BikerDave's Ultralight backpacking, Pedal boats, Hybrid canoes

Welcome to the home of ultralight BikerDave
Here you will find: a detailed introduction to ultralight backpacking (in the form of descriptive links), and [on a separate page] a thorough guide to ultralight backpacking gear. I also have tables comparing quality pedal-boats; uncommon hybrid-canoes; and ultralight-canoes; and [on a separate page] interesting homebuilt aircraft. There is also a guide to the uncommon bicycle and some notes on choosing a wooden kayak kit [separate page]. (Strike~~through~~ indicate outdated links.)
- BDave (º¿°)

On this page:
ultralight backpacking
pedal boats
hybrid canoes
ultralight canoes
uncommon bicycles
a bit of this & a bit of that
[globe logo] Greetingsworld,
• Bychance, if you happen to know of a used Excalibur food dehydrator...
• Or of a used Brompton bicycle, a Bike Friday Sat-R-Day, a reproduction penny farthing highwheeler suitable for centuries and touring...
...then please do mail me at web dot site dot bdave at spamgourmet dot com. Thanks - HikerBikerDave.

And on other pages: Home | Lightweight Camping Shelters and Gear | Homebuilt Aircraft | Notes on choosing my next boat

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Lightweight & Ultralight Backpacking

Here is a collection of sites, pages, ideas and articles I've found most interesting & useful on the subject of backpacking (a few thoughts are even my own :-). (What are the Ultralight- and Lightweight- styles of Backpacking? Ryan Jordan explains in "Ultralight vs. Lightweight Backpacking".) Highlighted and bold links indicate importance. A reminder: f/8 and be there (or, if without a camera, just "Be There") - it isn't about Gear, its about being There. A big Thank You to everyone in the lightweight community represented here for creating and sharing all this great stuff, allowing me to present this introduction to lightweight backpacking to "put more smiles in your miles"...
A rather poor guide to this section (I recommend simply scrolling the page)
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Me stove is an alcoholic ;
my tent hasn't a floor ;
my backpack got no spine ;
I feel light upon my feet :

who am I ?
an ultralight backpacker atlast :-p

"Ultralight Backpackers Home Buyers Guide" by, well, me

First, a shameless plug for my own creation. Because ultralight and lightweight style backpacking are increasing in popularity more gear is coming to market and The Guide has increased to 168kb (8 printed pages) - woops. Hope you find it useful...
for ultralight style backpackers and other weight-conscious travellers. BikerDave's guide to the outdoor home lists specifications - with links to reviews - for the ultra-lightweight camping home... tents; tarptents; pyramids & shaped tarps; basic tarps & ponchos; hammocks & camping hammocks; bivy sacks; sleeping bags; sleeping pads; and backpacks. Within each section, items are listed by weight, lightest to heaviest. The Guide shows ALL your outdoor bedding Options :-) and is a great introduction and reference to light weight gear. Tip: For a quick overview, simply read the bits I've highlighted in yellow; to navigate between sections, click on the blue arrows (á & â). [Use the blue arrows on this page too.]

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"The Ray Way" article online at Backpacker magazine

Thinking outside the backpacking box. Reading that article was my gateway into the style/mindstate that is ultralight backpacking. Ray Jardine's book is the inspiration of modern ultra-light backpacking. (See also these Backpacker magazine articles online: "Challenge The Editor: The Ultralight Report - 'I Saw The Light'" and "Ultralight vs Normal".)

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The incredible "18-oz Tarptent & Tarptent-for-2" & new Virga & Squall Tarptents by Henry Shires

These Tarptents are the benchmark shelters for the ultralight backpacker wanting more than a tarp (comfortable protection from bugs). Complete instructions to make the 18-ounce Tarptent & 24-ounce Tarptent-for-2 yourself. The newer more refined versions, Virga and Squall, are available for purchase, and are quick and easy to setup. 360-degree netting all around. If you want a floor sewn in to create a tent, Henry provides that option too. Watch for new designs in 2003. Henry's Tarptent site is Tarptent.com. (His journal is kept at Pacific Crest Trail Hike.) Here are Henry's Tarptent specs in my Buyers Guide.

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"Why Travel Ultralight?" by Ultralight Joe

Joe's Ultralight Backpacking says "Trail time is now 'quality time', not a period of pain and suffering to be endured between campsites". He is carrying a base pack weight under 10 pounds (excluding food & water).

