I had some excitement of my own yesterday. I spent the morning packing up thatBurley Nomad trailer for our trip to Death Valley. I didn't have everything but all the clothes and sleeping bag . I went swimming, to lunch and to Walmart to get my watchband replaced. I didn't want to do a ride since my legs were tired but the sun was out when I left the pool enticing me. When I left Walmart, however, it had begun to rain lightly.

Still I wanted to try that trailer. Okay, I'll hitch it up and do a couple of miles--maybe Peasly to test its weight on a hill, I thought. I hitched it to the bike but it was at a sharp angle to the bike and I physically moved it more behind the bike accidentally tipping the bike onto its left side. When I stood the bike up, the tow bar hung loosely in its safety strap.

The hitch had broken in two.

Hitchless 001

I hadn't liked the look and feel of that metal when I installed it but there are lots of these hitches out there right? I called Burley thinking I might have to threaten 'em with pics of a broken hitch sent to every bike blog and site I could fine. But someone named Val apologized and is sending me not one but two styles of hitch.

I like the idea of having a second hitch 'cause that accident could happen again. But perhaps she was right that this wasn't a design flaw but a flawed hitch. Burley certainly is being solicitous about the problem.

Makes you think about being in the middle of Death Valley, hitchless.

--Corrie