Anyone who reads my postings in this forum knows that I'm full of crazy ideas. This posting is no different-
I purchased an inflatable pontoon boat that folds up into a backpack and I'd like to use it in conjunction with my bike. The idea is that I park my car next to the river. Ride my bike, with the boat in it's backpack up the greenway trail a couple miles and assemble the boat. I load the bike onto the boat and float/paddle back to where my car is parked. Fun times.
Below are some "stock" pictures of the boat. I have mine on order but have not recieved it yet so I don't have exact dimensions but there is some info @ http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4810362 or you can Google "Arrow Pontoon" and find a million outdoor websites selling this model.
The simplest solution I could think of was buying a cheap inflatable "dingy" boat and using it as a sort of boat-pulled trailer to hold my bike. I also considered trying to retro-fit a car-top bicycle rack to mount on the back of the boat. Weight and portability of the bike mounting system are major concerns because the pack already weighs 40+lbs. I know we have some inventive people in here- anyone got other sugestions for tramsporting the bike on the boat? The "river" I would be rowing is wide and deep like a lake so no worries about rapids or white water. I know a folding bike would be perfect but there must be a cheaper solution.
Some pictures-
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/Arrow2.jpg
Your idea of a cheap inflatable dinghy is probably the best. I might look to see if I could find something that would snug up behind the pontoon, maybe even nestled in between the pontoons for ease of handling. Even if you could mount the bike on the pontoon boat I would be worried about carrying the weight up high. It sounds like a very cool idea and I guess it could let you take some long trips switching between bike and rowing as the terrain or your preference worked out.
tsl
03-18-08, 11:06 AM
Hmmm. I'm thinking that mounted to a 'bent and folded up in a pannier sort of arrangement, you could have a recumbent amphibious version of this:
Kimmitt
03-18-08, 12:52 PM
Instead of a car rack, how about a pair of long straps to loop around the pontoons, combined with a couple of rags to keep the axle nuts from poking too hard into the pontoons? Then you could loosen your stem, slide your handlebars so that they're sticking out only barely to one side, and lay the bike on the pontoons. Follow that up by looping a couple of tie-downs around the pontoons and through the wheels, and with a little tension, you might be ok.
Followup ideas:
If weight distribution is an issue, remove the wheels and strap them to the parts of the pontoons which are in front of you.
How rigid is that seat? Can you balance the bike on the rear pontoons (standing) and use some sort of attachment mechanism on the seat to keep it from tipping? Then the weight stays in the middle...
squirtdad
03-18-08, 01:41 PM
would using a folding bike make the boat trip back easier? and another fun bike object :)
StephenH
03-18-08, 03:32 PM
Find an old frame-type backpack. Remove the bag part, strap the bike on so it sticks out 2' to either side. You might have to modify the seat so you could sit down with it.
To be honest, if I was doing this I'd invest another $60 in a disposable Walmart bicycle as well.
Another idea: I'll bet two of those foam noodles would support a bike's weight.
HandsomeRyan
03-18-08, 04:52 PM
would using a folding bike make the boat trip back easier? and another fun bike object :)
My wife wants me to tell you that you are a very bad influence. :D
mparker326
03-19-08, 09:39 AM
Why not lock up the bike and drive back and get it? I know that it would depend on how close the stretch of greenway would be to road. If it is where I think it is, there would be plenty of access.
Juha
03-19-08, 10:34 AM
Disclaimers: not trying to rain on your parade. My background is in sea kayaking, where safety comes first.
With that out of the way: your inflatable boat is not going to offer the best manouverability and stability in the river as it is, even if there's no white water or rapids. With the dinghy on tow, it may not be clear which is leading and which is following. Tow line may get stuck or wrapped around something (such as your own boat). Dinghy may develop a leak. Etc.
At the very least make very sure you're able to cut the towline poste haste. There are special line cutters available, those are easier to use and safer around inflatables than some leatherman with gazillion sharp blades pointing every which way. Don't count on being able to disconnect a towline "lock" of any kind, let alone open knots in a hurry.
There seems to be a little platform behind the seat. I'd look into getting a small folder and a drysack big enough to stuff the folder into. Then strap the drysack on the platform.
--J
dmac49
03-19-08, 11:47 AM
Most likely the best idea would be to tow a small inflatable behind. But before you do you must consider the towed vessel will be much easier to tow if it has skeg or a rudder that can be fixed in one position. Towing anything without one is somewhat difficult. Anytime you add weight above the waterline you raise your center of gravity. This creates the increase possibility of capsizing. The numerous sharp items on any bicycle creates a puncture issue. If it was a folder in a case I would feel more comfortable about it on the boat with me as it would by virtue of the case protect from punctures. I'm still not a fan of carrying anything on the boat with me. I am also not a fan of most inflatables. One alternative would be a FoldBoat or a Klepper. They have several models that may fit your needs. Both companies have folding canvas type boats that can carry a large volume of cargo and are extremely seaworthy craft, and fold down for easy compact travel.
