Human-Powered Floating Gym

Have you ever pedaled on a stationary bike at the gym and thought to yourself: 'What if this energy I am exerting could be used for something better than just making me sweat?" Well now a new proposal from architect Mitchell Joachim promises to take all that energy expended at the gym to the next level, by capturing all that exertion and using it to transport people around the rivers of New York City. The River Gym concept is a human-powered floating gym that will provide the user with the one experience that no other gym can provide: floating your workout around Manhattan. Designed by architect Mitchell Joachim and personal trainer Douglas Joachim, this project could bring inspiration to both the morning commute and workout.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Trilby]

A new way for the rich to "go green." And the rest of us get to watch.

[KillTheMessenger]

Has the man ever been in a rowing boat? Does he know how much muscle it takes to move even the lightest and most modern hulls at a leisurely speed?

I think we can answer both questions with absolute certainty: NO!

[GuiltyByStander]

What this shows is how much attention you can get for designing a boat when you don't know anything about boats -- or even the tiny amount of energy expended in a gym. Picture this in a light cross-wind.

A better place to start would be to have the human power look after the electronics in the exercise machine. Or better yet, go for a walk.

[wadenelson1]

Here in Durango we have a "character" who takes his bicycle rollers down to the bike trail, sets up, and pedals his bike without going anywhere.

Must be the same kind of thinking.

[DRaymond]

So, we put treadmills and stationary bikes,and...rowing machines? Why not just have a big rowboat? Or maybe a bicycle? Nah, not complicated or expensive enough.

[wagadog]

Awesome, DRaymond! Galley Slaves! You kill me!

Actually the biggest reason people don't exercise outdoors in NY (much) is that you're sucking fumes the whole time. The gym has filtered air. That's what you're paying for. Kind of twisted if you ask me.