WATER BIKES - A REDISCOVERY
David Bainbridge

FOR EARTHWORD - THE JOURNAL OF SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
LAGUNA BEACH CA

In the late 1800's the newfound passion for bicycles spilled over into the  boating world. Water bikes of many kinds were built and proved themselves in dramatic races and voyages. The English Channel was crossed by a tandem  in less than 8 hours, and a six-woman bike boat reached 15 mph on the Seine. A 101-mile match race on the Thames pitted a triple water bike  against a 3 person racing shell, the bike won by 2 and a half hours (19.5  v22).

Hydrocycles manufactured by L.U. Moulton were said to be capable of 10 mph in flat water. Many racers included tandem (fore and aft) cyclers on twin-hulled craft. Alas interest, research and development faded as gas motors became common and the bike boat went the way of the Pasadena Bikeway, an elevated precursor of the freeway for bicycles, and the cyclecars  raced in Germany in the 1920's.

Pedal powered boats, mostly paddlewheels, remained visible, including  the elegant Freeman-Baker Adirondack paddleboat of the 1920's. But most  people would only encounter inefficient, uncomfortable pedal boats at the rental dock in the park on hot summer days. While more elegant and  efficient models with aluminum hulls were sold, the stock wood and now  plastic or fiberglass models are most common. The Aquacycle, a tricycle  with paddles molded into the 2 large rear wheels was an entertaining addition  to the waterfront. All of these are fun for a slow paddle around the pond,  but neither seaworthy nor efficient.

With the growing interest in high performance human powered vehicles inspired  by the International Human Powered Vehicle Association, and a series of provocative articles and book by David Gordon Wilson water bikes are receiving  overdue attention. A modified hydrofoil water bike, the Flying Fish, has reached 14 knots! In 1992 an enterprising fellow named Dwight Collins  pedaled across the Atlantic in 40 days, knocking 2 weeks off the previous  human powered record. Pedaled submarine racers are also active.

Commercial activity has also picked up and a good water bike is no longer  a build-it-yourself proposition. The "Hydro-Bike" made in Minnesota is a high-efficiency propeller driven twin hulled bike boat. These water bikes are gradually finding their way to market as the small company gears up for national distribution. They were first released for rental use  and the hard pounding has proven their durability. The best place to try them is on the big island in Hawaii, where they are often ridden far offshore. They are also available at various resorts in the U.S.

I was introduced to them on two lakes in Idaho, rented in Couer d'Lane and Sand Point, and can attest to the quality, design, and efficiency. They are very much like riding a mountain bike or road bike (without the  fear of getting run over by a car). At a comfortable pace the speed seemed  to be in the 4-5 mile per hour range and burst of much greater speed were  possible. Cruising past canoes and kayaks while hardly working gave a clear indication of their efficiency. It was also very nice to be able  to stand and stretch, which is hard to do in a kayak.

Look for them here in Southern California next summer. They also suggest some interesting new triathlons: waterbike, swim, and paddle?? Swim, run, waterbike??

Suggested reading:

Amy Nutt. 1992. The bold man and the sea. Sports Illustrated Dec 28 v77n27:  p4

Alec Brooks, Allan V. Abbott and David Gordon Wilson. 1986. Human-powered  watercraft. Scientific American, December v255: 120-128

Frank Rowland Whitt and David Gordon Wilson. 1982. Bicycling Science.  MIT Press, Cambridge MA pp. 303-308. (a great book)

International Human Powered Vehicle Association, PO Box 51255, Indiana IN 46251

Optional: In addition to being a contributing advisor to Earthword, long-term  desert restoration ecologist, and straw bale building proponent - - David wrote a book on bikeway Planning and Design (1978), has advised the State Architect's Office and CalTrans on bike commuting, and helped prepare the first bike route for the California Coast with Michael Moore. He has bicycle toured, kayaked, and canoed throughout the west, and crewed on racing sailboats in the Bay Area. He has been dreaming of pedal boats  since 1974.