In the course of last year’s inaugural event, the cycling efforts of
eight teams yielded nearly 1,100 watts, powering the fitness facility
for the duration of the competition.
Article updated: 3/30/2010 8:36:58 AM
Pedal Power challenges participants to endure 30 minutes of intense pedaling on stationary bikes set up to generate electricity. Teams of two, with the encouragement of the training staff, will compete to see who can produce the most watts; with first-, second- and third-place prizes to be awarded in a men’s division and a women’s division.
In the course of last year’s inaugural event, the cycling efforts of eight teams yielded nearly 1,100 watts, powering the fitness facility for the duration of the competition. But according to event founder and organizer Ethan Seltzer, Pedal Power 2010 will surpass last year’s competition in both scope and ambition.
This year, Seltzer hopes to enlist the participation of 10-20 teams that will provide energy to run not only the lights and stereo, but also two cook tops with which local cooks will transform locally grown produce into brunch.
Seltzer, who describes the event as, “a family-friendly cycling competition that really serves to educate the public about sustainability,” says he was inspired to launch Pedal Power a couple of years ago when he became aware of the Innovate or Die contest sponsored by Google and bike manufacturer Specialized.
Innovate or Die challenged entrants to create machines that would run exclusively on human pedal power.
“I have a personal passion for conservation and sustainability,” Seltzer explains, emphasizing that he wanted to make a difference in a way that would be fun, not “preachy.”
Thus motivated, he founded Pedal Power, Inc., which was formally designated as a non-profit organization this year. Proceeds from the event will be donated to TechReach of Central Virginia, a non-profit organization that donates refurbished computers to people who cannot afford to buy them and that promotes a no-landfill, reuse policy.
In this spirit of sustainability, Pedal Power is also holding a separate contest whose winner will be announced on event day. A cargo bike, donated by Madsen, will be awarded to the contestant who has submitted the most compelling video explaining why he or she should receive the prize. The idea, Seltzer explains, is to give the bike to someone who will trade in his or her car for it. “We’re trying to literally take one car off the street,” he adds.
Submissions for the contest, not to exceed three minutes, may be e-mailed to info@pedalpwr.com and more details about Pedal Power 2010 may be found at http://pedalpwr.com/page/Event-Day-Details.aspx
Article first appeared in SBQ Issue #12, January/February | January, 2010
