Water Ski Bike?

[berrywise]

I know summer is a ways off but do you think it would be possible to attach some water skiis to a bike frame and then ride it behind a boat?

[BridgeR]

I've seen different things attempted like this. The lawn chair seemed to work out best because it had such a low center of gravity. I think the bike could be done, but it'd need a wider distance between the skis because the bike would make eveything top heavy. If anyone can pull this off on one ski, I would love to see the video.

[berrywise]

My idea would be to attach one or two skiis to the chainstays of a small kids bike to keep it low to the water and then bolt another short ski to the fork. I have a friend who owns a wake boarding boat so I think it would have enough power to pull it but stability and steering I would have no clue. Maybe lock the fork in place and use your body to lean into the turns.

[Kosk]

The wake and water displacement from a ski on the fork would mess up the skis in the rear. You'd have to figure out a mono, or side-by-side setup.

Personally, I would suggest just learning to wakeboard. I'll teach you for free if I can get a pull behind the boat. It's probably my favorite. Been doing it since '93.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-1/926261/backroll.jpg
Biking is just easier cuz you don't need a $50k boat, gas, friends, lake, and good weather.

[Thewavebb]

In highschool we built something called "The Pig". It was a Barrel with two big water skis attached to the bottem. We mounted a handlebar to the top and saddle to sit on. It was a lot of fun, but it was always flip over after we got going real fast. I am surprised none of us died screwing around on it actually.

[berrywise]

Personally, I would suggest just learning to wakeboard. I'll teach you for free if I can get a pull behind the boat. It's probably my favorite. Been doing it since '93.



The idea is to just do something new and fun for the summer I think. One of our favorite things to do is we have this big board that we pull behind the boat. You can get five or six people on it and the last person standing wins.

I think one big ski might be the ticket. I like the idea of being able to turn it and two skiis might make that awfully tough.

[BridgeR]

The "Power Lounger" would turn with a little weight shift, but we had 3 skis braced side-by-side. Actually got used on a charity fund raising ski-a-thon. People skied for a certain amount of time for pledges. Definitely less tiring than standing up, but your arms felt it.

[Kosk]

Ah, I gotcha. How big is your buddies boat? If it's big enough and loaded down for wakeboarding you could try driving in a slow, wide, left hand circle, and surf on the inside wake. Endless wave, no rope needed, pretty cool. Just get an old surfboard or buy a wakesurfer.

How would you hold the rope with the bike thing? Are you thinking the bike would be attached to the rope? That would suck when you fall, the bike would probably put alot of pull on rope and pylon once it hits the water sideways, digs in, and starts dragging like an anchor.....not good. Interesting to think about how to make it work though.....