Jonathan Morrison, Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective executive director, used to blend smoothies at the downtown Farmers Market’s bike valet ... with his bike. Modern-day inventors have concocted an array of bicycle add-ons to go green, from pedal-powered laptops to corn grinders to knife sharpeners, but none can stimulate taste buds like the bicycle blender.
Ever been to the park, longing to have a cold, creamy, sweet beverage— but, alas, the trees don’t have outlets? Luckily, anyone can burn calories to gain calories, since most standard bikes can be converted into a smoothie station with the right components.
Essentially, the bike needs to become stationary, then an extra chain is run from the bike gears to the attached blender—on a platform—which moves on bearings as the biker pedals.
Sounds easy enough. Instructions can be found online on sites like Instructables.com and, with a day’s work, equipping your ride only requires having a bike and buying a blender and parts—likely not exceeding $50. Bike parts can be bought cheaply, or worked for, at the collective. Also, Morrison warns that because of friction-induced heat, it’s necessary to buy an industrial blender. “It’s human nature to think, ‘I’m going to make the fastest smoothie ever,’ ” he says.
For non-DIY folks, ready-made, easily attached options—or stationar y bikes with the sole purpose of blending—can be bought online (try BikeBlender.com or Xtracycle.com). The drawback is the steep price, often several hundred dollars—which is a lot of smoothies. Either way, Morrison says, “Anything like this made with human power is a lot more fun. Plus, it’ll be the best smoothie you’ll ever taste.”
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