Please comment- New product to review

bwebb84

Hi guys ,

Can you cast an eye on this video of an automatic indicating system for cyclists’. It’s aimed to improve visibility to motorists and other road users.

Anzeige is a new product that comprises of a helmet mounted rear brake light that is activated via a wireless transmitter and two wrist-mounted indicating units.

The indicating devices are automatically activated upon raising the arm, the brake light comes on when the bike decelerates rapidly. The product requires no intervention to operate- just to be turned on.

The video can be found here-

http://www-student.lboro.ac.uk/~cdbtw/anzeigehi.mp4

or on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3AjhaxbqxE

Any comments on the functionality of the product would be greatly received and essential for developing the product further.

Thanks a lot,
Ben

daniel_b

Hi Ben,

that's bloody impressive!

I didn't view it with much hope, but it looks very impressive, and I think the combination of the brake light and the indicators is awesome.

Any timescale or likely cost for them?

Dan

Agent57

I didn't notice the brake light at first. I was watching the back light, thinking "it doesn't work". It was only when I re-read that it was "helmet mounted" that I looked at the head and noticed the brake light coming on. It might work better in real life, but personally I'd like a seat-post mount, so I can put it above or below my normal rear LEDs.

Apart from that, the hand indicators look really, um, handy.

mtbcommuter

At first I was very sceptical and thought no-one would be fitting indicators to a bike.

However having viewed the video I think that depending on the cost those who ride at night could see the need to be more visible.

I agree with agent57 (who I doubt is a real agent ) that I'd probably stick the brake light on the seat post ( I think at one point the rider is tuning his head whilst the brake light illuminates and you lose some of the impact of the light which is now no longer facing to the rear?)

Belv

I think the video is misleading since the car doesn't have its lights on.
I don't think that brake lights are necessary, useful or even an aid to safety on a bicycle.

The indicators alone seem pretty good, although i am not sure if they would seem as effective with a flashing rear light which (i and) a lot of cyclists use. Also, what colour are they? They appear white on my screen which would be an illegal colour to show to the rear of a vehicle (although easily remedied by you, i'm sure).

What would the approximate retail price be?
How long do the batteries last? Is there any sort of 'low battery' indication?
How are the indicators attached to the rider?
Would the indicators turn on when i changed hand positions from drops to the top of the bars? When i scratch my head?
Are you going to compete with similar products already available just because the product contains a brake light and an indicator together?
Can the brake light and the indicators be used separately?

This isn't supposed to sound negative, just give you some questions for further development.

cycledad2

Interesting. I really want some indicators , i have been looking for some time but i'm not sure i'd buy these. However, my main reason for wanting indicators is that i want an alternative to hand signals. Turning right down hill is dangerous as i can either brake or indicate but not both. Indicators would let me signal.

Also, in winter i always wear a flashing led strap on my right arm. which cost £2.99 from lidl or similar. It does allow drivers to see my arm stick out. Its not as clear as yorus but its functional.

That said, you have some things right:
1) I like the brake light. Slowing down is hard to indicate and is a common cause of agro with drivers for me. (i assume it can be seat post or rack mounted?)
2) The turn signal is very visible. But, BELV's points and concerns are shared by me.

As a consumer I'd only buy your kit with an eye to ripping it open and changing the tilt switches to actual switches and then mounting them on a bike.

I cycle all through winter (my bike is instead of a car) and have spent £200 on a good headlight to allow me to safely do this. For a perfect indicators system i'd pay £100.

Mr_Cellophane

There are plenty of switch operated turn indicators available already

http://www.bicygnals.com/

SamWise72

I like it, pice dependent. I concur that £100 or under is the price point, and I'd be interested in selling it in my online shop, should everything work out well.

Belv

Wow, i'd love a couple of your customers SamWise72! We struggled to sell abovementioned bicygnals at £40.