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"Back to Basics" by Ron, Linda and Brandon Moak

Shows just how simple backpacking can/should be. It's on their Fallingwater site.

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"Notes on Going Light" and "Tarp Camping 101" by Rick Halbert

Notes on Going Light is a great introduction to backpacking light. Also, on his "Warm Weather Gear List" Rick says: "For a five day trip my total weight (pack weight plus expendables) should be about 20-21 lbs. What a nice feeling to head off for five days of hiking with a pack that you can easily lift with one hand. Try it! You'll like it.! Seriously, maybe more people would take up this wonderful pasttime if they knew this was possible." It's on Rick's Great Lakes Lightweight Backpacking site.

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"Bivy Sacks 101" by Michael Connick

For successful foul-weather bivying combine a bivy with a mini-tarp such as a poncho. On Michael's Ultralight Backpacking site. [See my guide for a list of very light half-pound bivy bags. I use a bivy sack as a sleeping bag substitute, wearing all my clothing if required, down to -13*C (8*F), and under an inanimate plastic sheet (tarp) if expecting liquid precipitation. Also see my guide for a list of very light half-pound Ponchos & tarps.]

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BackpackingLight site

An awesome backpacking site divided into many sections... How-to section includes the excellent "Lightweight Backpacking 101" 9-part series of articles, and the "Clothing and Sleep Systems for Mountain Hiking" 7-part series includes Part 1 "The Base Layer - Wonderful Wool", Part 2 "The Versalite Wind Shirt", and Part 3 "Rainwear". Reviews section includes "Wind Shirt Wars" with a new layering sequence/technique, and "Raingear Roundup". Features section includes "The Original Ultralight Hikers" explaining 'The Body is cold' hypothesis/philosophy (and my slight extension, The Body is hungry). Opinions, editorials, and letters section includes Wool Fabric Weights letter. It is an expensive $ubscription $ervice now :-(

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Speaking further on the subject of rain gear...

I'd especially like to point out the ultralight poncho/packcover/tarp combos. (Also Cedar Tree's less versatile, but warmer, Packa parka/packcover combo (review)). Then there are the ultra-compact and ultra-light Dancing Light silnylon rain suit & Moonbow silnylon chaps. Some use only an umbrella, such as the GoLite Dome, over a wind shell. I have the lightweight Frogg Toggs Pro-Action waterproof/breathable suit and was disappointed to find that although it is lightweight the full suit is quite bulky when stuffed (struggle to fit into 10.5 by 5-inch-diameter stuff sack). Its front zip leaks unacceptably and the short elasticized hem creeps up beneath my waistbelt-less pack. But the Froggs make excellent campwear at below-freezing temperatures. Mustn't forget the very nice Colin Fletcher kilt (a plastic bag with the bottom cut out & the top tucked into your pants); idea: make the rain kilt out of silnylon and combine with chaps for complete protection -- lightweight and airy. Next I will try a versatile poncho (probably a Stephenson with zippered sides) with silnylon chaps or pants.

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SGT Rock's Hiking HQ ultralight site

"Going Light" is an excellent intro to lightweight backpacking - he describes his transformation from heavy to light. A good page on tarp setup configurations [my preference is for the Flying Diamond]. Lightweight backpacking need not be expensive: He saved the "$300 Challenge" thread off the Trail Talk forum. Among his many thorough Reviews are useful tips on using the Hennessy Ultra Light and newer UL A-Sym camping hammocks. And Around the Campfire forum. I link to many of his pages in the Stoves section, below.

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Speaking of hammocks - three excellent essays on Camping via a regular hammock & tarp...

"~~Camping with a Hammock and Tarp~~" by Peter [as archived by the useful Wayback Machine on Apr 21, 2001]; "Camping in a Hammock" by Allen Leigh; and "Brigade Quartermaster hammock" by Doc.

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"~~The Quilt~~" by Glenn Hecko

Instructions to make the quilt yourself on ~~Glenn's Ultralight Backpacking~~ site. [Working link: The Lightweight Backpacker.]

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The Lightweight Backpacker site

The Lightweight Backpacker's many Forums, articles, and reviews for the backpacker packing a lighter load. In the absolutely excellent Make Your Own Gear section, is the "Make Your Own Gear Forum" (old location and archive), as well as instructions for making gear, such as Henry Shires' Tarptent. "Lite Gear Talk", "Lite Philosophies & Practices", and "Backcountry Health" are some of the other popular forums.

