Necessity is the mother of invention. The father is unknown.
The following patent was issued by the US Patent and Trademark Office on August 23, 2005.
Apparatus for Harnessing Wind to Drive a Bicyclepatent#: US 6932368 filed under Bicycles If yesterday's "Wind-Assisted Bicycle" wasn't enough for you, this invention should sate your appetite for wind powered bicycles. Who knew there were so many people working on this technology?
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Comments on Apparatus for Harnessing Wind to Drive a Bicycle
Olivier | Nov 4, 2008 10:08 AM
I added a sail last month on an old city bike, and it works well! I hadn't seen this trivial patent but it looks almost the same, just with a bigger sail (about 2,5 square meter, and 3,5meter high). I use it everyday in city of paris, and it actually helps me stabilizing in the frequent traffic jams. And when there is a little wind, I can keep a nice speed with little effort :) Speed stablilize a bike so it's easy, much more than sailboard.
A good tip to do it yourself is on cutting the rubber from old recycled inner tubes, and using this rubber wires to attach everything to the bike, it's easy and the flexibility of the structure feels nice, e.g. when I hit a tree the sail goes back and forth nicely!
Happy sailbiking :)
China travel | Jan 23, 2008 2:07 AM
A stupid design. It may affect the bike riders' concentration on riding. I don't think it can help much when biking, and it may cause accidents when a big blow comes. If we need more assistance and comforts, why not drive a car?
stev | Jul 17, 2007 2:11 PM
I've seen a few of these bikes on the internet searchs.
The most famous one is the located here at the bottom of the page. http://www.vsv.cape.com/~harharb/windbike.html
He's managed 51mph on dry pavement!
The wind/sail bike is very popular with recumbent bikes for some reason. I could be the fact that three wheels provide better balance.
Years ago, people raced these bikes on the beaches and desert sands in the winter time for the cool updraft winds.
John Snyder | Dec 7, 2006 7:17 AM
The design has been around for more than a hundred years.
Dennis Becraft | Aug 16, 2006 1:16 AM
It works quite well on the country roads of Illinois.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5500733746990462049&q=sail+bike
Jon | May 31, 2006 7:15 PM
CAUTION: DO NOT BIKE DIRECTLY INTO THE WIND, UPHILL, OR A COMBINATION OF THE TWO.
FinalCSI01 | Nov 15, 2005 7:50 PM
You ditz, this is not a carraige seat.
Tom | Nov 3, 2005 12:10 AM
I just saw your this webpage. I built something similar last year and it worked very well. My sail was about 25sq.ft. much greater than the bike shown in the patent drawing. I could not find the patent on the patent website. Interesting you found it. Tom
Mike Garrett | Oct 21, 2005 7:30 PM
This is a great design if you are biking with the wind, or even quartering. If you are sailing into the wind on a body of water you can tack, that is, set your sail and quarter across the face of the wind, This would be possible on a bike only if the roads were miles wide and there was no oncoming traffic. Trying this on a conventional road in traffic they'd be hosing what's left of you down the storm drain in twenty minutes...but you go ahead and give it a try.
Daniel | Sep 27, 2005 5:09 PM
Ha. How about a parrot on the shoulder and a hook? Thar she blows!
Tricia | Sep 19, 2005 10:00 PM
Now invent a bike helmet that looks like a jaunty sailor's cap. Accessories make all the difference.
tiny | Sep 19, 2005 12:16 PM
Add training wheels for that sporty Hawaiian tri-maran look.
Eric | Sep 10, 2005 7:35 AM
y'know, a lot of lobster boats I've seen up in Maine have a similar rig... A small triangular sail mounted somewhere on the back of the boat. I've heard it's for steering, but I'm not sure. Point being, I love cycling and lobsters, so, I think this is a brilliant set-up, and, riding this bike would please me deep in my soul... dig?
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