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'Underwater bicycle' propels swimmers forward at superhuman speed

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Re: 'Underwater bicycle' propels swimmers forward at superhuman speed

#261

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For very, very short distances I can run faster than most people can cycle.

For mere fractions of a second, I can outwalk a jet.

Actually I think you are making a slightly different observation about acceleration. We were talking about top-end speed, not acceleration from a standstill.

Re: 'Underwater bicycle' propels swimmers forward at superhuman speed

#262

This device is US$310. Good carbon fins (the long ones for freediving) cost just a tiny bit more [1] and can also propel you at a superhuman speed. Plastic ones are even cheaper. A speed comparison would have been nice. EDIT: it's already there: "This jigger, according to the manufacturers, makes you handily quicker than an equivalent swimmer with fins on." [1] https://www.westmarine.com/mares-razor-carbon-dive-fins-…

And this device is made as cheaply as possible. Plastic everywhere, holes for adaptability... And it's supposed to be used in sea water.

I guess the actual plan is to sell classes by taking advantage of the novelty effect.

Re: 'Underwater bicycle' propels swimmers forward at superhuman speed

#263
There was Australian underwater breathing device, which used your leg movement as only powersource. As I recall it could do 5 meters.

Very splendid, except some dozen people managed to misuse it. Diving deeper and without small emergency bottle.

So it was banned for all eternity everywhere. Even Chinese have not rekindled this product.

Re: 'Underwater bicycle' propels swimmers forward at superhuman speed

#264

There was Australian underwater breathing device, which used your leg movement as only powersource. As I recall it could do 5 meters. Very splendid, except some dozen people managed to misuse it. Diving deeper and without small emergency bottle. So it was banned for all eternity everywhere. Even Chinese have not rekindled this product.

For those like me who are curious what it looks like: https://www.designboom.com/technology/exolung-underwater-air...

Re: 'Underwater bicycle' propels swimmers forward at superhuman speed

#265

There was Australian underwater breathing device, which used your leg movement as only powersource. As I recall it could do 5 meters. Very splendid, except some dozen people managed to misuse it. Diving deeper and without small emergency bottle. So it was banned for all eternity everywhere. Even Chinese have not rekindled this product.

For those like me who are curious what it looks like: https://www.designboom.com/technology/exolung-underwater-air...

The idea of using transparent container maybe a good idea. Some indicator when you are sucking only water.

Because I am fool, I tried to make my own. But gave up because breakages were indicated only by lung full of water, which tend to be fatal.

Re: 'Underwater bicycle' propels swimmers forward at superhuman speed

#266

Pairing this with some sort of foil board contraption would be interesting. Once you get up and out of the water on a foil, it's a lot less effort.

Ah, you mean these: https://manta5.com Yeah, it exists.

Bingo!

Re: 'Underwater bicycle' propels swimmers forward at superhuman speed

#267

There was Australian underwater breathing device, which used your leg movement as only powersource. As I recall it could do 5 meters. Very splendid, except some dozen people managed to misuse it. Diving deeper and without small emergency bottle. So it was banned for all eternity everywhere. Even Chinese have not rekindled this product.

Kangaroos! Tragatschnig is Austrian, not Australian.

Re: 'Underwater bicycle' propels swimmers forward at superhuman speed

#268
post #267

There was Australian underwater breathing device, which used your leg movement as only powersource. As I recall it could do 5 meters. Very splendid, except some dozen people managed to misuse it. Diving deeper and without small emergency bottle. So it was banned for all eternity everywhere. Even Chinese have not rekindled this product.

Kangaroos! Tragatschnig is Austrian, not Australian.

Original version was in 1988. I was bicycling Australia at the time and saw it on TV.

Could have been Austrian invention anyways, perhaps?

Re: 'Underwater bicycle' propels swimmers forward at superhuman speed

#269
post #27

> The nominal mode enables motion through the water at 3.6 km/h, and for speed-seekers, the SEABIKE can reach a maximum of 7.9 km/h – much faster than normal swimming speeds or even flipper-assisted swimming. https://www.nauticexpo.com/prod/seabike/product-68606-564117... Pretty fast, but "superhuman"? For short distances Michael Phelps can swim faster :)

I’m skeptical because the limiting factor for a person using flippers is their lungs, and a propeller is less efficient for propulsion.

Re: 'Underwater bicycle' propels swimmers forward at superhuman speed

#270
post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand how this is different than the running-bicycling example. How does this swim for you but a bicycle doesn't run for you?

Wait until they hear about wheelchair basketball.

I remember reading Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman and how he described back then how the world is full of dumb smart-alec and I get reminded how that still holds true.
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