Coming to a Spin Class Near You
Rock the Bike has rocked events around the Bay Area with our message of pedal-powered revolution. We’re ramping it up – for the first time, people who take their daily spin class will wire back the energy generated by their workout into their electrical grid, helping to power their work place as they get inspired to bike towards a lower carbon footprint.
Read More1.7 Million Views! CNN Covers Rock The Bike’s Roll-Up Generator at Standing Rock
CNN sent journalist Sara Sidner to Standing Rock in North Dakota, though they don’t identify which camp they visited: Oceti Sakowin Camp, Rosebud Camp, or Sacred Stone Camp.
While walking around, Sara found a Roll-Up, our portable pedal-powered generator, brought to Standing Rock by friend/collaborator/co-conspirator Mike Cobb, and gave it a spin. Check out the video below:
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Recharge Station
It’s a bike that charges phones, 8 of them to be precise. This event power station sparks the kinds of informal conversations and networking that draw people to conferences, concerts, and meetings in the first place. The sight of pedaling and the diffuse green glow of the enclosure underneath the wooden desk draw in crowds throughout the day. The system is so easy to set up and use, it can be stationed without an attendant, or as we say, a “coach.” For the best results, a coach will help people feel more relaxed and comfortable, plugging in their phones and adjusting the seat to the right height for new riders. An integrated ‘Pedalometer’, a thermometer style light sequence next to the USB sockets, shows people exactly how hard to pedal to maintain consistent charging. Just keep the Pedalometer in the green and phones will charge as fast as they do from the latest wall-powered chargers.
With a Recharge Station you’ll have an instant landmark at your event. You’ll hear people say “I’ll meet you at the bikes.” And it’s not just a landmark; it’s a social ice breaker. Phone charging can either be something awkward — seeing your attendees looking around for outlets and dealing with forgotten charge cables — or cool, green and positive with the Recharge Station. By pedaling to charge their phone, they’ll actually get some stress-relief and movement, great for conferences where people are sitting and standing a lot. We consistently hear at events that people are grateful for a place to get their legs moving and get their heart rate up a bit. As Rock The Bike activities go, this one is on the easy side, meaning people can definitely pedal in business attire without worry. It’s not like the cardio machines at the gym; talking and pedaling is very doable, even while charging 8 phones.
Above: Conference attendees exchange information and ideas on the Recharge Stations at IBM’s Insight 2015.
For events with a green audience or a techie crowd, they’ll appreciate the chance to convert their muscle power into usable energy for their phones and tablets, something we often take for granted. The “What Watt?!”, which is now stock on all Recharge Desks, provides live pedaling statistics including instantaneous Wattage and accumulated energy. The “Watt What?!” will compare their power output to devices we use in our everyday lives, like incandescent vs LED lights, or a television.
When we rent the Recharge Station we include a bag of multi-charge cables. But when we sell it, we include eight. Remember to get a few extra and label them, they are easily lost at events.
The Recharge Station is a match for the Electric Fender Blender Pro or the Generator Pro. On these Generators, installation happens without tools using only Velcro and rubber ‘TwoFish mounts’. To use it with a Roll Up Generator Stand, you’ll need to change out the handlebar and stem. This may be worth it to you if you are on a budget and love the function of the Recharge Desk.
It’s possible to brand the desk with your logo. You can do this on top of the wooden desk to keep some of the wood grain visible, or you can wrap the entire desk. A template is available for your graphic designer. For the best possible brand penetration, brand the wheel, frame, and desk.
Above: Custom Color, Wheel Branding, Frame Branding: Top Tube, and Recharge Desk Branding.
Features:
Action happens in front: makes Pedal Power more fun and social. Ensures the best results.
Very friendly to adults and kids (down to approximately 7-year-old kids). Widely adjustable seat height and handlebars offer a comfortable and easy grip position. As it is lowered the seat gets closer to the handlebars.
Many good surfaces and options for your branding on the wheel cover, frame, and recharge desk. Please read more about our and frame branding options.
Riders can see their live pedaling statistics including instantaneous Wattage and accumulated Energy during their time using the bike. The Watt What will compare their Wattage to items we power in our everyday lives, like incandescent vs LED lights.
Efficient Pedal Power generator and application, so there is less chance of human effort being wasted.
Available in Green, Orange, Blue, Red or in your custom color. Please read more about custom frame colors.
Comes with fully illustrated instructions for setup and use, view and download them here.
Assembled dimensions + weight : 56″ long, 41″ tall, 31″ wide @ 75 pounds
Shipping dimensions + weights: 2 units total, 1 unit – 38″ x 34″ x 11″ @ 80 lbs, 2nd unit – 25″ x 21″ x 05″ @ 10 lbs
Build time: In Stock, Ships in 3 – 5 days
Read MoreYork Catholic School Board remixes Toaster Challenge at energy awareness assembly
Sitting on the stool on the right side of this photo is an unassuming white form, but push the lever on it and you have a beast of a challenge — match the energy needs of an electric toaster by pedaling your hardest on an efficient bicycle generator.
