Trailers typically connect with a lug off the side of the rear wheel quick release. Just about any frame with a quick release rear axle and flat dropouts should work.Devilchrono wrote: ↑Fri Sep 28, 2018 10:03 am So, now that little man is 1, and the wife and I have decided we need to start getting more active along with him, we're looking at getting outside more this coming Spring. Easiest option I can see, besides walking the neighborhood and small park down the street, would be getting bikes and a trailer type thing for one of them. We can't break the bank on anything, but I was wondering if I could get pointed in the right direction of some bikes that would be inexpensive, reliable, and could handle both road and unpaved (but heavily packed) dirt/gravel trail. Obviously, everything would be super low speed and no going balls to the wall.
Fatter tires are more comfortable, especially on gravel. Knobby tires will have rolling resistance and vibration on pavement.
Disc brakes won't matter much at lower price points. Bad discs aren't any better than decent rim brakes.
Stay away from low end suspension forks and rear suspension in general. Not necessary for path bikes, and will only add weight, complexity, and they'll likely stop working if they even worked at all in the first place. Carbon forks will be the smoothest. Steel is pretty good but heavier. Aluminum although lighter than steel will likely be the roughest riding fork.
Frame wise, either aluminum or steel, avoid low end carbon fiber.
Drivetrain wise, avoid Shimano Tourney, Altus, Acera. I'd suggest Claris or Sora as the lowest, with Tiagra, 105, or Deore (MTB) being really nice bits of kit.
Here's a nice Cannondale Quick. 32mm tires are really nice and cushy, 1x10 gearing is easier to figure out as you only have one shifter to deal with, Deore MTB parts means it's unlikely to break or need much servicing. Aluminum fork isn't great but the fat tires will probably mask any harshness from the fork.
https://www.cannondale.com/en/USA/Bike/ ... =undefined
Surly Cross Check is a great bike that comes with beefy tires, simple brakes, great parts, and a frame/fork that's known for smooth ride and being absolutely bomb proof. Should be around $1000 MSRP with shops frequently having these on sale. I love these bikes, you can build it into anything you can imagine. The super fat tires are a big plus on this IMO, 41's are serious meats and bigger than what I have on my cross bike.
https://surlybikes.com/bikes/cross_check/bike_specs
This Specialized Sirrus is pretty nice looking. 2x9 drivetrain with Sora parts is alright, nice big 32mm tires, carbon fiber fork and aluminum frame, and comes in a few colors.
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/mens- ... 677-128883
And lastly I think Fuji makes great entry price bikes. Their aluminum frames are really nice, and they typically include better parts for less because they don't have the badge that Cannondale and Specialized do. Here's a nice Sportif 2.1 with aluminum frame, carbon fork, and new Sora parts. Geometry on this puts you more upright than a racy road bike, but it's more road oriented than the others I posted.
http://www.fujibikes.com/usa/bikes/road ... portif-2-1
Keep in mind you can always go cheaper than this, just that parts quality starts to really dive off a cliff. If you're not riding it a whole lot that might be fine. If you want to ride it a lot, I'd personally spend a bit more to get more durable components. I would suggest getting a bike from a local bike shop. They'll make sure it was assembled correctly and help you set it up so you aren't hurting yourself from a bad position on it. Most will also give you a free 30 day tune up, necessary because new cables and housing stretch and then the shifting gets all fucked up and needs to be adjusted.
Kind of goes without saying, but you'll need accessories if you don't already have them. A pump is a must. And I strongly recommend helmet, rear blinky light, water bottles and cages. You might want a flag on the trailer as they sit low and can be harder to see.