home

B

icycles are a mainstay of Oriental’s commuter and sailing scene. There’s trike bikes, folding bikes, bicycles for riding around town and bicycles for riding in marathons. Oriental has its own annual biking event: the Thanksgiving Bike Ride. And while bicycles are not an uncommon sight, a bike decorated to its singular purpose is.

A trike modified – and decorated – for fishing.

Gary Ramsey wanted to bike down to South Ave and Lou Mac Pier to go fishing. But two wheel bicycles don’t have much real estate for fishing poles and gear. So Gary went looking for a trike – a three-wheel version with a basket behind the seat.

Though well suited to his needs, Gary realized he could make the trike more functional. He added a bucket, a table, and two holders for his fishing poles. And inspiration struck. A trike used for fishing, needed a few fish.

Using his wife Carolyn’s Croaker Festival relay trophies as models – a design created by George and Turtle Midyette for the now defunct Croaker Relay – Gary began carving his fish.

Turtle and George Midyette in 2009, with several wooden croakers ready for the relay. Gary Ramsey based his croakers off the Midyettes’ design.

There’s a cutting board behind the seat, but Gary says it’s mostly for changing out lures. “You don’t want fish guts running down onto everything.”

He’s been adding bits and pieces to his work. The fender croaker needed a little something else. With some copper and a metal rivet, the fish now has eyes.

Though his efforts suggest otherwise, Gary doesn’t claim any artistic talent. “It’s just folk art,” he says.

The trike basket holds Gary’s gear, and his croakers.

Gary’s modified trike carries all his gear.

A blue Schwinn trike is the vehicle for Gary’s creation.

A fishing lure – unlike others on the trike, this one is used to catch fish.

The front of Gary’s trike features a leaping croaker and two distinct lures. The lure hooks are more copper wires – less chance of accidentally hooking his hands that way.

Gary Ramsey and his fishing trike.

Posted Monday October 5, 2020 by Allison DeWeese