As a bike commuter in Seattle, electrical engineer Pete Clyde admits there have been many days when he’s opted to drive a car and sit in traffic because he didn’t feel there was any cycle light on the market that made him feel safe. But rather than stay off his bike, he designed his own LED ‘flares’. 
Years of design work and and the latest LED technology gave birth to what Clyde calls ‘Flares’ – 500 and 300-Lumen bike lights with 360 degrees of visibility that can finally compete with car lights, and have the convenience of being portable and rechargeable.
The Flares are completely protected from the elements – a low-viscosity silicone is injected inside around the electronics to fill all gaps internally and remove all air leaving no space for water, or anything else, to get into. With the exception of military or aerospace applications, this degree of design specification is rare.
The Flares features a magnetic mounting system that allows the user to effortlessly swap the lights between bikes and a USB charger. A successful crowd-funding exercise has guaranteed that the ligths will go into production and you can find out more and pre-order a set at kickstarter.com
New technology is fuelling a cycle lights arms race; the most powerful of the latest crop of LED, Xenon strobe and high-intensity discharge (HID) bicycle lights are rated at over 2000 lumens – by comparison, the typical halogen car headlamp produces around 1000 to 1500 lumens. Research from America suggests that the majority of collisions involving cyclists that occur at night happen when a rider is struck from the side – despite the ever-increasing power of cycle lights, they illuminate mostly only the road ahead.
Win yourself a red LED flare
Become one of the first British cyclists to own a red Flare worth £80.
The 300-Lumen rear light designed to replicate the brightness and light distribution of car lights. The light is 100% waterproof and rechargeable. If you are like us, you have more than one bike, so this comes with two magnetic mounts, 12 premium cable ties, and one USB charging cable.
To enter the prize draw, simply leave a comment at the bottom of this page. We’ll pick a name out of the hat at the end of November.
Phill
Ah, GEM, your articles light up my life 🙂
W Embliss
These lights should give you confidence that you will be noticed
Liz Rodgers
This could spell the end for my glowing valve caps – and far more effective too no doubt.
Phill
GEM!? I’m sure I wrote ETA!
Steve
Rear light looks great, but the front looks likely to wreck the rider’s night vision…
Bettina Becker
look fab!
Lorne C
The future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades!!! 🙂
chris palomba
lighting the way to a safer cycle!
chris palomba
lighting a way to a safer cycle!
Chris
These look awesome! Would love to get my hands on a pair.
mark
looks great
want one
remember lights only work if drivers are looking!
ie not texting, fiddling with the radio, etc, etc
they are out to kill YOU
be careful – please?
Neil
Finally a light at the end of the tunnel 🙂
Jonny
That looks like a perfect rear light.
Joe
Light saving life!
Gavin
Interesting solution, would like to get my hands on one of these
Michael Joy
They look pretty good.
Alec
Look great!
Alastair Seagroatt
Looks good, love the idea of a magnetic mount, as long as it’s strong enough.
Oliver
I like the magnetic touch!
S B
Brilliant!
Let “the light shine out”!
How about one for the front as well?
It’ll be so nice to feel you can be SEEN!
Mal Chadwick
Yes please!
Steve Godfrey
One eye closed, dont ruin night vision!
Adam H
Looks like a well-designed piece of kit.
Iain
Looks very illuminating – hopefully other road users won’t be dazzled too much!
James Styring
These look cool but if they are really as bright as a car rear light, might the slower speed of bike vs car mean we get rear-ended by drivers mistaking the light source for a (faster) car? (Hey, I still want one!)
Gavin
Come on baby light my fire! It’ll brighten up my day (and night).
Theo Hiley
Only the brightest of cyclists will want these lights!
Charlotte Young
Amazing device!
Kate
Everything comes to he who waits. Someone had to have the idea and the ability to make it happen. Well done Pete Clyde.
RichardL
LEDs seem to be improving all th time.
Clif Abbott
Always look on the bright side of light
Bryn Gwyndaf Jones
Just what I’ve been waiting for and no doubt several copies will come along all at once.
kevin
WOW….turn night riding on the trails to daytime visibility ……
Andy flaherty
Wow, awesome bit of kit
Dominic Sweeting
Those lights will have me beaming from ear to ear
Tom Wilkinson
This may or may not be a comment.
Liz Pugh
Bright lights, magnetic mounts, visible cyclists, safer roads…critical mass. Please can I have the first one in the UK? 😀
charlesc
Looks seriously bright, and not a ‘point source’ like most LEDs
Michael Davis
These are fine – absolutely excellent – for those responsible cyclists who actually use lamps, but what should we do with those who don’t bother with any lamps at all?
Doug Milsom
Some poor old trucker will probably get them “in the end”.
John Waterworth
Lovely
Matthew Goddard
That light is one bright flare.
surely then a driver cant say they did not see you.
