Commuter builds water bike to pedal across San Francisco Bay 

The fact that so much of the frame is submerged bothers me. He was trying to cut down drag by not having a rudder but he is still creating a ton with his frame being in the water. It's cool but it's got a ways to go.

Excellent channel, Kirsten. Thank you so much for what you bring to our attention.

great idea, but as an avid cyclist myself, I was wondering; doesn't a recumbent position make more sense in this type of design? After all you don't have gradients to deal with, plus you have the added benefit of a lower profile, less wind resistance etc. Kudos never the less. Love to see it evolve.

Never been done before? Sorry, but I rode something which seemed a lot more streamlined when I was 12...

Another great video. I noticed the bottom of the crank mechanism was submerged in the water creating drag. Is there any reason why it is not above the waterline?

Awesome idea !!!!! I would just be scared to death of JAWS GETTIN ME, LOL

What's the normal speed or maximum speed of it?

Excellent! Now please produce a recumbent model.

Remove the rudder to reduce drag, but then sit the whole frame low in the water... I think this needs a revision...

Interesting concept, would like to see a recumbent version of this built as one's leg muscles could be used with more efficiency. This might even open up the possibility of props with increased pitch for speed .

Originally it was stated that you were trying to keep the wheeled aspect of transportation. Then you show a design with no wheels or provision for them. Since you abandoned the dual concept why retain the position? Though I like many forms of bicycles, once you have ridden a recumbent the advantage for your visibility is incredible. It also just feels better on your neck, back and butt. This might be to some advantage for a long haul across the bay. Keeping that position and drive train places you far off the water, decreasing stability. I dont see this as being a problem in your video but it is smooth water conditions. Finally there is drag. Why is the front cross strut submerged a considerable amount of the time? As is the transmission? Couldnt both of these items been brought to just above the surface? Seems they could. Though Mt.Tam, Gary Fisher, Joe Murray and California get credit for the birth of mountain biking. I am pretty sure the entire world had been well covered by bicycles way before they were even born.

did you consider paddle(s) instead of propellers ? or how bout using a motorised bicycle ?

Nice idea! Altought it's basically a paddleboat. And a recumbent design (closer to paddleboat) would have been much more stable because of lower center of gravity. And easier to get the gear out of the salt water which has to be a no no!

Does it require watercraft registration number?

Cool engineering, love the ingenuity & design. I just have one word: sailboat.

Hey a guy in New Zealand did this years ago...he peddled all the way across the Cook Straight...dangerous currents and changeable conditions.

The crank assembly is still creating some drag. Find a way to elevate that and you're golden. Great concept!

I think he'd really be on to something if there was actually a bike in it that would disconnect from the pontoons and you could actually use it to commute. Or maybe it could carry another bike on top of it? Also curious how well those metal parts handle the salt water.

absolutely wonderful ..How and where does he moor it securely ? Here in Berlin we have loads of water and such would be wonderful but some of the thieves would have this in no time ..... I like it ...

I *really* like the idea, but what about when you get to land? Why not invent a 'convertible' water bike? Have floats and such for when you go on water, and wheels when you get to land? Something like what they had with the amphibious "Sherman" tanks on D-Day? The reason most of them sank (yes some *did* make it to land) was because the waves got too high, or they were shot full of holes. The 'convertible' water bike would be a *great* idea! Since he's already gone as far as to make that water bike, why not go a little further, and make it amphibious?

nice job ! a recumbent version might later appear for windy areas ...

It's crazy how a great invention got such negative impact that's why you can't listen to people just do your thing hey whatever that floats your boat I say 2 thumbs up for thinking outside the box

Another good concept as usual Kirsten; you dig up some good ideas to keep people thinking... I agree with a couple /some of the earlier comments re: drag; get the frame out of the water, position; why not go recumbent, less air drag and more comfort; you could even put a windshield on it to streamline more and protect from spray on those less then idyllic days. propulsion; a kayak manufacturer; I won't name names :) makes a nice simple propulsion system that is supposed to be 20%? more effective than props, lease their technology instead of reinventing the wheel; pun intended. All of these would give it a much larger market but take it away from the biking concept; evolution has proven itself time after time so maybe this needs to evolve too...

Nice idea and work, but I would like to see a recumbent version with longer rigid wave piercing hulls and try to keep the gearbox and frame out of the water. I don't believe a single plate rudder would have the drag that the frame and gearbox have presently and a single prop would have more efficiency since it would be larger in diameter. You have something good here if a little more refinement is put into it.

I think a recombinant design might be better, given the lower center of gravity however I believe this is a great idea! Also what about adding a powerful yet compact battery powered motor for assistance with a power regeneration feature? GPS location just in case of emergency?

Very interesting. Would like to know if you can gear it like a ten speed? Of course hull design is always the consideration of max. hull speed. It's a great design with loads of potential for improvement and reinvention. For those of you who go out in 30kts. of wind and need radar, you're gonna need a bigger boat. Plus a flattening reef (mainsail), lapper (jib) and tight halyards to stand the luffs. New sheets would be nice too. Now let's go out and break something. Hahaha Thanks Kristen.

