The advent of LED technology has resulted in bicycle lights that are more compact, efficient and bright than ever before.
Not only are lights more powerful – the latest crop of LED, Xenon strobe and high-intensity discharge (HID) bicycle lights are rated at over 2000 lumens, which is more powerful than a car headlamp – they are being used more creatively.
Bicycle wheel lights
Lights are available that can be clipped onto belts or incorporated into jackets and even gloves, and two new designs from America see them built into bicycle wheels.
| Bicycle wheels | LED there be light |
|---|---|
| Industrial design students Jonathan Ota and Ethan Frier are using a research grant to develop the Aura project, a hub-mounted dynamo powers LEDs inside the rims of the wheels that change from red when slowing down or at a standstill, to white at cruising speed. |
Project Aura: Bicycle Safety Lighting System from Project AURA on Vimeo. |
| The Monkey Light is a novel wheel-based bike light that, unlike the two designs mentioned above is available to buy today. It features 32 of the brightest full-colour LEDs available and visual effects that will transform any road, town, cruiser, mountain, BMX or hybrid bike. |
A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “Wheel lights are often sold as safety aids that make a cyclist more visible at night, but just as importantly they look very striking.”
Cycle insurance
Cycle insurance from the ETA includes, amongst other things, new-for-old, third party insurance (in the case of an accident you may need to seek compensation or even deal with a claim by someone else), personal accident cover, race event cover and if you suffer a mechanical breakdown, they will come out and recover you and your bike. Get an instant, no obligation quote below.
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