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The current issue is Issue 12. The next issue is out early March 2004.
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Does your dog travel by trailer?
If you transport your canine companion by bike, we'd love to hear from you for a future article...
Cass Gilbert, who took the picture on the inside front cover of Velo Vision Issue 9, is working on an article about carrying dogs by bike trailer for a future issue - he proposed it after giving it a try himself:
"I've just bought one for my German Shepherd and she absolutely loves it. She's become a real local star as we cruise (well, wheeze, the hills are big round here) to the beach. The reaction from passers-by is incredible, beyond even recumbent territory, huge smiles and waves, video cameras..."
So, any readers out there with pictures or stories of transporting dogs, please do get in touch with Cass at [email protected].
Also, feel free to download the Velo Vision Photo Hints PDF (38k)
Thanks!
Posted on 07 May 2003
Your comments ...| From: Andy Scaife ([email protected]) on 15 May 2003 |
| Beyond recumbent territory? You ought to try pulling a doggie trailer behind a recunbent, with a 9 year old kid alongside on another recumbent. It was in this configuration that, unsurprisingly, we made the Sheffield Star in 2000. I've since lodt the srticle, and the Star was unable to help, so if anyone has the cutting please get in touch. Incidentally the trailer was stolen shortly after our move ot York, and Guzzi the dog is no more, but the concept is terrific. I fully intend repeating it next year. In terms of access to the countryside for walkies it can't be beaten. Guzzi learned that each trip ended in a run or walk, so she used to jump eagerly in, though as she got excited when we turned off road, I used to feel the movement. No more that a child on a trailerbike though. As for road presence. No car ever got even close, and never was anyone even slightly aggressive towards us. Cass should have no problems of that nature when the drivers see a bloody great G.S.D. in the back! Would you? |
| From: Robert Edwards ([email protected]) on 20 May 2003 |
My border collie Oakley has long since accompanied me on mountain bike rides, he loves it. I even used him to "tow" me home when my chain broke. Riding in the traffic is a different matter, once when I was stuck I put him in a rucsac on my back, with his head sticking out, he didn't mind, but at 20kg I did. I am looking for a suitable method of cycling with dog and would be very interested in other readers experiences.
p.s. My dog seems to have boundless energy, I wonder if theres any crazy ideas about dog-assisted cycling. |
| From: Sue ([email protected]) on 21 May 2003 |
Well, in olden days, they did put dogs inside wheels and use them to turn spits for meat roasting. Maybe someone could make some sort of mono wheel arrangement like a giant hamster wheel, but harnessed via a giant fork to the front of a bike... They could have slick tyres for roads, or knobbley ones for off road. And for night riding, how about harnessing the power of the ever restless hamster? You might need more than one to make a difference of course.
Have I thought about this too much? |
| From: andy scaife ([email protected]) on 22 May 2003 |
Sue, you have a wonderful mind!
Regarding assisted cycling. I've tried being towed on an upright, and it was just too scarily unstable. On a recumbent, I tied Guzzi's lead to the seat frame by my shoulder and that was fine (I use a long horse lead). I was even able to control her by pulling gently on the lead. On a trike, you could tie the lead to the axle tube, as long as it didn't interfere with steering.
I suppose it is at this stage that an American newsgroup would ask me to add "not on the road" disclaimers and such, but we're not Americans, thank God, so why tell lies? |
| From: Michael Bearden ([email protected]) on 26 May 2003 |
My wife and I travelled across Europe with our. We bought a tanjor trailer and packed it up with food and supplies for our 100 pound dog named Advocate.
We are now planning a 4 week trip around Vacouver Island in Sept 2003.
We have a few pictures of our last trip. The dog was people magnet, it broke the ice where ever we went.
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