Even as a kid, the least appealing part of treehouses was climbing a ladder. So, it’s no surprise that designer Ethan Schussler did not want the usual rope ladder for the grown-up treehouse he built thirty feet in the air. Using his imagination, Schussler converted an old bicycle into a one-person elevator that can be pedaled to the top and docked until he’s ready to come down. Schussler altered the bicycle by switching the sprockets from the front wheel to the back, increasing the tension so that the gears rotate nice and slowly. He then chained the bicycle to the ground and to the ledge of his treehouse, simulating an elevator’s cables. Once Schussler pedals to the top, the bicycle can be hung until he’s ready to descend. Innovative, sustainable, and virtually intruder-proof, the pedal-powered elevator is a serious upgrade to the treehouse accessories of our youth.
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