{"id":127,"date":"2008-06-12T18:08:39","date_gmt":"2008-06-13T02:08:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.curlybrace.com\/words\/?p=127"},"modified":"2008-10-07T14:56:35","modified_gmt":"2008-10-07T22:56:35","slug":"bob-yak-plus-versus-ibex-versus-panniers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.curlybrace.com\/words\/2008\/06\/bob-yak-plus-versus-ibex-versus-panniers\/","title":{"rendered":"B.O.B. Yak Plus versus Ibex versus Panniers"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Trailers versus Panniers<\/h3>\n

Based upon my online research, the trailer versus pannier debate will rage on forever. Panniers have the advantage of not requiring you to worry about a trailer. Trailers have the advantage of reducing your frontal area (and therefore wind drag), and in theory don’t require wheels nor frame as beefy as those needed to haul gear in panniers.<\/p>\n

Both panniers and trailers can negatively affect handling. The degree to which they do, and the respective solutions, seem to vary tremendously by usage patterns. Overloading a trailer, particularly while putting most of the weight forward, is sure to cause handling trouble. Similarly, a heavy, low-slung rear pannier can badly disrupt handling.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, there is no clear winner on any objective, universal, technical basis. It seems to be a personal decision, based upon one’s intended usage. Therefore, since I really don’t see any reason to own yet another bicycle solely for mid-weight touring, I will be buying a BOB trailer and attaching it to my carbon-framed, triple-chainring roadbike.<\/p>\n

Now the question becomes, which trailer to purchase?<\/p>\n

The Trailers<\/h3>\n

BOB makes two trailers, the Ibex<\/a> and the Yak<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\nBOB Ibex trailer<\/a>   BOB Yak trailer<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Ibex offers 3″ of adjustable, damped suspension travel, weighs 3.5 pounds more, is silver instead of black, and costs an extra $70.<\/p>\n

Nomenclature<\/h3>\n

The only difference between the base and the “PLUS” models is the inclusion of the yellow, roll-top BOB bag (“DRY SAK” dry bag). The “28” versions are for 28″ wheels, 29″ mountain bikes, and 700cc road bikes with full-wrap fenders<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Specifications<\/h3>\n

This section lists the specifications for each, as reported on the BOB website<\/a>. All differences are listed in bold<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Ibex:<\/p>\n