HandsomeRyan
03-19-08, 11:58 AM
Why not lock up the bike and drive back and get it? I know that it would depend on how close the stretch of greenway would be to road. If it is where I think it is, there would be plenty of access.
Not an option.
Since you are local I'll explain my planned route- I hope to park at one of the parking lots off Cherokee Blvd and ride the Cherokee Blvd/3rd Creek/Neyland greenways to put in the boat under the James White Parkway Bridge. Almost every time I ride down there I see a parking lot full of glass from smashed windows. I also see used needles, meth heads living out of their cars, and other indicators that no ammount of fancy locks will protect my bike from harm if I leave it parked there.
...your inflatable boat is not going to offer the best manouverability and stability in the river as it is, even if there's no white water or rapids. With the dinghy on tow, it may not be clear which is leading and which is following. Tow line may get stuck or wrapped around something (such as your own boat). Dinghy may develop a leak. Etc.
This is an excelent point. I think tucking the dingy into the space between the pontoons would be a good idea to prevent the raft/bike from going crazy. Most dingys (even cheap ones) have multiple air bladders so one leak should not send the bike to the bottom of the lake.
There are a lot of powerboats that use this stretch of river so tipping from side to side because of boat wake is a concern.
...There seems to be a little platform behind the seat. I'd look into getting a small folder and a drysack big enough to stuff the folder into. Then strap the drysack on the platform.
I'm investigating this option. It looks like @ 6'3" 220lbs (+ 40lbs of boat) I'm over the height and weight limits for most of the "cheaper" folders. The Kent Folder for $150 @ Wal-Mart looks like a pretty good deal but I'd need to try it before I would buy one.
MichaelW
03-19-08, 12:17 PM
You can get some pretty good inflatable canoe/kayak style boats. People have done serious paddleing including on the open sea in some models.
The usually pack down enough to fit on the rear rack of a folder. The folder can usually fit inside the canoe.
I have been considering a bike/canoe canoe/bike system for trips around my local system of large shallow lakes. Youve got me started on it again.
spambait11
03-19-08, 04:36 PM
A couple common sense solutions for your crazy idea:
If the location is as bad as you say, I'd be sort of concerned just stopping long enough to inflate a boat. Takes maybe a half hour, while you're sitting there with an $800 bike?
Good find. Saddly it appears to be out of production for some time now and I couldn't find any still for sale. :(
If the location is as bad as you say, I'd be sort of concerned just stopping long enough to inflate a boat. Takes maybe a half hour, while you're sitting there with an $800 bike?
The problem in that area seems to be property crime, not so much personal crime. I'm 6'3", 220lbs and I've never been hasled by anyone in that area but I see broken glass from car windows almost every time I'm down there. (it is a public boat launch) I think the bike would be okay as long as I'm standing next to it while getting my boat ready but if I left it locked to the bike rack I believe it would be gone within 10 minutes of me leaving the area.
The best solution to this problem I could come up with is hiring Charles Bronson to guard my bike while I'm boating.
...If you've never seen the "Death Wish" series of movies (A) you probably wonder WTF I'm talking about and (B) you have missed out on some darn great movies!
spambait11
03-20-08, 03:14 PM
The unicycle idea would make it hard to tote the boat, though. And those things aren't necessarily all that light, either.
Gotta find that pic of Kris Holm unicycling with that huge backpack on his back. Some unicycles aren't light, but they're more stowable than a bike, and lighter than most folding bikes.
A pontoon may be hard to carry, but almost everything by Innova (http://www.innovakayak.com/) packs into a nice pack you can carry on your back (well, sans oars and a pump). I think the harder thing is being able to unicycle in the first place, but you might as well pick up the skill at some point in life.
StephenH
03-20-08, 03:18 PM
Well, just because Kris Holm can do it doesn't mean you or I can do it.
I haven't seen the Death Wish series, but I though Mr. Majestyk was pretty cool.
Well, just because Kris Holm can do it doesn't mean you or I can do it.
Don't be so pessimistic. :) Besides, this whole thread is one big exercise in out-of-the-box thinking, no?
Bike: Electra Townie3
Trailer: Wike Woody Wagon
Canoe: Old Town Guide 147
This bike/trailer also works with my Heritage Redfish kayak, but I have to leave the bike and trailer where I launch.
:)
You mean the wheels on the canoe get left behind too?
CommuterRun
03-21-08, 05:16 PM
Well, no. The two components of the trailer are modular. They break down and pack into the black bag that doesn't show very well in the photo, hidden behind the rear wheel of the bike.
Having more space, I can pack all this, and more, in the canoe. The kayak just doesn't have the room.
