Re: [Paddlewise] Bicycle trailer for kayak?

From: Alex Ferguson <a.ferguson_at_chem.canterbury.ac.nz>
Date: Thu, 27 Jun 2002 09:09:17 +1200
>Has anyone here built themselves a kayak trailer for their bicycle?

Yes. George got a friend to build him one.

>  He did, however, get me the 20 inch quick release BMX tires I
>wanted for it,

That's about the size and type though George's trailer used Swiss hubs with 
a centre push-pin for quick release.

>  and also recommended a flexible "universal joint" type
>thingy to attach the hypothetical trailer to the rear wheel hub of the
>bike

One way of doing it. The hitch can be a short thick piece of rubber with a 
twist in it. The towbar has to have a bit of a curve to get away from the 
back of the back wheel and then back in line with the centre line of the 
bike. The alternative is a hitch just behind the seat with the fitting 
attached to the seatpost. Because of the use of a saddle bag and possibly a 
load on the carrier, George has a frame round the back of the back wheel 
with a towball fitted to it.

>.a range of anywhere from half a mile to about 15 miles each way.

How about 300 or 400 km? George has done that, reckoned it slowed his 
average touring speed by about 2 km per hour. Remember that's fully loaded 
touring and the kayak was a plastic Nimbus/Quality Kayaks Puffin (not the 
newer folding design), at least 30+ kg.

>I'm really getting tired of having to
>use the car for all these little distances, and I'd much rather be
>riding my bike than driving anyway.

George has never had a car licence and never will. He's cycle toured many 
places in the world.

The trailer is only an "axle" holding the wheels and a towbar extending 
from that. A small front cradle or bow attachment and there's your trailer, 
a skeleton. It could be all bolted and the hardest bit would be bending the 
towbar/spine at the front end if using an axle tow point.

Take a look at the kids' trailers for ideas.

Alex
.
.

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Received on Wed Jun 26 2002 - 14:09:24 PDT

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