: Strange...I like being in very direct contact with the road, atleast as long
: as I'm still on my bike. My upright is a fixed gear (I have a beach
: cruiser that isn't and, more importantly, it has coaster brakes). I've
: little experience with USS recumbents that have indirect steering, though.
: I want to test-ride a few sometime. The only USS 'bent I've had much time
: at all on is an HPVelotechnik Speedmachine w/ indirect steering. I enjoyed
: riding it, but it's too expensive to allow me to consider purchasing it,
: unless a used one crosses my path and is fairly cheap.

: Unfortunately, my fondness of feeling the road hasn't been kind to me since I
: switched to a recumbent. I'm considering front and rear suspension.

: Crazyguyonabike has a list of posts about a tour on the Challenge trike. I
: wasn't suggesting using that trike to tow a kayak, though I see no
: problems with it. A kayak is just a boat. The challenge trike is just a
: trike. A few scratches and dings are to be had.

: The Challenge trike can be had with indirect steering. It's got 3 steering
: options, I think.

: I'm working towards getting a driver's license because I've had *very* mixed
: results with towing a canoe by bicycle.

: How well is towing your kayak behind your trike working for you? If it works
: substantially better than most kayak-bike systems, I'd like to maybe email
: you about your system. I'm still looking for ways to remain car-free,
: while remaining on beater bikes.

: -David

: Hi David,

Hi David,
For two wheelers, I'd prefer direct steering. On three wheelers, I prefer USS indirect steering. Probably just personal preference.
A SWB 'bent bicycle would give more feedback of the road surface than an upright. At least I find myself standing on my upright on certain bits of road. Can't do that on the trike.

There aren't many used recumbents on the market, it's still a small market and those who buy them rarely sell them on.

Yep, a trike is a trike and a kayak is a kayak. But. Having either a kayak or a trike can end up as a talking point near a launch point, anything up to an hour. With both at the same time, you'd never get the kayak in the water. Usually with total strangers, usually interesting ones. Enjoyable.

A driving licence is handy, one way or another, it adds an option to transporting stuff. If I was touring around a lot, I'd make a folding kayak and use a standard trailer. I'm lucky that I'm basically surrounded by paddling places, all within 15km, so not too far on the trike.
I don't travel fast with a kayak behind me, about 15-20km/hr and I found the trike less effected by the weight.

The towing attachment so far is a lash-up. Literally. A short piece of timber, about 1.5m, tied to the trolley handle and down to the tow-bar. The other end gets tied to the carrier rack with the ugliest knot I can make. It's not elegant but it kind of works ok. An axle mounted hitch would be much better.
Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of the lash-up.

With a hard shell kayak, you could eliminate the tow-bar and use the kayak itself as part of the trailer system if you didn't mind some hardware mounted in the foredeck to mount a short towing rod.

As I'm only 3km from my usual paddling area, I mostly walk my kayak, about a 30-40 minute walk.

Hope this helps,
Mike Savage
South West Cork