We’ve seen a few different versions of the “trampofoil” before. That’s the contraption that utilizes a hydrofoil and human power to scoot you across the water above the surface. It is somewhat difficult to explain, so just check out the first video after the break to see how the original works.
Today, we stumbled upon a cool video where someone is attempting to make a pedal powered one instead. Their first prototype, shown above is literally just a trampofoil with an added seat and pedal powered prop. They did manage to take it a step further though and came up with a second prototype that has a better designed hydrofoil as well as using a bike frame for the main structure. This looks really fun as you can see in the second video below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDQDQ_zIxl0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=yLboyOqi6R8
he seemed to get some surprising speed on that thing
Indeed, on water, with just human power, that’s really fast.
I think it’s awesome, and it will get quite a few looks if you hop or bike over the water like that.
I want one! There’s definitely a market for this!
now make it able to stand
That is FANTASTIC.
All this needs is two (not-necessarily-functional) bike wheels to make this the ultimate device for trolling boaters out on the lake!
Who are trolling for fish!
It needs some fake wheels so it looks like he’s riding a bike across the lake.
My thoughts exactly! If you are going to hack something into a freaky water spider bike, you might as well cause some car crashes with it!
They could call it the “Jesus Bike”! (Ooops, now I’m going to hell.)
I wonder what chop and wake does to the ride.
Chop and wake are less of an issue with hydrofoils than you might think, because you aren’t floating on the surface of the water, but rather “flying” on water several inches (in this case) to several feet (in the case of a boat) below the surface of the water. They’re usually much smoother than a standard hulled boat.
In this case, I disagree.
These vehicles have the angle of the front plane controlled by a floating/planing skim-thingy. This skims the surface and makes sure that the wing stays at the same distance below the water. I think chop would add a lot pitching up and down of the front plane, and a bumpy ride. If it were fixed, it would be smooth in chop, but then regulating depth would be hard
Not much, I think, since the hydrofoils are below the surface.
fantastic work, fantastic post
OK, take my dam money! 🙂
Wow, this brings me back. I remember seeing these things for the first time something like 15 years ago on some game show here in Sweden. Since then I haven’t really heard or seen much about them though. I remember thinking back then that they would be an instant hit but it never seemed to take off.
Maybe this bikey version will be more popular as I imagine it’ll put a lot less strain on the rider (because if I remember correctly the contestants had a hell of a time staying afloat because they tired so quickly).
Brooks, Alec N., Allan V. Abbott, and David Gordon Wilson, “Human-Powered Watercraft,” Scientific American, December 1986. Features cover artwork showing the Flying Fish II human-powered hydrofoil
What might make this even better would be bike wheels that hang a little below the wings and allow you to transition seamlessly between the water and sloping land.
What I neglected to add to the previous “Flying Fish II” reference is that the Scientific American cover art depicted it with pontoons to allow standing starts in open water.
What it really needs is a motor…
Yeah, with some sort of reciprocating mechanism attached to his knees, awesome!
I suppose that if you stop bouncing/peddling and settle into the water that, unlike a swamped canoe, there won’t be any easy way of getting started again without help?
Like cmholm said about the pontoons from scientific american.
Take this same idea and add pontoons so you can start and stop. As soon as you pedal you would raise out of the water and glide….maybe?
If i had a lake close to me i would want one!
I always thought that the original hopping design was a bit goofy looking, the pedal version looks a lot more like something I’d actually like to own and would use.
Also looks like a quite a workout!
If you got dumped the bike would go straight to the bottom. Needs an inflatable buoy type device with pull cord attached to your leg, just like the engine kill strap on speed boats.
Or just pontoons like in the previous posts. 🙂
Too much exercise for Americans.
hah it would be great to put the top half of mockup wheels on it and totally confuse anyone watching.
just don’t get too tired! middle of a lake, exhausted. your bike sinks and you don’t have the energy to swim to shore. yikes.
I’d like mine with some permanent floats mounted above the water line. wouldn’t impede normal forward progress, but would allow for mid-lake start-stops.