New York gym rats can now not only build muscle power, but also electric power as they pedal on fitness bikes designed to light up their own health clubs.
“Electrify your workout! Later this month you will be able to shrink your waistline and your carbon footprint all at the same time,” a motivational poster says at New York Sports Club, urging clients to use “pedaling power to help create a healthier planet.” Some 20 clients pedaled furiously under the poster on stationary bicycles turning sweat equity into sweat electricity. “It’s a great idea, really fun. It allows students to monitor themselves, the monitor tells you how many watts you’re creating. It’s a win-win situation,” said gym instructor Rick Meadows.
The mechanism is simple, using dynamos on the bicycles to transfer 12 volts of electricity produced by the cyclists’ pedaling to a generator that creates alternating current of 110 volts. From there, the current helps power the gym building and reduces its bills - although not the subscriptions for members. “I invented the system in early 2007 in Connecticut, where I live,” said Jay Whelan, 46, CEO of The Green Revolution. The commercial debut was made in 2009 in California. “We began in Washington two weeks ago and here in New York,” Whelan said, adding that there are 40 customers - so far only using spin bikes. It takes 20 people to create about three kilowatts in a one-hour session.
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