# Rowing cycle > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rowing_cycle > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rowing_cycle.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowing_cycle > Source revision: 1310134760 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Wheeled vehicle propelled by a rowing motion of the body Thys rowingbike A **rowing cycle** is a wheeled vehicle propelled by a rowing motion of the body. Steering, braking, and shifting are usually done by the handlebars. Feet are on symmetrical foot rests, as opposed to rotating pedals. Unlike many [rowing boats](/source/Watercraft_rowing), the rider faces forward. Rowing cycles exist in numerous designs, particularly with respect to frames and drive mechanisms. Commercial production numbers for rowing cycles are small compared to that of standard bicycles. ## History Landskiffs in 1927 The use of a rowing-like action to propel a land vehicle goes probably to the 1870s, as George W. Lee used a sliding-seat in a tricycle.[1] Roadsculler races were held in [Madison Square Garden](/source/Madison_Square_Garden) in the 1880s.[2] A toy catalog from [FAO Schwarz](/source/FAO_Schwarz) in 1911 advertised a four-wheeled "Row-Cycle" for children, operated using two levers in a standing position and with steering done by the feet.[3] In the 1920s, [Manfred Curry](/source/Manfred_Curry) in Germany designed and constructed the Landskiff ("land boat"), a four-wheeled vehicle that would be known as a Rowmobile in the English speaking countries.[1] A [newsreel](/source/Newsreel) from 1937 shows a rowed bicycle that is very similar to today's Craftsbury SS rowing bicycle, Rowbike and VogaBike.[4] ## Propulsion and steering Some rowed vehicles use a stroke similar to a boat, in that force is used only when straightening the body, the drive portion of the stroke, not the recovery. Other rowed vehicles, mostly those that use linkages and crankshafts in their [drive trains](/source/Drive_train), use force in both straightening and bending the body. On most, the handlebars move; most also have moving footrests and some have a moving seat. The handle bars on some rowed vehicles travel on a semicircular path due to the handlebars being mounted to a fixed length lever pinned to the frame. Some attempt to simulate the more level stroke used in rowing a boat, for example Streetrower and Vogabike. The September 2007 issue of Velovision magazine claimed that Streetrower has "the most natural rowing action of any rowing vehicle to date".[5] The Streetrower uses a steering system actuated by [servomechanisms](/source/Servomechanism) and controlled by the rider with a [joy stick](/source/Joy_stick). ## Drive train Rowed vehicles generally have one of three [drive trains](/source/Drive_train): chain, linkages, or cable. The [Rowbike](/source/Rowbike) brand uses a standard bicycle chain, rear gears, and [derailleur](/source/Derailleur). The chain does not travel in a loop, as is the case with a standard [bicycle](/source/Bicycle). It moves back and forth over the rear [cog](/source/Cogset) in a reciprocating motion. The chain is connected at one end to the frame of the rowbike and to a [bungee cord](/source/Bungee_cord) on the other. As the rower pulls back the chain engages the rear cog and the bungee cord is extended, and when the rower returns forward the bungee cord contracts, pulling the chain back and ensuring there is no slack in the chain. All Rowbikes have a rear derailleur, even single speeds, due to the need to keep proper tension in the chain. Rowbikes that use linkages include Champiot and Powerpumper. They use linkages connected to a [crank shaft](/source/Crank_shaft), similar to a [pedal car](/source/Pedal_car). The Thys Rowingbike and Streetrower use a cable which coils and uncoils about a spiral-shaped spool. Thys calls his version a snek drive (after the Dutch term for [Fusee (horology)](/source/Fusee_(horology))). ## Tandem, three and four wheeled variants Balancing on a two-wheeled rowed vehicle while rowing requires some practice, even for a skilled bicyclist. [Tricycle](/source/Tricycle) and [quadracycle](/source/Quadracycle_(human-powered_vehicle)) forms are usually heavier but do not share this problem.