They say there’s nothing really new under the sun, and judging by this new gadget, they’re absolutely right. The 2 in 1 Bicycle Generator for Smartphones is not a new idea at all, bike dynamos have been around since the invention of the wheel. But what makes this puppy different is the fact that it’s designed to deliver the perfect charge for our most modern devices. Not just a cycle lamp!
The product does in fact come with a front lamp, hence the 2 in 1 part of the name, but the main goal of the thing is to charge up any compatible 5V USB device you happen to have on your person. This can include phones of course, or GPS, MP3 players etc etc. You’ll need to pedal at a minimum speed of 5 km/h to get a charge going, and they say that 12 km/h is the real minimum you need, with a continuous 30 km/h needed for charging the phone up to 100%. Pedal, Pete, pedal!
The other minor annoyance is the fact that it seems you cannot run the lamp and do a charge at the same time, so if you’re traveling at night, better choose wisely between visibility and getting your phone satnav working. Good luck. The whole kit, which can be self-fitted in 5 mins, costs $59.95.
