Canoe + Bicycle Shakedown Ride

I hitched up my canoe to my bicycle using the Wicycle Trailer this afternoon to see how it handled on the road.

The canoe-bicycle connection is via a device Wicycle calls the “smart stick” and it turns out to be pretty smart: it mounts to the seat post of the bike and then ties up to the bow line of the canoe in a way that both keeps the canoe from flopping around and allows it to turn freely.

Out on the road, the weight of the canoe felt about the same as pulling a fully loaded trailer of groceries, albeit with more horizontal sway. It seems like a reasonable thing to expect to be able to cycle out to Andrews Pond for a first paddle. And home again.

I already have visions of getting a Brompton folding bicycle that I could carry in the canoe itself, allowing me full intermodality.

Comments

Ray's picture
Ray on July 24, 2021 - 06:37 Permalink

Great set up Peter! After an excursion on the water I can picture your canoe trailer laden with packages & groceries.

Ton Zijlstra's picture
Ton Zijlstra on July 24, 2021 - 15:33 Permalink

That looks pretty rad! What's next, a multimodal commute to the Almanac's offices, like that Australian guy's videos?

Peter Rukavina's picture
Peter Rukavina on July 25, 2021 - 11:49 Permalink

Indeed: I looked at satellite imagery yesterday to see if I could reasonably canoe to our Saturday morning bagel place. There is, in theory, a creek that runs from the harbour to very nearby, but large sections have been paved over and so there would be more portaging than paddling. 

Paul Capewell's picture
Paul Capewell on July 24, 2021 - 16:44 Permalink

This is super cool! Like Ton, I feel Beau Miles vibes here.