Ten of the most innovative bicycle safety gadgets
Helmet. Lights. Reflective jacket. When it comes to bicycle safety equipment, you might think that your options are pretty limited. But thanks to modern technology and some clever designers, 2018’s menu of innovative ways to make your cycling safer ranges from the smart to the downright amazing. Here are ten of our favourites.
Meilan Light X5 Wireless Smart Bike Turn Signals
Have you ever thought that there must be a safer way of telling drivers you’re about to turn that doesn’t involve riding one-handed? With this gadget, you can signal your turns without ever taking your hands off the handlebars. And with its easy-to-use wireless remote control and simple clip-on installation, you'll be up and running in no time.
Loud Bicycle Horn
Because when a car’s drifting towards you, a little bell just isn’t going to cut it.
Nathan Lightspur
When it comes to being seen, light and motion is an unbeatable combination. So, with Lightspurs attached to your shoes to illuminate your pedalling, you’ll be the most eye-catching thing on the road.
Hövding Airbag Helmet
Free your head with this device that’s eight times safer than a traditional helmet. If its collision detection system senses an impact, it deploys an airbag to protect your head in 0.1 seconds. You have to see it to believe it.
ICEdot crash sensor
Should this helmet-mounted gadget detect an impact, it’ll send an alert with your coordinates to your emergency contacts. If you’re fond of solo cycling on quiet routes, this could be a lifesaver.
Overade Foldable Helmet
The problem with helmets is that they need to be the size of your head, which makes carrying them around somewhat annoying. But with Overade’s nifty foldable design, you need not sacrifice convenience for safety.
Brainy Bike Lights
Sometimes the best ideas are the simplest. The Brainy Bike Light takes the form of the universal symbol for cyclists, taking advantage of the human brain’s pattern recognition abilities to help drivers react to you more quickly.
See Sense Bike Light
Possibly using witchcraft, this smart bike light knows when you’re in riskier situations such as roundabouts, filtering in traffic, road junctions or approaching cars at night. It’ll then automatically adjust its brightness and flash frequency for optimum visibility.
Hammerhead Bicycle Navigation
Turn-by-turn directions are liberating, but looking at a screen is the last thing you want to do while cycling. This device connects to your phone and tells you when to turn with a simple series of moving dots, so you can keep your eyes on the road.
Levi’s Commuter apparel
For those who wish their reflective clothing was more socially acceptable. Levi’s Commuter range looks just like regular clothing until a car headlight illuminates their subtle high-vis details. And they’re built for cycling, with stretch fabrics for easy movement and water-resistant coatings to keep you dry.
Now that you're safe on your bike with your new gear, have you thought about protecting the bicycle? Europ Assistance offers insurance that includes roadside assistance for you and your bike should you get into an accident.