Anglers at North Park Lake might be tempted to rub their eyes in disbelief this week when Hydrobikes make their debut.

The one-person watercraft resembles the homely offspring of a marriage between a mountain bike and an outrigger canoe.

Hydrobikes and kayaks will join the rental fleet when the Allegheny County park's boathouse opens Saturday.

Venture Outdoors, a nonprofit organization that seeks to encourage people to take advantage of outdoor activities, is managing the facility this year.

The boathouse, west of Babcock Boulevard in the McCandless portion of the park, will be open seven days a week, 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., weather permitting. In addition to the new Hydrobikes and kayaks, canoes, paddle boats and rowboats will be available.

Hydrobikes, developed about 15 years ago, consist of a bicycle frame mounted on two long, narrow pontoons. As the rider pedals, a chain drive turns a propeller.

"It's like riding a bike on the water," said Jon Lucadamo, program director for Pittsburgh-based Venture Outdoors.

Venture Outdoors operates Kayak Pittsburgh under the Roberto Clemente Bridge on the city's North Side. This year marks the third season for the concession, which last year served about 3,000 people between May and October.

The rental operation at North Park will be called Kayak Pittsburgh North.

Venture Outdoors is marking its fifth birthday this year. "We've positioned ourselves and gotten a reputation as leaders in the area for offering and supporting outdoor recreation."

"When the county put the boat rental concession out for bid, we made a bid and we got it," Mr. Lucadamo said.

"The new operator will be able to offer some additional services," county Parks Director Andrew Baechle said. "And the deal should save the county some money. It's a win-win situation."

In previous years, the North Park Boathouse was staffed with summer workers employed by the county.

"We'll be repairing existing equipment at our expense as well as bringing in new boats," Mr. Lucadamo said. "The hydrobikes and kayaks are brand new."

Most watercraft will rent for $10 an hour. The rate for kayaks is $12.

Plans call for renting bicycles, but that deal has not been made final, he said.

Kayak Pittsburgh will employ about 20 full- and part-time workers at its two locations.

In addition to operating its boat rental facilities, Venture Outdoors will offer about 180 recreation programs throughout the region this summer. "We provide all the equipment ... with the majority led by volunteer trip leaders," he said.

"We are an organization dedicated to making it easy for people to get outside," he said. "While we are membership-based, you need not be a member to participate in any of our programs."

For more information about North Park boating, see the Web site www.kayakpittsburgh.org and click on Kayak Pittsburgh North. The main Web site for Venture Outdoors is www.ventureoutdoors.org.