Tag Archive for 'bicycle generator'

Bike Powered [Tues]days – Stage 1 (I’m On A Bike!)

patricia published on April 22, 2010 in build, superforest journal and transportation. 11 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Good Afternoon SuperForest

The eagle-eyed among you may have noticed that today is not in fact Tuesday (bonus points to you!) and this post is thus a couple of days late… Apologies! Going forward with my pedal-powered plans I shall anticipate unforseen workumstances and prepare in advance!

I have exciting progress to report: Yes! I am now the owner of my own zippy, second-hand hybrid bicycle!

The first bike I’ve had since I was a kid (the first ever with gears – fancy!) – I’ve not quite got used to the streets of central London yet (oh to live in Copenhagen with their extensive cycle-lane system), but I’m having fun practicing.

(this is, in part, an homage to childrens TV art presenter Neil Buchanan and his Art Attacks – check it:

Inspired by SuperForester Heather and Bikey I’m deciding on a name for him and I’ve got it down to a shortlist:

  • Flash Gamberini (fast! and suave!);
  • Huck Rogers (or Bike Rogers! anything with a 25th century vibe);
  • Incredibike; or
  • Hibbertopterus (topical! giant Scottish sea scorpion!)

What do you think? Do let me know in the comments!

(all that ‘cycling’ has worn me out)

So, now I have a bike I can move forward with my plans for a bicycle-powered generator.  Next up, is the hard-core studying and planning!

My multimeter is due tomorrow and I’ll be back on Tuesday with some SCIENCE and an idea of how much energy my appliances actually use, so I can understand which I can actually run with pedal-power (hint: not an espresso machine!) and the parameters of the system I’ll need.

Love!

P

Bike Powered Tuesdays: Stage -1 (A Plan!)

patricia published on April 13, 2010 in build and superforest journal. 4 Comments Tags: , , , .

Hello Dear SuperForest

This evening, I am a woman with a mission (many missions! but one in particular right now!) and I’d like to share it with you:

My plan is to build a bicycle powered generator, before the summer, from my own bicycle – to create in my home as much as I can of the electricity I consume, using physics, tools and the SUPERFORESTY POWER OF MY LEGS! And I’d like to document the experience with you, every Tuesday, until it’s up and running. I hope that in sharing the steps of the process with you, we can gain ideas and insight from each other – a two-way bicycle lane yo!

(picture from Magnificent Revolution)

It’s an idea I’ve been mulling over (and talking about) for a little while now: last autumn I was lucky enough to attend a bicycle generator workshop run by the fine, inspiring folk at Magnificent Revolution. Magnificent Revolution are a diverse group of artists, musicians, designers, ecologists and engineers that

uses bicycle power generators as educational tools in schools, colleges and communities. By showing people how many bikes it takes to power household appliances, we help people to understand energy in an enjoyable and engaging way. MR also equips people with knowledge and skills needed to actively participate in building a sustainable world by teaching them how to build their own miniature power stations

by putting on workshops as well as a super cool travelling bike-powered cinema and sound systems.

I came away from the day with a notebook full of electricity theory (diagrams of circuits the like of which I haven’t drawn since my Physics A-level!), technical and safety facts, hands-on practice at hooking it all up and, more than anything, an enthusiasm for doing it for myself and the realisation that, with some time, thinking and equipment, it is eminently doable. We get to build and learn and exercise and, hopefully, I can make at least some of my energy consumption more sustainable and I think that by understanding my consumption more I can reduce it.  Fun!

I’m starting really from square one. I’m neither an experienced engineer nor cyclist and don’t, as yet, quite have a bicycle (the first step!). In fact, right now, all I have is some excellent knowhow from Magnificent Revolution, a keen desire to build and share with you AND a t-shirt with a picture of a bicycle on it:

(all t-shirt self-portraits require hooping)

But the beginning seems like a fine place to start.

To the bicycles!

Love
P