Photo via Siva Cycle Atom
Photo via Siva Cycle Atom

The gear and gadgets being developed and introduced for cyclists keep getting better and better.

Now there’s a device that uses the energy from your ride to power your smartphone. Siva Cycle’s Atom can charge up your smartphone, GPS, GoPro and your bike lights — and will store energy even while it’s not in action. It attaches to the rear wheel of your bike and kicks in once you hit 5 mph.

Photo via Siva Cycle Atom
Photo via Siva Cycle Atom

The Atom is weather resistant and will withstand splashes, mud and anything else you can throw at it — except you can’t submerge it (but why would you want to?). While not riding, you can also charge it from any USB port. Siva says the 1,650-mAh battery pack should last you two to four years.

A project that was successfully funded via Kickstarter in May 2013, its makers raised over $126,000 with more than 1,300 backers to bring it to the market. The idea of inventor/engineer Aaron Latzke and entrepreneur/product developer David Delcourt, they wanted to create a gadget that “harnesses your energy and transforms every ride,” according to their Kickstarter page.

Latzke told news site Ozy that “the device adds 10 percent to your effort, but that most riders won’t even notice…You will need to pedal at an average speed of 13 mph for 100 minutes to fully charge the battery.”

It costs about $130 and is available via REI and Amazon. Reviews are favorable, as one person said, “If you plan a day long, weekend or longer cycling trip, this little device will keep your devices charged and ready to go,” on Amazon. As reviewers and the manufacturers note, the Atom is more useful for those planning a long haul than the quick daily commute.

With so many cool things emerging for cyclists — like the BrakePack, a backpack that signals and has GPS to help cyclists navigate and keep their hands on their bike — gearing up for cycling road trips is certainly looking very fun.

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