I think that your best choice for a generator would be to go to your
local auto-recycler and buy the smallest externally regulated alternator
that they have. By using a reostat to control the current through the rotor,
you will be able to regulate the mechanical resistance to your pedaling
effort. Any alternator or generator needs fairly high rpm and this will be
easier to achieve with a chain drive instead of a belt. Chains can be messy
on the other hand, so if you do use a belt, don't try to use a smaller
diameter pulley on the alternator than the one it was originally equiped
with.

"Ric" wrote in message
...
Has anybody built a cycle-generator for use on a sailing boat? I can
produce
about 150W at steady state and up to 400W in bursts on a training bike, so
I
figure if I built a small cycle-generator for my boat I could produce a
useful amount of amphours in an hour or so and keep in cycling shape too
while on my boat. Anybody built one? What could I use for the generator -
would a motor out of a car windscreen wiper assembly be suitable?