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Thru-Hiker site by AYCE

For experienced long distance hikers discussing the lightest gear. 'Gear Reviews' of lightweight backpacking gear. The 'Hiking Articles' are excellent. The Thru-Hiker 'Message Board' forum. 'The Workshop' section has everything from "seam basics" to "Henry Shires' Tarptent" for the make it yourselfer. The 'Thru-Hiker Store' for the lightweight backpacking gear, kits and material for the Tarptent and other projects.

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Stoves for lightweight backpacking

(Because your mother told you to eat nearly every day (and not to step in puddles))

Commercial alcohol & gas stoves, and pots...
Brasslite alcohol stoves: Brasslite's Aaron Rosenbloom has discontinued his popular Micro, Solo, and Duo pressurized alcohol stoves (SGT Rock's excellent Brasslite Micro review), and has replaced them with easy-to-use non-pressurized beauties: the Brasslite Turbo I (1.5oz $35) and the new larger Brasslite Turbo II-D double-wall (2.5oz $45). Brasslite has a TrailBaker accessory (2.5oz $20) for the travelling baker. Trangia alcohol stoves: SGT Rock reviewed the corporation-produced Trangia alcohol stove (US distributor) and found the Trangia Westwind (7.3oz $20; review) to be efficient, but a little too heavy for his tastes. Thou, I like & can recommend, the Trangia Mini 28 set (12oz, includes nice pot with double-boiler/frypan/snap-on lid and incrediably light pot gripper; $30) - not as light as a Brasslite or a homemade job, but the stove+pot is a very nice complete system/set at an unbeatable price. AntigravityGear alcohol stove: TinMan of AntigravityGear makes a very light ^new:UltraLight Pepsi Can alcohol stove (only 0.4 oz & only $12; and it does not need a pot support)! And pick up his nice $14 antigravity 3-cup non-stick 3.8oz pot with pot cozy to go along with it. Canister stoves, such as the Markill Hot Rod Titanium (3oz, plus the canister; $50), are ok for the occassional backpacker because they're easy to operate (no priming), better for gourmet-style cooking (simmer control), and can be somewhat light in weight (as compared to a Gas stoves, such as the Snow Peak GigaPower WG (12.8oz; $150) or MSR SimmerLite (8.5oz; $90) (these 2 stoves compared)). Pots: The best lightweight pot suitable for use with an alcohol stove is ^new:AntiGravityGear's $7 3.8oz 3-cup aluminum non-stick cook pot -- its based on the famous WalMart Grease Pot, but is vastly and greatly improved. Thou, there does exist Titanium pot$ that are somewhat nice too <wink>.

Home-made alcohol stoves, solid-fuel stoves, and accessories that you can make...
The WINGS website has gathered details on many home-made ultralight stoves. Especially note the Cat Food Can Alcohol Stove by Roy Robinson. I'd also like to point out the following stoves that are not listed on WINGS: SGT Rock designed the fantastic/efficient/tiny Ion Stove (0.3oz!). The simplest stove to make is the Kiwi Stove by Jim Rogers. Teno's Mini Stove is probably too tiny, but is an awfully cute little bugger (message thread). And for something completely different, Flyfisher made an ultralight wood-burning kettle he calls the UltraliteKettle. Pot Stands and Windscreens: SGT Rock basic windscreen. Quent_r's simple tubular Sturdy Pot Stand (photos) and Greg Moore's similar but more complex Go-Torch Stand. KevinS has a windscreen/pot stand combo, and Howard Johnson's homemade Esbit stove also has a one piece windscreen/pot stand with an interesting 1oz ultralight insulated mug. Pot Cozies: an important part of any ultralight kitchen: Robert Ellinwood (ziplock bags), darkcloudrange (balaclavas & a stuff sack - a pot cozy AND toasty warm hats in the bargain!), Aaron Rosenbloom (foam), Rick Halbert (1-piece foam [I use thin foam from the craft section of the dollar store and use it for eating from the pot]), David Hicks (foam), SGT Rock (fiberglass cloth). Thinker: do you really need to carry a stove (and all the Stuff that goes with it)? Some do go w/o (but they don't know about Carol 'Brawny' Wellman's 3-ounce Cookset <wink> or the Ion Stove).

