There’s never really been a reliable way of losing weight and saving the planet - and certaintly not one that works while you're sat working at your desk. Until now - a Spanish Polytechnic has invented a laptop that runs on a miniature bicycle.

No need for the gym after work now

The Polytechnic of Madrid’s design means a cycling action by the user is turned into electricity, which powers the laptop via a voltage convertor. The designers claim that the rig lets the laptop user cyclist adopt a flexible rhythm, hopefully without having to pedal too hard.

The institution's ‘pedal pusher’ laptop was the winning design in an Intel-sponsored competition to create a device capable of powering laptops using only renewable and sustainable energy sources. The Polytechnic won €10,000 (£7200/$14,800) in scientific research funding - and all the cycle clips they could carry.

Other runners-up in the competition included a hydrogen-based design by the Polytechnic of Milan, which uses hydrogen fuel-cells to power a laptop. Runners-up won a free laptop, though presumably not one operated by cyclists.

Related stories

• Thigh-drive phone charger put through its paces (8 February 2008)
• MIT in pedal-powered 'super' computer stunt (21 December 2007)
• Greenpeace slams Apple Nintendo over eco-credentials (28 November 2007)
• Intel 'Moorestown' UMPCs to feature single-chip CPU/GPU (28 November 2007)
• Intel to debut GPU-in-CPU chips in 2009 (26 November 2007)
• Intel expands debut 45nm Core 2 Duo line-up (16 November 2007)
• Greenpeace: iPhone crit makes for more headlines (23 October 2007)