The latest bicycle light is a flashing water bottle. The Candea Elite uses LEDs and the diffusive properties of water to transform itself into a distinctive flashing beacon.
The Candea Elite can be switched between bikes and the base section that contains the LED can easily be removed. As you would expect, the bottle is dishwasher safe and BPA free.
The LED can be set to maximum visibility, power saver or blink mode – lasting between one and four hours depending on the setting. We like the novelty of the Candea illuminated bottle, but we’re less impressed by the fact it uses the tablet-shaped CR2032 battery.
Win a flashing water bottle
We have a Candea flashing water bottle light to give away. If you’d like to enter, leave a comment at the bottom of this page and we’ll pick a winner next week.
The bicycle light arms race
The responsibility for cyclist safety is, unfortunately, placed almost entirely at the feet of those on bikes. Logic and a desire to reduce road danger should dictate that the larger and heavier the vehicle, the greater its responsibility for the safety of others, but in reality and in the absence of strict liability, vulnerable road users are forced to make way for others. It’s one of the reasons why cyclists feel compelled to use ever more high-visibility clothing and lights.
There may come a day when no single item of cycling gear is available without the option of flashing LED lights.
You can already buy belts, locks, helmets, handlebars and jackets that light up like a Christmas tree. The visual clutter of urban street and the high-viz arms race that so many cyclists get caught up in means the arrival of the illuminated water bottle was perhaps inevitable.
The ethical choice
The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.
The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK’s most ethical provider.
Rosie
I would love one but not allowed flashing lights in The Netherlands, so I will have to use it when I come back to the U.K:)
Stephen Roberts
Nice idea. Be interesting to see how fluid level, or indeed fluid colour affects light output. Sounds like a good experiment 🙂
Jamie J
Brilliant…
Carol Weaver
Having got used to flashing front and back
Carol Weaver
…would love my water bottle flashing too!
Fiona hunt
Exciting new idea.
Rick Gregory
Great idea!
caoimhin
Ingenious. Great for all bikes, but perhaps most of all for my singlespeed, which has a handlebar-mounted bottle cage.
James K
Loving that idea! How cool would that look on a charity nightride!
Arron
I like it
Steve
Great idea!
Andy
Looks like a fab idea! Would be great to win one though 🙂
Si Partridge
A great additional safety feature on top of standard lights, making the rider more visible from the side.
kurt edmonds
great idea
phil
if i dont win it i am going to buy one ( if available in UK). great idea!
Ruari
Flash, Flash, I love you, but we only have fourteen hours to save the Earth! (Dale Arden)
Gary Coogan
Fantastic. What a bright idea. Wonder if they’ll have a flash sale, that would make my face light up. I’d drink to that!!
Claire
Very ‘flash’!
Leona
This looks awsome
Susan R
Innovative – I like 🙂
Mary Fisher
Despite adding to the ‘visual clutter of urban streets’ it makes sense to have as many aids to being seen as possible. When the real responsibility for the safety of ALL road users is recognised and acted upon we might be able to turn off the Christmas tree lights.
Miriam
A flash of inspiration! Pleasepleaseplease save one for me?
Hollie
What a clever idea!
Chrissie Harris
Jumping Jack Flash – avoid that crash!
James Russell
Did someone say “light water”?
Gary Coogan
Fantastic. What a bright idea. Wonder if they’ll have a flash sale, that would make my face light up. I’d drink to that!!
Helen
Great idea, want one!
Steve P
Great idea but so needs a rechargeable battery
Malcolm
brilliant
Malcolm
Now that really is flashy. What a bright idea!
Jason
Great idea
Rachel
Hydration and illumination – very bright idea
Iain Stevenson
What will they put a light in next? Love it!
Roger birchall
It sounds like a good idea!, But does it still wotk though wen you are on the return to home and have”drank the water”. ?????
Hannah
Looks flash! Shame about the short battery life
Paul
“power saver or blink mode – lasting between one and four hours depending on the setting” and then you need to throw away the lithium ion battery and buy a new one? Hmmm, why is the ENVIRONMENTAL Travel Association promoting this? Guess I won’t win one.
Steve Padmore
If it reduces the number of cyclists who aim there front light/headtorch into the eyes of oncoming drivers……..
Jane
I think with how ineffectual many bike lights are it’s a great idea.
