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TECH NEWS

UK launch for Looky cyclists' gloves with integral mirror

Clever idea; careful how you wipe your nose, though...

Special cycling mitts with an integrated mirror are in the process of being rolled out to UK bike shops having been developed and sold in the Netherlands.

Revised versions with the mirror mounted on the right thumb specially for countries like Britain where vehicles travel on the left have been successfully trialled and are now available on a secure e-commerce site and eventually through local bike shops. The first UK shop to stock Looky gloves is Ben Hayward Cycles in Cambridge.

Looky mitts are closely based on existing models from numerous manufacturers with a synthetic Alcantara padded palm, stretch material back and tabs to ease removal. The big difference though is a 5 x 2cm convex polycarbonate mirror sewn into a 'frame' integral to the widest part of the right thumb.

Stressing the benefits of hand mounting your rear-view mirror, manufacturers JDVB claim the wide viewing flexibility is particularly useful for parents supervising children and that broken mirrors due to parking errors and potential theft are both issues mitigating against bar-mounting.

The price per pair is €24.95 or £21.49 at today's exhange rate.

Washing procedures are claimed to be similar to those for existing synthetic cycling gloves.

Details: www.looky.eu

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22 comments

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chris p | 11 years ago
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Oh no, just when I'd been so nice about the gloves they've started falling apart. Less than two weeks and ten or so rides, one of the seams has split, a finger tab has come off and the palm material is in a continual state of disintegration. Awful manufacturing quality, I have a pair of specialised mitts that cost half as much that are in much better condition after five years of use. Still like the mirror but will find a way of transferring it to a proper pair of gloves when this pair fall apart - which shouldn't take more than a month.

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chris p | 11 years ago
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Agree with most of the above..........however have just bought a pair! In addition to single bikes I ride tandems, they are inherently a little more sensitive to weight shift, you can of course look behind, but this often involves a little wobble, often depending upon how well-balanced the current stoker is. Taking a hand off the bars does not shift weight significantly and the view with the glove is very clear. Also really good for checking teeth after eating spinach - off the bike of course!

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TeringJantje | 12 years ago
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Funny to see the Looky has gone international. I use it here in the Netherlands. As everybody knows Holland is a true bicycle country, you can go everywhere with the bike. I dont know how thats done in the UK, but i dont think the biking infrastructure is as well organized as it is here in Holland. Anyway, i find the Looky to be very handy in many situations in traffic. Especially when having two kids biking along. At first i was skeptical about it (to wear a glove each time) but now i dont think i can do without it.

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PhilRuss | 12 years ago
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What a horrible-looking mitt!
P.R.

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TiNuts | 12 years ago
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Think I'll definitely be sticking with my Mirrycle (possibly the best bike mirror ever invented).  39

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rogie40 | 12 years ago
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A bit early with the April fool, aren't we guys?  3

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elstado | 12 years ago
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Doesn't look good.

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wyadvd | 12 years ago
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bikeeye will beat that every time in my book.

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rombsy | 12 years ago
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I don't relish the idea of wiping my nose on one of those. A little terry on the thumb is worth far more for my money.

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dave atkinson | 12 years ago
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That's half an hour of your life you'll never get back  4

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carl j | 12 years ago
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I've struggled to find something positive to say about these for half an hour. Yes, I've wasted that much time. Apart from the above fails, it'd also be covered in snot, rendering them totally useless. At least that's my main criticism.

Still, outside of cycling I can think of lot's of applications for finding things that have dropped under side boards, floorboards, and most of all changing a head light on a Mk 1 Ford Focus  1

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KirinChris | 12 years ago
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Most bizarre, unnecessary, redundant and utterly pointless cycling accessory I have ever seen... and I include all Rapha's products in that list.

The apocalypse must be just days away if this sort of thing is appearing.

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Oh heck... | 12 years ago
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Bizzare...

The mirror is at such an angle that all you'd be able to see when you glance down is your own vizog...

I'm not sure it's much use as a safety device if you have to hold your hand up like in the picture, thus reducing your overall control of the bike.

Easier and safer to keep yer hands on the bars and look over the shoulder really?

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Paulo | 12 years ago
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If you can't look over your shoulder then maybe you shouldn't be riding a bike on the road?

These will only sell to casual cyclists who don't think before pulling out thier wallets!

I feel sorry for Jessica van Batenburg... she actually has to sell these things with a straight face!  3

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Matt_S | 12 years ago
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The woman that pulled a right turn without looking or signalling, straight across me, and putting me in an ambulance on Friday evening could've done with a pair of these.

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Jessica van Bat... | 12 years ago
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Hello all,
We would like to react to the messages above.
LOOKY is designed to watch traffic coming from behind without having to turn or look over the shoulder. This makes cyclists more aware of traffic situations behind them.

Especially cyclists who lose their balance when turning or looking over the shoulder, use Looky. Raising the hand is no extra procedure; when changing lanes you also have to take one hand off the bars.

A cycle mirror enhances the safety in traffic, but are not the most popular instruments. We want to make a difference to that with Looky.

For more information about the introduction of Looky with the Dutch National Institute of Cyclists, please visit our site www.looky.eu.

Best wishes,
Jessica van Batenburg

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Coleman | 12 years ago
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That photo's great. Veteran synchronised cycling for 2012 Olymics?

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giff77 | 12 years ago
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Slow day at the office lads  3 Suggest you down tools and get a couple of metric points under your belts  4

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BigDummy | 12 years ago
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Is there a sort of handle-bar which you can be holding while looking at a reliable image of the road behind in your glove-knuckle? Judging by the promotional shots, there is not.

In that case, this is a product which will appeal exclusively to idiots who, in addition to their idiocy, suffer from a lack of articulated necks.

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meves | 12 years ago
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I'm worried by the statement

"developed and sold in the Netherlands."

Who brought them (other than those 2 guys in the photo)...

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SamShaw | 12 years ago
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Those two guys look like they've been previously cut up by that Volvo and are indicating to the driver that he may (or may not) enjoy self-pleasure!

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Bez | 12 years ago
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So you're supposed to check things behind you by taking one hand off the bars and raising it? Thus losing a degree of control just when something's approaching from behind, at the same time having to hold that hand very steady whilst also concentrating on a wildly vibrating image on it? Whilst making sure that this gesture isn't construed as an actual indication or a rude gesture? And only when it's not cold enough to want full-finger gloves?

Um...

And the advantages are...?

Is it April?

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