HuckChuck

Hi everyone. My first post here.
I dusted off my GT a few months ago, and have been gradually increasing my riding time. I have been using my HTC incredible with a cycling app, but the power usage is killing the battery pretty fast. 45 to 90 minutes into the ride depending on my battery level.
I have been recommended (on a different forum) a Spinpower device (their S-1 model) that charges a smartphones as you cycle. I looked at it on Amazon, and the device looks like something I could find use for. But there is no reviews there - probably it's a new product?
Anyway, I am curious whether anyone here has used it. If you did, or heard about something similar, please let me know.
Thanks in advance.
Chuck

catonec 

I see a decent cycling computer purchase in your future

ChargerDawg

I carry a Diamond USB Battery Pack for my rindes that are more than 3 hours in length.

Juha

The spinpower you mentioned uses the included bottle dynamo. The price for the whole kit is USD 60 including dynamo, mounting hardware, electronics etc. They don't tell who manufactured their dynamo (I seriously doubt they built their own for this), but a decent 6V sidewall dynamo costs about the same as their whole kit.

Seeing that in your case it would get a lot of use, you'd be better off using a hub dynamo and one of the charger kits available (B&M E-Werk for example). It costs significantly more, but you tend to get what you pay for.

Other options have been mentioned (a dedicated bike comp with better battery life, and a battery based power source), both of those are cheaper than the recharge route.

--J

Guitarrick

I've looked into charging on an all day ride, I ended up just bringing a couple of extra batteries. Problem solved for <$20 and I still have a second water bottle.

Phil85207

+1

amcalirus

Hey Chuck!

I have and I do use the spinpower kit. I don't know about the Amazon reviews, but do not be turned off by the price. We Americans are a price sensitive culture, and en masse production is oh so cheap. I also feel that $60 is not that cheap, but hey, everyone is different. Well, maybe it is cheap for the Europeans and the British with their euro and pound. Bottom line, the device works well, it looks nice, and it does its job.

I bought the Spinpower kit initially for my husband who was in the same situation you are. He started a cycling routine but his phone died about an hour into the ride. Or, he would have to turn off the screen, and then turn it back on to see his stats. What a hassle! I initially considered other products such as reecharge, pedal power, and the aforementioned e-werk, but...these are accumulator batteries meaning you would have to precharge them, or purchase a dynamo and a phone holder separately. Plus, they are very expensive, and the e-werk is not even availalbe in the US, so if you live in the US like me, it is not even an option.

So I bought the SpinPower S1 for my husband, and so far, he is very happy with it. It has worked without issues for several months now. It charges the phone as you cycle, and his phone battery maybe looses 5% of its charge after 5-6 hours of riding. He uses the phone all the time, running applicaions, GPS-ing, calling me, etc. Also, I just got one for myself, Spinpower I4, becuase I have iphone 4. Works with iphone as well.

I hope the above helps.

Alexandra

northerntier

I use a SON hub and reecharge, works great. A ram mount for the iphone 4 and I can have the display on, gps tracking on a map, w/o ever leaving 100%.

By the way, the RAM mount for the iphone 4 held my phone as I went over my handlebars at about 20 mph on a downhill, breaking collarbone, rib, and having a concussion. Phone no worse for the wear.

Finally, the ewerk can be had through Peter White Cycles.

Juha

Like you said yourself, it depends. I've used enough both bottle dynamos and hub dynamos to know you generally get what you pay for.

This is simply false, as mentioned already.

--J

Juha

On closer inspection it seems Chuck and Alexandra are one person. Take this discussion with whatever amount of salt that warrants. This thread is now closed.

--Juha, a Forum Mod