27/05/2011

Steampowered Bikes - Steampunks Revenge!

A bicyle powered by a steam engine sounds like it something that roared straight out of the sepia-stained pages of a steampunk tale.  Gusts of steam rise through fog bound warehouses, chains and gears clank and grumble. Mutton chopped heros chase down clockwork automatons through the gritty cobbled streets of Victorian London, whilst genius-supervillans plot world domination through rooms of cigar-smoke and polished brass.  You can almost smell the tweed.

Alas, such men and their marvelous machines are destined to remain in the pages of fiction... or are they?

Tom Sepe's Steampunk "Whirlygig Emoto"


Tom Sepe is Steampunk artist, performer and fabricator. You can see some of his wonderful creations and visit his rather beautiful personal website here.

Tom's bike is essentially an electric bike with steam-powered effects - but is that all we can hope for? Is a true steam powered bike possible? Yes, yes it is.



The Stanley Steamer Loco Cycle



There is a video of a restored Loco Cycle above. This little beauty dates from 1902.

But really, who need Steampunks when the Victorians were doing it all themselves? Introducing the 1867-1869:

Roper Steam Velocipede



and the

Michaux-Perreaux Steam Velocipede



Also available in a handy tricycle version;

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