Joanne Wood
Bright and beautiful!
Martin Cable
Superb bit if kit. Definately on the winter list.
Martha Dellar
What an illuminating article
Greg
Brilliant visibility
Basia Zaba
and we can put them on our Christmas trees too
John Ripley
magnetic mount – how will that work on aluminium (or carbon) frame?
John
Sounds good , can’t have too many lights!
PJ Basa
What a great bike light! 🙂
Neil
Advanced shiny!
Toby James
Finally a rear light worth owning. Too much effort goes into the front lights and the back ones get ignored.
Tim Grout-Smith
Rage against the dying of the light–and this should do it!
Thomas Lankester
These beuts will leave the British Standard in the dust.
Sara
Would be much happier, cycling in the dark, if I had a set of these!
Andy Griffiths
These look great.
ben manfield-yorke
here’s to being seen at all angles
Louise Davis
Oooh, yes please 🙂
Lenniepaul
I remember my older brother getting a new bike in 1962 with a hub dynamo which was cutting edge technology back then….not much brighter than a cigarette lighter even at top speed !!
Adrian Kendon
Maybe this light is the answer to my prayers.
Fiona James
Awesome light! I cycle on unlit roads and it would definitely help!
Mr Sparkle
Looks good to me. When you are commuting by bike at night there is no such thing as too much light.
Phil
Looks good to me…
Mr George
Nice! no missing those lights.
Stu
I know that feeling of not being ‘lit up’ enough to feel safe on the roads – these bad boys look to be the perfect solution !!!
Verulamian
Sounds a great idea!
Luke Tutt
Great solution to safe cycling. Love the 360 degrees of illumination!!! Magnetic mounting makes a lot of sense.
Marion
It’s reassuring to know that there are other cyclists out there who care about being seen – after the group of teenagers I saw cycling without lights at all earlier this evening!
Julia Wilde
A truly brilliant idea.
David Collins
Light, bright, what’s not to like?
Doug Milsom
Bright idea! Will go well with my Blaze Laserlight front lamp.
scotty
Looks good pick me pick me
Annabel Edwards
Lighten up my day for a saver ride.
Mark Spring
“Blazing Saddles” – it’s all about spreading the light – and not hiding it under a bushel – just got myself a 600 lumen front LED light, but it’s still only really good for “lighting the way ahead” and needs recharging regularly – recently on an unlit cycle path, a cyclist in front really was lit up like a Christmas tree: red dots from head to foot!
Simon
Amazingly bright, these Gem lights 🙂
Peter Clark
I always wanted to be visible from space!!
Damian Connaughton
Awesome looking lights, would be very handy for my cycle along dark country lanes!
My Name
This is a comment.
Isabelle Clement
This might solve my lack of visibility issue on my handcycle!
Tatiana
Such beautiful lights!
David
Maybe too bright and could dazzle motorists?
julie pritchard
these look brill.would love to own them as i love cycling and like to be seen
Steve H
I knew Flares would make a comeback, (man)!
Jane Collier
Ditto earlier comments about those cyclists who don’t use lights. Do they NOT understand that with dark clothing on as well, they just cannot be seen? Or are they oblivious to other road users? In any event, give them all a set of those fantastic lights for free!
Jon Stone
No Excuse Lighting. I’ve tried to achieve similar brightness by stacking various bike lights. This looks the solution for me.
Duncan
I wouldn’t normally recommend flares on bicycles, but in this case I’ll make an exception!
Matt
These look great!
Mike Rose
What a bright idea
Colin Shaw
That looks excellent.
Alan
Bright Idea!
Richard
Red and white will illuminate potholes and other obstructions
Dick Bacon
The lack of directionality looks a great feature – dazzling drivers with too many focused lumens might just be counter productive.
Joel
This chap has a real flare for innovation, he has really LEaD the way,… too many Halloween chocolates, I think I’m lumen my mind…
Mark Lange
and I take it these are BS kitemarked??
TimA
I want to be seen!!
Chris Johnson
Looks very impressive.
Christoff
When I ‘red’ this I tried to think of a comment with a bit of ‘flare’. I couldn’t think of anything clever to write. 😉
Liz MacGregor
These look a great idea. My teenage son has 2 bikes and is of an age when he will start cycling in the dark on unlit, country roads – anything that will keep him safer is to be welcomed.
Neil
Looks like a pretty cool idea to me, wouldn’t mind one myself!
Bernard
Lucissimus
Jerv
A real leading light
Mark
Amazing!
Alex
Brilliant idea, but just wondering what else I could attach it to….
Sue Andrews
Sounds like it could be a “brilliant” idea!
maggi Moon rose25
Yeah….Good on ya… west coast electrical guy!. welcoming in a time when bikes are safer than cars…… certainly healthier 🙂
Scott Cummins
Looks like a fantastic innovation, excited to see that these will be on the road, a real plus for both cyclists AND drivers!