Cooking good food with an alcohol stove...
SGT Rock has two very good pages: "Cooking with the Cat Stove" has techniques for cooking on an alcohol stove (including steak and omelets!); and his "Hiking Food" discusses food in general (and the importance of Olive Oil) and good recipes (including no-cook Hiking Burritos and no-cook Italian Pasta Salad). Brawny's "Baking With The Soda Can Stove" has recipes for muffins, quiche, cakes, Chicken and Dumplings, cobbler, and pizza. Confused over alcohol? -- AYCE of thru-hiker.com compares and recommends various alcohols for your little alcoholic stove.

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Without moonshine, you'll need some sort of night light...

Flashlights need not be fancy - I used to use a bikelight (1.75oz with 2-N, 100-hours, LED, waterproof) found locally for a few bucks. Many use a couple Photon II Micro-Lights (0.3oz, dim red = 120-hr on one CR-2032; along with a brighter turquoise or white = 12-hr on two CR-2016; $11 ($9!) not waterproof). Because of those tiny batteries Photons dim drastically after their first five minutes of use, but being lithium they are not affected by cold. Apply a weebit of velcro to create a very light headlamp. Here are two nice & bright voltage-regulated flashlights (they do not dim as their battery dies): CMG Infinity Ultra (1.5oz without one-AA, 12-25-hr, $23, LED, waterproof) and the tiny Arc-AAA (0.75oz with one-AAA, 5-7-hr, $19, LED, waterproof).

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"Poles Page" by Peter Clinch

A must-read article on using and buying trekking poles - including proper length adjustment. [I've seen many people use them inefficently - poles adjusted too long resulting in tired arms or poles being carried on backpack. Think rhythm.] On Peter Clinch's Pages.

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Ultralight Packing page has lots of links for the lightweight backpacker

On The Rucksack, the website of Michigan's Central Upper Peninsula Sierra Club.

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Yahoo Groups - backpacking forums

1. MakeGear group to make your own outdoor gear.
2. BackpackingLight group to discuss lightweight backpacking techniques and gear.
3. BackpackGearTest group forimpressions and evaluations of backpacking gear...
...Especially,see their BackpackGearTest.org website where backpackers evaluate gear in the field over a six month testing period. Reports help hikers to make educated decisions about gear purchases and use. The site is easy to navigate via Searching, or via Browsing as a directory divided into thirty categories).
Note: when 'subscribing' to a Group you can opt-out of having the messages sent to your email ("Message Delivery: No email").
4. For more forums, see Lightweight backpacker section, above.

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Books - backpacking

^newMy Journey To Freedom And Ultralight Backpacking - by Carol Wellman. The very latest in ultralight backpacking from a pro.
Beyond Backpacking - Ray Jardine's Guide to Lightweight Hiking, by Ray Jardine. This is the ultralight-backpackers' pseudo-bible (review).
The Advanced Backpacker - A Handbook of Year Round, Long-Distance Hiking, by Chris Townsend.
The Complete Walker IV - by Colin Fletcher. Not lightweight hiking (it is the regular/popular/heavyweight-backpackers' pseudo-bible) but has excellent section on tarping and good background info (review).
See also the books on food dehydrating, below.