I suppose I could get a folder bike for this, but even with a folder, if I pack the bike and trailer into the kayak, there wouldn't be room for my fishing and hunting stuff.
invisible
03-23-08, 06:41 PM
check out alpaca rafts: http://www.alpackaraft.com/store/index.cfm?CategoryID=53&do=list
their rafts are different than yours, but you might be able to use some of their ideas for packing your bike. you may be able to take the front wheels off and lash them in front of you while lashing the frame behind you. this might balance out the boat better, as you cant really put the whole thing on the front the way the alpacka rafters do.
Bike: Electra Townie3
Trailer: Wike Woody Wagon
Canoe: Old Town Guide 147
This bike/trailer also works with my Heritage Redfish kayak, but I have to leave the bike and trailer where I launch.
:)
That's awesome. I'll looking to do that with a kayak- how does that front part attach to the canoe? Could you describe it or maybe post up some more pics?
HandsomeRyan
03-24-08, 06:54 PM
I got the boat. I have not used it on the water yet but I can already tell that a 42lb pack is a lot heavier than I thought. I do not think I could wear the pack and cover any reasonable distance with all the hills around here so it looks like I won't get a chance to try out any of the great ideas presented in this thread.
Here are some pictures of the boat and backpack it folds into. hopefully I'll have time for some 'sea trials' tomorrow after work!
Good looking boat, Ryan. If you don't want to backpack it, a trailer like a Burley Flatbed would still allow you to access places you can't get to with a car.
To answer Vissthew's question, the drawbar attaches like this:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2065/2361248594_827300b2c7.jpg
Shows the three attachment points for the drawbar.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3016/2360414173_6260a96e47.jpg
These two points hold the drawbar to the boat. The forward point also keeps the boat from moving forward on the drawbar.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2008/2360414375_e39a04fc72.jpg
The rear point just keeps the boat from sliding rearward on the drawbar.
As you can see, this isn't factory original. I have more confidence in ropes and my own knots, than straps and buckles. I also had to extend both sides of the top of the "T" to fit this boat.
You can also see I haven't washed this boat since this past weekend. There's still some dried fish slime in it.:o
mparker326
03-25-08, 08:44 AM
The problem in that area seems to be property crime, not so much personal crime. I'm 6'3", 220lbs and I've never been hasled by anyone in that area but I see broken glass from car windows almost every time I'm down there. (it is a public boat launch) I think the bike would be okay as long as I'm standing next to it while getting my boat ready but if I left it locked to the bike rack I believe it would be gone within 10 minutes of me leaving the area.
I'm not sure that area is as bad as you think. I ride down there with my kids all the time and play with them in the playground there. I've seen the broken glass from car windows, but am not sure how long it has been there. I doubt they clean up very often. I see lady rowers park their fancy BMW's & SUV's there every Saturday and get their rowboats out of the private storage that is located there. I am usually there for a couple hours and have not seen any cars broken into nor anyone other than fishermen or rowers even come into the parking lot.
BLACK BIKE
03-25-08, 09:19 AM
You're all complicating things. All you need is a couple of empty milk jugs and a small length of chain!
"All you need is a couple of empty milk jugs and a small length of chain!"
See my foam noodle suggestion from earlier!
HandsomeRyan
03-25-08, 11:38 AM
All you need is a couple of empty milk jugs and a small length of chain!
(bikeeee.jpg)
That picture is awesome! :D I was explaining to my mom what I wanted to do during a telephone call and she said "Don't do anything so redneck that you'll get your picture in the paper". I'll have to send her a copy of your "artists rendering" and tell her that my friends have come up with a classy solution.
BLACK BIKE
03-25-08, 12:00 PM
See my foam noodle suggestion from earlier!
That suggestion might be the winner! You could just jam the noodles between the spokes.
2manybikes
03-25-08, 03:02 PM
Have you seen this already?
http://www.pedal-paddle.com/media.htm
StephenH
03-25-08, 03:08 PM
That Pedal Paddle would be the ultimate Fred rig to show up at a group ride with.
2manybikes
03-25-08, 03:59 PM
That Pedal Paddle would be the ultimate Fred rig to show up at a group ride with.
:roflmao::roflmao:
I can just imagine this.........
"OK I'll race,............ down this road, across the river, and up that hill to the top." :D;)
Cyclaholic
03-25-08, 04:42 PM
With a little engineering and creativity you might be able to combine the boat and the bike into one unit.
I'm thinking maybe a couple of crossmembers linking the pontoons. Drop the wheels off the bike, lock the fork on the front crossmember with the QR. The rear could be set up something like on a trainer, and an alternative rear wheel with paddles for propulsion.
For steering, where the forks are locked in with the QR could be a small rotating platform linked with cables to a rudder. That would allow you to steer the boat with the handlebars. The only additional item you need to carry for all this to work would be the alternative rear wheel.
CommuterRun
03-25-08, 05:32 PM
This one has us all beat:
http://www.autocanoe.com/
StephenH
03-25-08, 05:49 PM
I think you're right. But I bet I could beat him up a hill.