David Priestley
As a resident of Bright, North East Victoria, ‘Downunder’ frequently very early morning rides can be interrupted by the local wildlife cutting across one’s path, no doubt startled by my silent approach, apart from heavy breathing!
Of course I’m talking about kangaroos, deer, the occasional wombat and once a brumby as my current lightset isn’t the brightest particularly when I’m heading back home into the rising sun.
Great idea look forward to seeing it on the local market.
Regards
David Priestley
Lewis
Damn, this is better than those cheap ‘powerfull’ knockoffs on ebay!
Karl
Looks nice!
Sarah Radcliffe
Cycling in a bubble of light!
Nick
Fab idea!
Mary Ward
A light in the darkness
Craig
Dazzling!
Ian Homer
That rear light looks to be just what I need!
Dave C
Sounds like a great idea 🙂
Philip Jordan
Definitely bike lighting’s way ahead, behind, to the side/s, above, below & generally all around!
Trendafila
I so agree with Pete Clyde…I havent bought any light for my bike yet as never felt that they will do the purpouse. Though those Led lights look like something real to me!
tim
great they are waterproof too. I often put my hand in front of my lights to check they are still on? not with these
Alan C
An all encompassing light.
Victoria Harvey
Looks fantastic – other road users need all the help they can get to be more aware and better behaved around cyclists. Hope to get one! 🙂
Keira
Looks great. Anything to feel less vulnerable.
Michael
Something something, cycling pun?
Sue
Brilliant!
Pete Gateley
This would make my ride to and from work a lot safer on those dark days
Anthony Rogers
A key function of the new breed of super bright lights should be a way to attach them to bikes so that you can tell they are not dazzling other road users.
Ruth Shepherd
Especially valuable in winter when there are so many other lights on the road that weedier bike lights get overlooked.
Phil Campbell
Looks great for my commute to work – I’m constantly frustrated by the difference in illumination between bikes and cars. On a dark night with lots of bright lights on the roads – you want to stand out for your own safety!
Alan Jones
I based my bike light purchase on how many batteries it took, I probably need this
leon
ETA your bike insurance fills me with confidence and I hope also a bright rear lamp will do the same.
manfai tang
Perfect lights
Eva Dinslow
It’s a USP those bright lights that charge with a USB!
Richard Phillips
BRILLIANT light design!
Andy G
These look great – looking forward to seeing them on sale,
Craig Scott-Angell
This is great. As a year round cyclist and commuter the winter rides in the dark are always a concern. I have struggled over the years between lights that eventually stop working due to the elements to finding options that give side visibility.
anything that helps with this and is well designed is always welcome.
Mark B
Ah! Flares that won’t get caught in your chain!
David Hunt
Fantastically bright lights! Car drivers will be complaining of being blinded by lights as bright as these! At least they won’t be able to claim they didn’t see you!
It would be nice if the prize included the front flare as well.
Narinderpal
Illuminating idea!
Rosycheeks
These will look great on the country roads.
Matt Roff
Very promising light and the ability to quickly swap between bikes is most appealing. How would the magnetic fitment hold up off-road though…?
julian
Every little helps until the day when the UK begins to address the prejudices against non motorised road users.
Lucy Jordan
Amazing lights that would certainly help me feel safer and therefore encourage me to ride more during the winter time.
Luke
Wow this is exactly what I need in life, definitely need the front light too, how much are these?
Gethen
Do want.
Simon Randall
A bright idea in every sense!
Mal
I’d have to agree, another bright idea!
Mike Croker
Mmmm, red 🙂
Sean Perry
Riding in Rome, I need all the help in being seen I can get, so the more lumens the better!
Su Gilroy
Now that really is a bright idea!
Stephen Foster
Fantastic, the brighter the better!
David
What a super idea, put my puny lights to shame.
James Russell
Aerospace technology keeping us safe from low-flying aircraft!
Sounds like good cross-over technology.
Anthony
Trust the maker’s got round that problem of the comb-style switch on the integrated circuit needing cleaning from time to time. Drives me potty pressing the button and nothing happening!
Andy h
….and now on a lighter note!
Duncan Faulkes
Flares? Great hope some of those motorists will see us now.
Terry
Sounds like a must for all cyclists.
Jamie J
Simply brilliant.
Keith Staiger
Is this the red-led you can’t get in petrol anymore ?
Max Burton
Glow-bal!
Toity Deave
I might not outdo the lorries with those lights but would give cars a good run for their petrol.
Ned
Great match to a dynamo front light…
Justin Douglas
Another great idea brought to us by ETA. It is so interesting to see so many good innovations in the bicycle industry.
Cath
Flares are back in fashion! These lights look great.
David Sharpe
Ther design of a good bright light from a lamp that does not fall off at every slight pothole has evaded cycle light designers up ’til now so this one could be the answer.
