Is There an Exercise Bike That Generates Heat?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of exercise bikes that generate heat, particularly in the context of energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness for heating purposes. Participants explore whether such devices exist and their potential effectiveness in generating sufficient heat for a room.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the feasibility of generating heat through exercise bikes, questioning the amount of energy that can realistically be produced. Some participants provide estimates of energy output and costs associated with electricity generation, while others express skepticism about the practicality of the idea.

Discussion Status

The conversation includes various perspectives on the energy output of exercise bikes and the comparison to conventional heating methods. Some participants suggest alternative approaches, such as using heat pumps, while others highlight the limitations of energy generation through cycling.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific costs associated with electricity and equipment, as well as the physical effort required to generate heat through cycling. There is an underlying assumption about the relationship between exercise and energy production that is being examined.

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Hi all,

I was wondering if there was such thing as a heat creating exercise bike. Made for the purpose of creating heat.

It's really cold and the power bill is going up and I am wondering if this idea is stupid or has it already been tried. I would buy one.

Any thoughts?
 
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If you are a racing cyclist you can probably put out about 1/3 hp for an hour - or approx 0.2kwh. That much electricity would cost you about 2c but it would take about a big-mac worth of calories.
 
So you are saying that even if I were a racing cyclist (which I am not), not much energy could be produced? Not enough to heat even a small room?

I'm not sure if you were saying that 2c is "2 cents".
 
Electricity costs around 10cents / kWh - that is 1kW of power for an hour.
1KW is a single bar electric fire or a small fan heater.
Unfortunately you can only generate around 1/5 of a kW.
 
mgb_phys said:
Electricity costs around 10cents / kWh - that is 1kW of power for an hour.
1KW is a single bar electric fire or a small fan heater.
Unfortunately you can only generate around 1/5 of a kW.

Why not build it like a heat pump and amplify the energy of 200 watts into the equivilant of 800 or more ?:smile:

Ron
 
$1000 racing bike
$200 trainer
$100 cycling shoes
$50 silly little cycling shorts
$10k heat pump + digging up nearby 100m^2 of land to install pipes
Generates 1KW
or:
1KW Fan heater $10
1Kw hour electric 10 cents

ps -- Of course if you cycle enough to generate a reasonable amount of heat you will have the sort of bulging muscles to become irresistible to evo - then staying warm will not be a problem.
 
Last edited:
lol, I was waiting for the "Priceless" to come in at the end of mgb_phys's post. =)

Sounds like one of those commercials.

Ken
 
mgb_phys said:
$1000 racing bike
$200 trainer
$100 cycling shoes
$50 silly little cycling shorts
$10k heat pump + digging up nearby 100m^2 of land to install pipes
Generates 1KW
or:
1KW Fan heater $10
1Kw hour electric 10 cents

ps -- Of course if you cycle enough to generate a reasonable amount of heat you will have the sort of bulging muscles to become irresistible to evo - then staying warm will not be a problem.

Hey!
What about stimulating the economy.:biggrin:
 

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