However the OP is definitely doing the right thing by asking for opinions NOW rather than at the ready-for-sale stage as so many others do.

jam1ec

I like it, especially the helmet mounted brake light. Having the elevated brake light is comparable with the high level brake lights cars have, which have been proven to considerabley improve safety. Your project reminds me of this one:

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/m ... ward-15795

i think i prefer it being helmet and glove based rather than jacket. your excellent demo shows the value of a working prototype when trying to explain the concept

Jon8a

I was quite impressed.

I like the brake light but as other people have asked what happens if I'm no indicating I'm just taking something out of a jersey pocket.

A simpler system might as well be a contact on the thumb and little finger of some gloves.

All I currently have is two refflective/high vis bands that I wear around my rists so people see me indicate. My jacket has reflective bits on the arms so people can see me and so do my gloves. Would I be at any advantage if I bought your lights over buying a high vis waterproof.

As for price I'd suggest £20-25 for indicators or brake light but less as a pack. IME most commuing cyclists do it to save money and use cheap bikes. Those with money to splash around are the exception.

bwebb84

Thanks for the responses so far.

Below are two links to some images of the product

http://www-student.lboro.ac.uk/~cdbtw/a ... belled.jpg

http://www-student.lboro.ac.uk/~cdbtw/anzeige.jpg

I'd be really grateful if you could just leave your rough age, gender and occupation.

Thanks once again

Ben

Belv

30, Male.

The wrist bands, how does the rider ensure they stay in place over different thicknesses of clothing? I had assumed they were velcro for ease of adjustment.

snooks

Looks like a good idea...My only concern is that the helmet light seems a little on the big side...And of course you'd have to wear a helmet which could cause all sorts of fun and games if you haven't seen the topic discussed on here before

At the mo I have reflective beading down my arms, and your cyclist in the vid isn't wearing any high vis or reflective gear, but I guess you know that

Just a couple of comments/questions:

How big/heavy is the helmet light?
How heavy are the indicators?
Do I have to brake aggressively for the brake light to come on?
Would they be available separately ie indicators or brakes?
How easy is the transmitter to fit i.e. can it be transfered from bike to bike within seconds?
Or is it the sort of thing you remove like lights? or would I need to buy one for each of my bikes?
What happens if two cyclist with the system are cycling together and one brakes...do both lights come on?

I think the brake light is in the right place, as a driver and cyclist from personal experience the higher the light is the better because it's visible over traffic...It might also be worth thinking about it being illuminated all the time and light up more when you brake...seems a little strange to wear a light and not have it glowing all the time IMO

From rough 33 year old male photographer

SamWise72

Belv wrote:

Wow, i'd love a couple of your customers SamWise72! We struggled to sell abovementioned bicygnals at £40.

However the OP is definitely doing the right thing by asking for opinions NOW rather than at the ready-for-sale stage as so many others do.

I could well be wrong, it's not like my experience is vast in the bicycle industry just yet.

Belv

I've had a look at your site and a read of the blog and i like the idea. The concept is ahead of its time, maybe a touch too far ahead even, but i think lifestyle cycling will expand massively in the future.

My advice to you, and the OP, is that there is a huge disparity between what people think is a good idea, how much they would expect something to cost, and how much they will actually part with. This might be the same in all industries, i don't know. Non-cycle enthusiast commuters often see cycling as a cheap alternative, but outright cheap, not cheap compared to driving. So they will consider £200 to be an expensive bike and will be horrified at £40 to service a bike without ever considering they put £40 in their car every week.
Cycle enthusiasts are totally different and many will pay whatever it costs to get the part they want, but i'm not sure how many enthusiasts are solely commuters so would pay £100 for a set of supplementary lights.

Hope this helps you both.

SamWise72

I quite agree, and I feel like I know where the price points are for most things, but perhaps not for something like this, that barely anyone buys at the moment. I'm really looking for innovative, exciting or inexpensive products that make cycling more practical (specially for all those who don't even have a rack at present!), and which aren't already all over the place for sale. This could fit, but who knows about the price?