According to the inventors of the Defender, a bicycle light designed to stay permanently locked to the handlebars, their target market is potentially huge; 1 in 3 city cyclists have had their lights stolen and 80 per cent frequently forget their lights at home.
It takes 30 seconds to attach the light and once in place a special tool is required to remove it. The light is constructed from aluminium, features six LEDs and can run for 100 hours powered by its three AA batteries. As you would expect from a light designed to never leave the handlebars of a bicycle, it is entirely waterproof.
Of the fact the Defender looks similar to the chamber in a revolver, its designers say: As you know, city biking can be a battle. We captured the struggle of the urban cyclist in our design.”
Yannick Read at the ETA said: “Having recently lost an expensive bicycle rear light that I not only forgot to remove from the bike, but left winking seductively to any opportunistic thief, I don’t need convincing of the benefits of a thief-resistant design.”
Kickstarter an online Dragons’ Den that allows people to pledge modest amounts of money to help entrepreneurs get their designs into production. In the case of the Defender, an investment of $50 (around £30) will buy one when the light goes into production. The recommended retail price is expected to be around $70.
Cycle insurance
Accessories that are fixed permanently to a bicycle can be covered by a cycle insurance from the ETA. Every policy includes new-for-old replacement, accidental damage (including at race events), personal accident, a bicycle breakdown recovery service and much more.
0 Comments View now