Spyke
lemmy.world

At this point, you start gliding through the water with the splendid, gracious ease of a cruising dugong with an outboard up its bum.

Pulitzer candidate right there.

106
lemmy.world

I can't tell how fast it is, is there a comparison of someone using this vs. a regular swimmer?

24
Agerothreply
reddthat.com

The real comparison will be this thing vs a set of basic swim flippers.

40

I'd still go with the flippers. The sacrifice to articulation seems like a deal breaker.

4
zalgotextreply
sh.itjust.works

I don't really have a good gauge of how fast you can typically go with swim slippers though. Comparing to a person swimming without any aides would be much more useful for getting an idea of what "superhuman speed" means.

3

If an average joe with an hour of practice could match or outpace Michael Phelps, I would consider that superhuman speed.

1

Some videos in the article show a guy cruising while barely using his arms, and then SCUBA divers only pedaling with their feet but they were pedaling slower

3
lemmy.zip

They don't discuss specific speeds, but this is from the last paragraph:

This jigger, according to the manufacturers, makes you handily quicker than an equivalent swimmer with fins on.

37
lemm.ee

What's "handily quicker"? A lot quicker? A good phrase for selling a novelty product?

I have to wonder how the Seabike, as shown exclusively in a swimming pool rather than any of the many seas on the planet, actually performs.

13
GBU_28reply
lemm.ee

Yo this device gives handies! Quick!

3

Yknow, I don't think anyone's ever made a bike powered version of those insane £200 electronic masturbators there are memes about these days... Eco wank anyone?

1
Empricornreply
feddit.nl

I'm very skeptical about that. It's an expensive augmented swimming device that says it's faster than fins but doesn't prove it with stats or even just a side-by-side video...?

4
Anticorpreply
lemmy.world

Why would I want this as opposed to an electric one that I hold in my hands, that can zoop me across the ocean without consuming extra oxygen from physical exertion?

14
kbin.social

This is a really cool idea and I'd try it. But also the video was kind of underwhelming and they look like huge nerds.

16
lemm.ee

It might not be faster, it might not look cooler, but it is relatively inconvenient.

11

I don't think they really understand that there isn't much market for swimming fast, but there is a good market for swimming/snorkeling lazy, which is where this may actually exist as a product.

0
lemm.ee

So ... with that central rod up your butt (for stability) ... the land bike counterpart is this:

12

Seabike says the prop turns slowly enough that you can safely use it at the local pool – although you'll certainly cop some dirty looks from the Speedo brigade in the fast lane.

You're going to get dirty looks because you can't do a flip turn and block the rest of us. This is cool in the open water but not for lap swimming in a pool.

10
lemmy.blahaj.zone

It actually does look relatively faster. This might have given me an idea..

5
shastaxcreply
lemm.ee

Are you a script writer for James Bond?

5
shastaxcreply
lemm.ee

Looking forward to the next 007 game 🙂

5

Not a James Bond game! However, it does have water levels. We know how damned infuriating water levels are.. unless you get a little creative.

0
sqw
lemmy.sdf.org

seems a little bit scary being clipped into the contraption. maybe not as bad if scuba is involved. but what if the mechanism fails or gets snagged while you’re clipped to it?

1
lemm.ee

What bicycles require you to be strapped into them?

3
lemmy.world

Clipping into pedals is pretty common actually (which is actually called clipless despite having clips), at least with road bikes and racing. The idea is clipping your shoe to the pedal makes your pedaling more efficient.

Personally, I prefer flats in case I need to hop off quickly, like if I'm about to get hit by some dipshit in an SUV.

13

Mountain biking too.

I prefer flats too but most pro downhill and enduro riders use clipless.

3
lemm.ee

That's why I asked, I've never seen anyone do it before. Pretty much for exactly that reason.

2
nillocreply
discuss.tchncs.de

I rode clipless pedals for mountain bike racing (cross country). It is so much more efficient and they have shoes with thicker soles and deep treads which makes them more comfortable to walk in.

They also make jumping over small obstacles and rocks easier and safer.

2

Yep. I just use the clips with the smallest degree of pop out...works great and I never noticed being "delayed" to get my foot out and onto the ground if I need it. Even in some VERY time sensitive situations

2

I would never ride without being clipped in, maybe 100 yards to the shop and back but other then that clipless is much much better. Used then for about 20 yeaes now. Took about 2 weeks to get used to from memory.

2
GBU_28reply
lemm.ee

Any bike with clipped pedals???

1
sqwreply
lemmy.sdf.org

hard to imagine it’s truly the same. would be interested to see the process

-1
sqwreply
lemmy.sdf.org

aha i just saw the “seat”. guess thats what makes it possible

1

i hadn’t seen the seat, just the clipped-in feet.

when its underway i guess the “seat” lets you steer (with your thighs) a bit and gives a point of leverage for the unclipping (especially when its the singleton clip/unclip).

not sure why, but it all seems a bit inelegant. but if it multiplies effort anywhere near what a bike can do, that’s a big achievement.

0

There's a clip of a swimmer doing it without shoes/clips so maybe they're optional.

7