: I always want to mount a bike onto two of those and make a ...... well, I
: don't know what to call that.
: Well, anyone of you get any plans??

As soon as I find the book I'll scan a two page article on "riding the waves", if I remember the title correctly.

the basic idea was two long and narrow pontoons held together with metal water pipe. A bicycle frame was welded ( or bolted?) onto this. the front wheel is replaced with a rudder. A forward-mounted rudder is probably not the most efficient way to steer, but it preserves the bicycling effect.

I can't remember how the bicycle pedals are connected to drive a propeller, but I think a ring gear was welded or riveted to the bike's ront sprocket and a gear driven shaft which meshed with that was angled down between the pontoons, where a propellor spun for propulsion.

When I find the plans I'm sure i'll remember better

But, one of my ideas would be:

I think replacing the rear tire with plywood paddle blades would be another possibility, alowing you to keep the chain drive and derailleur for the option of changing gear ratios for most efficient paddling (pedalling?) Cut plywood paddle blades short enough to clear the frame, secure them to a short block of wood,(epoxy glue and a screw?) and clamp that block to the existing wheel rim with stainless steel radiator clamps. Shaping the bottom of those wood blocks to fit the inner profile of the bike wheels rim would keep them in place. If the blocks fit snugly, you could put a rubber pad over them and hold them in with nylon cable ties.

The quick release wheel feature on many bicycles would allow you to simply interchange a paddle wheel for a rear wheel with a tire. and the front wheel could be kept in place if a rudder was made which simply clamped on.

Then you have the option of carrying 4 smaller wheels which could me mounted on the framework of the pontoon boat so that it could be towed down the street by the bicycle. At the shore you remove and stow those wheels, remove the bike's drive wheel and replace it with a paddle wheel (carried on the towed pontoon boat). Mount the bike to the pontoon frame, add the rudder and launch.

If you have snadwiches and drinks stored in a cooler mounted on this craft you can deliver lunch to all the hungry and thirsty kayakers in your neighborhood. Hmm, sounds like that cart that cruises the golf course.

happy pedalling.

PGJ