Kickstarter fund for laser bike light

Qualitymark

This projects a laser image of a bike & cyclist ahead, so drivers about to turn left or right can see that they're going to turn in on a cyclist:

http://www.gizmag.com/blaze-bike-light-update/25213/

thebouldwhacker

I knew we would get lasers!!
They laughed at me when I was a child but I knew it!

Now the shoe is on the other foot!
No longer are we defenceless, rise up now brothers and sisters and take what is ours!
We have over come, shoot to kill!

kenmc

Qualitymark wrote: »

This projects a laser image of a bike & cyclist ahead, so drivers about to turn left or right can see that they're going to turn in on a cyclist:

That implies that they will look to see if there's something there to indicate there's a bike. If they were to do that, then there'd be no need for the laser indicator thingy.....
What we REALLY need is a laser that vapourises cars that turn left across our path, thus removing the obstacle from the way and I'd say that drivers would change their behaviour fairly quickly when they hear their friends got zapped.

el tel

Can't say much about the light but the inventor is hot.

Qualitymark

kenmc wrote: »

That implies that they will look to see if there's something there to indicate there's a bike. If they were to do that, then there'd be no need for the laser indicator thingy.....
What we REALLY need is a laser that vapourises cars that turn left across our path, thus removing the obstacle from the way and I'd say that drivers would change their behaviour fairly quickly when they hear their friends got zapped.

Good thinking, Robin; though I'd prefer a laser that simply vapourised the car and its contents, leaving the human (and pets) passengers safe but carless.

Beasty

Qualitymark wrote: »

Good thinking, Robin; though I'd prefer a laser that simply vapourised the car and its contents, leaving the human (and pets) passengers safe but carless.

But if you vapourised their car while they are hurtling along at 50 km/h wouldn't they would all need helmets to keep them safe?

HivemindXX

Beasty wrote: »

But if you vapourised their car while they are hurtling along at 50 km/h wouldn't they would all need helmets to keep them safe?

Yes of course.

Problem:
Random cyclists are vaporising cars with their lasers and the occupants are being injured.

Solution:
Car occupants should wear helmets.

Sounds vaguely similar to another policy but I can't quite put my finger on it...

Korvanica

Great Idea... This is one of the comments there: Makes a good point.

Hi Emily,

Interesting concept, but since universal traffic lighting is red stop, amber (yellow) caution & or prepare to stop, and then GREEN means GO!!

I understand that certain rules of the road, & emergency type vehicles vary from country to country, but I would think the color is extremely important. Red being typically for the rear of vehicles, and white for the front. White lasers very difficult & expensive.

Orange lasers do exist, and wouldn’t it be more prudent to use that or even blue laser (retraining the pre-conditioned mind?

Seeing the green reflecting off the pavement out the corner of my eye while negotiating a curve could be interpreted as a traffic light in my direction, and I might tend to ignore it completely, ………

Also check out the "2 Wheel drive Bike" in the related items... Idiotic IMO

Unregistered.

kenmc wrote: »

That implies that they will look to see if there's something there to indicate there's a bike.

Not necessarily...

Driver begins to veer left to take turn. Laser hits wing mirror, reflecting straight into the eyes of the driver. I'm in.

Dermot Illogical

Beasty wrote: »

But if you vapourised their car while they are hurtling along at 50 km/h wouldn't they would all need helmets to keep them safe?

Kevlar pants too.

buffalo

Unregistered. wrote: »

Not necessarily...

Driver begins to veer left to take turn. Laser hits wing mirror, reflecting straight into the eyes of the driver. I'm in.

You're in under the car because you've just melted their cornea?


On a serious note, I don't see the point of things like this. Just get a bright and flashy front light - they can project onto the ground as well.

Lusk Doyle

Unregistered. wrote: »

Not necessarily...

Driver begins to veer left to take turn. Laser hits wing mirror, reflecting straight into the eyes of the driver. I'm in.

It's one of those clever lasers that can adapt its beam for the different car sizes and respective wing mirror heights then, is it?

Unregistered.

buffalo wrote: »

You're in under the car because you've just melted their cornea?

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

It's one of those clever lasers that can adapt its beam for the different car sizes and respective wing mirror heights then, is it?

Darkglasses

Unregistered. wrote: »

Not necessarily...

Driver begins to veer left to take turn. Laser hits wing mirror, reflecting straight into the eyes of the driver. I'm in.

An ordinary flashing light can do that?

I was more impressed with that one that projected a cycle lane behind you.

ashleey

Was reading the Telegraph on the Internet and saw this

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/9712534/Young-inventor-My-bright-idea-to-cut-cycling-deaths.html

I have no links or endorsement but thought it looked interesting.

What do commuters think of this idea of projecting a cycle image n the road ahead as a safety idea?

Beasty

Threads merged

Beasty

RainyDay

I came across another variation on the laser lights projection thing today. This one projects a grid to help the cyclist see abnormalities in the road surface.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1dCI7es_wM

I don't spend that much time looking at the road surface in front of me when I'm cycling at night - not sure we really want to have cyclists staring at the grid.

droidus

RainyDay wrote: »

I came across another variation on the laser lights projection thing today. This one projects a grid to help the cyclist see abnormalities in the road surface.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1dCI7es_wM

I don't spend that much time looking at the road surface in front of me when I'm cycling at night - not sure we really want to have cyclists staring at the grid.

