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From: Melissa Reese <melissa_at_bonnyweeboaty.net>
subject: [Paddlewise] Bicycle trailer for kayak?
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 12:43:21 -0700
Hello!

Has anyone here built themselves a kayak trailer for their bicycle? Is
there some company making them? There used to be a company called
"Farrington Chariots" that sold a bicycle trailer for kayaks and
canoes, but I can't find them anymore. Their old web address goes to
an insurance company now!

I've asked my local bicycle shop person about building one for me, and
he had some nice ideas, but ended up not having the time to do the
project. He did, however, get me the 20 inch quick release BMX tires I
wanted for it, and also recommended a flexible "universal joint" type
thingy to attach the hypothetical trailer to the rear wheel hub of the
bike. I'm not too worried about the size of the tires/trailer, as this
will not need to go into the kayak; I'll just lock it up with my
bicycle.

Unfortunately, because my bicycle shop friend is just swamped in bike
repairs (he's always busy, but this is his very busy season), I've got
some tires now, but still no trailer.

I already have a little cart I use for hauling the boat over the beach
behind my house, but it's not made for higher speeds and longer
distances. I would like to be able to pull my kayak around to some
other local put-ins/beaches as well...a range of anywhere from half a
mile to about 15 miles each way. 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.

Anyone have ideas for me?  Thanks!

-- 
PGP public keys:
mailto:pgp_keys_at_gmx.co.uk?subject=0x46C29887&Body=Please%20send%20keys

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From: <knelson_at_actionpoint.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Bicycle trailer for kayak?
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 13:27:05 -0700
Try Seakayaker magazine, issue 86 page 29. Bicycle cart plans for sea 
kayaks. Author Steve Nogode.

Kevin Nelson
knelson_at_actionpoint.com

writes:
Has anyone here built themselves a kayak trailer for their bicycle? 
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.

Anyone have ideas for me?  Thanks!

-- 



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From: Alex Ferguson <a.ferguson_at_chem.canterbury.ac.nz>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Bicycle trailer for kayak?
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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From: Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe <aldercreek_at_qwest.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Bicycle trailer for kayak?
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 17:52:45 -0700
try www.xtracycle.com.

We just got our demo and, as we speak,we're hooking it up to an ol' beater
mt. bike for a new shop bike.  It seems to have lots of options including a
kayak carrier.

steve
Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe    N   45º 39' 47"
250 NE Tomahawk Isle Dr.     W 122º 36' 16"
Portland, OR  97217          Web: www.aldercreek.com
Phone: 503.285.0464        Email: aldercreek_at_qwest.net

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From: Philip Pugliese <prova1_at_bellsouth.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Bicycle trailer for kayak?
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 16:26:22 -0400
Hello,

You might find this site interesting:
http://www.idcnet.com/~maryjrs2/bike-kayak/

Good luck.
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From: Peter Rathmann <prathman_at_attbi.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Bicycle trailer for kayak?
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 18:35:20 -0700
http://www.bikesatwork.com/products/spine_trailer.shtml

Melissa Reese wrote:

> Has anyone here built themselves a kayak trailer for their bicycle? Is
> there some company making them? There used to be a company called
> "Farrington Chariots" that sold a bicycle trailer for kayaks and
> canoes, but I can't find them anymore. Their old web address goes to
> an insurance company now!

Yes, I believe they were located in Santa Cruz which is a good town to
see both kayaks and surfboards being towed around by bicycle. I wasn't
able to find a current website for them either.  There is a commercial
solution at:
http://www.bikesatwork.com/products/spine_trailer.shtml which lets you
mount standard Yakima rack accessories for carrying kayaks, canoes, etc.

I've used a simpler approach, but it only works for a fairly long kayak
and a large bike frame.  I put the kayak on a regular kayak/canoe cart
with pneumatic wheels (mine are about 16") and then fasten the bow to
the bike saddle rails with a couple short bungee cords wrapped very
tightly around the rails so the bow is held in place directly under the
saddle but can pivot when going around corners. This only works if
there's lots of clearance between the saddle and the rear wheel.
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From: Alan Bristol <columbinedude_at_yahoo.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Bicycle trailer for kayak?
Date: Sat, 29 Jun 2002 15:59:32 -0700 (PDT)
--- Melissa Reese <melissa_at_bonnyweeboaty.net> wrote:
> Hello!
> 
> Has anyone here built themselves a kayak trailer for their
> bicycle? Is there some company making them?...

Greetings,

EZTop (Also in Seakayaker magazine, issue 86 page 29, February
2002 along with the bicycle cart plans previously mentioned here)
makes a bicycle hitch for their "trolly".

http://goeztop.com/access.html

Look at the "additional trolly" and the "ez-top bicycle
attachment" links. One trolly (US$399.00) plus one bicycle
attachment US$69.95) equals one kayak trailer for a bike. In all
fairness this system adapts roof rack components for use as a
trailer.

I considered this product until reviewing the offerings from
Bikes at Work.

http://www.bikesatwork.com/products

Now I think I'll get an "S" frame or truss frame trailer from
them that I can use for all kinds of hauling including my kayaks.
These look to be well designed trailers from real bicycle users
and it's roughly the same cost as the eztop products.

My purpose for commenting is, perhaps with the parts you already
have you could reverse engineer the best features of these
designs to come up with a unique design that fits your own
needs/budget.

Also if you get a lead on the Farrington's Chariots I'd like to
know.

Thanks all,
Alan

Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com
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