Read MoreWhat can I power with Rock The Bike Generators?
What can I power with a Generator Pro or Electric Fender Blender Pro?
Most common uses:
AC Power — Use our Pedal Power Utility Box or create your own 24V Pedal Power system with a battery and inverter. Our Pedal Power Utility Box is a complete system that features:
- Ultracapacitor (absorbs every last Watt of effort)
- Smart LED pedalometer (shows up to 5 people how hard to pedal. Bigger groups can plug in our Tube Pedalometer).
- 1000W Pure Sine Inverter.
- Protected wiring
USB Only: Our Cell Recharge Circuit and Cell Phone Recharge Desk both are capable of charging up to 8 devices at once.
LEDs (dumb): This low-cost activity is also fun and beautiful when done artfully. Wire 12V flexible LEDs in 24V series, 36V series, or 48V series or any combination of the above. When used in combination, the lower voltage lights turn on first, and the higher voltage LEDs will light only when you pedal fast enough. To prevent overvoltage conditions from damaging the lights, you have to use enough of them that the pedalers are sufficiently tired out trying to keep them on. The rule of thumb is that these lights consume about 1W per foot. Depending on the age group of your event / school / setting, your pedalers may be able to create up to 200-400W of power. If you want to challenge them and keep your LEDs cool, you may have to use that many feet of LED. If you choose 36 or 48V series wiring, this is less of a concern. Measure with a voltmeter and try to keep the LEDs under 150% of their rated voltage, especially for extended periods of time (more than a few seconds). You can also reduce the voltage spikes that the LEDs see by pairing them with a capacitor.
Ask about our LED kits!
LEDs (smart) : sLEDgehammer
Sound : 1 Bike / 1 Speaker
In terms of the above list, what’s the difference between a Roll Up, Generator Wheel, Electric Fender Blender Pro and Generator Pro?
The main difference is the Roll Up and Generator Wheel are capable of working well with 12v systems. The Electric Fender Blender Pro and the Generator Pro can technically be used with 12v systems, but the gearing will likely feel too hard. The Electric Fender Blender Pro and the Generator Pro are best suited to 24V systems.
More on Pedal-Powering LEDs:
The Svelte or Sledgehammer generator wheel or DC Roll up stand produce variable DC voltage. The faster you pedal the higher the voltage. We try to optimise the gear ratio and electrical activity to be around 24volts when pedaling at a comfortable speed. The Load or wattage of your activity (LEDs) will determine the difficulty.
The variable DC voltage of these generators is a good match for custom interactive LED activities and is fun and beautiful when done artfully.
Strips of 12V LEDs can be put in 24V series, 36V series, or 48V series or a combination of these. When used in combination, the lower voltage lights turn on first, and then the higher voltage LEDs. Brightness of the LEDs will increase with voltage. To prevent overvoltage from damaging the lights, you have to use enough that pedalers are sufficiently tired out by trying to keep them on. Keep in mind the age and ability of your pedalers. Rolls of flexible LEDs often consume about 1W per foot. Pedalers may be able to create up to 200-400W of power. If you want to challenge them and keep your LEDs cool, you may have to use that many feet of LED. If you choose 36 or 48V series wiring, this is less of a concern. Measure with a voltmeter and try to keep the LEDs under 150% of their rated voltage, especially for extended periods of time (more than a few seconds). You can also reduce the voltage spikes by pairing them with a capacitor.
The “Off The Wall” generator wheel and Roll Up stand produce a higher variable voltage, closer to that of wall power. LEDs will need a switching power supply, usually with an input of 100 to 240volts, an output that matches the voltage of the LEDs (12v), and sufficient current for the number of LEDs. The interactivity of the LEDs is slightly less because they simply turn on and will not change in brightness, but will stay on over a wide range of pedal speed. Incandescent bulbs can be directly plugged into the Off The Wall and used as a comparison to the LEDs. They require much more energy and are usually less bright, but will glow brighter the faster you pedal. Make sure to match the wattage of the bulbs to your pedalers ability… bulbs can burn out!
Warning: Power supplies and other equipment can be over-voltaged and damaged when load / resistance is not enough and a pedaler is able to pedal really fast, producing a high voltage for an extended amount of time. We are developing a safety circuit that reduces the voltage if it gets over 240volts which may help in some situations.
Read MoreRoll Up Generator Stand
The Roll Up offers similar performance to our Generator Wheels, but weighs and costs less, and doesn’t require you to change out your rear wheel. It uses the same power generating elements found in our Generator Wheels but in an external roller, not inside the hub. It boasts a very large roller with a gritty composite surface that simulates riding on the road better than small rollers found in competing products, which waste energy as heat and cause more tire wear. The large contact patch formed between the 6” roller and your tire means less force is required (roller pressure). You won’t see any deformation of the tire. More of your good clean Pedal Power goes into the device you’re powering. Plus, the large roller functions as a flywheel to smooth out your pedal stroke and make pedal power feel pleasant. And it’s quiet!
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