Do the shoes come with the bike?

Can order one? if i can what website should i use?

Can it run on Windy water.

Gotta love that bike. If I bought one, I would properly take it for a long ride from Europe(Denmark) to America(China Town).

Gets rid of a rudder, but keeps the front of the propulsion assembly in the water? (That makes sense)

Great video, do more things like this too along with houses

The only thing I don't like is he's too bent over. I would prefer a more hybrid upright sitting design. Less pain for my back. Other than that, I love it!

So why not recumbent bike you catch less wind and that is what you need to catch less wind if your wind is in your face. Do this make it recumbent, larger pontoons or raise the area for the rider to keep contact with water to a min. Or just go with a tri hull. And provide a cover over the rider to reduce drag.

He's so worried about a rudder causing drag... But half the frame is in the water haha

This wasn't the first water bike. The surf bike was around a few years before this. It was even more realistic to the bicycle experience, in that you had to balance with steering. Stop pedaling, stop steering, fall over.

Keep up the good work brother! Maybe recumbent and bigger pontoons I'm sure you'll figure it out and make it faster! But I admire you! Great colors in a few years everyone will be using them keep modifying it! To me your the tesla of this concept!

Clever, I wonder why people didn't invent this decades ago because it seems like old school mechanics like he's saying. I don't think he could cross the Bay though, that thing would do nothing in a strong normal bay current. He needs to make it like the HyBike where you can use a battery to go, but still have the option to manual power the bike via pedals. The high tech lithium batteries these days could easily power that thing to go across the bay though. Cool dude though for sure

So what's the point of this thing? Does took very portable and doesn't look very fast. Wouldn't on be better off with a peddle powered kayak like a Hobie? I mean if it worked on land as well it would he awesome.

You'd have to get 2 dock slips for your commute. That's a lot of cheddar. But cool idea for recreation.

They have something similar to this in Boston with the swan boats which are human powered. But definitely not able to go as far. He jus makes me nervous not having a life jacket on. But cool idea.

Somehow I think that would incredibly precarious to ride in anything other than a dead calm, I'd like to see how that works in 2+/- foot chop, which is a pretty reasonable expectation for any body of water.

Got to love his invention

This is sick. I would buy this. =)

Very cool but lets see this thing take a wake from a big boat or a rogue wave, and what no life jacket??

Great idea! Now if he could install some hydrofoils on there so that at top speed it would lift up out of the water and make a lot less drag and higher speed it would be fantastic.

Interesting, thanks for sharing.

AWESOME!! I want one!

I love it! I want to try his out for fun though!

He mentions that a rudder adds drag but he doesn't seem to care that the entire lower unit is dragging through the water! There is NO reason that has to be happening. The pontoon "arms" could elevate the lower unit. Classic case of ambition getting in the way of clearer thinking. There is WAY more drag from the lower unit than an appropriate size rudder would introduce. Other than that, is it pretty cool.

That's cool.. making it a recumbent would be awesome tho.

How about a recumbent style waterbike? Uprights are so cliche. Try something different and more comfortable for a change.

Do not hate I love how people like to tack crap on the internets lol so many people ready to bust a bubble . Things need time and it look fun . People who hate online in my experience are just 9 to 5ers that do nothing original and have no vision. Stop hating .

The Manta5 is a hydrofoil water bike that is like this and runs faster, check out that. It has a battery too!

what's wrong with a kayak?

I would invent an electrical foldable (will be very small to hold in a little car booth) electrical water bike with big solar panels (to help for the speed) as ambrela with a lying position for 2 people (very comfortble). And 3 seconds to be ready to be used fully and for folding easily in 3 seconds as well... That invention would be so small that I could bring as a little wheels suitcase to take it with me inside an airplane as hand case.

Have none of you people ever heard of a pedalo? Its pretty much the same concept, its not new its been around for a long time

He should have a life jacket

That's awesome!

"the bike lane on the Bay bridge (connecting San Francisco and Oakland) was going to stop halfway across" Come again? LOL town planners have such rocks in their heads honestly.

Wish I'd thought of that!

Erm isn't that basically the same as pedalo's?

I like the idea, but I would throw in a sail to power this by the wind. I don't know where would you travel with the bike to make it useful, hmm maybe unless you're in Venice or Amsterdam, other than on longer distances. And therefore, perhaps human force shall only be applied when needed? Somehow useless in the long run unless its the sport and the cool factor of the bike. ;)

luv it, good job.

This could be great for commuting on canals!

I love this.

I would *add* ==>> 100 W solar panel + 12v Lithium battery + 24v motor ===> tadaaa! Solar-powered electric water bike.

He used a shuttle bike to cross the first time? I have that one.

why does it have to be uncomfortable ? raise the handle bars ,i would not use this. good work but more is necessary .

cool video!!!

