6/12/2003: Rhine high-wire act
 

http://cellar.org/2003/rhinehighwire.jpg

The gent on the seat is Johann Traber, and he decided to cross the Rhine by bike in an interesting way. The gent on the bike is his nephew, Peter Traber.

What the picture doesn't show is how they spun around the line 14 times to set some sort of record. You know, spun in such a way that the guy at the bottom was temporarily at the top and upside down.

How they do that I'm not sure. It seems like it would be impossible unless you were actually attached to the wire.

full story

If the chap at the bottom has a greater moment (mass x distance from rope), then his weight will rule.

So, 1. the bike does not fall off ever, falling involves "raising" the bottom, which has a greater moment.
2. when they spin around, centripetal force exeeds gravity, in the direction of the "bottom" chap. Again, due to him, they never fall off.

In simpler words, the bottom (as always :) is really the one who is controlling the show, even if he seem to be just a mere passenger.

Whoa!...
 

In even simpler terms, they can't fall off because their combined center of gravity is below the cable.

Looks like fun!!

Jeez, didn't anybody tell these guys about that new invention, the boat?