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TECH NEWS

Brompton reveals glowing bike + video

Aim is to release electroluminescent model, designed to improve safety, within 18 months

London-based folding bike brand Brompton has produced a concept bike that uses the world’s first sprayable electroluminescent coating. Although there is no planned production date at the moment, the aim it to release the bike within 18 months.

Brompton has partnered with Darkside Scientific to produce the bike. Darkside’s LumiLor emits light when it’s subject to an electric current from a battery that’s housed within the frame, just in front of the hinge. When the hinge is closed, the main frame of the bike glows.

Interest in LumiLor as a functional and decorative light source has attracted attention from a wide spectrum of industries including automotive and aerospace.

Brompton says that LumiLor has enabled it to introduce a night time safety feature that combines aesthetics with function.

“The LumiLor is well perceived by the eye at night and its single frequency monochromatic light is visible from a great distance,” says Brompton.

“The eye catching nature of this Brompton bike ensures it is visible to all those traveling in cities. This is a concept to test the feasibility of a light up bike.”

Check out the video and tell us what you think. Is this the shape of things to come in urban cycling?

In other Brompton news, the company is moving to a new facility in Greenford, London to help fulfil its aim of producing 100,000 bikes per year by 2021. The new site is nearly twice the size of Brompton’s current four operational locations and will be large enough to house all processes of the business in one facility.

“The unified site will enable the company to improve efficiency, increase production and bring together its 240 staff under one roof,” says Brompton.

www.brompton.com

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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12 comments

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mtrgrl | 8 years ago
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What happens when the paint's lifespan is over? Do you just sand it off and repaint? 

I used some of the paint from Litcoat. I think the companies are working making the formula a little brighter. Maybe it'll be as bright as an incandescent one day.  1 

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citycyclerider | 9 years ago
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This would match the dust cap lights I use at night on the Brompton and they only cost a few pounds. I guess you will need a new frame on an existing bike

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hawkinspeter | 9 years ago
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Would be nice if they (or someone else) produced this as some kind of sticker (with battery) that could be used on any bike.

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Milkfloat | 9 years ago
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Bianchi called, they want their colour back.

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50kcommute | 9 years ago
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hmm, more decorative than functional - I've seen this on some motorbike tanks and it looks very cool with proper graphics..will be leaving this for now though.

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Paul_C | 9 years ago
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still doesn't substitute for proper lights that are legally required after sunset...

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fukawitribe replied to Paul_C | 9 years ago
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Paul_C wrote:

still doesn't substitute for proper lights that are legally required after sunset...

..was it supposed to ?

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kibber replied to fukawitribe | 9 years ago
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fukawitribe wrote:
Paul_C wrote:

still doesn't substitute for proper lights that are legally required after sunset...

..was it supposed to ?

Well, they weren't using proper lights in the video, and it was certainly filmed after sunset, so it's a reasonable question.

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bazzargh | 9 years ago
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I'd agree with the idea of getting more visible, but not sure about the execution. Low powered lights can be pretty dim. I used a sheet of scotchlite to get a similar effect on my brompton frame a few years back. It's black tape on black paint, so it's not noticeable except in the dark when it's retroreflective. Since that reflects the headlights from cars, it can be astonishingly bright. But my tape bodge isn't as cool as this.

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bikewithnoname | 9 years ago
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Nice idea. Knowing Brompton this will be a £200 quid extra when it does go-live though so that's 1k for a base bike...

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RobD | 9 years ago
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I like it, mostly just because it looks cool but the safety aspect is probably pretty effective too, I wonder if it could work for spokes too

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bikebot | 9 years ago
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As someone who hates most "hi-viz" clothing, I like this. It looks cool and provides improved side visibility.

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