Earlier this year, we launched an updated version of the award-winning Travoy cargo trailer. This trailer’s unparalleled versatility makes it a great option for commuters and recreational riders alike. In the years since we first debuted the Travoy, we’ve received numerous emails and messages from customers sharing how this innovative trailer has helped them upgrade their commute. We wanted to get a better understanding of the range of uses people have found for the Travoy, so we interviewed three current Travoy owners to find out about their real-world experiences with this compact, multipurpose trailer. Thanks to Dave Guettler, Greg Berry, and Patti McNutt for sharing your stories with us!
Dave GuettlerQ: Tell us about yourself.A: I got into the bike industry in 1979 to support my habit as a musician. I started out at Pullins Cycles in Chico CA, building used bikes from a 10' high pile of old junk bikes in the cellar of the store. Later, I became a partner in a chain of bike stores in the San Francisco area before moving to Portland in 1995 to open my dream store River City Bicycles. I still play bass and guitar about every day.
Q:How long have you owned a Travoy?A: I've been using a Travoy for about 5 years.
Q:How do you use your Travoy?A: I started out using it for just groceries, then figured out a way I can transport my bass, amp, and music stand to rehearsals and gigs for my big band. We also use one for our Saturday night beer runs at River City Bicycles, although recently it got stolen out of our entryway. I also gave one to Luciano, who does the announcing at all the OBRA races here in Portland. He carries a small PA system with it.
Q: What was your first impression of the Travoy?A: My first impression was, “This is slick!” I can carry things pretty easily that are even difficult with a “long bike.” I can lock up my bike and easily detach the Travoy and walk around the store or wheel my music equipment right up to the stage.
Q: How has the Travoy changed your commuting/biking experience?A: The Travoy allowed me to get rid of my car. I used to only use the car on Tuesday evenings for rehearsal but decided to get rid of it three years ago. Haven't missed it at all.
Q:What tips do you have for getting the most use out of your Travoy?A: The only thing I tell people to be careful about is leaning while going around corners- since there isn't a universal joint at the connection to the seat post, it's relatively easy to flip. I have had that happen 5-6 times. It is easy to haul stuff in straight lines, just don't try to rip through corners. The new design lets people hook it up to E-bikes easier- the yoke can be adjusted to clear racks and fenders.
Q:What would you say to someone considering purchasing a Travoy?A: I tell people all the time what I use for, and I can see the wheels turning in their heads- everyone has stuff that is difficult to move.
Greg BerryQ: Tell us about yourself.A: Hi! I’m Greg from the Crank Revolution Podcast. I’ve been called many things: roadie, groadie, late again, and goof ball that understands that no matter the distance of a bike ride, a post-ride beer is always warranted. By day, I’m a Regional Sales Manager developing mobile hydraulic equipment in the Chicagoland area. I started out barely being able to ride 10 miles at a time and eventually worked my way up to riding 100 mile plus days. Balance in life is simple, work to eat, eat to live, live to bike, bike to work.
Q: How long have you owned a Travoy?A:My pack mule experience began in March 2020. Pretty sure it was a Wednesday.
Q: How do you use your Travoy?A:To the people who believe 10 miles a day is a long ride I tell them I get extra exercise by doing simple errands with it. To my cycling club, I use it for weighted interval trainings; 40 lbs of kitty litter one day, many cases of beer the next, or even lugging around mobile video equipment for my bike shop’s podcast.
Q: What was your first impression of the Travoy?A:My brain can be a bit goofy, my first two thoughts went from, “WHAT IS THIS ORIGAMI CONTRAPTION?!,” to, “I don’t ever need another cart again at the grocery store.” In that moment a life goal was achieved that I was unaware of needing completion.
Q: How has the Travoy changed your commuting/biking experience?A:The only way to haul items previously was in a pannier bag. Do not make the mistake of losing a yogurt container in a pannier. The smell is terrible, and the bag should be destroyed in the quickest way possible because that expired dairy smell is never going to leave it.
