Why settle for a fixie when you could be riding a floating bike or a pedal-powered Ferrari?
1. Floating Bicycle
Perhaps frustrated by one too many delays at New York City's Penn Station, design exec Judah Schiller came up with an ideal way to get from New Jersey to Manhattan: a water bike. Schiller's bike-raft hybrid is a mountain bike attached to a frame that rests on two inflatable pontoons. A drive mechanism attached to the bike's rear frame transfers power from the rear wheel to a propeller attached to the front wheel. When the rider pedals, the propeller turns, keeping the bike moving at speeds up to 10 mph and also allowing full use of handlebar steering. The entire contraption can be set up in 15 minutes and broken down in 5, leaving riders with a road-ready bike and a backpack of full of accessories weighing less than 20 pounds. Schiller has pedalled his water bike across both the Hudson River and San Francisco Bay. [BayCycle Project website]
2. Tallest Bicycle
Feeling his 15-foot Stoopidtall bike just wasn't stupidly tall enough, L.A. cinematographer Richie Trimble created the Stoopidtaller. At a little more than 20 feet in height, it's considered the world's tallest bicycle. The bike is a 275-pound contraption made from a Monster beach cruiser, eight bicycle chains linked together, and two 36-inch wheels. Trimble built it in just four days. [Video]
3. Fastest Bicycle
In September 2013, former pro cyclist and "Flying Scotsman" Graeme Obree and his bicycle Beastie set the world speed record for fastest cyclist in a prone position, clocking in at 56.62 mph. Obree's speed cycle requires him to ride in a recumbent, head-forward, belly-down position and features rear levers that allow Obree to pedal horizontally after a push start. There's also a shoulder brace for rider stability. And because the bike can go nearly 60 mph, Obree encased the entire thing in a Kevlar and fiberglass shell to protect him from injury. It features a small window up front, and a snorkel for breathing.
4. Longest Bicycle
Members of Mijl van Mares Werkploeg in the Netherlands built what's considered the world's longest bicycle in 2011. It's 117 feet 5 inches long, has two wheels and no stabilizers, and requires two people - one steering up front and another pedalling in back.
5. Foldable Bicycle
Want a bike you can slip into your suitcase? Created by Karsten Bettin, the Kwiggle has a hinge that allows it to fold down into a compact package, comes with 8-inch wheels, and weighs about 14 pounds. It's designed to be ridden standing up (though it includes a seat for stability) and can reach up to 15 mph. While it's currently a prototype, Bettin is hoping to make a multiple-gear model with either 8- or 14-inch wheels available to the public soon.
6. Ferrari Bicycle
It may look like a sports car, but the Fahrradi Farfalla FFX is actually a recumbent-style quad bicycle with an upscale exterior. Built in 2012, the aluminium-frame bike is made for one or two "drivers" (though it forgoes steering wheels for handlebars) and runs on human power. It boasts an 11-speed hub gearbox, 200 ultra-bright LEDs for evening cycling, and the coolest feature: a built-in butterfly mechanism that causes the wing doors to lightly flap while pedalling.
7. Flying Bicycle
British inventors John Foden and Yannick Read came up with a dream vehicle: a bicycle that can fly. The XploreAir Paravelo can reach up to 25 mph in the air (15 mph on the road) and up to 4000 feet in altitude. It consists of a two-wheeled folding bicycle made from aircraft-grade aluminium and a lightweight trailer that holds a powerful fan with a biofuel-powered 249cc motor, plus a flexible wing that doubles as a tent (for longer trips). An electric starter fires the motor and turns the fan, creating considerable thrust and - with a long enough runway - getting the Paravelo off the ground. It can stay airborne for up to 3 hours.
8. Chainless Bicycle
Josh Bechtel's Bicymple eschews this normally critical component and relies instead on a direct-drive, freewheeling hub - one that joins the crank-arm axis with the rear-wheel axis. This creates a shorter wheelbase and a somewhat bizarre appearance, with the pedals on the rear wheel and the bike seat directly above it. Despite its unusual look, the Bicymple rides much like a single-speed bike, save for an optional rear-steer mode that allows you to navigate sideways.
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