• teft
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    10612 days 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@lemmy.world
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    2412 days ago

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

      • @zalgotext@sh.itjust.works
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        312 days 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.

        • @Fermion@mander.xyz
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          110 days ago

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

    • @CouncilOfFriends@slrpnk.net
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      312 days 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

    • @nailingjello@lemmy.zip
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      3712 days 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.

      • @fuckingkangaroos@lemm.ee
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        1312 days 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@lemmy.world
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            112 days 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?

      • @Empricorn
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        411 days 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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      1412 days 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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    1612 days 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.

    • @Artyom@lemm.ee
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      011 days 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.

  • @EveningPancakes@lemm.ee
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    911 days 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.

  • HEXN3T
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    511 days ago

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

      • HEXN3T
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        310 days ago

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

          • HEXN3T
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            010 days 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.

  • @sqw@lemmy.sdf.org
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    112 days 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?

        • FartsWithAnAccentM
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          1312 days 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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            312 days ago

            Mountain biking too.

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

          • @TachyonTele@lemm.ee
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            212 days ago

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

            • @nilloc@discuss.tchncs.de
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              212 days 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.

              • @GBU_28@lemm.ee
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                212 days 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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              212 days 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.

              • @sqw@lemmy.sdf.org
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                011 days 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.