Taking a couch on a bicycle touring adventure through Atlantic Canada

A picture of the couchbike in action.
Click to enlarge.

Note the area behind the couch for gear storage.
Click to enlarge.

I've always loved adventures both participating in them myself and reading about other people's. The most enjoyable adventures often have many elements from enjoying scenery and meeting people right through to overcoming adversary with a smile on your face.

A bicycle touring adventure is this kind of adventure for me. Usually there's the element of getting lost, discovering one's inner self, seeing new things and of course conversing with complete strangers about their neck of the woods.

Several years ago I read about two guys who had put together a special bike sort of like a recumbent but with a few padded and heavily cushioned extras. I am referring to a bike frame that surrounded a leather couch.

In their story these guys, one from Canada and one from Norway, pedal their couchbike up and down the hills of New Brunswick before heading over to Prince Edward Island to ride a combination of rail trails and paved roads across the island.

Along the way they get tossed from the couch a few times before they learn how to operate their brakes effectively and they enjoy the outright laughter that comes their way as other people see them riding their contraption. Their tour is not without lots of trials including learning how to get around or over the numerous trail gates in Prince Edward Island, being diplomatic with police officers and learning how to effectively ride in the rain while protecting the couch and sitting in a puddle of water.

The tour account contains all of the elements of a wonderful bicycle touring adventure including friendship, beautiful scenery, and an unique outlook on life. I recommend checking out their story!

Couchbike Tour Report

Some interesting bike designs also on their site

Bicycle Forest Home Page

Despite reading such an interesting and authentic sounding journal a small voice at the back of my head kept asking me to verify that this actually happened so I asked! (grin).

Here's what Brent Curry had to say:

"Yes, the couchbike story is all true. Originally it was just a digitally altered photo that I set up the collaborative writing page around but I always knew I'd get around to building a real one someday. I was glad that it all came together in 2002."

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