Have I discovered a renewable source of energy?

[Loosehead]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Science/Questio n379231.html

[bednobs]

lol whats up, not getting enough praise in science, so you thought you'd cross post to here too?
Wow, you're a fabulous, ya know?

[Octavius]

I doubt enough energy would be generated to keep the TVs, sound systems, lighting, air con, heating and machines operating at the gym. If we all abandoned the gym and went running in the countryside we could reduce the amount of fossil fuel being used to keep these gyms open�.?

[Loosehead]

Well I was torn between here and science so I went for science on the basis that it was a technical question. But I know this bit get's more action!

[Loosehead]

Nice Idea Octavius, but I use all the weight stuff too, I take your point though!

[beryllium]

Where would you store the energy being made? in a giant battery? would the participants want to be paid for their sweat and toll?
Could you come up with a way to harness your energy into your ipod so it doesn't go flat again?
Have you patented your idea lol :-)

[beryllium]

Human Power
Humans provided our first source of power through cycle generators. A person cycles to turn a generator that produces electricity that is either used immediately (the most efficient way) or stored in batteries (which is less efficient but can be more convenient). Our cycle genera-tors were used to power laptop computers on which we created and updated our website and at public events to provide educa-tional entertainment.
We have had three different designs of cycle generator all using reclaimed exercise bikes and permanent magnet (PM) motors. The exercise bikes are easy to get hold of from the local tip but the motors can be a bit trickier to find (one model of Whirlpool washing machine has a good PM motor). The principle of the design is to turn a generator (an old PM motor) with the flywheel of the exercise bike. It is therefore important to get an exercise bike with a good sized flywheel. In our first design, we used friction drive � we mounted a small wheel on the generator and held it tight against the flywheel on the cycle. But this didn�t work very well due to slippage. For our later designs, we used a belt drive which worked much better. All you need to do then is take the current from the generator and use it! We produced up to seven amps when charging a 12 volt battery but four or five amps (50-60 watts) is a far more maintainable average output. It was enough to power a laptop computer and a lot of our website was developed whilst cycling like this!

[beryllium]

lol, get the gym to put washing machines up, attached to the bikes and do your laundry while you cycle!!!

http://cyclean.biz/mainmenu.html

[jump79]

No I'd already thought of this idea ages ago, but decided it was a dud, never gonna work, quite silly infact...

Coz lets face it, only abt 20%(max) of gym goers who actually exercise like mad, the remainder of gym goers sort of plod along at their own pace as they dont want muscle cramps, heart attack, stroke etc. To get consistent energy from gym machines, everyone would have to be exerting on the same level but the fact is, most do not.

[Supernick]

Most people I've seen at the gym only go to chat up the laydeez. Could we possibly harness their hot air, and sense of inflated self importance?

[Octavius]

You mean we could collect all the bullsh1t and use it as fuel?

Eureka!