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Food dehydrators - A comparison and simple analysis of quality food dehydrators with adjustable thermostats
The idea is to suck heavy H-two-Oh out of good food to make lightweight packer-friendly-fuel. [Fancy dehydrators aren't necessary - cheaper, or home-made, or an oven will work too.]
First, books on food dehydrating, then we'll get into the toys...
Mary Bell's Complete Dehydrator Cookbook - Everything You Need to Know to Make Delicious Dried Snacks, Jerkies, Fruit Leathers, Nutritious Meals, and even Potpourri, by Mary Bell.
The Lightweight Gourmet - Drying and Cooking Food for the Outdoor Life, by Alan Kesselheim.
Lipsmackin' Backpackin' - Lightweight Trail-Tested Recipes for Backcountry Trips, by Tim and Christine Conners [based on dehydrated food].
The Hungry Hiker's Book of Good Cooking, by Gretchen McHugh [based on dehydrated food].
Nesco/American Harvest Gardenmaster Pro FD-1010 [was FD-1000]
$150US (4-trays/4-sqft, 1 mesh, 1 fruit roll sheets; 1,000 watt; expandable to 30-trays/30-sqft) - To match Excalibur's 3900 (in area and accessories) the FD-1010 would thin a wallet by a thick $362.50! Overly expensive – so you are better off to get the smaller FD-50 for half the price & use the other half to expand it to max capacity of 12-trays (rather than using the FD-1010 at nothing near its capacity). Or if need be, get the nice and big Excalibur 3900. If you do want the FD-1010 and intend to expand it, The Dry Store has a relatively good deal for $230US.
Nesco/American Harvest Snackmaster Pro FD-50
$80US (4-trays/3.4-sqft, 1 mesh, 1 fruit roll sheets; 500 watt; expandable to 12-trays/10.3-sqft) - The best deal in a quality food dehydrator. Even when maxed out to 12 trays, it is still significantly smaller than the large Excalibur 3900. ^new:Anti Gravity Gear has it for $70US.
Excalibur 3900/3926T [was 2900] [see Buy Juicers or Fern's Nutrition for details]
$210/240US (9-trays/15-sqft, 9 mesh, 1 fruit roll sheet; 600 watt; not expandable) - A much better deal than Gardenmaster FD-1010. See the earlier model 2900 reviewed at Epinions.com. "26T" indicates a 26-hour timer.
Excalibur 3500/3526T [was 2500]
$180/200US (5-trays/8-sqft, 5 mesh, 1 fruit roll sheet; 440 watt; not expandable) - For a few extra clams, I recommend the 4-inch taller 3900. And if the 3900 is too big, eyes suggest comparing this 3500 to a maxed out FD-50.
Excalibur 2400
$110US (4-trays/4-sqft, 4 mesh, 1 fruit roll sheet; 220 watt; not expandable) - Very small and forever must remain small (can not be expanded). But it still has its charms if 4 square feet of drying space is enough.

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Pedal Boats

HumanPoweredBoats.com is a great site.
PedalPoweredBoats.com doesn't have much of a web presence, but I have reason to believe Nancy Sanford provides a good useful service. (Also see 'BentRider Online October 2000 interview with Nancy.)
This table compares specifications of enthusiast-quality pedal boats on the market. I've divided the waterbikes into three loose styles or configurations: (1) Pedal boats resemble regular boats inthat you sit inside and stay dry. (2) Pedal kayaks resemble a kayak and you may get wet (there is a possibililty of doing the 1st-half of an eskimo roll), but has the significant advantage inthat it can also be propelled by paddle. (3) Pedal catamarans resemble a stable pontoon boat. Note too that some boat's propellers & rudders retract (to various degrees), and that some, inconveniently, do not. Most are not, shall we say, lightweight. Red text indicates the boats (and the most significant features) to consider [my prejudices] and blue text marks other noteworthy items. Length is in feet,inches; Beam & Depth are in inches; Weight & Load are in pounds. Without further ado, here is that table comparing very nice water bikes...

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Paddle Boats (hybrid canoes)

This table compares specifications for hybrid canoes (or sea-canoes). [Also one very nice, but discontinued, sea kayak and one exceptional solo canoe.] A hybrid canoe is a partially decked canoe. It potentially combines the very best of both worlds - the control, efficiency/power, and finesse of a single-bladed canoe paddle with most of the open-water and high-wind capabilities of a decked kayak. Just like the pedal boats listed above, these hybrids deserve to be more popular than they are. Red text indicates the boats (and the most significant features) to consider [my prejudices] and blue text marks other noteworthy items. Explanation of the letter codes used in the 'Comments' column, ie, "C/A/RV/F". The first of the four codes describes the keel-line as C or R (continuously curved or rockered [highly desirable - usually an indicator that the boat can dance]), W (straight with little keel rocker at the ends), or S (straight [ages to become hogged]). Second code gives the symmetry of the waterline front to back as either S (symmetrical [handles identically going forward & reverse]), or A (asymmetrical). Next is the hull's cross-sectional-shape as SA (shallow arch), SV (shallow vee), RV (rounded vee), or FB (flat bottom). Last, the sides as F (flare [good final stability for leaned dancing]), S (straight up-and-down), or T (tumblehome [lacks final stability]). [These codes came from Canoe & Kayak Magazine December's annual buyer's guide.] Voilà...

