"As far as I know, this is the first bicycle powered treehouse elevator"

January 24, 2022 5:59 AM

It's all about just doing fun things — the kind of stuff you always dreamed about doing as a kid [...] a pretty significant part of my life is believing that you shouldn't stop doing that. SLYT — you may want to skip this if you have a fear of heights.
posted by wesleyac (4 comments total)

There is a reality show about a treehouse builder out in Washington state that seems to get increasingly commercial but on an earlier show there was a clip showing this bike elevator. Seemed not too stable but I really really want to try it. But you don't see anybody else than the builder so it may be a bit trickier that one would at first think.
posted by sammyo at 7:16 AM on January 24, 2022 [1 favorite]

We stayed in a treehouse hotel a couple of years ago. There are two in Oregon and they're just a few miles apart. One is family oriented with a swimming hole in a creek, horse riding, and zip lines; it has outhouses on the ground. We stayed in the other, which is adult oriented with plumbed treehouses (showers, toilets), a concrete swimming pool. It has no activities so it's quiet. Highly recommended.
posted by neuron at 7:42 AM on January 24, 2022

I've seen this before, but I didn't put much thought into it besides the up down. @Sammyo raises some good questions.

Do you see how in a few of the shots with the bike at the top that back wheel swings wide? He's got all of his pulleys for his block and tackle in a single plane. This is great aesthetically, but it allows for someone ... less aware of the operation ... to slide out. I'm not looking for Disney ride level safety, but I'd at least slide a metal hard stop to lock the frame in place while boarding / unloading. Between that and the break held to keep the bike in place at the top, I think that is the reason only the builder is operating it. I'd also point out that it likely requires some specific pressure applied to the pedals to keep the bike vertical. I don't see it rotating to the side - given the way the guy wires pass through the frame / additional welded components, but I could see a different weighted pilot change the center of mass on that pretty quickly - and dangerously - with any uneven power application. Also note, the back wheel is really designed to never rest / touch the ground - as to always keep it in tension. I'd be curious how frequently the cables need to be inspected, any fowling at the pulleys, and so forth... In all, elegant - but yeah... I'd look at serviceability, quality of welds, stability of structure and fail safes.
posted by Nanukthedog at 8:03 AM on January 24, 2022 [2 favorites]

I’d be interested in meeting this guy’s alternate universe doppelgänger who believes in safety harnesses
posted by Skwirl at 8:56 AM on January 27, 2022