Bicycle Power

When sprinting, professional cyclists produce enough power to power a home. – Snapple Real Fact #1424

A random Snapple cap fact led us to further research this claim. Indeed, according to ExerciseBike.net, Tour de France bicyclists can power the average American home – for over 170 days!

The energy from the peloton (that’s French for “group;” who knew?) could keep your iPhone charged for 1,344 years and your laptop operational for 183 years. A single Tour de France rider can power an air conditioner for 19.8 hours, a washing machine for 51.6 hours, or a 100-watt lightbulb for 257.9 hours.

If you don’t want to waste all the energy from your stay-at-home workouts, you can use this self-isolation time to build a bicycle generator in 9 steps. Hook it up to your cell phone charger or make a post-workout smoothie with an attached blender.

Most of us mere mortals only generate a third of the energy of the elite Tour de France athletes, so the dream of powering your home with your bike is far-fetched. But it can help motivate you if you’re exercising on your home Peloton bike or, in coming days, in spin classes back at the gym.