Here’s the blurb:

Sunday 12th December 2010

• Basic system design
• Load assessment
• Power generation
• Electricity storage using batteries
• Conversion of DC to AC electricity by inverters
• Control and monitoring of power

Participants will take turns in constructing 3 different types of pedal powered systems. The 3 scenarios provide insight into the various equipment used in renewable systems and the pros and cons of these systems. Basic D.I.Y skills are an advantage but are not essential to take part in any of our workshops.

(copied direct from their email to the TT Montpelier – it’s not ours, but it looks like fun to us)

The Pleasant Revolution, a 5 band mobile Bicycle Music Festival, is concluding their 6-month, 7,000+km tour in Bristol, UK. After bringing their live music and eco-inspiration via cargo bicycle to over ten countries of Western and Eastern Europe, they will be coming to Full Moon Pub on Sunday, November 7th from 6-10pm with local guests from The Magical Bicycle Tour and more!

With an audience-driven 1200 Watt bicycle powered PA system in tow; a Live! on Bike sound system for mobile amplified and FM-broadcast performance; and an empowered crew of local co-conspirators; the Pleasant Revolution melds sustainable transportation, DIY imagination, and a passion-to-action answer to global warming. The festival lineup features various local acts from each city, and five core bands from the United States, including The Ginger Ninjas, The Genie, Amanda Mora, StitchCraft, and CelloJoe—all riding from city to city on Yuba Mundo and Xtracycle fast cargo bicycles.

How does it work?

When show time rolls around, the rear wheels of four tour bikes are propped on stands and engaged to specially designed, high efficiency generators on the bicycle gears. Audience members come on stage to pedal the bicycles, which in turn generate the electricity for the sound system. On the Pleasant Revolution’s most recent tour, the system and touring style enabled them to avoid generating close to 60,000 pounds of CO2, or 95% of what a similar sized band creates in a similar tour.

BMF’s take place at iconic sites throughout each city; from universities, community centers, parks, art spaces, monuments, and inspiring places in between. In addition to their full time crew, the Pleasant Revolutionaries will work in tandem with local musicians, artists, venders, organizers, and bike enthusiasts in each country. The end result is a free all day music festival with up to 15 international musical acts, performance artists, educational workshops, creative community collaboration, and bikes galore.

Why do they do it?

The teams mission is, in part, to “lighten up the view of a sustainable lifestyle – from one of sacrifice and restriction to one of abundant health, happiness, and a deeper sense of connectedness: thus, it is the Pleasant Revolution…We’re doing it ourselves. This is human power. This is the Pleasant Revolution”

Riding with an “open source” ethos, they share their technology and experience in an effort to spark the advent of more pedal powered community events and to teach individuals how to transform their lives by using a bicycle for power and transportation. “This near zero emissions tour is our empowered expression of sustainability in action, and we’re sharing the recipe freely with the world.”

The 2010 tour is scheduled to hold over 15 BMF’s in major cities in the UK, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, France, Spain, Portugal, and everywhere in between. Full route and list of tour dates: http://www.pleasantrevolution.net/tour-dates/

FULL ARTIST ROSTER:

The Ginger Ninjas: Mind shaking, explosive, love-groove-folk-funk-roots, international pedal powered mountain music. www.gingerninjas.com

CelloJoe: Classical hip hop cellist combing cello with beat boxing.  www.reverbnation.com/cellojoe

Amanda Mora: Original songs with a unique blend of 20-40′s jazz and swing, folk, pop, Americana, and American roots music. www.amandamora.com/

StitchCraft: Fanciful, soulful, melodious and elegant folk songs, flamenco, old time, and African inspired guitar, banjo and mandolin accompaniment. www.stitchcraftmusic.com/

The Genie: Avant-garde ‘scratch guitarist’ with live looping, slide guitar, beatboxing and unconventional syncopation. www.myspace.com/thegenie

PRESS INQUIRIES:

Primary press contact: amandamoraj@gmail.com

Group email: pleasantrevolution@gmail.com

UK Telephone: (Kipchoge Spencer; group leader and tour contact): +491744606171

Voice Mail: +1 530-362-8797

PRESS MATERIALS

Detailed Backgrounder: https://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df6sn5gr_9fzgxh3ft

Photos:

Audience Members Pedaling: http://db.tt/7q0m6I
Performance: http://db.tt/qN8y6E
Live On Bike: http://db.tt/ciSLz0
Logo: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/6997663/pleasantlogocolor%20copy.pdf
Artwork: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/6997663/owlharmony%20copy.pdf
FLICKR:http://www.flickr.com/photos/50797561@N02/
Cargo bicycles: http://www.yubaride.com, http://www.xtracycle.com

PUBLIC MATERIALS

Website: http://www.pleasantrevolution.net

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Pleasant-Revolution-Bicycle-Music-Festival-Tour/10150095448670716?ref=ts

Twitter: http://twitter.com/plsntrevolution

Listen: http://www.reverbnation.com/pleasantrevolution

A project for everyone interested in do-it-yourself (“DIY”) environmentalism, culture, nature, community life and the art of travelling without engines – the exact opposite of an all-inclusive flight to the beach!

Moving all our stuff by sheer pedal power, we create a mobile activist community to learn about and help the campaigns of local groups we visit who have the same ideals as us. Inevitably, we building up strong connections between the participants who come from different cultures and backgrounds.

…Ecotopia will be Joining Spoke’n'Chain who will be running a bicycle costuming workshop and providing the b-bike-a-lula, mobile pedal powered sound system. It was great fun last year and this year is going to be bigger and better in preparation for the Bristol Cycle Festival and Freewheelin’ Carnival happening  in September.