Memo to Tesla: Include the HyperBike with each purchase
The inventor of this wild-looking mode of transportation says it could also be used to generate electricity. Curtis De Forest even has thoughts of an exercise program to store electricity using his HyperBike and eventually "transfer it to your Tesla electric car."
I need to see this unit in action before making any judgments or comments. Its size seems to be very impractical. It must take up 6 spots at the bike rack. Can you see this vehicle on a sidewalk? And it would certainly be a distraction on the open road. But then again, so is a Sparrow electric car. De Forest says his HyperBike can withstand 200mph impact, so it's probably safer than a Sparrow.
The link to the company's website didn't work, but I hope there's a video posted soon. NASA is reportedly interested, and De Forest has access to engineering minds. I just can't figure out how it works. It seems like there is so much mass to get moving that one would be dog tired after five minutes. And what happens if you get stuck on a hill? De Forest admits it doesn't turn very well. For now, I'll keep my roller blades.
[Source: J.Z. Holden / hamptons.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
TX CHL Instructor 12:24PM (1/04/2007)
"De Forest says his HyperBike can withstand 200mph impact.."
Not relevant. Can the PERSON inside the HyperBike survive an impact by a 2500+ lb vehicle traveling a mere 45-60 mph?
"...so it's probably safer than a Sparrow.""
Without some protection from miscellaneous projectiles, I seriously doubt that it is much safer than a standard bicycle (the rider of which generally loses in any encounter with a 2500+ lb vehicle).
On top of that, it would appear from the picture that the HyperBike is powered by the arms, and not the far-more-powerful legs. That strikes me as a lot less practical than a standard bike.
I get the impression that the inventor of this thing doesn't live in the Real World.
Reply
Darin 12:47PM (1/04/2007)
"On top of that, it would appear from the picture that the HyperBike is powered by the arms, and not the far-more-powerful legs. That strikes me as a lot less practical than a standard bike."
Look closely - he (or she? I can't tell) is standing on pedals also. That makes it something like a mobile elliptical gym trainer. :D
Reply
Peter 1:30PM (1/04/2007)
Recovering the power wasted in gyms is a great idea, but you're fooling yourself it you think you could use it to power even a single family home.
The average person is capable of putting out about 100W continuously (for 30 minutes or more), while the best athletes in the world can approach 500W. Even if Lance Armstrong and his whole family were on exercise bikes, they could barely keep the lights on, much less store up enough energy to last while they rested.
Reply
D.Curtis DeForest,Jr. 10:55PM (1/16/2007)
I loved J.Z. Holdens'article. I regret my website was down. Thanks for your time and attention. I appreciate the points in the article and the comments; they showed the discrepancies between the Ideal of the concept and our first prototype. Come on...We live in a day and age of strong lightweight composites. With financing(still looking) and the help of NASA's intellectual investment, we will increase the HB's efficiency and road worthiness. It will go AS FAST AS A CAR. Do the math: a 98 inch diameter wheel has a circumference of approx. 26 feet, proper gearing, say 1:4 ratio at a comfortable cadence you're doing 40mph. During the next two prototype phases, the engineering model and then the mass prod. model, we will hone existent technologies to match the working dynamic. Propelling the HB's 98inch diameter wheels is like swimming vertically only you use your body weight with each alternating thrust of the linked arm and leg peddles. The HB is the perfect compliment to the power of the human body in running motion. The success of the design is stability due to the operators center of gravity being positioned below the spinning axes of the wheels. This position allows for the direct translation of full body effort into forward motion. We at BODYRITE LTD. ARE CONFIDENT WE'LL TEAR UP THE SALT FLATS DURING SPEED WEEK AND SET A NEW HPV RECORD. As to my planet...Aquarius. thanks for asking. see BODYRITELTD.COM
Reply
Ben 3:29PM (1/16/2007)
As one of the few who has actually ridden this vehicle, allow me to address a few of your comments and concerns.
First, let me point out that this is the first generation PROTOTYPE of the hyperbike. It is a fully functional one, but nonetheless a first generation prototype. If you read the article, you'll see Mr. DeForest states that quite clearly. I still think it's pretty amazing that it's as advanced as it is considering this fact.
Secondly, the rider uses not just their arms but their entire body to power the hyperbike (yes, that means your legs too!). If you check out the website (which works fine) you should be able to get a better understanding of how it works and its possible applications: http://www.bodyriteltd.com/
Lastly, I'd just like to say that I don't think NASA would be showing interest in this project if they didn't see the potential.
Reply
Matthew Hindra 10:17PM (1/16/2007)
Im am also someone who has taken the Hyperbike for a ride and I must say that Mr. DeForest has built an incredible working prototype based on limited resorces. Curently Mr. DeForest and I are working on a video that will explaine the history of the Hyperbike and alow people to see that it is a WORKING PROTOTYPE.
Please check out his website http://www.bodyriteltd.com and see the Hyperbike in action
Reply
CM 7:30PM (1/16/2007)
This is an excercise machine that just happens to travel, not a practical transport. The design, with ovesized heavy frame, big wheels, and upright stance, produces a lot of drag, making any reasonably high speed impossible. Any reasonably good bike could run rings around it - heck, most tricycles could!
What I would like to see in a human powered vehicle is reduced drag, light weight, protection from the weather, improved safety, and maybe a little power assist to keep up with traffic.
As to why NASA is interested? A bit baffling, maybe they think it will be good exercise for their employees.
Reply
David Damerell 7:47AM (1/23/2007)
That's absurd. Any bicycle could have gearing fitted that would produce 40mph at comfortable cadence. Why don't they? Because doing that doesn't mean the rider can produce the power to overcome aero drag. Streamlined HPVs can do 40mph (or more) with their very low frontal profiles; a design with an upright rider surrounded by machinery is obviously less aerodymanically efficient than a conventional bicycle.
Bringing the upper body muscles into service is a bad idea dating back to the Victorians. If it worked it would be widespread; it doesn't work because for a regular cyclist the limit on their power output is cardiovascular.
Reply
Avery Jenkins 7:16AM (10/01/2007)
Mr. DeForest:
I just checked the list of racers for the Battle Mountain Human Powered Vehicle race, about which you said "We at BODYRITE LTD. ARE CONFIDENT WE'LL TEAR UP THE SALT FLATS DURING SPEED WEEK AND SET A NEW HPV RECORD."
The races begin in a few days. I don't see your vehicle listed among the competitors
So much for tearing up the salt flats and setting a new record. You couldn't even qualify to enter.
So what is the fastest the hype-bike has gone so far, and can you provide third-party verification of same?
Reply