Arm and leg powered bicycle called Body Bike?

[kh]

Speaking of bike tech/inventions, check out this compelling arm and
leg powered bicycle. Actually has a demo movie of it in action. This
is no recumbent bicycle either, but a unit that integrates with a
regular bike, the example being a Fuji.

Pretty interesting video although I would say it's not for ye olde
dial-up!

Has anyone seen anything like the Body Bike? This beast would
seemingly give you quite a workout!

http://www.bodybike.org/

or http://www.bodybike.org/home.htm

 

[Werehatrack]

On 2 Sep 2004 03:03:42 -0700, [email protected] (kh) wrote:

>Speaking of bike tech/inventions, check out this compelling arm and
>leg powered bicycle. Actually has a demo movie of it in action. This
>is no recumbent bicycle either, but a unit that integrates with a
>regular bike, the example being a Fuji.
>
>Pretty interesting video although I would say it's not for ye olde
>dial-up!
>
>Has anyone seen anything like the Body Bike? This beast would
>seemingly give you quite a workout!
>
>http://www.bodybike.org/
>
>or http://www.bodybike.org/home.htm

(note: bloody Quicktime required for the movie.)

Extra weight to carry, but I can't see that there's a gain to be had
for the well-trained competitive cyclist...and for someone who just
wants the workout, there are plenty of ways to get it now.

My opinion: It's yet another gadget whose time hasn't been and isn't
coming, though it might have limited applications for certain people
who have reduced leg mobility on one side.


--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
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[kh]

> >http://www.bodybike.org/
> >
> (note: bloody Quicktime required for the movie.)
>
> Extra weight to carry, but I can't see that there's a gain to be had
> for the well-trained competitive cyclist...and for someone who just
> wants the workout, there are plenty of ways to get it now.
>
> My opinion: It's yet another gadget whose time hasn't been and isn't
> coming, though it might have limited applications for certain people
> who have reduced leg mobility on one side.

Well, from the looks of it, there isnt that much extra weight to carry
although the point is taken. Still, I dont know of another invention
like this exactly.

I dont think the target audience is the competitive cyclist really and
it sure beats having a workout on a stationary bike that mimics the
same while sitting watching re-runs.

I thought it was pretty neat but was wondering exactly how much added
propulsion once could get. It has an ingenius way of of disengaging
too so as to just use your feet. I think this is pretty critical if
one wants to disable the arm aspect and just work as the stock bike.

Did you see the movie? Didnt realize that Quicktime was such a
"bloody" pain. I actually prefer it over realplayer. Works fine on
my machine but it's a total BEAST if on dialup.

 

[pbyuka]

Regarding the Body Bike--I just noticed your comments. If you have ever used a stationary Airdyne bike and suddenly stopped inputting arm force you see a dramatic reduction in speed. Yes, lots of drive torque can be input by the upper body. Your point regarding a trained cyclist is a good one because high spinning "cyclist trained" legs can give the heart a pretty good workout. But I think even the trained cyclist would eventually go faster on this and be a more total athlete.

 

[dkahn400]

pbyuka wrote:
> Your point regarding a trained cyclist is a good one because high
> spinning "cyclist trained" legs can give the heart a pretty good
> workout. But I think even the trained cyclist would eventually go
> faster on this and be a more total athlete.

Not a chance, other than possibly for very short bursts. Adding power
from the arms is not a new idea, but the limiting factor in sustained
riding seems to be the rider's aerobic capacity rather than any
shortcoming in the basic design of the drivetrain.

--
Dave...

 

[dkahn400]

Werehatrack wrote:
> On 2 Sep 2004 03:03:42 -0700, [email protected] (kh) wrote:

> >Has anyone seen anything like the Body Bike? This beast would
> >seemingly give you quite a workout!

> Extra weight to carry, but I can't see that there's a gain to be had
> for the well-trained competitive cyclist...and for someone who just
> wants the workout, there are plenty of ways to get it now.
>
For a complete body workout on a bicycle it must be hard to beat a
rowing bike.

--
Dave...

 

[meb]

Speaking of bike tech/inventions, check out this compelling arm and
leg powered bicycle. Actually has a demo movie of it in action. This
is no recumbent bicycle either, but a unit that integrates with a
regular bike, the example being a Fuji.

Pretty interesting video although I would say it's not for ye olde
dial-up!

Has anyone seen anything like the Body Bike? This beast would
seemingly give you quite a workout!

http://www.bodybike.org/

or http://www.bodybike.org/home.htm

Been done a few times in the recumbent world.

One actually had the world record for the flying 200m at one time.

For longer distances not generally worth the extra weight and drag, but when not oxygen limitted you can put out more power.

There were about 10 Tour Easys manufactured as manupeds.
Easy Racers was apparantly testing another prototype about a year ago.

Varna has also manufactured recumbent trikes this way. They still have a tandem in which the captain pedals with the feet and the stoker by hands.

 

[[email protected]]

meb wrote:
>
> Been done a few times in the recumbent world.
>
> One actually had the world record for the flying 200m at one time.
>

This was Fred Tatch, back in the '70's:
http://www.ihpva.org/incoming/Manuped/Manuped1.jpg
http://www.ihpva.org/incoming/Manuped/Manuped2.jpg
FWIW: I talked to Fred two nights ago- he's still active in HPV's.

> For longer distances not generally worth the extra weight and drag,
but
> when not oxygen limitted you can put out more power.
>
> There were about 10 Tour Easys manufactured as manupeds.
> Easy Racers was apparantly testing another prototype about a year
ago.
>

In bicycle:
http://www.ohpv.org/albums/bm2004/misc/pages/misc12.htm
and tricycle:
http://www.ohpv.org/albums/bm2004/misc/pages/misc13.htm
forms.

> Varna has also manufactured recumbent trikes this way. They still
have
> a tandem in which the captain pedals with the feet and the stoker by
> hands.
>

Gary Hale (http://www.halebikes.com/index.html) also built a couple
arm/leg-powered bikes:
http://www.halebikes.com/pictures/other/scan0411-1.jpg
One of his bikes is still running around Portland:
http://www.pacifier.com/~jwills/rites2004/pages/rites105.htm

Jeff