Times and costs, along with an address, can be found on this page hiding under the story below.What happens when you take a bike and try to get it to float?
"These are bicycles on two pontoons,” eagerly explains Dan Fleischbein, co-owner of the Tampa Bay Water Bike Company.
On the waterfront at the Tampa Convention Center, you'll find an attraction dedicated to pedal power.
"It's kind of like riding a bicycle, but on the water," shares Sarah Sexton, who can add "Aqua Cyclist" to her resume.
The Tampa Bay Water Bike Company put folks on bikes on the water.
"It's a lot easier than riding a bicycle because you have both of the thingies that balance you out,” Sexton tries to explain of the bicycles that are missing wheels."
Instead, they sit upon two pontoons like a seaplane's landing skids.
"It has a nice sturdy platform," Fleischbein said.You can stand on it. You can move it around. It's not going anywhere."
But keep in mind there are no breaks.
"Even riding the wake with the boats, it was fun," Sexton admits. "I never felt like I was going to tip."
Yet, sit down for this. What happens when you mix a kayak with a bike? You get a BiYak.
"They are physical kayaks that have a hole in them, and the hole is for these little fin-flippers," Fleischbein says of the BiYak.
Here, you sit in a kayak and use bicycle pedals to move. In the end, it's your legs that are in for a serious workout.
"A BiYak is literally a kayak with pedals," Fleischbein says during a demonstration on the water.
Although there is a paddle should you need it, a small control switch controls your direction.
"If you want to go to the right, you turn the knob to the right," Fleischbein explains while gliding across the water with ease.
Don't want to go at it alone? Grab a two-seat BiYak or water bike and bring man's best friend along.
Canine passengers, like former shelter dog Captain, are now floating free. Dogs are allowed to ride free of charge as long as they wear a life jacket and are good swimmers. Fleischbein said dog owners should also be strong swimmers and have the strength to pull their pets out of the Hillsborough River should they slip in or go for a swim.
"It's more like going to a resort," said Eric Blank, with the Tampa Bay Convention Center.
When boaters return to the dock, The Sail bar and grill caters to mariners and their best friends. The watering hole at the dock serves dogs bowls of water that are on the house.
"It's a pretty popular local watering spot," Blank said.
Sexton agrees: "It's a lot of fun."
Note: Water bikes and BiYaks can be rented for an hour or two at a time.
DESTINATION INFORMATION
Tampa Bay Water Bike Company
Location:
Tampa, Hillsborough County
Open:
Seven days a week, 10 a.m. to sunset
Rental Fees:
1-Hour Rentals:
Water bikes and BiYaks: $30
Tandem BiYaks: $50
2-Hour Rentals:
Water bikes and BiYaks: $50
Tandem BiYaks: $90
$5 off for military, seniors, law enforcement, teachers and students
Parking:
Metered outside at Tampa Convention Center
Address:
333 S. Franklin St.
Tampa, Florida 3360
Phone:
813-465-8025
e-mail:
contact@tampawaterbikes.com
Website:
http://www.tampawaterbikes.com/
GPS Coordinates:
Latitude: 27.941643
Longitude: -82.455413
Latitude: 27° 56' 29.9142"
Longitude: -82° 27' 19.4862"
Drive Times:
From Orlando: 1, hour, 20 minutes
From Lakeland: 35 minutes
Tankful on Television
You can catch new Florida on a Tankful stories each Thursday and Saturday on News 13 and Bay News 9. New editions play at the end of each hour starting at 6 a.m. Classic Florida on a Tankful stories can be found each Friday and Sunday on Bay News 9 and News 13 at the end of each hour starting at 6 a.m.
Tankful on Demand
Catch Florida on a Tankful with Scott Fais on your time, now on Bright House Local On Demand, Channel 999. Use your remote to scroll to the right to the TRAVEL category. Then SCROLL DOWN to TANKFUL.