I was there that day, and I'm sure the really strong cross wind made it more difficult than it would normally have been. I was surprised at how far everyone who tried it was able to go. This included some people doing circles and figure eights. Jim '61 Bambi Terry Tyler wrote: > Hi Christopher H. Dow, > > In a recent posting, you wrote: > > >Also, I think it should be remembered--especially with regard to vintage > >airstream--that Airstream's logo was a *bicycle* towing a trailer. > > > Back in June 1999 at the International Rally in Dayton, Ohio - I was among a group >of five Vintage > Airstream Club members who towed Clyde Wagner's 1948 Airstream Zephyr using Clyde's >specially > modified bicycle. Since that experience, I am certain that on the day when Airstream >christened this > logo, it was a very long day with many "takes" before the final photograph was >satisfactory. > > I don't know how many minutes any bicycle rider can actually tow an Airstream, but I >can personally > attest to the difficulty of simultaneously exerting massive amounts of physical >energy pedaling it > and using maximum arm strength and hand grip to maintain my balance. During the >short time I pedaled > all by myself without Clyde's help with balance, the minutes did not fly by; instead >they passed at > an agonizingly slow rate. I was surprised by how little progress could be achieved >in spite of a > hemorrage of energy to my legs, arms and hands. > > The Airstream seemed to always be on the verge of having complete control of where >it and I were > going.The direction it wanted to roll was instantanously translated from my >slightest, almost > imperceptible shift in balance. > > Even the most insignificant upward incline in the parking lot added a profoundly >greater degree of > difficulty to the task. It felt like I was climbing a mountain with a 100 pound sack >of potatoes > strapped to each leg and each arm while I aggressively used every bit of my power, >thrust and > balance control that I could muster. > > If Clyde's bicycle frame had not been modified for greater strength, I believe any >one of the five > of us could have bent it with the intense torque each of us put to it. I have a >profoundly greater > appreciation of the job our tow vehicles are doing each time they tow one of our >Airstreams. > > For me, the experience was an intensely satisfying one. I was thrilled to have the >opportunity > because I always wanted to tow an Airstream with a bicycle. Now, I have proof (a >framed picture) > that I did it, I really did it. But....., this is one "brag" picture where only I >know how close it > was between success, almost success and how much effort I put into it. > > Terry > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To unsubscribe or to change to a daily Digest, please go to > http://www.airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html > > If replying back to this message, please delete all the unnecessary original > text from your reply. > > To unsubscribe or to change to a daily Digest, please go to http://www.airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html If replying back to this message, please delete all the unnecessary original text from your reply.
