Rediscovering America, A Cross-Country Sailing Adventure

[wisdomandchange777]

can this go 80 miles per hour !?

/:|

[MrMoneyHelper]

In Montana and Kansas there is plenty of wind on many days. In the southern USA by the Gulf Coast the only wind you will get is around thunderstorms. A sail tricycle could be a good idea for local usage in windy areas in one direction. It is really a bad idea for usage everywhere. You can't tack that thing in a bicycle lane or even on a highway. I pedaled twenty miles today going to work and doing other trips. I know what its like to ride into headwinds. I wouldn't want to pedal that Pterosail.

[AcademyKP03]

@MrMoneyHelper

Howdy. The Pterosai is equipped with a Harken furler. If there's a head wind, simply furl up the sail; reduce your drag . no wind? just leave the sailing system behind and pedal away! As far as tacking - the jib sail does the tacking for you. There is no "weaving"..simply steer where you want to go ... then tension the sheet to use - the automatic sheet management (ASM) make it easy to learn .. imagine going the other direction you'd appreciate a sail - get home quicker!

[hauserkaspar]

@AcademyKP03 It would be interesting to have the Whike and the Pterosail next together. The Pterosail has a larger sail and should be faster. I've not seen one in real life. I did have a close look at the Whike and it's a neat delta trike actually.

Don't you think the Bionx is a bit cheating? I mean it's a wind powered vehicle.

[AcademyKP03]

@hauserkaspar

The BionX system is great! Not only does it extend the range and extent of the Pterosail, but while "Pterosailing" the system allows for converting wind energy into storable power when put in generating mode. Without the system, you couldn't do this. Additionally, its nice to use the electric assist when in towns and cities .. we use it to zip around quicker. Here's a recent comment from another cyclist, "It hardly looks fair, but I like it!"