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https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1550383713/cyclewing-deployable-wind-propulsion-for-bicycles
Well - that looks like an incredibly dangerous idea...
'Today, a small handful of commercial products combine "bicycles" with sails. These "bicycles" are invariably recumbent bicycles, low to the ground, often with more than two wheels, and with the rider in a more horizontal reclined position.'
Well, yes. There's a good reason for that.
I just wish their video had them riding it in some wind, with cars and trucks zooming past a few inches away.
I love these ideas where someone who knows little about 2 things tries to combine them.
Sailing - to go fast you need to constantly monitor the sail and adjust, even when not on two wheels, to avoid tipping over too much. From the video it looked like 90% of the time the sail was just a parachute.
Cycling, er, well, is best without a huge box on the back of your bike.
It may work tolerably well in this sort of environment: a long, straight, traffic-free trail across a vast and completely flat plain. Great.
But coming up with a product for use by people who want to ride a bicycle across that environment, and who also aren't keen on pedalling and aren't competing in an event which would obviously ban sails, makes as much commercial sense as kickstarting a waterproof face-painting kit for people who like to swim with sharks.
kickstarting a waterproof face-painting kit for people who like to swim with sharks.
Sick! are already on it!
Probably just some T-shirts of sharks done up to look like ladybirds.
Don't worry, sharks will be extinct long be it is delivered.
Q. Why is the brand called Sick!
A. Because the waiting times are reminiscent of the NHS.
😂
I like their comments section, not quite sure if they're taking the piss or just as clueless as the inventors.
Michael Albert
2 days ago
Is this thing really feasible? With the exception of your prototype videos, you don't show it actually propelling any one. The campaign video shows the sail flapping around while the rider pedals. Plus it's 15 pounds. I'd think an auto steer function would be necessary too.user avatar
James
3 days ago
Anyway you could build a full on sail rid for riding into the ocean and transforming into a sailboat? a small sail boat but a boat that keeps going with the wind? For some reason the video shoots got me thinking about riding to the ocean and than continuing past the surf with the bike and if the wind is strong enough having that as a benefit.
12 backers and a 3% funding level with only a few days to go suggests you're not alone in your suspicion.
Such a bloody stupid idea, I wonder if it's someone trolling Kickstarter?
It may work tolerably well in this sort of environment: a long, straight, traffic-free trail across a vast and completely flat plain. Great.
there's a very good reason that wind powered vehicles are generally only used on wide open spaces with lots of choice of direction - and that you need a lot of surface area to mass to generate any kind of useful power in moderate and stable, non-turbulent wind conditions. So not any kind of road then.
reminded me of this though, which is nice.
I would love one of these
Such a bloody stupid idea, I wonder if it’s someone trolling Kickstarter?
Nah, this barely registers on the Bonkers Kickstarter Ideas-o-Meter. One of my favourites was a little water bottle which was connected to a helmet by way of a long tube, so that you could squeeze the bottle and have it do a little wee on your head.
And then of course there's astronomically fruitloop Superwheel on Indiegogo. I'm not sure whether the guy behind it is either mechanically clueless and struggles a lot with English technical vocabulary, or whether he knows perfectly well he's selling snake oil and is wilfully misrepresenting it to con people out of their money. I mean—I have an opinion, obviously, I just like to give people the benefit of the doubt 🙂
Bin dun - http://www.oldbike.eu/museum/1940s/1960s-1970s/1975-patterson-aerocycle-sail-bike/
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Looks like something from Stooge 😉
I remember a kickstarter for a kite powered boat that had the hypothetical ability to dive UNDERWATER while being powered by the kite. It was based entirely on a CG render from someone who it appeared had never come into contact with water or air and considered the physical properties of either of them.
It may work tolerably well in this sort of environment: a long, straight, traffic-free trail across a vast and completely flat plain.
That's what Jay Petervary did in the TDR, allegedly etc he used a sail to get a boost across the Great Basin, very windy spot. Said it wasn't forbidden so was fair.
3% funded with 3 days remaining
says it all
bindun. Saw one on ebay a while back. Delta recumbent with small sail.
http://whike.com/en/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whike
They aren't cheap.