Bike (or unicycle) light powered by the bike (or unicycle)

I thought this question might be better posed in a bike forum, but I'm
not a member of one, so here it is.
I had a good idea, but its too good of an idea to not have been done
before.
The idea is a bike headlight or backlight that uses the bike wheel
going around as a generator for power to light it up.
Does something like this exist?
Can I get it at a local bike store or someplace online?

Thanks everyone


--
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-last edited by skrobo : today at 11:41 am.-
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I don't think so, *because* for it to generate power, there would ahve
to be a generator piston thing attached to the hub or rim, and when the
rim or hub turns, it would make the piston(or something else) go back
and forth generating power to fuel the headlamp. I think it would have
ot be somehting custom, not something you go out and buy from a store.

I could be wrong though.(can't we always?)


--
mornish

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wait...invisible AND pink?





dan de man wrote:
this game is worse that playing Rock Paper Sissors on an internet forum



aim: kiloornish
email:
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I used to use the bottle/tire driven generator types on my Schwinn
Continental back in the '70's.

A quick Google of "Bicycle Generator Light" will give you a bunch of
links from cheapos to expenssive.

An example is at http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/lightingsystems.htm ,
check out the first two systems: one is a hub system, the next is a
bottle generator system.

I don't know if a uni would provide enough rpm to give decent light. On
the other hand, you're not going as fast as a bike so a dimmer light
may be sufficient.


--
UniBrier

Steve

Hop Drop & Roll

“If something is to hard to do, then it's not worth doing. You just
stick that guitar in the closet next to your
shortwave radio, your karate outfit and your unicycle and we'll go
inside and watch TV.” – Homer
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James_Potter wrote:
I thought this question might be better posed in a bike forum, but I'm
not a member of one, so here it is.
I had a good idea, but its too good of an idea to not have been done
before.
The idea is a bike headlight or backlight that uses the bike wheel
going around as a generator for power to light it up.
Does something like this exist?
Can I get it at a local bike store or someplace online?

Thanks everyone




i used to have one when i was little, but it wasn't strong enough on my
little kids bike to actually use to see, it was more so that people
could see you.


--
abbabibble

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it's not over until the cake is all gone.
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the targets around here carry them, so that would be a good place to
check. or walmart..walmart has everything.


--
zfreak220

iridemymuni wrote:
i think everybody agrees when i say you lucky son of a bitch
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been done. to get one that doesn't suck it is either going to be $500+
dollars or be such a drag on your wheel that you wouldn't want it.
someone(i forgot which company) makes a hub for biek wheels that is
pretty good and not too much of a drag for about $300, you still need
compatable lights though. a customer at my shop had one on his bike
when we were repairing other things, and the lights were pretty bright,
but the drag was noticable, at least by spinning the wheel by hand in
the repair stand.
for unicycling a good helmet mounted light is probably the best way to
go.


--
markf

'irwinsbikes.com' (http://www.irwinsbikes.com)
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In some European countries, almost all the lights are generator lights.
They do not have to be expensive.
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/dymotec.asp for a sampling.

Personally, I think the advent of the LED light has made generators not
very interesting any more, but if you're looking for a front light
which is good enough to actually help you see, a generator will do
better than an LED, but not as good as a big battery light.


--
tholub
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I know your asking about generators, but I agree with tholub, that LEDs
and HIDs make the ol generator less exciting these days.
I ride my uni and bike with last years model of 'this'
(http://www.niterider.com/prod_rage.shtml). Expensive, but it will turn
night into day.


--
Bike Psycho

My ride: Kris Holm XC 24"
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we call them Dynos, they were all the rage in primary school. you werent
No one unless you had a Dyno


--
tobbogonist

Unicycle: Gives me somewhere to sit when i walk
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Chexjc wrote:
...i mean he could walk on water couldn't he?
i'm no expert in the field..but i think that'd be harder to do than
unicycle
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My Accessory cycle has a tire-driven generator, which used to power a
headlight, tail light, and two side marker lights. Not very well, I
might add, as I was running too many lights, and a unicycle doesn't go
very fast. Scroll down this page for a closeup:
http://www.unicycling.com/garage/special.htm


--
johnfoss

John Foss
"jfoss" at "unicycling.com" -- www.unicycling.com
-----------------------------------------------

"The worst thing you can do on a unicycle when you land is stop dead."
-- Kris Holm, world's expert on high-consequence unicycling
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