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Ultralight Geodesic Boats

Continuing with the ultralight [backpacking] theme, this table compares specifications for ultra light Geodesic canoes by Platt Monfort's Geodesic Airolite Boats. I have no personal experience with these boats but they sure are interesting! They are available either as plans-only or partial kits (I've listed the price for plans + kit (wood is not included)). Platt explains the Geodesic Airolite construction process - the concept came from various aircraft construction techniques and materials. †A note about weight - Yes, those weights are for completed boats - imagine, an eight pound boat! But note the Load limits. Skiffs and dingies also available. Red text indicates the boats (and the most significant features) to consider [my prejudices] and blue text marks other noteworthy items. For an explanation of letter codes used in 'Comments', see the "Paddle Boats (hybrid canoes)" section, above. For your viewing pleasure...

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BikerDave's Guide to the Uncommon Bicycle (HPV)

Bicycles Built for Two (Tandems)

Tired of thy boring mountainbike and thy road-racing bike? For yourconsideration...

Bilenky Cycle Works ViewPoint and the more compact Hase Spezialraider Pino - The most versatile tandems. They are half recumbent (the stroker is recumbent and in the front); are good as solo bikes too (ViewPoint: $4,395US, 44lbs; PA,USA) (Pino: $4,490US, 50lbs; Germany).

Bike Friday tandem series fold and disassemble into suitcase(s):
- BF Project Q Touring tandem - Converts into a solo bike; packs into two suitcases ($2,395US, 36lbs; OR,USA).
- BF Twin Air Tandem - A bicycle built for two that packs into only one suitcase! ($8,000US, ?lbs; OR,USA).
- BF DoubleDay 406 Recumbent folding tandem! New prototype. ($4,000US, ?lbs; OR,USA).

Greenspeed TTT - The most fun tandem. Its a recumbent tandem tricycle. When built with five S&S couplers, it'll 'fold' small ($4,500US ($8900Aust), 64lbs, ?/?" width/track, 5.5" ground clearance, 24' turning circle; Australia).

4-wheeled recumbent Quadracycles Two-track = one less track than the tricycle

Crank-it Mountain Quad - Something completely different - a sport (not utility) 4-wheel all-terrain recumbent with 3-inch suspension on all 4 wheels. The 4-wheel Mountain Quad has better fore-aft weight distribution than a recumbent trike because the rider sits closer toward the rear. (See a review in Recumbent UK magazine, page 39 of Summer 2001 [4.2MB .pdf]) ($?US, 53lbs, 37/32.5" width/track, 7" ground clearance, 10.8' turning circle; MI,USA).

Advanced Vehicle Design AVD Pickup - utility 4-wheel recumbent. Similar to the Brox ($2,800US (£1999), 200lbs, ?/?" width/track, 7" ground clearance, 16.4' turning circle; Cheshire,England).

Brox Corporation Brox Compact - utility 4-wheel recumbent. Similar to the AVD Pickup ($2,850US (£2000), ?lbs, ?/?" width/track, ?" ground clearance, ?' turning circle; UK).

Lightfoot Cycles Terra Truck (special order) - heavy utility 4-wheel recumbent. Can carry a canoe or folded Doodlebug powered hang glider [see miscellaneous section, below] on an overhead rack ($?US, ?lbs, 55/47" width/track, ?" ground clearance, ?' turning circle; MT,USA).

3-wheeled recumbent Tricycles

A.S. Engineering ASE S32 Zenit LG (see an ~~user's site~~ [as archived by the useful Wayback Machine on 11/24/2001] ^excellent) - a recumbent touring tricycle with front-two-wheel-drive! Plans to add center-point steering before the new year (2002) ($1,920US, 40lbs, 32.9/?" width/track, 4" ground clearance, 16' turning circle; Russia).

Tripendo - a recumbent tricycle that tilts/leans into corners! [See his links page for fully-enclosed velomobiles] ($?US, 55lbs, 39/36.2" width/track, ?" ground clearance, 19.7' turning circle; Germany).

Greenspeed GTO - a recumbent tricycle that will pack into two suitcases with room left over ($2,650US ($5250Aust), 40lbs, ?/?" width/track, 4.0" ground clearance, 14.4' turning circle; Australia).

ICE/Trice Micro - a recumbent tricycle that packs away into a small bag. Consider the Micro to be a folding version of the similarly narrow ADV Windcheetah ($3,450US (£2468), 29lbs, 27.75/24.75" width/track, 2.5" ground clearance, 21.3' turning circle; Cornwall,England).

