US farmer on double bike dream trip

SITTING about 1.5m off the ground, Kyle Sanders might have the best view of any cyclist in the country.

The Californian farmer is on holiday in New Zealand for about three months and is living out his goal of riding a custommade double bike around the South Island.

Built in Dunedin at the Crooked Spoke workshop, the double bike was one of about three he had built, Mr Sanders said.

Weighing about 50kg when all of his gear was packed on, the bike was quite slow on the road — apart from downhill.

‘‘It can get going really quick downhill, but it makes me nervous because I don’t really have the strongest brakes, so I’ve got to take my time, wherever I go.’’

So far he has had no trouble with New Zealand motorists and said he would keep to cycle trails as much as possible.

As well as challenging himself, he hoped the trip would raise awareness of cycling and a doityourself lifestyle.

‘‘Sometimes you just have to do these crazy things to get noticed and spread the word,’’ he said.

PHOTO PETER MCINTOSH Lofty ambition . . . Kyle Sanders, of the United States, rides his custombuilt double bike through the Octagon earlier this week. Mr Sanders, who is on holiday, built the bike at the Crooked Spoke workshop in Dunedin and plans to travel through...