Originally Posted by
kabt53
If you want to charge your phone *while riding* forget solar panels and get a dynamo-hub + charger + power bank (like this one . I know it costs so much more but it is a one-time expense and with a little planning and foresight it will pay for itself multiple times.
Solar panels are not great for cycling because:
1. You need to keep them facing the sun; output power falls of rapidly as angle increases. You need a very large area to reliably recharge your batteries every day during the daytime.
2. Output power falls off faster than input power due to the electrical characteristics of the panel and electronics.
You are correct on all counts, but there is always an exception to practically every rule of thumb...
There ARE foldable solar panels that CAN, charge pretty well
everything you can imagine you would want to charge on a bike trip... All it takes is $$$ and stopping for an HR or two to spread it out...
BIG $$$, like $1,200 to $2,600. 