I Need Help

[dawhite]

Hello long distance riders I am a college student at Purdue University. I am doing a project and need some input from long distance riders. I do not know any personally please help me by responding to these questions to the best of your ability

1. What electronic devices do you use/bring with you when you ride (i.e GPS, MP3 player,cell phone)
2.If there were a generator you could attached to your bike to power your electronics would you buy it?
3. How much would you pay for one?

Thank you so much for your time, it means alot to me.
please post here or email responses to dawhite@purdue.edu

-David White

[spokenword]

1. What electronic devices do you use/bring with you when you ride (i.e GPS, MP3 player,cell phone)

always: cell phone, pda
sometimes: digital camera

2.If there were a generator you could attached to your bike to power your electronics would you buy it? I currently have a Schmidt generator built into my front wheel for powering my bike's headlights. I bought it because it was efficient enough that I wouldn't feel much drag while sending power to the lights. I have thought that it would be nice to have a similar generator for the rear wheel that could recharge other personal electronics, but I would not buy it if it created an appreciable drag on my speed.

3. How much would you pay for one? A Schmidt 6W generator costs about $200, and I wouldn't pay more than $200 for another hub generator. Possibly not even that much. Something to recharge a cell phone is a convenience. Reliable all-night lighting is, for me, a necessity.

[Pedal Wench]

1. What electronic devices do you use/bring with you when you ride (i.e GPS, MP3 player,cell phone)
2.If there were a generator you could attached to your bike to power your electronics would you buy it?
3. How much would you pay for one?
-David White

I was on the trainer last night and had the TV on, my ipod plugged in for power and the audio plugged into my powered computer speakers. I was just thinking that I wished there were a way to hook up the trainer so I could power all the gear I needed on the trainer.

1. I bring: Cellphone, MP3 player (one side placed near my ear, nothing on the other side, don't flame me, please) and GPS. Occasionally digital camera too.
2/3. If it were lightweight and reasonable, I might buy a generator. Probably under $100, and under 1 lb.

[Godwin]

I bring an mp3 player (to keep me sane) and a small digital camera. If I get into trouble a hundred miles from home there's not much anyone but me can do about it, if I really need to I'd find a pay phone. I've always heard that generators use too much of your energy to be worth it, you'll be needing that energy if you're going far. Just use rechargeable batteries, the energy and cost that it takes to charge them is probably equal if not less than the energy and cost it takes to produce and ship the extra nutritional intake you'll need (just a guess, I really have no basis to make that claim). Awesome idea for a trainer though, if you could set it up so that it powers you TV or something you'd have much more incentive to keep going and you'd be cutting down on nasty emissions.

[Daveyboy]

Not to get off topic, but I recall reading somewhere that an exercise club hooked up the treadmills, lifecycles, etc... to generators/batteries to help power the place. Interesting idea about the wind trainer.

[ericgu]

Hello long distance riders I am a college student at Purdue University. I am doing a project and need some input from long distance riders. I do not know any personally please help me by responding to these questions to the best of your ability

1. What electronic devices do you use/bring with you when you ride (i.e GPS, MP3 player,cell phone)
2.If there were a generator you could attached to your bike to power your electronics would you buy it?
3. How much would you pay for one?

Thank you so much for your time, it means alot to me.
please post here or email responses to dawhite@purdue.edu

-David White

1. I have my cell with me and my HR monitor.

2. No - I wouldn't want the complexity and power drag.

[ericgu]

Not to get off topic, but I recall reading somewhere that an exercise club hooked up the treadmills, lifecycles, etc... to generators/batteries to help power the place. Interesting idea about the wind trainer.

Not sure if that's true or not. For average people, they're only putting out around 75 watts, and that doesn't go very far at all.