[6] The Streetrower is a tricycle with two wheels at the front and one at the rear; the Vogatrike also has three wheels. An early quadracycle, the 'Irish Mail', was similar to railroad [handcars](/source/Handcar) used by [railroad](/source/Railroad) workers to inspect tracks. The four-wheeled Champiot is reminiscent of the 'Irish Mail' type machine in that it uses linkages, not a chain, in its drive train. Thys has produced a [tandem](/source/Tandem) rowingbike. ## See also - [Handcycles](/source/Handcycle) - [Indoor rower](/source/Indoor_rower) - [Outline of cycling](/source/Outline_of_cycling) - [Quadracycle (human-powered vehicle)](/source/Quadracycle_(human-powered_vehicle)) - [Tricycle](/source/Tricycle) - Some types of Railway [Handcar](/source/Handcar) use a rowing cycle for propulsion, typically crank based to get the most from the rider. ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Bicycling_Science_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Bicycling_Science_1-1) Whitt, Frank Rowland; David Gordon Wilson (1983). *Bicycling Science*. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-262-23111-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-262-23111-5). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["The Roadsculler Race at Madison Square Garden"](http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2011/New%20York%20NY%20Daily%20Graphic/New%20York%20NY%20Daily%20Graphic%201888%20Sep-Feb%201889%20Grayscale/New%20York%20NY%20Daily%20Graphic%201888%20Sep-Feb%201889%20Grayscale%20-%200196.pdf) (PDF). *[The Daily Graphic](/source/The_Daily_Graphic)*. New York City. October 9, 1888. Retrieved 2014-05-17. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Review of Spring and Summer Goods"](https://archive.org/details/Reviewspringsum00FAOS). *Internet Archives*. FAO Schwarz. p. 30. Retrieved 24 December 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [A rowing bike appears at the 5:00 mark in this 1937 newsreel, Video title: lehokola a šlapohyby-historie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdlpJqHxLxk) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Peter Eland, in [Velovision magazine](http://www.velovision.com), September 2007. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Irish Mails](http://www.mth.msu.edu/~drachman/cycle/irishmail.html) ## External links - [A variety of rowing bikes](http://rowingbike.free.fr/) - [Irish Mails - an early 1900s rowed quadracycle](http://www.mth.msu.edu/~drachman/cycle/irishmail.html) - [Landrower and Rowcycle tricycles](http://www.sonic.net/~ckelly/Seekay/weird_bike_stuff2.htm) v t e Human-powered transport Land Pedal power 29er Bicycle (outline) Bicycle trailer BMX bike Boneshaker Cargo bike City bicycle Cold-weather biking (ice cycle) Cruiser bicycle Cycle rickshaw Cyclo-cross bicycle Downhill bike Enduro Fatbike Flat bar road bike Folding bicycle Go-kart Glossary of cycling Hybrid bicycle Motorized bicycle Mountain bike Mountain biking 27.5 Downhill Singletrack Party bike Penny-farthing Porteur bicycle Prone bicycle Quadracycle Recumbent bicycle Road bicycle Roadster Safety bicycle Sociable Small-wheel bicycle Tandem bicycle Touring bicycle Track bicycle Trailer bike Tricycle Unicycle Utility bicycle Velocar Velocipede Velomobile Wheelie bike Electric motor assist Electric bicycle Pedelec Motorized bicycle E-scooter Treadle power Treadle bicycle Other foot power Balance bike Dandy horse Kick scooter Kickbike Kicksled Brakeboard Freeboard Freeskates Longboard Skateboard Hand power Handcar Handcycle Hobcart Invalid carriage Wheelchair Row action Rowing cycle Pushed/pulled Baby transport Stroller Baggage cart Bath chair Cart Flatbed trolley Hand truck Pulled rickshaw Shopping cart Shopping caddy Stairclimber Stretcher Toy wagon Wheelbarrow Sled Carried Baby sling Babywearing Litter/sedan chair Scoop stretcher Weight shifting Trikke Pogo stick Caster board Snakeboard Gravity Gravity racer Billy cart Street luge Snowboard Toboggan Summer toboggan Gravity biking Water Hand power Canoe Kayak Paddleboarding Rowing (fixed seat) Punt Standup paddleboarding Hand and foot power Rowing (sliding seat) Rowing (sliding rigger) Foot power Hydrocycle Hydrofoil Pedalo Amphibious Amphibious cycle Air Aircraft list Helicopter Ornithopter Non-vehicular transport Foot power Inline skating skates Roller skating skates Running Stair climbing Walking Stair climbing Snow and ice Crampons Ice skates Ski Alpine touring skis Cross-country skis Telemark skis Snowshoes Related Animal-powered transport Cycling (outline) Bicycle- and human-powered vehicle museums Human power Zero-emissions vehicle --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rowing cycle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowing_cycle) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowing_cycle?action=history)). 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