"Video game warriors escaping game grid. This is an illegal exit. You must return to game grid. Repeat! This is an illegal exit. You must return to the grid."

souter

My trusty cree fenix (ld22 I think) has started gobbling the batteries (which is strange I will admit), so thinking of upgrading.

The blaze.cc has the same output (300lm), presumably a big ole li-on battery ... and fricking lazers!

Just wondered if anyone had used these for any length of time, and if they are good for day to day commuting?

ted1

ashleey wrote: »

Was reading the Telegraph on the Internet and saw this

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/9712534/Young-inventor-My-bright-idea-to-cut-cycling-deaths.html

I have no links or endorsement but thought it looked interesting.

What do commuters think of this idea of projecting a cycle image n the road ahead as a safety idea?

Drivers don't look at road markings. from their view they can't see it.

what should happen is that it spray of mist/fog gets put out about 4ft from the ground and the laser projects on to this right at the perfect height for the driver to see.

Qualitymark

RainyDay wrote: »

I don't spend that much time looking at the road surface in front of me when I'm cycling at night - not sure we really want to have cyclists staring at the grid.

I do; if you're cycling down Harold's Cross to Rathmines, it's full of slits and potholes, which are especially invisible on a rainy night when they fill with water; I've nearly broken my wrists there a few times on dark nights.

beauf

Qualitymark wrote: »

I do; if you're cycling down Harold's Cross to Rathmines, it's full of slits and potholes, which are especially invisible on a rainy night when they fill with water; I've nearly broken my wrists there a few times on dark nights.

These won't help with that.

Basically these ruin your night vision, and drivers can't see them.

BeerNut

It certainly gives you a shock the first time you're overtaken by a bike made of green lasers a few seconds before the projectionist pedals past.

tunney

This green laser on the ground in front of the bike obviously already exists and is available. i say this as I read the article yesterday and saw one on the road this morning.

I had a red laser version that came out the back, was pants and binned it.

The green one looks sh1t to be honest - the constant micro-movements of the handlbars had it all over the place.

beauf

Once a few people had them id expect it to be visually chaotic.

sconhome

BeerNut wrote: »

It certainly gives you a shock the first time you're overtaken by a bike made of green lasers a few seconds before the projectionist pedals past.

Be like your perpetual Virtual Pacer, you'd be wrecked always racing your hologram to the next strava segment!

sconhome

beauf wrote: »

Once a few people had them id expect it to be visually chaotic.

Be like a rave at the traffic lights

uck51js9zml2yt

any reviews i read on the blaze including a backer were to say the least disappointing.
At £125 I'll give it a miss and just dangle my 2 year old out in front of my bike

Qualitymark

AKW wrote: »

Be like a rave at the traffic lights

Fitting a revolving disco ball on the back carrier right now.

ednwireland

laser rear light
http://www.dx.com/p/landiords-blm6550-3-mode-3-led-red-light-laser-bicycle-tail-lamp-black-red-186080#.Vl9sTr9WpCE


cant imagine it would take long to copy that front light doubt theres much patent-able there

souter

beauf wrote: »

These won't help with that.

Basically these ruin your night vision, and drivers can't see them.

Ah man Beauf, is this personal experience?
Cos I couldn`t wait any longer and had pulled the trigger on e180 before I saw these dissenting voices.

My rationale is, bearing in mind I am a commuting only cyclist these days:
*100/300 lumen. - thats a sweet spot for a commuter
*Midlife crisis - the lights cost more than the bike, and my wife is ok with that
*Cycling is about confidence - I know I shouldnt, but I do increasingly veer at junctions. Bit of laser painting, threat of a Brimstone missile, I'm more likely to hold the road
*Lasers! - even if I have to make the pewpewpew sounds myself


Will let yer know how many days I survive.

Qualitymark

souter wrote: »

Will let yer know how many days I survive.

Not really a feasible plan, eh?

souter

Qualitymark wrote: »

Not really a feasible plan, eh?

Well just to prove you wrong, I got the light today.
Cycled home on a dark and windy evening, not run over once. 100% success rate, I rest my case.

Anyway, in case anyone is interested here's my firsthand impressions.

Yes, it is damn expensive. But c'mon, we're cycle nerds - overpriced gizmos is what we do. Since I gave up the crabon fibre steed I've only got the Singlecross commuter beast to lavish funds on.

And what does the money get you?

Lovely packaging - Steve Jobs would be impressed.
Impressive engineering - you can tell it's designed by a woman (in the good way). The bits that should be hard are very hard, and the soft bits are very soft. And there's little magnets in charming little places.
Simple controls, but not too simple (I'm looking at you seesense).
Inductive charging - no channels for water ingress or wear and tear.
Nice light throw.
And of course, the laser.

Any downside?
The jury is still out on whether having a green bicycle projected in front of you makes any sense.
The hermetic seal suggests it will be tricky, or impossible, to replace the battery when it eventually runs down - at this price I'd want to get many years usage out of it.
The long term durability remains to be determined e.g. the switches are micro switches.
I get embarrassed at the front of red light projecting this image into the middle of a junction so end up switching it off each time.

But overall I'm happy.

uck51js9zml2yt

souter wrote: »

Well just to prove you wrong, I got the light today.
Cycled home on a dark and windy evening, not run over once. 100% success rate, I rest my case.

But overall I'm happy.

You forgot to mention that there were no cars on the road

souter

Rosalie Big Soy wrote: »

You forgot to mention that there were no cars on the road

Exactly - they were kept pinned in by my area access denial laser.