Veolo 2.0 bike trailer review

Fun fact: In her private life, BB author NoMan consistently ignores the more recent and very latest revolutions in the bicycle world. Her tried-and-tested setup for the annual active holiday with the family and a self-imposed no-car policy in the beautiful Salzkammergut: two KTM trekking bikes from the previous millennium of development – no motor, no battery, no frills; a Thule bike trailer – old and worn, but versatile; plus the Woom appropriate for the child’s age at the time.
But then the much-loved Thule went up in flames. A first attempt at the Salzkammergut without the green old-timer proved unsatisfactory, because how were we supposed to cram all the stuff needed for long days between mountains and lakes into just four panniers? Where would we hang the towels to dry after swimming and air out our sweaty jerseys? How would we transport a fortnight’s worth of indulgent shopping to the holiday home? And how would we get our offspring home when she no longer wanted to ride herself?

At least the last of those problems has since resolved itself. When the motivation is there, NoMan junior now simply pedals away from her elders. When enthusiasm wanes, there are tow ropes – quite apart from the fact that no eight-year-old in the world still fits into a Thule Chariot.
That left the matter of transporting luggage this summer. Complicated by the fact that a stand-up paddleboard has recently joined the household and holiday inventory – a Lite model with slightly reduced packed dimensions and weight so that, naturally, it can still be transported reasonably well by bike; but ultimately still a full-sized SUP (plus two paddles), not a baby’s inflatable mattress.

Against that backdrop, Johann Schmidt’s press release in May this year arrived at just the right time. In it, Veolo’s managing director presented his revised trailer, which was to be brought to production readiness with the help of a Kickstarter campaign.
„If you have any questions, are interested in product reviews or would like further information, please get in touch at any time. I’m always happy to listen,“ the industrial designer promised in his letter. And he kept his word.
NoMan, meanwhile, added her thoroughly modern (so she does embrace progress after all!) Trek Fuel EX-e to her antiquated holiday setup. Firstly, because the press material expressly certified the Veolo 2.0 as suitable for e-bikes, which naturally had to be put to the proof. And secondly, because a growing child does not make her mother any younger or indeed fitter – something that had recently become quite noticeable during the occasional tow …
In tranquil Bad Goisern, everything that would belong together for the next three weeks – the latter part spent in the Waldviertel, where most of the review photos were also taken – finally came together: single-track bicycles, a two-track trailer and a family of three.

On paper, the Veolo 2.0 clearly made an immediate impression: the crowdfunding target of 120,000 euros was more than surpassed, with exactly € 185.997,- raised. For anyone who no longer remembers the technical details or does not want to reread the entire Bikeboard presentation, here are the essentials in brief:

The Veolo 2.0 is a modular, suspended bike trailer designed for bikes with 20- to 29-inch wheels, boasting a maximum payload of 60 kg while weighing just 6.7 kg itself.
Compared with its predecessor, the two-track trailer has been purposefully revised: the aluminium frame is now 10 cm narrower and 10 cm longer, which, together with the optimised wheelbase and low centre of gravity (ground clearance beneath the textile shell: 16 cm), is intended to provide particularly stable road manners. No more than 68 cm wide with the wheels fitted via practical Quick-Lock hubs, the trailer will also pass through anywhere a standard bicycle handlebar can – while the base shell has room for two drinks crates or large Euro containers.

Tech Specs

The technical centrepiece is the chassis damping concept. The patented, CNC-machined and forged independent wheel suspension allows the two wheels to compress independently of one another. This system is combined with low-maintenance elastomer suspension integrated into the frame, providing progressive damping and adjustable for different loads (5-45 kg/40-60 kg).
To connect it to the tow bike, the model relies on another revised coupling system based on the established Thule principle. Compared with the previous model, this coupling has shed a fair amount of weight and now weighs just 65 grams (according to the manufacturer, the lightest on the market), can be operated conveniently and in a flash with just one hand, and is even lockable.

A literally load-bearing role is played by the hard-wearing textile shell reinforced with carbon and rubber, which provides robust support and cleverly combines lightweight ripstop material with quick-drying mesh fabric through which liquids can simply drain away.
At the front, an integrated deflector protects the frame from damage and prevents objects from becoming lodged between the wheel and trailer. The frame design is complemented by an integrated support which – and this is where users of single-track trailers will probably turn green with envy – allows the trailer to stand when parked.
A clever add-on rounds off the package: with a compatible wall mount (€ 39,-), the trailer can be folded flat and stored vertically in an area of around one square metre.

