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TECH NEWS
Lumicycle launch inSight LED brake light
Here's a neat idea, the new inSight from light manufacturer Lumicycle is not only a powerful rear light, it is also a brake light. It houses an array of Cree LEDs and they're activated when the internal accelerometer detects braking forces, with an ouput of 200 Lumens when braking, or 50 Lumens when used as a rear light.
You can run the inSight as a rear light only with a steady or flashing mode, with the Cree LEDs provide a 50 Lumen output. One mode provides a combined tail and brake light, while another mode sees it operating solely as a brake light, an ideal option for daytime use. In braking mode the light pushes out 200 Lumens, which sure ensure it's hard to miss for other road users.
British company Lumicycle developed the inSight citing government figures that “over 25% of all cycle fatalities happen during daylight with the cyclist being hit from behind,” and reckons the inSight “will revolutionise the cycling industry in terms of both safety and visibility.”
The internal sensors monitor g force constantly to determine when the bicycle is slowing, and they claim the software they've developed can prevent accidental triggering when say riding over a rough surfaced road or through corners. To further prevent accidental operation, the light also has a Patent Pending “self learning” and “terrain following” algorithm. This, says the company, automatically adjusts sensitivity to compensate for on and off road conditions, or changing surfaces and riding conditions. Furthermore, the brake light stays on for a short period after you have stopped braking.
The light uses a 2Ah Lithium Ion battery which they claim provides a 24-hour duration, with an external battery level indicator. The battery can easily be charged, and a battery pack can also be plugged in to extend the operation time.
It's constructed from aluminium and can be mounted to the seatpost either horizontally or vertically, with adjustment to keep the light level.
The inSight will be available in May and will cost £79.95, they're currently taking pre-orders with a £5 deposit. More info at www.lumicycle.com
David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes.
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27 comments
One-day battery life is the problem, my Cateye lasts a whole year!
Great that Lumicycle (what's with the Lumies stuff!) are making a decent rear light. But brake light, and £80! Sorry ahhm oout!
this is a pointless idea IMO. if you are going so fast behind someone, yu aint going to stop and you are afool. if you are a proper distance and speed behind, you will see the bike stop and have time to stop. i suppose in a car free cycle only road world, it might have utility....
Looking at the mount all they need to do is add a lip top and bottom and it should be easy enough to just cable tie it in place.
I suppose it depends also on how good you want your bike to look, but me I've modified other brackets on the front (handlebars) to allow a front light and speedo on the same bracket. Also fitted a small light between seat and saddle bag. I tend to bodge it myself metal/ o rings/ etc but then again I've got an old bike! However, if I just shelled out £80 on a light I would expect a decent mount I could use!
Delightfully of course, modern Lumi LEDs use the same battery connectors as the old halogens did - everything they've made for about 15 years is inter-compatible. It is quite sweet.
I'd prefer a nice clamp bracket a la Hope lights and many others rather than the rubber band.
A £15 Cateye light bouncing off unnoticed is one thing, a much more expensive-errer one like this rather another.
Clever light though.
nice to see lumicycle still have the 'made in a shed' look with the little toggle switch and its rubber nipple. Not knocking them by any means, I had a pair of the original lumi halogen lights with the ni-cad battery in a bottle and they did me very well for several years. Sadly when the battery died, the replacement cost just wasn't economic.
They're a day or two early with this one, I think.
The problem with seatstay mounts is that modern bikes have such thin ones.
Sugru though... that's not a bad idea. How strong is Sugru in tension and how well does it resist tearing?
I had no problem securely mounting a Smart Lunar R1 to my commuter's (near-pencil-thin, steel) seatstays, so it definitely just depends on the manufacturer making a bit of effort and including a bracket as well as a decent selection of thicknesses of rubber shim material. The one thing I'd say is that seatstay mounting definitely requires a "proper" clamp, as I can't see a silicone strap (which seems to be the mounting method for this inSight model) developing enough grip on a skinny seatstay without needing so much tension that its lifespan would be significantly reduced.
In answer to your Sugru question I have no idea as I personally haven't tried it yet!
In the end we can always resort to good old cable ties.
I've used it to build up a bow grip; sticks incredibly well and hasn't torn or deformed in any way after thousands of shots at around 45lb of force.
I prefer this one :
http://www.velocitylight.com/
If you make it display 88 do you leave a trail of flames on the tarmac as you disappear into the past?
Only if you buy the bottle cage mount for the flux capacitor and you've got the legs to generate 1.21 gigawatts.
https://twitter.com/velocitylight/status/414055065683361792/photo/1
I think they thought of that one already
Just been on to Lumicycle. They've just got a couple of prototypes at the moment. Chap sounded receptive to the idea of a seatstay bracket.
"over 25% of all cycle fatalities happen during daylight with the cyclist being hit from behind"
But how many of those occur when the cyclist is braking? I'm speculating somewhat, but I'm going to guess "very few".
I was going to speculate the same thing!
Interesting electonics inside this product but I'm not sure what particular benefit a braking light is for a cyclist.
On the money I would say
Jeez when I think how much good lights cost in the 90's it is almost a bargain!
I'm waiting for the deluxe version. It has a radar to detect tailgaters, linked to patent pending "driver learning" laser beams.
It's cheaper than the Hope District and Exposure blaze as comparable companies.
I think this is a great idea, I don't think its that expensive and on a par with front lights with a few Cree LED's (that are not eBay imports from China), I would rather the brake light stay on too long than going off too soon ! will wait for a review but if positive it will be on my shopping list.
Review please!! Obviously with 2 people - one behind to see if it works
Shame it wont go on my seatpost with my carradice saddlebag though
I'm thinking the same thing. Definitely needs a seatstay mount in the box, especially at that price.
If not I would still (grudgingly) buy one, and try to adapt it. Could be a use for some Sugru.
EDIT: I've emailed LumiCycle to ask about mounting options. Will update when I hear back.
That is a neat idea but £80 sounds a tad steep. Funny though, given how much bike stuff generally costs and yet £80 quid for safety equipment somehow sounds expensive
I agree, nice idea, looks good but expensive.