Great concept and well-motivated but sadly overpriced, and overkill on those pontoons (you can float a small car across San Francisco Bay on those). The seating position also looks painful. Your price limits you to the likes of Monaco where people have money to burn, not the case with the rest of us. You mention you omitted a rudder to prevent drag, yet you have the center section dragging in the water (I'm assuming this was corrected in later designs).

I live right by there!

A lot of people pooping on this guy and his water bike.

That's about the same size as a boat anyway. I'd buy a kayak from sams club and go for it.

maybe for a lake but definitely not for the sf bay...seems way too dangerous. I live in Oakland and have seen sail boaters die from the tide...He seems to be in a secluded small beach which seems fine...well done, but I would think its safer for lakes.

Very cool but its nothing more than reinventing the wheel by making a one person paddle boat.

lol Bring on the critics! But, wow, "very high opinion of his ego?" I don't even know what that means, but if it means what I think was meant, he has a high opinion of his ideas, and thank goodness someone does, as it is not very popular now to think individually, or to even think you are right at all. There is an outright assault on the mind going on in our midst. If he has a high enough opinion of the power of his ideas, then more power to him! Without the love of ideas, we would all be living pretty dull lives. --rant over--

Hobie kayak with mirage drive looks better to me.

looks like fun for only 5 minutes, and that's it, then it looks like a drag...

looks too tall for Me to sit on though

That sounds like a good idea you should work with Elon and get some Tesla batteries to ensure no-one stalls in the water something solid either way it's super dangerous he doesn't even have a life vest on it would surely be deaths in the water do to this. although it would be good for chasing down home runs if anyone can hit it over the wall but that Barry Bonds era is over unlikely. It has to have an electrical motor system to be an e pedeler regardless of strength of the biker she/he has to be able to get across the water assuming something goes wrong and can no longer pedal. I like the idea of having docks on either side of the destination Tourist would love that like renting scuba gear gear at Monterey Bay use it put it right back

need something to go a little faster than that.

Build a recumbent inflatable pedal boat

His feet are almost in the water!

tooth pick for a great white yay

I guess the human powered hydrofoil doesn't count in his world.

Not a water bike. Pedal powered pontoon boat would be a better name. Salt water will eat this up unless it is made from expensive materials.

Why make it such an uncomfortable ride? Who wants to hunch over and strain themselves? Dude would never go out if it was busy marine traffic he is in a no wake zone only. Very neat idea for recreational purposes not commute.

Cool

hmm waves frm fast boats ocen swell?

This would be better if it were recumbent. Also too slow for commuting.

i feel like it could be 10x better all you've got is 2 small propellers and its not foldable there are water bikes more efficient i dont really see what is new about this bike its just plain californian marketing design like a racing bike but doesn't go faster than competitors (apple) and like apple they're the most expensive (the opposite of tiny houses)

I can't believe all the haters nor nay sayers.

Can you sat "SHARK TANK" .

He throws out a lot of impressive and has a very high opinion of his ego He calls is a comutter but we dont see him doing anything but pedeling around the same protected swim area he may have crossed the bay once in the middle of a sunny day is SF always sunny and nice and flat and warm with no wind ? How does it handle in say a 30 knot crosswind ? Or Headwind he is not a sailor or mariner since he referance to "6 knots per hour " "Knots per hour " is a rate of acceration not a speed the correct term would be 6 knots Whats his plan for Fog ? Darkness? Rain ? Other ship traffic ? Cold wet salt spray ? He talks about carrying a tent or cooler or fishing gear what balanceing all this extra gear ? Because now you have twombalance points to worry about The right left balance problems any biker faces dont put all the beer milk or water all one one side and bags of chips on the other Now we have to add in the front V rear loading aspect or fore and aft if we useing boating lingo too much foward and nose will slide under a wave too much in the rear. same problem when he is going down the crest of a wave It is not dought a well made machine for protected waters without any adverse weather like fog ,wind ,rain darkness or boat traffic I think it would make good fishing exploreing and recreation craft I am not giveing up My kayak just yet His drive system is interesting Has he considered the radar cross secetion of this thing ? Its ziltch, it cant be seen by radar How is he going to be able to clear his props of tangled seaweed or moss or a floating discarded plastic trash bag ? While this is very high on the feel good scale It scores very low on practicality scale

Too bad the $6,500 price means 95% of the people who would buy it...won't. TQQdles™

Nor Cal should break off from So Cal Ukiah up one state, every where else can be SoCal

A jet ski is a lot faster. Uses very little gas.

First of it's kind? First of it's kind to sink! He has some more work to do but off to a good start. Deep six those Italian pontoons and re think material. Especially if riding in swell. Bike, boat or whatever you want to think of it as, you still need to think hull design.

So full of himself, at least he built it like a racing bike (so he can unnecessarily get some good back-aches while peddling)