What can I power with the Off the Wall generator?
Finally, we have a bike generator that allows customers to simply plug in regular devices with no intermediate box or circuit. You pedal, the device turns on. Direct, immediate, simple.
But not all devices are compatible. The Off the Wall Generator will only power devices that have a switching power supply.
How do I tell if my device has a switching power supply? If you look at the back it will read “INPUT: 100 – 240V” on the back of the device, as seen below. If the device reads anything differently it will not be compatible.
Once you’ve figured out if your device is compatible with the Off the Wall Generator. Here are some next steps to follow:
1. Once you’re set up and ready to pedal, DON’T plug in any device that is irreplaceable. A perfect example would be a vintage guitar amplifier. Why risk it?
2. DO plug-in devices with a Switching Power supply. You will know if your device has a Switching Power supply if you see “Input 100-240V” written on the power supply. Examples include most newer chargers and power cords for laptops, cell phones, tablets, and many other devices.
3. Pedal Power should be an attended activity. We do not recommend leaving your Off The Wall unattended for several reasons. 1) People could plug in the wrong kind of devices, ruining them and possibly risking electrical fire. 2) Any time people get on and off a bike there’s a chance your help will be needed to make that safe and easy. 3) Any time a bike is unattended there’s a higher chance people will get on and pedal really fast, which can cause damage to some devices. See #5 below.
4. Gearing matters. DO choose a bike with gears. Do put the bike in a medium-hard gear, probably not the hardest gear on the bike. If your bike has 3 speeds in the front, you probably want to be in the middle group, and then choose the hardest or 2nd hardest gear in the back. Once you determine what the best gear is for pedaling, DO NOT let your pedalers change the gear. You may want to tape the shifter or use the limit screws of the derailleur to lock the gear. You will know you need to be in a harder gear if your device turns off even when you are consistently pedaling. You will know you need to be in an easier gear if it feels too hard! You will know you are in the right gear IF, when you plug in a 60 Watt device, such as a laptop computer, pedaling feels like biking around town. You can use a watt meter of voltage tester (see below) to help with this test. Keep in mind a laptop that is fully charged already will consume no power. Best to allow your laptop to drop to 50% charge or lower before trying the test.
5. This product has no over-voltage protection. Some devices can be damaged by pedaling really fast, and this is more likely to happen if the bike is in too hard of a gear. In our experience, pedaling too fast is not something you will ever do by accident. It only happens when a pedaler gets on and wants to see what happens when they pedal like crazy. So as long as you don’t allow that to happen you will not have to worry.
6.DO use a watt meter or voltage tester rated for more than 240v or more. The a watt meter is a power measuring device intended for homeowners. We sell one and you can also buy it at hardware stores. When set to Voltage mode, it helps you set your gear. Voltage range should be around 120-200. When set to Wattage mode it shows you exactly how much power you are providing. Highly educational!
Given all these warnings, you may be wondering what an ideal usage is. Here are some examples:
- Charging a laptop. All recently made laptops have Switching Power Supplies. This is a 50-60W effort, perfect for learning about how much effort it takes to power up this common item. Great for getting a workout and using your energy.
- Powering a USB hub that charges 10 cell phones (or iPads, etc). We have a USB brick available for $75.
- Doing a lightbulb comparison station (LED vs. Incandescent). For maximum effect we recommend using 2 60W incandescent lightbulbs vs. 2 equivalent LED lightbulbs. Use 2 power strips or switched sockets to go between the two modes. If you use too few incandescent bulbs they will burn out by being overpowered. Some LED and Fluorescent bulbs have circuitry that is not compatible and will burn out.
- Loudspeakers. Many newer powered speakers have a switching power supply. You can look at the writing near the plug to know for sure. Use the volume and a watt meter to demonstrate that louder music requires more power. Feel the difference in your legs. Careful blasting people with loud music!
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St. Patrick’s Day Green Smoothie Recipe
Many folks equate the color green with the March holiday St. Patrick’s Day. Some folks drink green beer, while other folks dye their rivers green, but your friendly folks over at Rock the Bike prefer green smoothies to celebrate. Now you too can celebrate “the Emerald Isle” with our St. Patrick’s Day Green Smoothie recipe, and enjoy a fun little poem along with it:
Above: Our Sales Director, Brittany, blends up a St. Patrick’s Day Green Smoothie on the green Fender Blender Pro (High Performance)
Ingredients:
Fresh (and ripe!) Avocado
Fresh Spinach
Frozen Pineapple
Honey
Water
Prep It In Your Pitcher:
1. Cut your avocado in half, remove the meat from the skin and pit, and place in the bottom of your blender pitcher.
2. Add 2 cups of fresh spinach.
3. Scoop in 2 cups of frozen pineapple.
4. Squeeze 1 – 2 tbsp of honey.
5. Top off with 1 cup of water .
5. Cover with the lid and pop onto your bike blender! Blend until smooth (roughly 15 sec – 1 minute, depending on how hard you pedal), adding more water for desired consistency.
Serve immediately.
Makes 24 oz of smoothies, or double the recipes for you 48 oz High Performance pitcher.
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ATTENTION: Rock the Bike will only crew events in the United States. We have bike rockers in the Bay Area, Southern California, New York, Baltimore, DC, and Detroit. Events outside these regions will be subject to higher transportation costs, or potential refusal to service.
Use the below form to request a quote for Rock the Bike to attend, crew (and coach) a Pedal Powered activity at your upcoming event:
What are the different models for a pedal powered concert?
The specific technical approach we take at each Pedal Powered Stage event now depends on the size and nature of the audience, the purpose of the event, the nature of the music. Ultimately we strive to provide an eye-opening and inspiring experience to both the audience and musicians. New compromise approaches have allowed us to connect with more and different types of audiences.
Some audiences are physically fit college students. Others are primarily kids. We’ve developed a few different ways to use our own equipment to adapt to different event conditions. If you have an upcoming event please take a look and consider these models.
Purist: All energy used is generated by the pedalers. This approach is simple, electrifying and athletic. Outages are allowed to occur when pedalers don’t respond to low voltage signals from the Pedalometer. To prevent outages, our coaches actively recruit new pedalers and stoke pedalers to pay maximum attention to the Pedalometer and boost their output when it’s low. Even small improvements like raising and lowering the seat for a few riders can make a real difference in total power outputted by a group. If outages happen repeatedly even though the bikes are fully occupied and well adjusted, this is because the system is using more energy than people can reasonably pedal. The tech crew must find ways to add more generator bikes or turn off energy-hogging equipment. Advantages: fun, entertaining, educational, simple. Disadvantages: bands can be interrupted by outages, may require more bikes.
Primed Purist: Like the above, but accepting of the fact that people don’t usually like pedaling before an event begins. What happens before an event? Sound checking of bands, testing our gear. Using batteries to power the sound check we get through it as quickly as possible.
Grid backup: All or some equipment is powered by the grid. Pedalers put energy back into the grid. An “Ahead / Behind” meter shows pedalers whether they are keeping up with the energy use of the system.
Fitness of the audience.
Message v. Music
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