Okay, first off, I have a little-used CycleOps Wind (I think--bought it used, don't really care) trainer. It will likely remain little-used as I discovered pretty quickly that even with watching TV to try to distract myself, I can barely tolerate 45 minutes on the infernal contraption as it is just mind-numbingly boring. That, and there's no coasting, which just feels weird to me.
However, I kind of like to dabble in off-the-grid ideas and gizmos, so I was wondering if anyone here had done something like hook an automotive alternator to their trainer to generate some electricity or charge a battery of some sort to power some household item. In a way, it might get me more interested in using the trainer in the cold and snowy months if it presents some sort of technical challenge in the creation/fabrication (and perhaps the cheap acquisition of parts), then a physical challenge in its use.
Any experience (or vicarious knowledge)?
However, I kind of like to dabble in off-the-grid ideas and gizmos, so I was wondering if anyone here had done something like hook an automotive alternator to their trainer to generate some electricity or charge a battery of some sort to power some household item. In a way, it might get me more interested in using the trainer in the cold and snowy months if it presents some sort of technical challenge in the creation/fabrication (and perhaps the cheap acquisition of parts), then a physical challenge in its use.
Any experience (or vicarious knowledge)?