Bikeblender HPB: Human Powered... Blender?
by Dominic Muren, Philadelphia, USA on 05.26.05
So often in life, the right things aren't found together. Ice cream and Hot fudge had to wait thousands of years before refrigeration made their union possible. A cold pillow on a hot night is sublimely perfect, but always elusive. And after a grueling bike ride, all you want to do is collapse into a heap sipping something cold. Well, collapse away: A new human powered gadget is going to set you free...
Believe it or not, the B3, or Byerley Bicycle Blender is the world's first, and most powerful bike powered blender. The concept is simple. Take one Xtracycle Sport Utility Bike. Add to that a custom designed blender mechanism driven by the back tire, and compatible with standard Oster brand blender pitchers, or Nalgene bottles. Fill blender with your favorite beverage, ice, and fruit chunks. Pedal like a mad man. Share your new smoothie with all your new friends.
The B3 system has already proven itself perfect for picnics, long bike rides, county fairs, and backyard barbeques. And as the official blender of solar restaurant lovechild Habana Outpost and The Juice Peddler, it's being tested in the commercial restaurant world as well.
The basic model will set you back $225 US, while the full featured blender complete with Oster pitcher is $350 at the Bikeblender online store.
:: Bikeblender.com [by DM]
or, maybe we could all live without a blender when we go out on our bikes... wouldn't that be more environmentally responsible than all the resources that go into making, delivering and maintaining this fanciful apparatus?
Why? Why does everyhting have to become a product to sell to the masses? My friend manages a bike shop and they have had the own 'bike blender' for years. They use for post critical mass parties and the like. It was fun as something they put together from a broken blender and useless bike frame left over from the repair shop. Buying one for $225 and up? Not fun at all.
Yep, Dan Kovacevic built one of these things for the first Towards Tomorrow Fair at Amherst, MA about 30 years ago. Nice to know that we were that forward looking then. Sad to know that we haven't progessed farther.
Believe it or not, the B3, or Byerley Bicycle Blender is the world's first, and most powerful bike powered blender.
If it were indeed the world's first, it would, by definition, also be the most powerful. In any case, we've had bike blender juice stands on Maui for many years, the latest one out in Kipahulu.
What happens if, heaven forbid, you fall with your delicious strawberry milkshake behind you?
make me a television which requires electricity from a stationary bike in the home. that will encourage exercise and reduce pollution. or better yet, it could power any plug in device.
otherwise, a blender on the back of a bike is just as the other commenters said, a novelty for juice stands etc.
uh,
I dont understand whats wrong with having "fun" things?
CTP - how is this not environmentally responsible? because it has to be manufactured, and shipped? Lame. It sure beats the gas powered version.
As for the rest of you, whats wrong with having one of these? So what that others did it by building their own years and years ago, it doesnt make it any less cool.
I for one and going to purchase the bike for my boat. It will be GREAT for hauling stuff and getting around. At that point you kind of NEED the blender, I mean you need a nice casual way to mix pina colada's, right?
Much ado about nothing, folks.
While the text here says it's the first bike blender, that's not the claim that the company makes on the website. Click over there and it says that "The B3 is the world's first instantly removable, dishwashable, ice crushable, fully adjustable, damn near indestructable, bicycle powered blender."
Bike blenders have been around for a long time and they've been used to make drinks or blend soups all over the place. This is different because it works with the Xtracycle system to provide a blender on an outfitted bike and it can be easily removed. It's not directly driving the blender and thus taking away the rideability.
And as for the comment about selling this to the masses and complaining about the price tag, if this was being sold to the masses it would be cheaper thanks to mass production. Small runs lead to higher prices. And hey, not everyone wants to go through the process of building their own blender.
While it would be self-sufficient to hook up a bike to a generator to get some juice, that's clearly not the point here. It's apples and oranges. Riding a bike is about getting outside to enjoy the beautiful world and this adds on to that by enabling folks to mix up some drinks while they're at it. Someone can ride to a park, hang with friends, and make some smoothies. How cool is that?
Come on, where's all the hate coming from? This is all some typical online board crap, not useful comments that could help out the inventor to improve the design. It's like the inventor just smacked a baby upside the head or something.