News Archives - May 2013

Let your feet do the talking…and charging

A group of mechanical engineering students in America have designed a pair of shoes that generate enough electricity while you walk to power a mobile phone. The current prototype has a lever protruding from the back of the shoe and every footstep powers a motor that sends energy through wires to a belt-mounted battery pack – enough to power a…

The solar-powered kettle that fits on your bicycle

A solar kettle small enough to be carried on a bicycle in place of a water bottle, offers the prospect of a cup of freshly-brewed tea on every ride. Just as long as the sun comes out. The solar kettle looks like a conventional thermos, but uses fold-out reflectors to harness energy. In Britain, our national obsession with tea means…

Pothole scanner for bicycles

A new bicycle light that scans the road ahead for potholes has been developed by design students in China. Lumigrids is a handlebar-mounted LED light for bicycles that projects a square grid onto the road ahead so the rider can spot potholes at night; any significant deformity in the road surface alters the appearance of the grid. According to the…

More cyclists pay ‘road tax’ than car drivers

The tired old argument that cyclists have less right to be on the road because they don’t pay vehicle excise duty – sometimes still referred to as road tax – received another blow this week when it transpired that cyclists are more likely to also drive cars, and pay VED, than the population as a whole. Motorists do not pay…

Helios – the world’s first smart bicycle headlight

Helios is the world’s first integrated headlight and indicator system for bicycles; Bluetooth and GPS-enabled intelligent handlebars that add smart features to any bike. Helios handlebars cost from £130 and include all the following features: Proximity Lighting allows your bike to sense your presence and automatically turn on its headlight when you’re near, and off when you’re not. Indicators – rear lights…