Not Actually Powered by Water
May 8, 2018 2:24 PM Subscribe
After your rocket bicycle hits 207 mph in 4.8 seconds, beating a Ferrari at the drag strip, what do you do next? If you're mad inventor François Gissy, you build a tricycle that tops 5 gees.
Jesus. I get nervous replacing my SodaStream cartridge. I don't know if I could sit atop a water tank at 6ksi. I'm out.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 2:56 PM on May 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 2:56 PM on May 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
This is really weird that the post does not mention that François Gissy died four days ago while testing a new bike.
It's very recent so maybe the news hasn't hit the english internet yet.
RIP rocket man.
posted by SageLeVoid at 3:02 PM on May 8, 2018 [19 favorites]
It's very recent so maybe the news hasn't hit the english internet yet.
RIP rocket man.
posted by SageLeVoid at 3:02 PM on May 8, 2018 [19 favorites]
This exact video (and an interview with François) appeared on last week's "Outrageous Acts of Science", on the Science Channel. I wonder if they'll be annotating the episode to commemorate his passing.
posted by hanov3r at 3:13 PM on May 8, 2018
posted by hanov3r at 3:13 PM on May 8, 2018
.
posted by JoeXIII007 at 3:29 PM on May 8, 2018
posted by JoeXIII007 at 3:29 PM on May 8, 2018
That is sad news indeed, SageLeVoid. I stumbled on François Gissy while googling something else and could not believe he had never been linked from Metafilter. How unfortunate there will be no more bold experiments. I have removed one less-than-completely-respectful tag.
posted by drdanger at 3:31 PM on May 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by drdanger at 3:31 PM on May 8, 2018 [5 favorites]
.
posted by grahamparks at 3:33 PM on May 8, 2018
posted by grahamparks at 3:33 PM on May 8, 2018
> François Gissy died four days ago while testing a new bike.
Via Google Translate, the salient details are that he hit an embankment while testing a bike powered by a hydrogen peroxide jet. No information on whether he lost control, ran out of road, or something else happened.
My hat's off to him for pushing the envelope on questionable forms of motoring, and it's tragic that this is what took his life.
posted by ardgedee at 3:38 PM on May 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
Via Google Translate, the salient details are that he hit an embankment while testing a bike powered by a hydrogen peroxide jet. No information on whether he lost control, ran out of road, or something else happened.
My hat's off to him for pushing the envelope on questionable forms of motoring, and it's tragic that this is what took his life.
posted by ardgedee at 3:38 PM on May 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
Dear Lord, please protect this rocket house bike and all who dwell within ride the rocket house bike
posted by The Legit Republic of Blanketsburg at 3:59 PM on May 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by The Legit Republic of Blanketsburg at 3:59 PM on May 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
.
posted by lalochezia at 4:03 PM on May 8, 2018
posted by lalochezia at 4:03 PM on May 8, 2018
If you look real closely you can see the Ferrari is driven by Wile E. Coyote.
posted by ecourbanist at 4:40 PM on May 8, 2018
posted by ecourbanist at 4:40 PM on May 8, 2018
Oh, I'm so sorry to hear Francois Gissy died testing another bike. From this clip alone, he was the ultimate speed freak. On a bike?! Hope it's some solace to know he went out doing something he must have loved.
posted by ecourbanist at 4:43 PM on May 8, 2018
posted by ecourbanist at 4:43 PM on May 8, 2018
Wow, amazing and tragic. Think of what this guy could have achieved with more funding.
posted by AFABulous at 5:36 PM on May 8, 2018
posted by AFABulous at 5:36 PM on May 8, 2018
EEP! I should have read to the end.
Please ignore my previous comment.
.
posted by The Legit Republic of Blanketsburg at 5:48 PM on May 8, 2018
Please ignore my previous comment.
.
posted by The Legit Republic of Blanketsburg at 5:48 PM on May 8, 2018
RIP. This guy rules.
One cool/crazy thing you can see in the slo-mo launches is he appears to have a chain keeping his body on the bike and another to keep his head from snapping off. Bad ass.
posted by stinkfoot at 6:05 PM on May 8, 2018
One cool/crazy thing you can see in the slo-mo launches is he appears to have a chain keeping his body on the bike and another to keep his head from snapping off. Bad ass.
posted by stinkfoot at 6:05 PM on May 8, 2018
Sad to hear that he died. Definitely a true daredevil.
His quarter-mile time was a scant 6.8 seconds.
For comparison, the NHRA top fuel record is 3.628 for elapsed time and 336.57 mph for top speed in the quarter mile.
posted by TedW at 7:21 PM on May 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
His quarter-mile time was a scant 6.8 seconds.
For comparison, the NHRA top fuel record is 3.628 for elapsed time and 336.57 mph for top speed in the quarter mile.
posted by TedW at 7:21 PM on May 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
.
posted by mikelieman at 5:23 AM on May 10, 2018
posted by mikelieman at 5:23 AM on May 10, 2018
« Older Joseph's Machines | Aerial Photos 1906 Great American Cities Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
Also a 6000 psi water tank is about as amazing as using a gigantic flywheel for energy storage - amazing and incredible until it isn't and then you better have really good safety googles on.
posted by GuyZero at 2:54 PM on May 8, 2018 [6 favorites]