Dylan R
It could be the biggest light on the bike. In time, if they become popular enough, they will hopefully make a usb-charging version
chris dunne
I like the simplicity of this idea and making cyclists more obvious is bound to help. But does a white light in the middle of a bike comply with the uk highway code? I guess it should only be used with white light at the front and red at the rear (non flashing? or is that allowed now ).
les
I really don’t think anyone is bothered by it. You rarely see bikes with no lights pulled over at dark.. To me – the more illumination the better.
I have tyreflys on my valves and never had any problems. Extra light = extra safety.
John
What a flash of inspiration
Peter Clark
The speed at which cycling tech is progressing is astounding. They’ll be able to see us space soon.
Nick
I’d like to win the flashing light arms race!
chris dunne
Ive just read the cycling and the law article now. ‘Bikes ridden at night require front and rear lights, flashing or steady. At night a bicycle must also be fitted with a red rear reflector (and amber pedal reflectors, if manufactured after 1/10/85). According to the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations (RVLR) 1989 (amended in 2009), all bicycle pedals must be fitted with reflectors (two on each pedal) although fitting such reflectors is almost impossible with many ‘clipless’ pedals.’ So it sounds like these are in addition to standard lights (which can be flashing) and reflective pedals.
On the last point im sure im not the only one that breaks this but seem to remember an issue with cycling proficany in the 80s and my bmx (which would have been pre 85).
Lynne
Anything that will give you a chance of being seen at night gets a vote from me. May be riders who still cannot be bothered to put lights on their bikes may be attracted to the water bottle because it gives them a two for the price of one function and may think it cool to show off to their mates.
Kirsty
Light me up scotty!
Paul S
Great idea ,Agree about the battery should give good side visiblity to other road user’s
Tim Day
What a great idea. Simple solutions are always the best. Anything that makes cyclists more visible gets the thumbs up from me.
John Stables
Yes please!
Katherine
Wonderful idea, though a light you drop into your usual bottle would seem an easier to use idea.
Gsry Coogan
Fantastic. What a bright idea. Wonder if there will be a flash sale, that would make my face light up. Something to drink to. Stay safe.
Philippa Whitworth
Amazing!
Chrissie Harris
Jumping Jack Flash – prevent that crash!
kevin Griffiths
great for side visability at junctions now the nights are drawing in
Kathy C
Novel idea – the flashing water bottle. Lets hope it helps drivers to be cautious when passing cyclists.
Evita
What a super idea!!
Paul Bird
Interesting idea! The Elite website is not very clear but seems to claim 60 hours life, not 1-4…? If that’s so the CR2032 battery may not be so bad. They are recyclable, and you can pick them up for 15-20p each in bulk packs.
Geoff
May be more of a novelty as visibility from other road users would probably be limited by the frame but would happily try it out.
Jeff Davies
This idea is light years ahead in it’s thinking.
A brilliant idea and would love to win one !!
Phil
Could they also add something to the water so when I drink it I light up too?
shirley
brilliant idea could also be used as a torch or to signal to get help in an emergency.
shirley
brilliant idea could also be used as a torch or a beacon to get help in an emergency.
shirley
as previous comment
James Haigh
Different idea – anything helps I think
Mim Taylor
I’m so looking forward to flash dancing on my bicycle
Andy L
Wish I’d thought of that!
Darren C
A bright idea, ideal for those early morning rides, not so good for evening commutes as the more you drink the less effective it becomes, but you could hold it in your hand while making signals too!
Keith Bichard
Great idea, would like one!
Edel
This is a brilliant idea. Would love to win one. Thank you.
Laurence Koster
Interesting idea!
I would like to know whether it complies with the law (shouldn’t it be an amber light if it’s not on the front?)
les
Neat idea – in my experience it’s side on junctions that are the most dangerous for cyclists. Car doesn’t really look for bikes as it joins the main road that the bike is on.
Any extra light should stand out. Good luck with it.
Dick Willis
Neat idea
Al
flashy
Clif
Casts a different light on safety.
Christina
And no need to worry about batteries 🙂
Elspeth
Very clever idea. I’d love one for my daughter!
Kate
Oh! I love this… yes please! 🙂
Doug Milsom
Looks like a good idea to me. Any additional light at night would help. If I don’t win, I may even buy one!