Hi There My wife and I have just about had it with living in beautifull downtown Toronto and have
begun looking at doing a 20,000 mile bent tandem ride next summer. In true Wile E. Coyote fashion I
intend to design the tandem and have someone way smarter than Moi build the tandem for me. My
thought was a space frame in Aluminum with a length of 21 feet X 3 feet wide (tadpole
configuration). Why 21 feet...It will have a rather long Solar Panel (PV) to assist my pedal
assist...I am good, but not 20,000 miles good (I may be insane-but I am not stupid) and no way I am
doing the Rocky Mountains strictly on pedal power. My other thought for the 21 footer was to carry a
solo tadpole in the rear (wheels not on ground). Thiis way people can do Demo rides of my trike (the
one I will be flogging).
At 21 feet a boater friend has suggested I use a folding-telescopic mast and hoist a sail when there
is a good breeze across the Prairies...hmmm wouldn't that be cool, a Prairie Schooner and so much
fun explaining that one in Court.
I have become fat (small Planets may soon start orbiting around me) and my leg muscles are not as
powerfull as they once were since the Osteoarthritis in my knees kicked in....damn old age.
I figure enough is enough, time to take my life on the road and spread my brand of crazy around.
Hell, why embarass my species only in Toronto, time to spread it out. There are sooo many nice car
mirrors just begging me to make contact across the Great White North.
I will get some Corporate Sponsors for this journey, from a testing point of view a 20,000 mile trek
is worth a few Ducats in marketing/promotion....less so if I am squished by a tractor trailer 20
miles out of Toronto. I'd love to get Jack Daniels to sponsor me, but being pulled over every 200
feet by the Police for a breath sample and a search of my Hydration pack for booze might be too
much. I reckon on approaching Solar Panel companies, Rim suppliers etc.
IF this SARS thing gets any worse I may have to run a blocade on the Highway to escape the City.
Hardest part of all this will be convincing my brain that I really won't drop over dead IF I stop
eating Cherry Cheesecake, Danishs, Halavah etc. So I'll have 10 months to prepare...can hardly
wait...hmmm I can hear the Cheesecake saying Eat Me, Eat Me. Oh Great, now my food is talking to me!
Anyone seen any really long tandem plans anywhere on the net, I need some ideas.