Tracey
This is the kind of light we’ve been looking for!
Darren C
Nice idea and they sound bomb proof, ideal for my commute.
Rupert C
Trontastic luminescence
ChopWales
Great to see it’s been made more weatherproof (a lot of my lights have died due to letting in water)
Just hope the on/off switch is bulletproof & the bracket is easy and reliably safe.
Dick Willis
Fantastic, I want some, I need some!
Anna
These look bright and effective. I like the idea of a light that attaches magnetically to the bike – some lights are very fiddly to get on and off. Rechargeable too!
Ray hope
Wow! “Spot” On! Good to “see” flares are “back” and with these ones you don’t need cycle clips!
Howard Breakspear
Baby you can light my fire!
Simon Thomas
Looks brilliant.
Brendan
Happy to review them for you in all conditions from London streets to unlit country lanes. All part of the daily fun.
Graham Clark
Great idea, and neat attachment. It’s best to be more Christmas Tree, and less wilting fern.
Raf
These sound fantastic!
Hollie
The magnetic mounting system is a cool idea!
Andy
Great lights. Is there a front shade to reduce risk of dazzling the rider themself?
Kevin Gatward
Anything that helps us cyclists to be seen at night is welcome. This light looks awesome.
Dave
I’d use one of these!
Lisa Baskerville
Be bright be seen
Gary
These do look a brilliant idea for use on unlit roads, but I reckon there’s enough blinding lights in the towns already… !
Perhaps we should campaign for making car lights dimmer, so they drive slower ??
Or do we just have a ‘lumens’ war, ending with so many lights on the street, that it ends up being just like daylight around the clock…..
Steve Smith
dazzling !
andy lee
great idea and would be well used on UK roads, especially now its darker mornings and evenings.
MARTIN BROWN
Brilliant! Light years ahead of anything else!
Eric Ludlow
I am Ever Ready to try out a new bike light.
Ema
Very good idea for winter
David Callaghan
It is the mounts that seem to let down most lights these days. I love the idea of a magnetic mount with two of them for a quick swap between bikes. Bright thinking!
Nicola Small
I want one!
Coo
First time I’ve heard of voids being filled with silicon!
Roger Munford
Engineers solving the worlds problems, one by one.
Ray
Great idea to make cyclists more visible. I hope motorists are not too startled!
Shani
Wow I’d love a set!
Sym
They look great!
Nicolas Mitchell
They sound fab. However we live near a runway – is there any risk that with these lights we’ll distract pilots? 🙂
Mark F
Looks a great product
Rik
Looks Good
Does it flash?
Simon
A the idea of creating the same illumination from the side for cyclists is a good one. Would love a set of these.
Andy
I agree with the previous caller!
Derek Morgan
Looks good, does this mean that I can stop eating carrots.
Ian Major
If it improves my odds of not getting wiped out it’s a winner in my book.
BC
Looks like a winner!
Alan
Looks like a great idea,I want a set!
Paul Rock
Sounds great 🙂
RC
These look superb, I’d buy them.
Robbie White
Neat design
IC
Glad you guys have shed some light on this issue!
IC
glad you guys have shed some light on this issue!!!
John Walker
Brilliant idea – would love to have bike lights this visible!
Nat
Nice design and concept. I dread cycling in the dark. Light me up!!
Ann Marie Wrigley
This driver would love it if cyclists lights were better and flickered less.
Sue Fowler
Long overdue – they look great. I just heard a tale of a local cyclist narrowly missing getting hit from the rear due to driver behind being blinded by on-coming car lights. This should stop that.
David Purdon
When cycling on a main road, fantastic if the rear light be as bright as a car’s, if cycling on a quiet lane, it really helps if the front light is as bright as a car’s.
Catriona Moon
Look absolutely brilliant and would be fab for me to use on my bike as well as out riding my horse.
Rachel
Look brilliant – more light is always good 🙂
Elizabeth Smith
What a bright idea (oh dear, I think I’m turning into my Dad with a quip for every topic!) Joking apart, I cycle on a main road with no street lighting so this would make me feel far more secure.
Steve
Brilliant in so many ways………
Paul Mansell
Marvelous design
Tom W
Yes please!
Nick
Looks like the business!
champaklal lad
great prize
Sarah Purdon
i hope these are as bright as they look on here! cars really react to bright lights- they think you’re a motorbike!
Paul
What a tasty set of lights!
Shane M
Very nice!
Alistair B
Very bright indeed!
Zen
I attached my last bike torch using really powerful magnets. Unfortunately they also attracted cars.
BH
They are so bright, they will stop motorists treating you like s***e!
Ben
This is the best looking light I’ve ever seen!!!
Jono
These are the lights I’ve always wanted but never new existed. Would feel much safer during the winter months with these fitted. Where can a get some?