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''HELLO? I'M ON MY BIKE.....''

Commuting tranquility shattered as cellphone rechargers hit the cyclelane

Posted: 26 February 2001
by Scoop
Need to ring home and tell 'them indoors' to get the Radox bath and fish supper ready but you're out of phone charge? Fret no more, IKON have got the answers to your needs with a mobile phone recharger that fits to your bike.

The Pedal & Power® package uses a good old bottle dynamo on the front wheel, wired into a quick release recharger pack that clips onto your frame. They reckon it'll fit 95% of bikes but you'll have to be careful if you're running proper knobbly tyres. The phone then sits on a handlebar mount, and IKON reckon, you can recharge a standard 600 mAh battery in approximately 70 minutes (based on cycle speed of 19kph/12mph).

At the moment the only way to get in touch is through the IKON website, but they're looking for distributors as we speak, so if you reckon this will make your millions get in touch.

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Discuss this story


Tim Haskey
I go on my bike to get away from the bloody phone!
Posted: 26/02/2001 20:54


Adam Stephens
Could be worse, I was sat having a bite to eat about halfway round the Schwinn 100 last year, when guess what? ...that's right a mobile rang !!!!! it was the guys office! although having said that I always take mine with me when riding, you never know when you might need it in an emergancy situation
Posted: 27/02/2001 09:03


tony mcgarley
two autumns ago, whilst marshalling the Polaris, a team approached my checkpoint and punched in. then a mobile rang. what ensued was a 25 minute conversation about selling a house. his teammate just sat there, unconcerned about all that lost time. amazing. and judging by the looks of them, and their kit, they probably would have been able to get up there in the rankings.
Posted: 27/02/2001 09:14


Toni Ertl
I have a suspicion that Mobile phones DO cause brain damage, but it's nothing to do with microwaves. Gabba gub wurble [%}
Posted: 27/02/2001 11:00


James D
Although I'm a pretty anti-mobile person and will avoid getting one for as long as possible, I feel I should remind you that they do have their uses in accidents, a none too rare occurrence in this sport...so maybe bike chargers aren't so bad after all, as long as they don't get broken in the crash that is!
Posted: 27/02/2001 18:27


Andy Robson
.. you know you need to get one - so we can call you to tell you how late were gonna be! "..their uses in accidents.." as in creating a whole lot more?? (car drivers again!)
Posted: 27/02/2001 21:01


mark fitton
All mobiles should be thrown into water the first time they ring.
Posted: 27/02/2001 21:32


tony mcgarley
mine is waterproof and it floats. but if you MUST carry one in the hills, do everyone a favour and turn it off, especially if you happen to be within earshot of me. sitting on top of great gable, enjoying the peace, and some ignorant tw@ts 'phone rings. aarrgghh
Posted: 27/02/2001 21:52


Tim Haskey
I agree with the notion that they are useful in an emergency, but let's face it, there are so many people carrying the things now you will only have to wait a couple of minutes for someone to come along with one in the event of a crash. Why carry a weight penalty? And if you are in the back of beyond with no humans in sight, chances are there's no signal. Which is why they don't go there. After all, if you can't have your phone clamped to the side of your head all day you have to stay in by a land line incase someone rings you!
Posted: 28/02/2001 10:44


Adam Stephens
Tim, mobiles are a very small weight penalty, and the notion that there's always somebody else with one could go full circle, and you end with nobody having one - because they all think that somebody else will have one. I take mine with me, if I need it and can get a signal then it may be invaluable, if I need it and can't get a signal then i've not lost anything
Posted: 28/02/2001 10:51


Tim Haskey
I do actually agree with you Adam. If you are going out on your own/in the wilds/etc. it is a sensible thing to do. However, I still go out on my bike to get away from the bloody thing!
Posted: 28/02/2001 12:26


Julian
Pure fashion statement; 1970s = The Fondue 1980s = The Shell Suit 1990s = The Satellite Dish 2000s = The Cellular Telephone
Posted: 28/02/2001 12:43


Jaf Jahromi
I actually use a pedal & power device, almost every day. I agree that mobiles are a pain, sometimes essential, but there is the "green" issue to consider. That was one of the main reasons I bought it & since buying it I find I use my bike more. I feel i'm getting something for nothing not having to plug into the mains elec every few days & feel i'm doing my bit for the environment. Finally, i found it charges other things too. I contacted the Sunday Times & they ran an article, http://www.sunday-times.co.uk/news/pages/sti/2001/06/03/stidordor01011.html?
Posted: 20/07/2001 19:14


Cullen Ward
I had to laugh: After a year of being bullied by my girlfried to get a mobile I finally gave in. Six months later I'm in the garage and can hear the washing machine making a funny noise. Yup, you guessed it, she put it on a hot wash. No insurance. No phone :-)
Posted: 21/07/2001 13:54

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