The cycling industry has some crazy inventions, and some that are so useful that it’s a shame they aren’t more commonly used. Some of these inventions for bikes would be amazing for improving riders’ safety on the road, and some are just beyond unique. Here are ten of the greatest inventions for bikes.
- Bike Lane Lights: How great would it be if the white lines that mark the bike lane lit up in bright red at night? Turns out, that’s an actual invention! Bright red LED lights outline the bike lane, creating a high degree of visibility to oncoming traffic. These LED lights can be seen from almost a mile away! Cyclists would have a much safer environment for biking on the road if these were more widely used.
- Bicycle Side Car: A small sidecar that attaches to the bicycle, and can be used for transporting groceries or even your child. These are extremely useful, especially because they can be detached and reattached as needed. This is a great tool if you have a supermarket in biking distance, and decreases gas usage by eliminating the need to drive to the store.
- Helios Handlebars: These handlebars utilize colorful LED lights, which is great for nighttime riding. There is a powerful headlight on the front, as well as backwards facing lights. They also have a speedometer and GPS chip built-in, thus are one of the most multifunctional inventions for bikes. The cost is $199, but at least you could track the location of your bike if it got stolen!
- LifeBEAM’s Smart Helmet: This stylish looking helmet includes a heart rate monitor, eliminating the need to wear a monitor strap on your chest or arm. The helmet monitors your pulse and transmits the information to the device of your choice, such as your smartphone, allowing you to keep track of your progress and see the data in real time as you cycle.
- Wireless Bike Lock: The Lock8 bike lock operates wirelessly through transmission from your smart phone, using an app to direct the device to lock or unlock. This is a great way to prevent theft, and also includes a GPS chip for tracking. The device is built to emit a very loud alarm signal if the wire is cut, as well as notify the owner via the smart phone app.
- Stick and Find Stickers: These are small, coin sized stickers that allow you to locate lost or stolen items. They can be used for anything, but are a great way to find your bike if it ever gets stolen. They emit a signal that you can track right from your smart phone.
- Auto Inflating Tires: Adaptrac offers special tires that are attached to a bike pump. The pump automatically inflates the tires as needed, or based on the type of terrain you’re riding on.
- Turn Signal Jacket: Now, you can wear a black jacket that has LED lights on the back. You turn these LED lights on and off using switches by your wrists. This can be used to alert people around you of your intent to turn without taking your hands off the bike.
- The Copenhagen Wheel: This is device that sits inside the rim of your tires and is useful for energy conservation. It stores the energy that you put into the bike, such as when going downhill, and that energy is readily available to use the next time you need it, such as up the next hill!
- Foldable Bikes: Out traveling and want to go for a ride? Grab your foldable bike and go for a rip!
What unique gadgets do you use for your bike?
