Originally Posted by
pdlamb
Not clear to me what the OP wants to do. Is this for touring with camping, or homeless living? Work, school, home all have outlets to charge a phone after 4-8 hours riding.
If the bike computer keeps tab of how fast and how far you ride, a bike computer can be had for $30.
If you want help finding your way, you're probably looking at $200 or up for a GPS with routing.
The reputable USB charging solutions run about $100, on top of a $200 wheel with a dyno hub or a $30 stay-mounted generator. A spare charger for your phone costs, what, $20?
The OP just wants to learn. I'm curious, new to this, and intrigued by the prospect of charging devices while riding. The reality is, an external battery pak is all I can imagine I'll ever need. But I was intrigued when I saw those and thought "I wonder how well those would work if I rigged something up like that".
When I mentioned a dedicated bike computer; I was referring to something like a Garmin 810. Something that will record rides, offer routing, keep track of altitude, distance, speed, etc. And log everything nicely. Although that's all down the road. My iPhone will do most of that anyway, for now.
I actually did find a few cheapie bottle dynamos that reviews said (slowly) charged smartphones, or at least staved off battery loss. Although it seems like more trouble than it's worth; I think it's a cool concept. Which is why I asked! That way I might learn something.