• teft
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    1065 months ago

    At this point, you start gliding through the water with the splendid, gracious ease of a cruising dugong with an outboard up its bum.

    Pulitzer candidate right there.

  • @Gigan
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    245 months ago

    I can’t tell how fast it is, is there a comparison of someone using this vs. a regular swimmer?

      • @Pilferjinx
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        45 months ago

        I’d still go with the flippers. The sacrifice to articulation seems like a deal breaker.

      • @[email protected]
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        35 months ago

        I don’t really have a good gauge of how fast you can typically go with swim slippers though. Comparing to a person swimming without any aides would be much more useful for getting an idea of what “superhuman speed” means.

        • @[email protected]
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          15 months ago

          If an average joe with an hour of practice could match or outpace Michael Phelps, I would consider that superhuman speed.

    • @[email protected]
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      35 months ago

      Some videos in the article show a guy cruising while barely using his arms, and then SCUBA divers only pedaling with their feet but they were pedaling slower

    • @[email protected]
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      375 months ago

      They don’t discuss specific speeds, but this is from the last paragraph:

      This jigger, according to the manufacturers, makes you handily quicker than an equivalent swimmer with fins on.

      • @[email protected]
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        135 months ago

        What’s “handily quicker”? A lot quicker? A good phrase for selling a novelty product?

        I have to wonder how the Seabike, as shown exclusively in a swimming pool rather than any of the many seas on the planet, actually performs.

          • @BluesF
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            15 months ago

            Yknow, I don’t think anyone’s ever made a bike powered version of those insane £200 electronic masturbators there are memes about these days… Eco wank anyone?

      • @[email protected]
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        45 months ago

        I’m very skeptical about that. It’s an expensive augmented swimming device that says it’s faster than fins but doesn’t prove it with stats or even just a side-by-side video…?

    • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet
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      145 months ago

      Why would I want this as opposed to an electric one that I hold in my hands, that can zoop me across the ocean without consuming extra oxygen from physical exertion?

  • ivanafterall
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    165 months ago

    This is a really cool idea and I’d try it. But also the video was kind of underwhelming and they look like huge nerds.

    • @[email protected]
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      05 months ago

      I don’t think they really understand that there isn’t much market for swimming fast, but there is a good market for swimming/snorkeling lazy, which is where this may actually exist as a product.

  • @[email protected]
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    125 months ago

    So … with that central rod up your butt (for stability) … the land bike counterpart is this:

  • @[email protected]
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    95 months ago

    Seabike says the prop turns slowly enough that you can safely use it at the local pool – although you’ll certainly cop some dirty looks from the Speedo brigade in the fast lane.

    You’re going to get dirty looks because you can’t do a flip turn and block the rest of us. This is cool in the open water but not for lap swimming in a pool.

  • @FrostyTheDoo
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    65 months ago

    I feel like this is how you get chased by sharks and killer whales

  • @Delusional
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    55 months ago

    Well I haven’t swam in over a decade but I want one.

  • HEXN3T
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    55 months ago

    It actually does look relatively faster. This might have given me an idea…

      • HEXN3T
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        35 months ago

        No, but I am a script writer for a video game.

        • shastaxc
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          5 months ago

          Looking forward to the next 007 game 🙂

          • HEXN3T
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            05 months ago

            Not a James Bond game! However, it does have water levels. We know how damned infuriating water levels are… unless you get a little creative.

  • @[email protected]
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    15 months ago

    seems a little bit scary being clipped into the contraption. maybe not as bad if scuba is involved. but what if the mechanism fails or gets snagged while you’re clipped to it?

    • @SpaceNoodle
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      145 months ago

      You unclip, same as with a bicycle.

        • FartsWithAnAccentM
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          135 months ago

          Clipping into pedals is pretty common actually (which is actually called clipless despite having clips), at least with road bikes and racing. The idea is clipping your shoe to the pedal makes your pedaling more efficient.

          Personally, I prefer flats in case I need to hop off quickly, like if I’m about to get hit by some dipshit in an SUV.

          • teft
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            35 months ago

            Mountain biking too.

            I prefer flats too but most pro downhill and enduro riders use clipless.

          • @[email protected]
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            25 months ago

            That’s why I asked, I’ve never seen anyone do it before. Pretty much for exactly that reason.

            • FartsWithAnAccentM
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              25 months ago

              It’s definitely common among more hardcore/serious cyclists.

            • @[email protected]
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              25 months ago

              I rode clipless pedals for mountain bike racing (cross country). It is so much more efficient and they have shoes with thicker soles and deep treads which makes them more comfortable to walk in.

              They also make jumping over small obstacles and rocks easier and safer.

              • @[email protected]
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                25 months ago

                Yep. I just use the clips with the smallest degree of pop out…works great and I never noticed being “delayed” to get my foot out and onto the ground if I need it. Even in some VERY time sensitive situations

            • Hanrahan
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              25 months ago

              I would never ride without being clipped in, maybe 100 yards to the shop and back but other then that clipless is much much better. Used then for about 20 yeaes now. Took about 2 weeks to get used to from memory.

        • @SpaceNoodle
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          15 months ago

          They probably rotate their foot 45° to lock and unlock.

            • @SpaceNoodle
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              15 months ago

              You thought the thing was just entirely untethered?

              • @[email protected]
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                05 months ago

                i hadn’t seen the seat, just the clipped-in feet.

                when its underway i guess the “seat” lets you steer (with your thighs) a bit and gives a point of leverage for the unclipping (especially when its the singleton clip/unclip).

                not sure why, but it all seems a bit inelegant. but if it multiplies effort anywhere near what a bike can do, that’s a big achievement.

    • Glifted
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      75 months ago

      There’s a clip of a swimmer doing it without shoes/clips so maybe they’re optional.