Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Nori Lights - Bicycle Illumination System

kickstarter.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 43 posts

Re: Nori Lights - Bicycle Illumination System

#21

Post by scoot »

nickbarnwell wrote: post #20
scoot wrote: post #17

The single biggest problem seems to be that the adhesive phosphorescent strip is attached to the rim, which on most bikes is what the brake blocks press against to stop the bike. If you look closely in the video, his bike has no brakes !!! (You even see him use his feet to stop.) So much for "saving lives"! Disc brakes would overcome this, but that's going to be an expensive retrofit for most cyclists.

As it's a cruiser the more likely explanation is that it's equipped with a rear coaster brake. Not sure why he's not running anything up front, however.

I wasn't familiar with that type of braka, and had to look it up. I can't see a hub on the back wheel, and I don't see him using any type of back-pedal or braking action to stop (just his feet).

So, yes, for those few bikes that don't have conventional brakes, this lighting system may be an option.

That doesn't change the fact that this product will be useless to the majority of people who might purchase (sorry, sponsor :-) it through KickStarter, at least without sacrificing the ability to stop.

The fact that this isn't called out in the video or text is deceptive. There's no way he isn't aware of this serious shortcoming.

Re: Nori Lights - Bicycle Illumination System

#22

Post by nickbarnwell »

scoot wrote: post #21
nickbarnwell wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As it's a cruiser the more likely explanation is that it's equipped with a rear coaster brake. Not sure why he's not running anything up front, however.

I wasn't familiar with that type of braka, and had to look it up. I can't see a hub on the back wheel, and I don't see him using any type of back-pedal or braking action to stop (just his feet). So, yes, for those few bikes that don't have conventional brakes, this lighting system may be an option. That doesn't change the fact that this product will be useless to the majority of people who might purchase (sorry, spon…

It's entirely possible that you could mount the strip below the brake track.

Re: Nori Lights - Bicycle Illumination System

#23

Post by z2amiller »

scoot wrote: post #17

The single biggest problem seems to be that the adhesive phosphorescent strip is attached to the rim, which on most bikes is what the brake blocks press against to stop the bike. If you look closely in the video, his bike has no brakes !!! (You even see him use his feet to stop.) So much for "saving lives"! Disc brakes would overcome this, but that's going to be an expensive retrofit for most cyclists.

In the "updates" section, he shows that there is a new system to attach some phosphorescent plastic between the spokes next to the rim. It isn't clear if these are included with the standard backer price, but it does allow the system to be used on bikes with brakes. Hopefully he updates the front page to make this more apparent, since it was my first question also.

Re: Nori Lights - Bicycle Illumination System

#25

Post by scoot »

z2amiller wrote: post #23
scoot wrote: post #17

The single biggest problem seems to be that the adhesive phosphorescent strip is attached to the rim, which on most bikes is what the brake blocks press against to stop the bike. If you look closely in the video, his bike has no brakes !!! (You even see him use his feet to stop.) So much for "saving lives"! Disc brakes would overcome this, but that's going to be an expensive retrofit for most cyclists.

In the "updates" section, he shows that there is a new system to attach some phosphorescent plastic between the spokes next to the rim. It isn't clear if these are included with the standard backer price, but it does allow the system to be used on bikes with brakes. Hopefully he updates the front page to make this more apparent, since it was my first question also.

Thanks hadn't spotted that - it really should be on the front page. So it seems when he first put this kick-starter up he really had overlooked the obvious (despite having no brakes himself) or hoped everyone else would overlook it, until potential backers pointed out that it wasn't going to fly.

Now he has a bigger problem - his new system appears to work by wedging into the spokes where they converge at the rim, so he will need to supply the correct radius of strip for every size rim on the market.

Re: Nori Lights - Bicycle Illumination System

#26

Post by dkarl »

Reflective tape on the rims is a common solution. There's reflective tape that looks black in daylight and is available at any bike shop. There are reflectors you can put on the spokes, too, also available at any bike shop.

Here's a video showing what reflective tape looks like in the dark: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm5muia44XI&feature=relmf...

As for actively illuminated lights, there are a large number of commercial products available. I'm too lazy, but anybody tempted to donate to a project melodramatically promising to "save lives" in the name of somebody's beloved grandfather should first drop by their local bike shop and see if perhaps it's already possible to light themselves up however they want for a modest amount of money.

Re: Nori Lights - Bicycle Illumination System

#27

Post by scoot »

nickbarnwell wrote: post #22
scoot wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wasn't familiar with that type of braka, and had to look it up. I can't see a hub on the back wheel, and I don't see him using any type of back-pedal or braking action to stop (just his feet). So, yes, for those few bikes that don't have conventional brakes, this lighting system may be an option. That doesn't change the fact that this product will be useless to the majority of people who might purchase (sorry, spon…

It's entirely possible that you could mount the strip below the brake track.

The one demonstrated in the video or described in the pledge page wouldn't. I've since learned here is an alternative flawed solution in the updates section.

Other than for the "cool" factor (which suits his old-fashioned bike), good old fashioned clip-on reflectors will do a far better job.

Re: Nori Lights - Bicycle Illumination System

#28

Post by dkarl »

scoot wrote: post #17

The single biggest problem seems to be that the adhesive phosphorescent strip is attached to the rim, which on most bikes is what the brake blocks press against to stop the bike. If you look closely in the video, his bike has no brakes !!! (You even see him use his feet to stop.) So much for "saving lives"! Disc brakes would overcome this, but that's going to be an expensive retrofit for most cyclists.

There's a flat part right by the tire where the brakes contact the rim, but there's also a partially sideways-facing surface as the rim curves around to the other side. You can put tape on that surface without affecting the brakes.

Re: Nori Lights - Bicycle Illumination System

#29

Post by justincormack »

clogs wrote: post #16
dexter313 wrote: post #3

This is genius, how come no one thought of this before, it is cheap, provides more safety for bicyclers and freaking looks like tron bikes! This guy deserves to make money.

Dutch law requires bicycles to have spoke or tire reflectors since 1987. In addition, reflectors on the pedals and a white strip (30 cm) at the back of the bike are also mandatory.

Pedal reflectors are required in the UK but it is hard to buy pedals with them...

Re: Nori Lights - Bicycle Illumination System

#30

Post by jrockway »

dkarl wrote: post #26

Reflective tape on the rims is a common solution. There's reflective tape that looks black in daylight and is available at any bike shop. There are reflectors you can put on the spokes, too, also available at any bike shop. Here's a video showing what reflective tape looks like in the dark: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm5muia44XI&feature=relmf... As for actively illuminated lights, there are a large number of comm…

Indeed. Pretty much all Schwalbe commuting/city tires have huge bands of retroreflective material around the sidewalls that make your bicycle quite visible to anything beside you with a light. (They're really good tires, too.)

Most bicycle lights also intentionally spit out a little bit of light to the side to also make you more visible. I'd recommend investing in a good front light and good rear light (with built-in reflector) before bothering with wheel lights. Wheel lights are cool if you're willing to maintain twice as many lights as you need (batteries, remembering to turn them on, etc.), but I prefer ease of use and so will not be getting these. (My rear light automatically turns on when there is both darkness and vibration, and it's a reflector, so there are few cases when I ever need to think about it. I keep my front light with me at all times and just need to press one button to turn it on. And I carry spare batteries, just in case.)

Post reply on HN