To return to the practical use case outlined at the beginning: our main aim was relaxed family cruising from lake to lake or swimming spot to swimming spot, sometimes simply taking the most child-friendly route from A to B, but occasionally conceived as a “proper” bike (and mountain) tour with age-appropriate demands, followed by a leap into the cool water.
The trailer therefore carried everything father, mother and child needed for days like these: picnic blanket, towels, books, water toys and other playthings, plenty of provisions, swimwear and flip-flops, charger and/or range extender, always rain jackets and long trousers, sturdy footwear, daypack, first-aid kit and, depending on the planned access to the water, the packed SUP and its accessories too.
With the stand-up paddleboard, things became a little tight inside the yellow bag, though its comparatively slim pack did just about slide in lengthwise. Without the board, the weatherproof Veolo Bag 2.0 offered pure luxury in terms of space.

We soon came to appreciate that the enormous main compartment could be divided into three equally sized sections using two Velcro dividers – the key phrase being separation of goods. Small items, straps, tools and miscellaneous bits and pieces went into the two side pockets at the narrow ends, where they were easy to find again. A zip would add a stronger sense of security while riding; in practice, however, not a single item of luggage ever came remotely close to escaping.
The combination of a roll-top closure and crossed elastic cord, tensioned with a cord lock, is an extremely flexible solution. It guarantees quick access and waterproof storage as well as efficient compression, and can either maximise the bag’s internal storage space or secure additional luggage, clothing and so on on top.

In general, the bag feels very robust and well made, with all its reinforcements, tabs, padding, straps and eyelets. Fitting it via the Fidlock mounts is child’s play and quickly done. Carrying it when loaded, despite the padded shoulder strap, could prove challenging given its dimensions – we carefully avoided trying, because that is what a cargo trailer is for.
Our only criticism of the bag concerns the two side carrying straps. They tend to rub against the wheels. A press stud or similar fastener to hold them in place could remedy this and render our improvised lashing-strap solution obsolete.

More out of curiosity than necessity, we also used the Watersports Set for visits solely to our “local beaches” on Hallstättersee and Kamp, each around five kilometres away. After all, inflating and deflating a SUP is hard work. Being able to skip that chore now and then and set off from the house ready for action certainly has its appeal – never mind the consistently extraordinary experience of being a Long Vehicle.
The brackets from the Long Load setup, however, accompanied us almost all the time – and not merely because fitting them proved stiff and fiddly in one case*. They served as a handy pushing aid, clothes rail, shade support and washing line, and therefore scored full marks in the family vote for favourite accessory.

*Together with product designer Johann Schmidt, we identified holes drilled slightly off-centre in the tube as the reason for the attachment problems on our prototype. As the Veolo founder assured us, the tube-machining tools have since been optimised, so nothing should jam in series production.

Turn a bicycle into a transporter almost exactly three times as long and twice as heavy, and it inevitably loses its usual handling characteristics. Accordingly, Johann Schmidt does not recommend such a long vehicle for lengthy distances and/or demanding terrain. His invention was probably inspired by short trips to the beach or shuttle runs between launch and exit points.
Nevertheless, it was astonishing how untroubled and, above all, manoeuvrable NoMan’s e-MTB remained despite the XXL appendage – a single-lane road plus the verge was enough to turn around, for example. At first, you fear taking off over every bump; then you quickly regain your faith in gravity and company. And just as prematurely as you picture the whole thing swaying and rocking, you soon realise with amazement: actually, it works!
Within reason, of course. A rig like this tolerates neither abrupt changes in speed nor brainless cornering lines. We would avoid urban areas, heavily used cycle paths and busy roads with it. But the lonely meadow track to Untersee or the gravel road through the vineyards beside the Kamp – why not? Keep speed and gradient reasonably constant, and progress is surprisingly straightforward. Quite apart from the fact that the looks from other people are genuinely entertaining.

Far more often, we used the short drawbar with a more or less heavy load in the yellow bag. And here the Veolo 2.0 soon proved to be an impressively complete package.
First things first: true trail aficionados may criticise the limited off-road capability of a two-track trailer, since a single-track model follows more easily, especially over obstacles lying in the trail. Seven years of everyday life and holidays with the Thule Chariot, however, have taught NoMan that stable footing when parked and uncoupled is at least equally important, that a useful child-carrier or handcart function decisively expands the range of uses, and that the frequently cited problem of getting stuck is more theoretical than real. Choose your line and speed with foresight, and two-wheeled designs can manage an astonishing amount. Not least because the centre of gravity is low, allowing the tow bike’s handling to remain familiar.
The Veolo 2.0 has another advantage: thanks to its angled wheels, tipping over while riding seems impossible. We honestly tried – without success.