Leitra (German) - fully enclosed velomobile tricycle ($3,000US w/o & $6,100US w/ the full fairing (3480/7140EUR), 40lbs w/o & 62lbs w/ fairing, 39/35" width/track, ?" ground clearance, 13.3' turning circle; Denmark).

2-wheeled long-wheelbase touring Recumbent bicycles

Ostrad Fahrräder GmbH Adagio (German). LWB recumbent, under seat steering. Highly-comfortable suspension ($2,100US (4699 DM), ?lbs; Germany).

Easy Racers Tour Easy. LWB recumbent, with above seat steering. No suspension. A version of their Gold Rush that folds quietly went into production in March of 2001 (the Fold-Gold shortens 30-inches when folded; $3,500US, 28lbs) ($1,895US, 30lbs; CA,USA).

Folding Recumbent bicycle

Bike Friday Sat R Day short wheelbase compact-folding recumbent packs into one suitcase! Combines fun (recumbent) with portability (folding). ($1,595US, 32lbs; OR,USA). If you happen to know of a used SatRDay that needs a good home, please do mail me. Thanks kindly.

Folding Upright bicycles

Brompton - Ultra-compact quick-20-second-fold commuting bicycle. Highly utilitarian though rather expensive. Unlike most other "folders", it does indeed actually fold - no disassembly required! Folded size is 0.56x0.54x0.25 metres (22x21x10 inches) - you can't get a bike in a package any smaller than that. Indeed, there should be 1 or 2 of these in every garage ($525-800US (£367-561), 25lbs; Middlesex,UK). Especially if you happen to know of a used Brompton that needs a good home, please do mail me. Thanks Greatly.

Peregrine Bicycle Works (PBW) - Semi-quick-folding performance bicycles pack into a suitcase (like a Bike Friday):
- PBW FSR-14 - High performance folding mountain bike with full suspension, Rohloff Speedhub 14-speed internal gearing. And it packs into one suitcase! ($2,495US, 29lbs; CA,USA).
- PBW Voyageur - High performance folding bike with full-suspension long-distance touring bike packs into one suitcase ($1,745US, 29lbs; CA,USA).

Airnimal Chameleon - High performance folding bike with rear suspension and using uncommon 24-inch wheels. The entire bike fits into a case measuring 0.58x0.58x0.29 metres (24x24x11.5 inches) — Without the wheels it fits into an aircraft hand-luggage case 0.56x0.36x0.20 metres (22x14x8 inches) ($1,700US, 32lbs; Cambridge,UK).

Riese und Müller Birdy - Folding bike with full suspension folds small without tools. But, apparently its folding stem is too weak for serious biking (they don't want you to use drop bars) ($?US (£?), ?lbs; Germany).

Reproduction Penny farthings - after riding down low on a recumbent climb back up onto an ordinary :-)

Victory Bicycles are made in sizes from 46- to 60-inch in Classic black, Antique red, Forest green, or can be Nickel plated. They come equipped to ride with a Century saddle, ball bearing pedals, moustache handlebars with spade grips, step and name badge. Victory offers two models: the durable "Century Model" for everyday riding :-) is patterened after the original Vistor high-wheel and the lightweight "Light Roadster". ($3,950US and $4,150US, ?lbs; Orlando, Florida USA).

~~Edlee Antique Bicycle Co~~ is an Australian manufacturer of 6 new highwheel bicycles. ($?US ($?Aust), 22-to-35lbs; Australia).

Bicycles on the Water - a new/different dimension to bicycling/boating :-) <winkwinknudgenudge>

See Pedal boats section, above, for a complete listing of enthusiast-quality pedal-powered boats. The ultimate bicycle?

See `BentRider Online's "2003 Recumbent Buyer's Guide" for info on zillions of recumbents

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BikerDave's Miscellaneous Odd Stuff