Q: Have you found any non-biking uses for the Travoy?
A:My brother actually thought it would make an excellent golf caddy with a gravel bike. He wasn’t wrong but the golf course landscapers were not happy with my bike tires on their beautiful lawns. I feel guilty in admitting this, but it also makes unloading my car STUPID simple.
Q: What tips do you have for getting the most use out of your Travoy?A:If you need to travel within five miles from the house for a task, ride your mighty steed and use the Travoy. Why? You can skip leg day at the gym (huge win), and even in the ‘burbs most shopping is within three miles and the money you save by not using your car can be used to get a tasty treat. The treat is justified as the engine requires fuel, such as ice cream, or chips and dip!
Q: Anything else we should know?A:The frame bars are bit too narrow to attach a GoPro. How can I make my commute look without a GoPro?! In all seriousness I wish there was more room on the frame to attach additional reflectors without cutting the wheel guard fabric.
Q: What would you say to someone considering purchasing a Travoy?A:Alright, let’s get serious. If you want to find a bit more exercise or ride your bike more then let me save you some mental gymnastics. Buy it. Will you use it every day? Depends on where you live. Will you use it often? Way more than you’d actually believe. Also, it turns heads.
Patti McNuttQ: Tell us about yourself.A:I was born in Dayton, Ohio a million years ago. I moved to Eugene, Oregon in 1985 with my recalcitrant* five-year-old son, Daniel. After meeting Michael (and marrying him on 8-8-88) for some insane reason we decided to have yet another incorrigible* child, Jackson. I have been a full-time plein air and studio artist for about fourteen years (which happened just about the same time as the “nest” emptied, aka “booting them out and turning the resultant space into a studio”).
*DISCLAIMER FROM PATTI: both boys are actually awesome human beings in spite of their upbringing.
Q: How long have you owned a Travoy?A:I’ve owned a Travoy for about five years.
Q: How do you use your Travoy?A:I used to belong to the cadre of plein air artists who packed everything but the kitchen sink in a REI backpack. This included painting necessities such as red wine, paints, easel, canvas, turpentine, etc. It was HEAVY but I was young and lording it over everyone else who had an assortment of carrying methods.
Well, this lasted until about five years ago when I broke my arm/shoulder. Argh. Couldn’t carry a glass of red wine with my left arm (can you see a trend here?). Anyway, my husband, who thought he would become my new packhorse unless he took countermeasures, obtained my first Burley Travoy.
Q: What was your first impression of the Travoy?A:It was love at first sight!
Q: How has the Travoy changed your commuting/biking experience?
A:What a lifesaver! I took my original Travoy everywhere. I could easily pull the bags off the little knobs and throw them, piece by piece in the back of the rig. The frame itself was a nominal weight so I could one-arm everything! I actually never went back to using the backpack, unless it is an actual uphill, like Mt. Pisgah, Spencer Butte, etc.
Q: Have you found any non-biking uses for the Travoy?A:The Travoy has taken the plein air painting world by storm. It is a popular prize given during painting events and we artists love new art supplies as much as we do red wine... (had to get that in here again, just for kicks). I was teaching a painting workshop in Canada and now artists in British Columbia have started to need/buy/want the Travoy (they also love the Willamette Valley Pinot Noir...).
Q:Anything else we should know?A:I think the pull-down kickstand is the best part of the upgraded Travoy. The single post on the previous model would sink in the ground at the most inconvenient times. I think one other upgrade that would be great would be to have backpack straps on the back of the lower bag (my broken bone has healed and sometimes I am scrambling over rougher terrain than even the wonderful bike-tire wheels can handle). Oh yes, and a cup-holder....just a thought.
Have you found other innovative uses for the Travoy? Send us your story by emailing mktg@burley.com for a chance to be featured in a future blog post or newsletter.
