Jimi Hendrix in some parallel universe, instead of sitting on rooftops channelling UFO sounds through his guitar, poured his energies into freak-o-naut transportation design. Needless to say, the offerings below pale in comparison.
In The Air
Via Treehugger.com the rebirth of a pedal-powered-blimp(!) can be savoured in it’s full glory. It’s actually a helium filled blimp that uses a combination of pedal power and gas engines for propulsion, reaching speeds of up to 25kph, something they are hoping to boost to 40kph with their newer design. On the blimp tip, Werner Herzog’s doco ‘The White Diamond‘, is well worth watching, a film about an obsessive British engineer building a miniature helium balloon capable of silently floating over the rainforest treetops for scientific observation. Inevitably the story goes deeper and weirder as time goes on.
Bike-Sailing
Hailing as “the next evolution in cross-country cycling”, the Pterosail(.com) is a custom made recumbent trike that uses a unique sailing system that can either be used to fully power the trike or used in conjunction with pedaling, depending on how much wind is available. The sailing system can also convert wind energy into electrical energy for storage in 2×24-volt deep cycle marine batteries. This stored electrical power can then be used to power a small electric-assist motor. In case you missed that, we’re looking at 3 x multiple zero-emission propulsion sources: Human Power, Wind Power, and Electrical Power.
Down To Earth
Two wheels good. Aye aye. And bicycles have evolved in the inner city to include a wide variety of folding bikes, for those looking to zip to and from public transport. None quite as small though, as the 12 pound bicycle with tiny wheels, nurtured into existence by Clive Sinclair ( who developed the ZX Spectrum back in the 20th century ). Video of it in action and more details at www.a-bike.co.uk.
Japanese bicycle researchers not to be outdone, have come up with the world’s first 2wheel drive bicycle – which literally “comes with an extra chain mechanism to transfer power from the bicycle’s pedals to both wheels instead of just one.†Video after the drop.
Four Wheels Good
Spesh when they’re skateboard wheels. So Tony Hawk has his very own playstation game. And fellow ex-Bones Brigade ( the beatles of branded skating back in the late 80s ) member Tommy Guerrero has been releasing beats and music on Mo Wax and other places. None of which really compares to the raw stuntpower of Bob Burnquist and Danny Way. Bob’s getting a lot of press for his skating on the ‘largest skateboard ramp in the world’, which is 75 feet high at the top and includes a 70foot gap and allows speeds of up to 55 miles an hour on it. And sure, he’s also grinded a rail that took him over the edge of the Grand Canyon, where he parachuted down. Danny though, has jumped off the 82 foot tall huge guitar at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Cafe, landing onto a 55ft quarter pipe, has leapt out of a helicopter and landed on a half-pipe, developed and shredded a mega ramp in a DC video a while back, flying astonishing distances through the air from ramp to ramp more like a snowboarder than a skater, and has even launched himself on a jump ramp over the Great Wall of China. Incredibly, he broke his ankle during an attempt, but completed it the next day with painkillers and strapping. ( videos and more )
Eight Wheels Grand ( Melbourne, Nov 2006 )
Rollerskaters in camoflauge jumpsuits zip past. Backs covered in blood-red screenprinted XL font : “Operation Enduring Love”. They have bandanas covering their mouths and are handing out cards to bemused passers by. One of the cards is an ace of spades, with a handscribbled fat-texta quote on top: “You can only be free when you have nothing to lose.”
Even More Wheels “Le Grander”
Goddamn those French Rollerskating men with wheels all over their body!
via and i feel fine