Owning both a Giant Lafree and a Powabyke I’d always felt they would be ideal for pulling quite a sizeable amount of gear about, and that without a trailer, I was not making best use of them.The Croozer Cargo from Zwei plus zwei seemed to promise a lot (lightweight but reasonably strong construction, easy fixing to most axles, 30kg payload and a reasonably straightforward fold) and at £125 it wasn’t too expensive. Having never even ridden a cycle and trailer combination before I was understandably apprehensive about taking it out and about on West Yorkshire’s often busy roads.
One month later and I’m wondering why I ever doubted the practicality of using a trailer in general and the Croozer in particular. First-off, if you are after a heavy duty, ‘bomb-proof’ trailer for light industrial use the Croozer isn’t for you; the combination of mild steel frame and nylon sides with a plastic base is clearly built to be light (10.5kg) and manageable and as such is ideal for shopping and other everyday ‘convenience’ use (and 30kg is still a very decent maximum payload).This is a remit it carries out excellently.
The hitch is bolted onto the rear axle. A clevis pin provides a quick release
Assembly from the flat, folded item is pretty quick; pull out the sidewalls and secure with the ‘griphead’ bolts then fix on the wheels with the spring clips before slotting on the towbar and securing it with two more spring clips. Fix the coupling attachment to the bicycle hub axle and you are away – the only tool needed is a spanner to release the axle nut, unless it’s quick-release, in which case this is a tool-free operation!
The problem when riding with a moderately loaded Croozer attached to an electric bike is that you forget it’s there – potentially costly if passing through narrow access points on cycle paths.The trailer is allowed to swivel and pivot freely behind the bike by means of a spring fitting which in general works excellently, though it delivers a peculiar ‘pull-push’ effect carrying a heavy load up a steep hill as the spring stretches and compresses (the only time I noticed this was pulling a 25kg sack of compost up a steep hill with a Brompton that was not geared for hill-climbing). Attached to the Lafree this problem is much reduced.The Croozer sits nice and level behind the Brompton because of its similar 16×1.75″ wheels. As an added bonus, both trailer and cycle will take the same inner-tube.
…the experience has made me a trailer convert… motorists tend to give you more space…
The Croozer takes five minutes to fold - not a day-to-day job
The smart red nylon cover looks flimsy but strategically placed velcro provides a reasonably firm fit and at least some resistance to rain, though it’s certainly not fully waterproof. Indeed, the longevity of some of the components was my only concern. In commendably honest fashion the instructions give very helpful information on wear and tear; in particular rims, spokes and hubs should be kept as dry as possible and maintained well, as water (particularly salt water) will corrode them very quickly. Happily the straightforward construction lends itself to easy repair and modification by a competent home mechanic, for example more solid, durable sides could be fitted if heavy pointed or sharp items were a regular load.
The experience has made me a trailer convert; if anything the presence of a trailer whilst cycling makes me feel a little more at ease, as motorists tend to give you more space. It also encourages you to ride further out from the curb and take a wider line around corners – this more assertive riding style itself being a safety feature. I’m now firmly sold on the idea of towing by cycle.
Specification
Croozer Cargo £125
Weight 10.5kg (23.1lb)
Maximum Load 30kg
Cargo Hold L76cm W47cm H34cm
Cargo Hold Volume 121 litres
Folded size L85cm W60cm H15cm
Manufacturer Zwei plus zwei web www.zweipluszwei.com
UK Distributor AMBA Marketing tel 01392 840030 mail info@amba-marketing.com
