A New Kind of Bike Light
#1
Thread Starter
Bicikli Huszár
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,116
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From: Fresno, CA
Bikes: '95 Novara Randonee
A New Kind of Bike Light
I thought this was interesting. It's a kickstarter video for some bike wheel lights. Not the normal kind of neons out there... they only shine forward/backward, so as to be a little more useful for seeing. As with most projects like this, it's early, but it's interesting at any rate. My biggest grump so far is that it seems too dim to actually use as a seeing light, but video can fool you, too. Looks like it could have potential, though.
https://kck.st/nRFdb4
https://kck.st/nRFdb4
Last edited by sudo bike; 08-30-11 at 02:11 AM.
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 283
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From: the Low countries
Bikes: 1980 Koga Miyata Gents Touring; 1980 Koga Miyata Gents Racer; 1980 Koga Miyata Roadspeed; and aiming for the rest of that year's brochure
Revolight looks a lot less convenient as the somewhat similar Reelight, that's already popular in Scandinavia. Yet, mounting lights so low is not very useful -- even when that's better than no lights at all.
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 283
Likes: 1
From: the Low countries
Bikes: 1980 Koga Miyata Gents Touring; 1980 Koga Miyata Gents Racer; 1980 Koga Miyata Roadspeed; and aiming for the rest of that year's brochure
That Reelight site explains everything if you click 'technology':
So, the difference between Revolight is that one blinks, where the other does not. But blinking lights are illegal in some countries anyway.
The lights are based on the electrodynamic induction principle, and work when you screw two magnets on the spokes and fix the light to the wheel’s hub. Electric current is then produced when the magnets pass the light, which incorporates a spool of copper wire. The light then flashes every time the wheel rotates. Simple, effective and ingenious.
#5
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
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From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
#7
Mirror slap survivor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,297
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From: Sunny Florida
Bikes: Gunnar Sport, Surly Pacer, Access MTB, Ibex Corrida, one day a Simple City
Interesting concept, and I applaud the designer for his intelligence and aptitude, but it's really kind of a useless product. The forward projection of the headlight is insufficient for actually SEEING in the dark, and the taillight is too low to be useful as a safety feature. Someone who wants a headlight mounted lower can do so with a Minoura fork mount and any headlight. Better yet, for what you'll spend on the weak Revolight, you can buy a Sanyo generator hub and a B&M headlight, mount the light to the fork, and illuminate the road. As for taillight? A Planet Bike Superflash clipped to a seatbag is much more visible than the dim lights coming off the Revolight.
Still, the designer's a smart guy, and what he designed is way more impressive than anything I could do. I just think the product is crippled by it's inherent shortcomings.
Still, the designer's a smart guy, and what he designed is way more impressive than anything I could do. I just think the product is crippled by it's inherent shortcomings.
#8
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
Reelight a Danish Company has several models. the induction powered LED, gets juice
by the long magnet attached to the spokes., light bracked under the axle lock nut ,
so part of the wheel
moving thru the price-points gets a capacitor added and a steady on light results..
and a wired light you could mount higher than the hub. level..
essentially a hub dynamo with out rebuilding the wheel.., just not quite as bright..
OK for lit city streets.
Have a Schmidt Hub Dynamo and it is the way to go.. can run 2 lights off it ,
+ a taillight.
by the long magnet attached to the spokes., light bracked under the axle lock nut ,
so part of the wheel
moving thru the price-points gets a capacitor added and a steady on light results..
and a wired light you could mount higher than the hub. level..
essentially a hub dynamo with out rebuilding the wheel.., just not quite as bright..
OK for lit city streets.
Have a Schmidt Hub Dynamo and it is the way to go.. can run 2 lights off it ,
+ a taillight.
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 424
Likes: 1
From: Boston, MA
Bikes: 1983 Peugeot UO14, KHS Green-Heavily modified, 1972 Raleigh Sprite 27" (work in progress)
I honestly wondered why someone hadn't done this sooner. Even regular spoke reflectors with blinking lights recharging by passing a magnet on forks/stays would be useful for side visibility.
#12
Thread Starter
Bicikli Huszár
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,116
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From: Fresno, CA
Bikes: '95 Novara Randonee
For sure. Most things on Kickstarter are pricey since they are new products busting into the market. One hopes it drops with popularity. Until then, it's just niche.
#15
cyclocommuter
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: Brunswick, ME
Bikes: L.L. Bean Evolution hybrid, Jazz Voltage rigid mtb
The inventor asks, "Why is my headlight, the thing that I use to light up the ground, so far from the ground?"
Because you don't need to see the ground immediately in front of you. You need to see several feet in front of you, requiring the light to be mounted up high.
These lights look really cool, but not very useful.
Because you don't need to see the ground immediately in front of you. You need to see several feet in front of you, requiring the light to be mounted up high.
These lights look really cool, but not very useful.
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