CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting

Intelligent Speedometer Bike Light

(22 posts)
  • Started 10 years ago by Wilmington's Cow
  • Latest reply from Charterhall

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  1. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    New Kickstarter from, amongst others, a chap I interviewed waaaaaaaay back in the very first citycycling who set up the old Raging Bike website.

    Not a 'brand new' idea - years back I also featured a hi viz vest that connected to your speedo to display your speed on the back of it. I liked the idea (maybe it's just the gadget freak in me).

    This idea is a twist by making the speed display into a rear bike light. It's interesting, got to make it big enough to read the numbers, yet small enough to be practical as a rear light. There was a part of me that wondered if it might get drivers staring to try and make out what the numbers are - I dunno. Seems reasonable visible in daylight too. Just for the intrigue I may well back this one...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  2. ARobComp
    Member

    I like the "brighter as you break" feature for sure. I'm a touch light this month however...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  3. Darkerside
    Member

    I like that a lot. I'm not sure about any safety benefits, but it's damn cool*...

    *Coolness is the author's own interpretation, and may not match the average view held by today's tedious society...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  4. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    "... but it's damn cool*..."

    I have to admit that this is part of my liking for the project as well...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  5. jdanielp
    Member

    Auto-adjusting brightness combined with an increase in brightness under braking seem like sensible features. I would be concerned as to how readable it actually is in practise; I suspect that the videos don't do it justice so I might just go for one of these despite having only just upgraded my rear light this autumn - it would make for a satisfying different second light if nothing else.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  6. cb
    Member

    This is making me think that making it a legal requirement for cars to display their speed above the back window would be a great idea.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  7. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    +1 how good would that be? Great for camera footage of passes as well...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  8. zesty
    Member

    Personally I wouldn't use one, think it's more a distraction for the motorist than a help to the cyclist.

    The motorist could be to busy trying to see the speed your going (curiosity en all) that paying attention to the road, which in turn could cause them to get to near the cyclist etc.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  9. PS
    Member

    You've got a cycling tribe issue right here:
    Is it going to be in kph or mph?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  10. wingpig
    Member

    How about a gilet/jacket/tabard which automatically flashes messages like "GET BACK you impatient twerp" when it detects a car tailgating rearmudguarding you?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  11. Focus
    Member

    @ PS

    And therein lies a problem. A driver is supposed to read your speed light to encourage them to asses their own speed accordingly. What if you're displaying kph whilst (s)he is using mph? You'd have to make it a legal requirement that such lights only show the prevailing format for the country they are being used in.

    I also share the concern that they may prove a distraction more than a help as the driver tries to read your speed. I admire the idea but I'm not sure of the execution or the claim made that "The VelocityLight: shows your speed of travel, making drivers re-assess their rate of approach" has that been scientifically proved? The page doesn't say. If so, what was the sample taken? Yes, there's a FAQ option but that claim really should substantiated on the site.

    The original vest idea (other than maybe losing cool points with some people) would probably be a better idea as the number could be large enough to see without losing concentration on the rest of your surroundings.

    On a (potentially) lighter note I could see Strava obsessives using each other's displays to see in real time if they need to overtake the person in front to maintain their ranking!

    I second wingpig's idea, but maybe a message like "<-- No! No!-->" would be more topical? ;-)

    I could use it for the moron who went round the wrong side of an island last night, only to park 20 seconds later.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  12. cc
    Member

    This is making me think that making it a legal requirement for cars to display their speed above the back window would be a great idea.

    YES.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  13. zesty
    Member

    The original vest idea will only work for people who don't use camelbaks or rucksacks for their commute.

    But ye, serious loss of cool points!

    Posted 10 years ago #

  14. allebong
    Member

    How about a gilet/jacket/tabard which automatically flashes messages like "GET BACK you impatient twerp" when it detects a car tailgating rearmudguarding you?

    Definitely, but it should have the option to use more...ahem.... descriptive words than twerp.

    Or this:

    Posted 10 years ago #

  15. chdot
    Admin

    "a chap I interviewed waaaaaaaay back in the very first citycycling who set up the old Raging Bike website."

    http://www.citycycling.co.uk/Volume1/issue1/issue1page2.html

    Posted 10 years ago #

  16. miak
    Member

    Hello all, i've lurked off and on for years, but never signed up until this afternoon.

    Thanks for the 'cool' votes. Got to admit riding with the prototype has been a whole lot of fun.

    On a serious note we can't claim drivers will definitely change their behaviour but the science is fairly well accepted that a colour will only trigger sensory memory whereas the number will make the brain process it in semantic memory. At the lowest display in the dark the numbers can be seen clearly at 40m twice the recommended stopping distance if the car is travelling at 30 mph..

    The light takes 10 seconds to toggle between kph and mph.

    We accept it wont be everyones cup of tea but stand alone without using the speed, braking and light sensor its a fantastic rear light.

    Can't help saying the speed sensor is great to use and fantastic to follow. Its just a whole lot of fun. Thanks for reading.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  17. chdot
    Admin

    http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/outdoors/scots-cyclist-invents-speed-clock-for-bikes-1-3231908

    Posted 10 years ago #

  18. Claire
    Member

    I backed this project to the tune of £49 - love the idea and very happy to support Scottish innovators like these guys. I need another rear bike light anyway and this looks fab. I hope they make their target - will find out by 11 January.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  19. miak
    Member

    Thanks Claire! Given its only day 2 of 30 and we have already bitten our fingers down to the bone its going to be an interesting xmas! Thanks for your support!!!

    Posted 10 years ago #

  20. miak
    Member


    Posted 10 years ago #

  21. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Speed 'Clock'?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  22. Charterhall
    Member

    I don't get it. By the time a driver is close enough to read a cyclists speed on this device, they are already in a more than sufficient position to judge that for themselves. What sort of accidents does the inventor think this is going to prevent and how do they think a digital readout from the bike is going to help ?

    Posted 10 years ago #

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