Endangered Hertiage Plants: Seeds of Diversity Canada - Dedicated to the conservation of hertiage plants of Canadian significance. Together we grow, propagate & distribute over 1500 varieties of vegetables, fruit, grains, flowers and herbs.; Seed Savers Exchange: Hertige seeds in the USA.
Internet radio: Hober: lots of folk, bluegrass, and acoustic. Recommended. [Realplayer]; WUMB: Boston Folk Music Radio - all folk music. [Realplayer or MP3]; WDVX: from a small camper in Tennessee - emphasis on bluegrass and old-time. [Windows Media Player]
Making a West Greenland Paddle, by Chuck Holst: Click on "Making a Greenland Paddle" at bottom of that page to call up the 57KB makegreen2.pdf file. (But you can also see it in web-friendly format, along with a nice construction report by Ross Leidy. Awesome :-)
Flylight Airsports Doodle Bug powered hang glider: [Imagine if you will: a STOL/VSTOL foot-launched microlift motorglider that folds up to fit in a closet! :-] The Doodlebug powered hang glider (UK Mfg) is the most comfortable PHG - it is flown from a seated position (others are flown prone). Evolution AirSports Canadian distributor; FirstLight Aviation USA distributor. The ultimate ultra-light aircraft :-)
Homebuilt Aircraft kits: For other interesting aircraft, see my Homebuilt Aircraft page listing specifications for 14 homebuilt kit aircraft: gyroplane compared to VTOLs, STOLs, and, me being an efficiency man, motorgliders :-). To Print the aircraft page: set left & right Margins to zero; set Paper to Landscape.
KiteSki^new: KiteSkiing combines waterskiing and kite flying. Interesting. (For more info see kitesurfing Directory.)
Stunt kite^new: Seattle AirGear's nice WindDance dual-line parafoil kites by Dan & Sue Ruuska!!! See their video clips.
Lightfoot's prototype "ultralight motorcycle" with pedal-assist: Lightfoot Cycles builds recumbents, tricycles, and quadracycle bicycles and can add various power assist options. Among these is the very interesting Gas Engine Assist option currently under development. The ultimate practical motor vehicle :-) As a lifestyle bicyclist even I could picture myself on one of these! (Better than a moped; and I was surprised to find that motorcycles are inefficient.)
"We combine the engine's output in tandem with the pedaller's output. This means that shifting down to climb a hill, for example, lowers the gear ratio for both the pedaller and the engine at the same time, keeping their cadence/rpm constant in relationship to each other. It is capable of propelling an unfaired Lightfoot bicycle all day long at 30 miles per hour on level terrain. It can power the cycle all by itself at 25 mph. Should you ever run out of gas, you can pedal. An engine-assisted Lightfoot cycle is essentially an ultra-light motorcycle with pedal-assist."
Bicycle Lights: The Bicycle Lighting - Resource Page of Audax UK, the premier long distance cycling organisation in the UK.
Photography: Lensless (aka Pinhole :-) Photography. "Pinhole Photography - History, Images, Cameras, Formulas" by Jon Grepstad. Pinhole photography resource is a supplier of pinhole equipment. Pinhole Photography Discussion List and archive.; IR (infrared) Photography. Infrared photography FAQ. And the Infrared photography mailing-list archive.; Digital IR Photography! "Digital Infrared Photography" by Eric Cheng.
One-handed typing (the Single-handed Dvorak keyboard): Single-handed Dvorak keyboard information by Bob Harrell (whole site is devoted to one-hand Dvorak layouts).; KP Typing Tutor v3.2 (freeware) by Andy Huang now includes single-handed Dvorak keyboard layouts and instructions. See also his page devoted exclusively to one-handed typing links. Note that you do not need to buy a new keyboard to use any of these (Left-, Right-, or Two-hand) Dvorak layouts.; And now, for something somewhat completely different. If you are already stuck on QWERTY (i.e. you are currently a two-handed QWERTY touch-typist), you may possibly find this of interest: the compact one-handed QWERTY halfkeyboard.
Tiny/efficient Windows programs!!!: TinyApps.org is a guide to very small, TINY actually, software for your PC. Virtually all of the programs listed are free of charge and for use under Windows. (On a related theme, see also The Pricelessware List - the best in FREEware for Windows, as determined by readers of the alt.comp.freeware newsgroup.)
Palm Pilot PDA stuff ("If I Only Had a Brain"): Palm OS programs. I've added these absolutely indispensable programs onto my little 2MB Palm m100. All are freeware unless otherwise stated. Links below are to PalmGear.com.
Hot Date (enhancemant) makes the built-in Date Book useable - gives a pseudo-list view of appointments!
X-Master (hack manager) allows the following "hacks" (enhancements) to be used...
KeyB+Graffiti (hack) allows graffiting while using the on-screen keyboard or keypad!
Fast Cap Hack (hack) allows for faster