RidesaJapanese

Living in a small rural town, I bike everywhere local now, making use of luggage rack and trailer as needed. I only use my car for the occasional trip to the nearest large city which would be out of bike range. I also use a bike for a canoe shuttle, dropping the canoe off at the put-in, parking at the take-out, then biking back up to the put-in, then on the drive back pick up the bike. I've done a 20 stretch easily in this way, had enough daylight left I could do longer trips.

tandempower

Nice. What kind of trailer set-up do you use to tow the canoe?

Roody

That's very cool. A lot of people say carfree can't be done in a small town or rural area, but you are showing them

RidesaJapanese

I don't have a canoe dolly, I use my car to drop the canoe off at the put in. Then I drive down and park at the take out, bike back up to the canoe, and my car is there waiting at the boat ramp. I lock up both canoe and bike as needed, but around here theft of either would be unlikely.

CliffordK

I've got inflatable kayaks that I can just roll up. But I'm still trying to figure out the logistics of biking and boating.

I'm trying to imagine stretching a kiddie trailer to fit a canoe

tandempower

Ok, I thought you meant you towed the canoe with a bike. Still, handy to bike back to the canoe after parking, though.

I've looked at those. They are pretty heavy, aren't they? Also, how do you inflate it once you bike to the launch point?

I've seen some long, seemingly homemade, bike trailers around here used for towing lawn mowers, etc. that could probably haul a canoe if necessary. I use a kiddie trailer when I need something that won't fit in the plastic crate on the back luggage rack but I sometimes wish it was longer, specifically when buying lumber.

wolfchild

Let us wait until the winter snow, ice and cold rain comes into OPs rural area and then maybe OP can show us how practical car-free lifestyle is out in a rural area during winter time.

( BTW I've ridden on narrow rural roads during winter many times but it's not something I do everyday. That's why I live in a city, makes car-free lifestyle more practical )

Roody

Maybe he will show a spirit of adventure and innovation, and devise ways to cope with the snow and cold. We can certainly assist him with advice and encouragement if he asks for it.

Walter S

Since the OP is "almost" car free (meaning he has a car and can use it anytime he wants to) I don't think he's going to have a story about how car free can work in a rural area.

Roody

This is what the blurb for our little subforum should say: "Welcome to the Wet Blanket Forum. If you're thinking about becoming carfree or carlight, we will think of a million reasons why you cannot!"

Look, this guy almost never uses his car and does impressive distances on his bike. He is very carlight. If he wants to, he can remain very carlight throughout the winter. If we want to, we can give him props, or we can do our usual "carfree is impossible" BS.

Personally, I have been carfree through 10 Michigan winters, when I was in the 50+ age group. I'm just a normal person with no particular strengths or skills when it comes to riding a bike. If I can do it, anybody can.

There might be some conditions that make this more difficult in a rural environment. And there might be other conditions that make it eaier there. But I'm going to say, if a person can be carfree or very carlight in the summertime, they should be able to do it in the winter--if they have a good mental attitude and a minimum of appropriate gear. A little moral support from like minded people would also be a big help, but that's probably asking for too much.

RidesaJapanese

What you use is a dolly, not a trailer. The canoe is balanced on it, then the bow is fastened to a point under the seat. I've seen where the paddle is lashed to the bow handle, then the end tied under the bike seat. I'd think with some aluminum square tubing and a pair of sturdy bike wheels a decent canoe dolly could be rigged. I have a 15' Reflection Dagger, could probably carry my Trek 730 and a dolly which would remove a car from the equation.

RidesaJapanese

I'm guessing the right tires will make all the difference, would I want something studded? This town clears the roads pretty quick when it snows, so I wouldn't be snowed in long. I've been a winter outdoorsman long enough I know how to dress for the cold so that's not an issue. It's a small town, but big enough you can find the essentials here, so unless it's to a 'real' town like an hour away to the 'local' bike shop I never use my car. As for the outlying rural roads (dirt, gravel) no real reason to take them, there is a good network of very scenic hardtop roads radiating out of the town area. I'm just leery of taking my daughter out on the narrow roads in her trailer, I've seen enough Amish carts that have gotten creamed.