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Dumb non-million dollar ideas — Parallax Forums

Dumb non-million dollar ideas

Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
edited 2012-11-01 08:32 in General Discussion
I think I have found the dumb invention to top all dumb inventions. It looks like something straight out of the BC comic:

ultimate-wheel.jpg

It's described here, but the original site has since gone 404:

http://www.geekologie.com/2007/07/nimbus-20inch-ultimate-wheel.php

Seriously a wheel with pedals on it?

Update: IT's only 404 because they have a newer version: http://www.unicycle.com/nimbus-24-inch-ultimate-wheel.html/ They even have a video.

Comments

  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2012-10-31 07:29
    I don't ride anything without a seat. I want something between my moving parts and the machine's moving parts.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2012-10-31 07:32
    mindrobots wrote: »
    I don't ride anything without a seat. I want something between my moving parts and the machine's moving parts.

    So how do you deal with the tail?
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2012-10-31 08:04
    Loopy Byteloose wrote: »
    So how do you deal with the tail?

    Sit carefully and ALWAYS keep it away from any spokes!
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2012-10-31 11:15
    I wonder how often you'd need to buy new pants as that wheel is likely to destroy the inside leg by rubbing against it.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2012-10-31 11:26
    Okay, the wheel is a real stupid idea. Anyone that has ever ridden a unicycle knows that the steering is all in having the seat and having it adjusted exactly to the extension of your leg length. This wheel is just going to send you to the ER post haste.

    But the same web site did have these.

    http://www.geekologie.com/2009/04/3d-chess-adds-dimension-to-the.php

    And they look actually quite fun.
  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2012-10-31 11:34
    For a chess variant consider singularity chess:

    P1010900.JPG

    Complete description of the rules: http://abstractstrategygames.blogspot.com/2010/10/singularity-chess.html
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2012-10-31 11:49
    Yeah that idea is terrible. It takes more effort to ride, builds more muscle tone and teaches extreme balance skills. What the heck were they thinking? It probably also has zero environmental impact too... Oh the horror...
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2012-10-31 12:07
    Anybody play chess on a 5 x 5 board as mentioned in Martin Gardner's books. It is suppose to improve your skills quite fast.

    That wheel certainly would take more effort to ride, but I don't think you would find it enhancing anything.

    I used to work 50 floors up and had the balancing skills to tie my shoe laces while standing at the edge of the abyss. Good balance comes from being in excellent physical shape. And I got that way by starting the project at the foundation and moving 10,000 pounds of false work for the concrete forms every day for months on end - not riding a wheel.

    I used to go home so tired that I had to force myself to eat dinner and shower, then I'd sleep for 12 or more hours and do it again. There weren't many $35/hr jobs in those days.
  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2012-10-31 12:07
    xanadu wrote: »
    It probably also has zero environmental impact too.

    I think the rider is likely to impact with their environment fairly often.
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2012-10-31 17:06
    Martin_H wrote: »
    I think the rider is likely to impact with their environment fairly often.

    Lol, touch
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2012-10-31 19:24
    I don't think its a dumb idea, beyond it would be dumb for ME to try it. I bet the folks who do skate board trick and parkour and that insane stuff would love it!

    But, being old and out of shape, I naturally consider anyone who buys one if these is silly. Me, I'm just going to MAKE one. (After I break my @$$ I'll have plenty of time to stand around an post on the forums)
  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2012-11-01 06:17
    prof_braino wrote: »
    Me, I'm just going to MAKE one. (After I break my @$$ I'll have plenty of time to stand around an post on the forums)

    I think what annoyed me more than the concept was the price of $160 - $170 depending upon the diameter. It's basically a bike wheel and pedals on a modified hub. There's almost nothing to it and I'm certain I could build one for $60 - $80 using retail parts from my local bike shop. If I wanted to go low budget I would laminate several layers of plywood, cut a disk using my router's circle cutting jig, and cut wedges out of the center to lighten the structure.
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2012-11-01 08:32
    Martin_H wrote: »
    I think what annoyed me more than the concept was the price of $160 - $170 depending upon the diameter.

    They need to get a lot with the first purchase. I don't see them having a lot of repeat business. After you've purchased the first one, you've either injured yourself and never ride again, grown bored and sold it at a garage sale for $25 or become a professional circus performer and have moved onto the deluxe model that has calf skin trim on the imaginary seat.
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