Camping for cyclists

Pulling a caravan with a bicycle is unlikely to be comfortable. Both going uphill with a small house attached to a two-wheeler, and going downhill while the trailer is pushing the bike, can be difficult. However, the idea of a simple bicycle trailer keeps coming back, because such a solution would allow for really cheap and possibly fascinating travel.

Therefore, models of caravans for bicycles appear from time to time at the same fair, where you can also see campers and car trailers. And although these bicycle models are rarely more than just concept models, they arouse quite a sensation.

Professional concept

During the fair in Duesseldorf, the Dethleffs company, known for the production of "serious" caravans and motorhomes, has already presented a small bicycle trailer twice. The Dethleffs Biker model looks just like a car trailer from a distance and you have to get closer to see the differences. And these are in proportion. The biker is smaller and lighter - it weighs 175 kilograms. Inside there is, among others, quite a large bed. However, this trailer will not go into series production due to problems with obtaining approval for such a vehicle.

So what can a person who wants to travel by bike and at the same time wants to be provided with a place to stay? There are ways to do this, although they require both a lot of fantasy, courage (you can't worry about what people say), and a designer's flair.

DIY fantasies

Sakari Holma - a resident of Finland - built a bicycle trailer himself, and in addition, much lighter than that created by the German company. He made his work of wooden elements, and the whole structure is apparently very light. Perhaps this vehicle looks more like a covered bed on wheels than a caravan, but it allows for a relatively comfortable overnight stay. The constructor took care not only of the streamlined shape and retractable supports, but also of the "teardrop" windows covered with curtains at night.

Another constructor of strange vehicles (both running and floating) is Paul Elkins. The house on wheels he constructed weighs 100 kg. Inside there is a folding bed, table, fan and boxes that act as lockers. An interesting solution is the "urinal", into which urine is released from the outside - it looks a bit like pouring fuel into a car while refueling. This is not the end of the quirks, however. A transparent capsule protrudes from the trailer. The sleeping inhabitant of the trailer puts his head in it, thanks to which he can admire the stars at night.

So you can successfully say that the only limitation is your imagination and… muscle strength, because driving such caravans on the roads can be tiring - especially during long journeys. And yet this is what their designers dreamed of.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09tm0uIIYZg
http://vimeo.com/633237
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMkq_FK_N7g