In general, however, route planning was guided by the desire not to put NoMan junior off cycling. So, for now, there were no extremes in terms of technical difficulty, trail surface or gradient in either direction. Most of the selected routes could just as comfortably have been ridden on a gravel bike: well-maintained gravel roads, romantic meadow tracks, quiet back roads, familiar cycle paths and only the occasional short stretch over roots and rocks. In that respect, the Veolo 2.0 certainly was not pushed to its limits.
Yet even in soft mode, its superb handling was noticeable from the outset. It sat planted and followed nimbly – no breaking away, no sliding. Even when things became a little rougher or deeper (highlight: a gravel bed on the banks of the Traun), the trailer felt convincingly stable. Above all, though, it always worked with the tow bike, never against it. If you know the “tugging” at the coupling and the fore-and-aft pitching that always runs counter to your pedal strokes, especially when riding out of the saddle: not with the Veolo 2.0.
This is worth its weight in gold when paired with an e-bike: blasting off in Turbo mode, hammering over obstacles with Boost, the typically binary response when setting off ... all perfectly conceivable with the Veolo, which always feels like part of the tow bike.

An e-MTB is not particularly bothered by around 20 kg of extra weight, even if it is a Lite model. Battery consumption confirms that impression. When braking, it certainly does no harm to account for the extra weight in good time. But claiming that stopping distances increase dramatically would be an exaggeration.
Things were different with the trekking bike, which NoMan also took out for two short trailer tours for fun. As chance would have it, the KTM still had the axle and coupling for the Thule fitted. A quick swap of the mount and off we went – albeit with enthusiasm firmly in check. For one thing, the Veolo 2.0 was noticeably more demanding on calves now left entirely to their own devices. For another, the trekking bike’s modest tyre width and tread soon put an end to the fun – and the traction – on some steep gravel sections, both uphill and downhill.

Speaking of axles, coupling and mount: these and many other elements reveal just how thoroughly the Leipzig team has considered virtually every detail of its trailer. And the fact that no instructions were yet available when the trailer was assembled, yet everything was quickly completed, demonstrates just how intuitive the solutions are.
Even technical innocents such as NoMan, for example, can immediately understand the explanations of axle standards and dropout designs on the product website, allowing even the greatest fool to work out how the coupling is fitted and what is needed to do so.
Equally self-explanatory are all the lovely click mechanisms, from securing the drawbar’s ball head and the magnetic Fidlock attachment points to the Quick-Lock hubs, which allow the wheels to be fitted or removed in seconds.

Only the end of the drawbar prompted family debate. Would we ever manage at the first attempt to wrap the Kevlar cord, intended as an emergency safety tether, around the frame and feed it through the loop in such a way that the little ball did not begin dangling and rattling annoyingly, or even become tangled in the brake disc? Johann Schmidt tells us that this solution, borrowed from sailing, had already proven itself on the previous model and works well. If necessary, the cord needs to be shortened to the appropriate length so that it cannot reach the wheel or disc brake. Fair enough – except that we were hardly going to start cutting up borrowed review equipment.
The otherwise extremely clever stand also proved too feeble, regularly folding away when we tried to park the trailer. On closer inspection, however, the mount rather than the stainless-steel bracket itself appeared to be the weak point. Still just a simple 3D print on the prototype, it will be significantly reinforced for series production so that the plastic component can withstand the loads.

Whether as a two-wheeled shopping trolley, mobile boathouse or reliable cuddly-toy express, the Veolo 2.0 with Bag and Watersports Set offers uses as versatile as they are enjoyable. With its impressive capacity on the one hand and delightfully freaky Long Load setup on the other, it is a well-conceived companion for all manner of holiday activities, from lake-hopping to the big grocery run. Paired with further modules, it probably also has what it takes to become an urban hero and dog sitter.

Lightweight, manoeuvrable and stable, the new trailer impresses on short outings and longer journeys alike with its genuinely excellent handling. Never a foreign object but always a contributing part of the system, it also seems robust enough to tackle long, arduous journeys without complaint.
Combined with its intuitive handling and only a few criticisms – all of which, apart from the rubbing carrying straps, are likely to disappear by series production – the newcomer is a hot tip for fans of two-wheeled trailer designs that offer added value.