I love this hack. Mark Hoekstra over at geektechnique has hacked together a iPod charger for his bicycle that works off the power of his legs! Better yet, he's written a detailed how-to with tons of pictures so anyone with the gumption to do so can make their own Bicycle iPod Charger.
If only my bike didn't get jacked when I first moved to the Bronx 5 years ago...
[via MAKE]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-05-2005 @ 3:16PM
ivan said...
This isn't such a great idea. Every time you start charging an iPod you start a new charging cycle. No pun intended. Charing the iPod with bike would kill the battery early.
Ideally, you would charge the iPod fully and than let it go flat fully. One should avoid refilling iPods if not really necessary.
Reply
12-05-2005 @ 3:47PM
dude yo said...
This could be an interesting hack with a stationary bicycle. Get an exercise machine and hook up your ipod and get yourself on the audiofilled weight loss program.
Reply
12-05-2005 @ 4:18PM
markie said...
>This isn't such a great idea. Every time you start charging an iPod you start a new charging cycle.
Well, we're not talking ibooks here... on my mini I can get an aftermarket-battery for around $15... and as long as it's a mini you're charging, they're already obsolete :D Next to that, you don't have to have your ipod connected all the time, only when you want to charge it, so I don't see why this is different than an everyday user who puts it in a dock on his/her desk...
But, if you will, I'll include battery-life in a future-update on my bike-charging-project :D
Reply
12-06-2005 @ 8:00AM
splintax said...
"This isn't such a great idea. Every time you start charging an iPod you start a new charging cycle."
Actually, no you don't.
You might want to read up on Li-ion batteries. Since they have no memory effect, it's best to charge them frequently; in fact, Apple recommends it.
Reply
12-06-2005 @ 9:07AM
Jules said...
>This isn't such a great idea. Every time you start charging an iPod you start a new charging cycle
So what? Isn't the 'pod battery Li-Ion, not NiCad? My understanding is that Lithium Ion batteries love to be topped up, the more the better. It actually adds to the longevity. It's just the older type Nickel Cadmium batteries that prefer to be drained flat.
Reply
12-08-2005 @ 1:55PM
nick normal said...
"One should avoid refilling iPods if not really necessary."
funny, i thought one should avoid iPods unless really necessary.
Reply
12-09-2005 @ 12:36PM
nick normal said...
"One should avoid refilling iPods if not really necessary."funny, i thought one should avoid iPods unless really necessary.
Reply