you are in. Here's a video of the inventor talking about them:
The model I went with was the Jones H-Bar Loop SG 2.5 - why? The 2.5 marks a 2.5" 'lift' in height you gain as well for more upright riding. I also went with the 710mm (vs the 660mm) as the few extra inches (behave again my friend, lol) give more grip choices and frankly the slightly wider grip at the ends of the bars is an amazing position.
The Jones SG 2.5 Aluminum Loop H-Bar retains the wide range of comfortable hand positions of the original Loop H-Bar, in a higher, 2.5" rise version.
www.jonesbikes.com
As for grips on the bars - I did start with the options from Jones. They have gel and foam choices that go on the bars right up to the junction point and are great value/cost -
Gel
This Is the Only Bike You'll Ever Need
www.jonesbikes.com
This Is the Only Bike You'll Ever Need
www.jonesbikes.com
Foam
This Is the Only Bike You'll Ever Need
www.jonesbikes.com
The gel is a bit thicker which I liked. The foam was a bit better for longer rides which I also liked.
Continue my research and knowing from my mountain bike setups - making me a fan of Ergon grips - I found they offered a particular grip style for 'swept back' handle bars - the GC1:
Gel type grip:
Ergonomic products for cyclists.
www.ergonbike.com
BioKork:
Ergonomic products for cyclists.
www.ergonbike.com
Might give the BioKork type a try, but I do love the gel style grip and you can see them on the photo I posted ealier in this thread. With the shape and design of the grip it makes for comfortable weight distribution versus just a bar grip or even their traditional grips meant for mountain bikes.
Purchasing tip: If you do give these grips a try on any swept back bars (Jones or other) - Make sure to get the 'Regular' style and not 'Rohloff/Nexus' - the Rohloff/Nexus has a shorten right grip meant to be matched with a 'twist shifter' for your derailleur.
The first set of Ergon's I ever ordered had the Nexus model shipped to me and I had to do an exchange with the vendor to correct it, hence I share my lesson learned with you.
If interested in the above configurations, Jones Bars are only sold (that I know of) from his own website that I linked to - My order was shipped to Canada without issue. The Ergon grips can be found on Amazon (watch out for the Nexus style GC1's) and other online bike retailers if you google for them. the GC1 grey gel type are harder to come by I found (and again now looking) but you can find them if you want them, The BioKork are available right away on Amazon for example:
Amazon.com : Ergon GC1 BioKork Grips, Regular : Sports & Outdoors
www.amazon.com
5 - Ride together
I believe you're in Texas? I do look forward to meeting up with awesome members from here in the years to come. I'm north of the 49th parallel (Ontario, Canada) so with the way 2020 is going I doubt I will be making any travel into the U.S. (border has been closed to non-essential travel for a few months now) until next year. That said I have a long time buddy who lives in Texas and I'm overdue to visit him and when I do I will be driving down with my bike on the carrier for sure, anything is possible.
Take care OlePhart!
Shaun
