kevlore

Have any of you ever heard of the Power Pumper?
Powerpumper.com

The kid version has been around for awhile but I am curious about the adult version which I guess is in prototype.
https://www.powerpumper.com/shop/p/adult-model/

Can you see yourself on the highway making that motion? I guess it would be worth the ridicule if you can go 45mph.

Kevin

BlazingPedals

It looks like a great kids' sidewalk toy. But without even looking at the specs I can guarantee it's slower than a normal bike. The only way a rowbike-tyle trike will go 45 is down a steep hill. Someday I will be wrong when I say that about a product; but today is not that day.

Besides, when I see a CAD drawing, one word comes to mind: Vaporware.

Jeff Wills

Not vaporware, but similarly exaggerated claims: https://www.humancar.com/

"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence" - Carl Sagan and others

BlazingPedals

Well, duh! If you add enough auxiliary electric power, you can handily surpass what a human can do -- until the battery is discharged.

JanMM

The price is right for the power pumper: The adult model will be available soon. Check back for updates.

Price: $0.00

kevlore

"SOLD OUT", too! haha.

I haven't even seen a rowing style bike. Have you seen or better yet ridden one? They look like they require a lot of effort. Everybody riding one in the video look really strong. Is that what it takes to ride one, or is that what you become if you ride one? Or maybe it's both...

dcrowell

I have neck and shoulder issues. My physical therapist has me use an "arm bike" (their term) for exercise. Even without my issues, there is no way I could out more power with my arms than my legs.

BlazingPedals

Row bikes aren't new. I've never ridden one, although I would definitely try if I had the chance. By most accounts they're fun and a great workout, but not as fast as pedals. Of necessity, you only apply power about 50% of the time, which is the problem with other linear-power modes, too.

This is a Rowbike. I actually saw one of these near Columbus/Delaware, OH. Looked pretty neat.


The other major player in the rowbike field is Thys, in the Netherlands. It uses cables; and personally, I think gear-driven would be more desirable from a reliability standpoint.


When I Googled "row bike" I noticed at least a couple of row-powered trikes, too; so the Power Pumper is nothing unique. Not that it would need to be, but I would hope they wouldn't oversell its speed.

Jeff Wills

Floyd

The video said that the rowing car would come out in 2009...we are now 3 years later and I have heard nothing, of course...actually i should not be so 'smart'...with electric car motors and batteries getting better, it might happen. a big might but who knows.

BlazingPedals

The kids' version, being 4-wheeled, reminds me of an Irish Mail. This adult version is made by Champiot. The owner is in my club; and also does rowing (shells.)