Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - I Need Help

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA

View Full Version : I Need Help

dawhite
09-12-07, 11:20 AM
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

cyccommute
09-12-07, 01:13 PM
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

As a touring cyclist (noncompetitive, ride length from 2 to 3+ weeks), I take as few electrical devices as possible. All I take that are battery driven are a cycling computer (button battery which last for years), a headlamp (runs on AA batteries) and a camera (also runs on AA batteries). The whole point of self-propelled travel is to do it with a minimum of fuss. Electronic devices are just things that can either break (thus becoming a brick), require lots of chargers to keep them running (added weight) or get lost (or stolen). Who needs that?

In answer to your other questions: Probably not.;)
tsl
09-12-07, 08:13 PM
I think you'll have a hard sell with this.

Every watt that goes into your device comes from the rider's legs. Many riders put great resources into making sure those watts translate into forward motion.

Ordinary riders don't have a lot of watts to spare. Dynamo hubs put out only five or six watts, yet riders say they can feel the drag. That, plus their expense is what keeps them a niche item.