Be safe and be seen with this bright idea for your bike
The high-tech lamps you can control
See.Sense ICON cycle lights
Cycling is being encouraged. Initiatives like the cycle to work scheme and the CocaCola Zero Bikes have led to more of us taking to two wheels every working day. This year saw the greatest number of commuting cyclists in Dublin – at 11,000 – since records began 20 years ago. From fitness to saving on bus fares or petrol, there are compelling reasons to get pedalling.
I’ve cycled to work sporadically over the last few years, and while I always feel better having done it, you need your wits about you at rush hour. Newtownards-based See.Sense has created a smart, connected bike-light that could make our commuting trips or leisurely treks a little safer by adding some smart tech such as crash-alerts and theft detection to traditional cycle lights kit.
The See.Sense Icon light kit consists of front and rear lights. In the box there are is an ICON front light and mount, a rear light with mount, a shield for the front light, two micro-USB cables and three straps. The lights can operate as they are but you can, and should, unlock the extra features by downloading an iOS or Android app.
Once I’d downloaded the See.Sense app it identified the lights and there’s a pair option on the app to control two lights easily. The app also displays the battery charge in the lights and will remind you when your lights need charging. The included micro-USB cable is attached to the back of the light and you can plug that in to a USB charger plug, and a full charge will give you an impressive 15 hours of operation. Attaching them to my bike was easy using the included mounts and they felt sturdy. When powered up, the first thing you’ll notice is these front and rear lights are bright, the dual Cree LEDs lights produce 190 and 320 lumens respectively. The lights are slim at 6.5cm x 5.5cm and weigh just over 60 grams. These weatherproof lights have been engineered to make sure you’re seen even in daylight and provide 180 degrees visibility.
Once charged, attached and paired to my phone, I was off and immediately the lights made their smartness known. They are full of sensors. They know if you’re moving and will start operating. They’ll shut down a few minutes after you come to a standstill. One of the remarkable features, though, is that the lights appear to know what sort of cycling you’re doing and behave differently depending on your environment. The lights react when you approach a junction or roundabout by flashing brighter and faster and they behave in a similar way when you brake.
The unit will detect cars approaching, and will then increase the rate of flashing to ensure approaching drivers see you. The lights also adjust to give you the best chance of being seen, regardless of the time of day.
Via the app, you can adjust the brightness level of the lights to get the maximum life out of the rechargeable battery and you can change the flashing pattern, choosing a simple ‘always on’ to a dramatic ‘A&E’ setting that would be ideal for urban commuters.
You can also access the theft and crash modes. With the theft mode an alarm lets you know within a range of up to a 100 metres if if someone tampers with your cycle using a Bluetooth connection to your smartphone. It won’t stop a thief but it gives an early warning.The crash mode is a clever, particularly for rural or leisure cyclists. You enter the mobile phone number of a family member or spouse who will be notified if you have an accident. The lights will detect a crash and after a few minutes, if you haven’t confirmed all is well, the lights will trigger your phone to SMS your pre-determined contact with an SOS and a link to your location. The lights should fit most bikes and setups but there is an optional adapter bundle which perhaps should be bundled with the twin-light pack, given the price.
A remarkable improvement for cyclists.