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review

VeloCityLight

7
£49.99

VERDICT:

7
10
High vis, innovative, and a conversation starter, but it could do with another bracket and better performance as a brake light
Weight: 
66g

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The VeloCityLight is one of the most impressive puns of a product name that I know of, being both an urban light and also a speedo. The light itself works well, even if there is a slight delay in showing your speed when you first set out. It loses points for its size, though, combined with a bracket that needs to be more secure.

After a successful 2014 Kickstarter campaign, the VeloCityLight has become more widely available through the company's online shop. The main selling point is that the light itself shows your speed in either kph or mph to whoever is behind you with very bright LEDs. It also brightens as you slow down, acting as a brake light for those behind you.

Buy this online here 

In terms of how it manages to perform its core tasks, it largely works well. It shows your speed relatively accurately – it's not as quick to change speed as a regular cycle computer, for instance – but then it doesn't need to be pinpoint accurate. The light is also very bright, giving off up to a retina-burning 180 lumens, but also has four different intensity settings. I normally went for the second brightness, which was around 100.

VeloCityLight-EdinburghNight

I found that the brake light element was unpredictable, perhaps because of the slight speed lag. It would take 1-2 seconds before the speed would be read accurately and this could explain why the brake light was fairly erratic. Quick braking wasn't really picked up, so it would only work effectively if you slowed down slowly.

 

Mr @davidjarthur just bust 48kmh measured on the #velocitylight coming soon

A video posted by road.cc (@road.cc) on

The way it picks up the speed is through an ANT+ speed sensor. It comes supplied with one or you can use one you already have attached. I used both and it was easy to pair even when also using the same sensor for my computer. There is a very simple menu on the light that allows you to pair, change between kph or mph, and set it to 'animate' (simple light rather than number display). This is easy to use through the two buttons on the rear of the light.

VeloCityLight - sensor

The light also has 6-14 hours of use between charges, which seems accurate. I used it for two weeks every day on a variety of ride lengths before it needed charging. Charging is also simple, through a micro USB.

In terms of attaching the light to the bike, it has a fairly basic bracket that screws tight with a crosshead screwdriver. Unfortunately this bracket, combined with the large size of the light, meant it would rotate around my seatpost. Normally this wouldn't matter too much, but because of how wide it is I could feel it on the back of my legs as I pedalled. I do have a narrow 27.2mm seatpost, but this isn't so uncommon that provisions shouldn't be made for it. The light is easy to add and remove from the bracket, though, and never feels like it would fall off mid-ride.

VeloCityLight - on bracket

The rrp of £49.99 is expensive for a light, but it does provide considerable visibility, which is what you want during the dark winter months, and it's certainly distinctive. I had several people talking to me about the light when out riding.

It's also fairly hefty in both size and weight, coming in at 66g on the road.cc scales of truth and 110x60mm. It isn't the heaviest light, but I doubt you'd want to use it for time trials or climbing at dusk.

>> Check out our buyer’s guide to rear lights here

Overall, I have mixed feelings about this light. On the one hand it does what it says in terms of showing your speed in a very bright light, but on the other the braking function is unpredictable and it twists around the seatpost. That said, this is the first model the company has made, and the designers will undoubtedly look to solve these issues in the next iteration.

Verdict

High vis, innovative, and a conversation starter, but it could do with another bracket and better performance as a brake light

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road.cc test report

Make and model: VeloCity Light

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

"An urban light that allows your speed to be displayed to those behind you whilst also providing a brake light of sorts, by brightening as you slow down."

I think that the core competencies of the light work fine, with it being very bright and also showing the speed to a sufficient degree to allow those behind to have a good knowledge of how to pass you. However, the brake light aspect is relatively unpredictable, sometimes working and sometimes not.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

The VeloCityLight; 48 LEDs giving out between 60 to 180 lumens, with integrated brake light function, speed display when linked to ANT/ANT + sensor, USB rechargeable1800mAh internal battery offering 6 to 14 hours of continuous use. Also comes with a micro USB cable and seat post attachment.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10

The light itself is solid and could probably survive being dropped a few times. The bracket lets it slip round my seatpost, which isn't ideal as it can catch the back of your legs while pedalling.

Rate the product for performance:
 
6/10

Bright light works well, pumping out a huge amount of light, and the speed seems to display well. Let down by the brake light function, though, which is unpredictable.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Seems like it would last a long time and the battery is also impressive given that it uses fairly low powered LEDs.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10

OK weight for a light, especially one of this size that pumps out so much light.

Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

For a light that twists like it did, £50 isn't ideal. That said, it is unique in its ability to show speed to those behind and the brake light feature certainly sets it apart, so may be able to justify this price for those looking for this original element.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

The core components of being very bright, visible and showing speed worked very well. But it was slightly let down by an unpredictable brake light and twisting bracket.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The brightness is very impressive and I liked that it was a conversation starter on the road, people were very curious about it.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The twisting bracket was annoying, but luckily one that is easily remedied in the next version.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Not with my current seatpost, maybe with another bracket.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? If they were looking for safety, then yes.

Use this box to explain your score

It does what it says, but falls slightly short in terms of the brake light and bracket. If these issues can be solved in the next version the marks would be higher.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 27  Height: 6 ft  Weight:

I usually ride: Cannondale Supersix Evo 6  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Under 5 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

George is the host of the road.cc podcast and has been writing for road.cc since 2014. He has reviewed everything from a saddle with a shark fin through to a set of glasses with a HUD and everything in between. 

Although, ironically, spending more time writing and talking about cycling than on the bike nowadays, he still manages to do a couple of decent rides every week on his ever changing number of bikes.

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14 comments

Avatar
muppetteer | 8 years ago
1 like

Followed a bike with one of these around Hyde Park Corner, and through it was great.  Really visible as a rear light, and the speed was relatively accurate. I could see from a distance they were going a fair pace. The increased brightness when braking seemed to  work as described, and I didn't see much of a lag. 

It might appear as a novelty, but it made me look when the numbers changed with the riders speed. I can't see how that could be bad?

Avatar
timbola replied to muppetteer | 8 years ago
1 like
muppetteer wrote:

Followed a bike with one of these around Hyde Park Corner

That was probably me, actually - my usual route from and to Paddington Station  1

Avatar
timbola | 8 years ago
2 likes

OK, everybody, now it is my turn to review MY VeloCityLight.  I was one of the "investors" who waited patiently for more than a year while the (unsuccesfully) Kickstarted VeloCityLight came to fruition.
I got mine shortly before we went to Italy on our summer holiday - bikes included.  It was used throughout that time and my two sons found the light incredibly useful when following me down windy, dodgily-surfaced Umbrian roads, knowing what speed I was doing coming into a bend and when I braked.  Motivation for my eldest son who does much less cycling, was an added benefit, particlarly when climbing several-kilometre-long hills.
I commute , partially in the Cotswolds and partially in London during the week and the reaction I have received from drivers and fellow cyclists alike has been extremely positive.  The light is really bright, something of great benefit during daylight hours, too.  The fact that drivers have spoken to me, indicating that it has been useful to them, must go some way to endorsing one of the ideas behind the light, namely alerting followers of my presence.  The suggestion that numbers, changing ones at that, are more of an alert than a mere light appears to be confirmed by other road users, albeit not by a few sceptical cyclists who viewed it as a bit of a gimmick.  Drivers have been able to see the numbers clearly without being "too close", by the way.  I would like to add, incidentally, I always ride with 2 front lights and 2 rear lights, one of which is of a more "conventional" design.
I have had NO issues with my legs rubbing on the light and NO issues with the bracket slipping on the seatpost.  I am not suggesting for a moment that the reviewer was unique in having a problem there.  I am simply stating it was not a problem for me.  Battery life before re-charging has been absolutely fine for my commuting and it recharges rapidly via a USB port.  Brake light functinality appeared to be pretty respectable, with the possible exception of sub-6mph (approx) speeds, but that is normally in slow-moving traffic and not quite so relevant, I suspect.
I would recommend this light without a shadow of a doubt and I am pleased to have been part of the initial take-up.

Avatar
edinburghbike replied to timbola | 8 years ago
1 like
timbola wrote:

OK, everybody, now it is my turn to review MY VeloCityLight.  I was one of the "investors" who waited patiently for more than a year while the (unsuccesfully) Kickstarted VeloCityLight came to fruition.......
I would recommend this light without a shadow of a doubt and I am pleased to have been part of the initial take-up.

Timbola ...Many thanks for this great review !! Much appreciated! 

Avatar
markrjl | 8 years ago
0 likes

Like all toys the novelty may wear off but I have had very positive comments about this light from fellow cyclists. Firstly, it is very easily seen because of it's brightness and size. Apparently the brightest of several lights amongst a few of us in a bunch ride on a foggy morning.  This morning at 6:20 out in a paceline it was apparently motivating some of the other riders to see what speeds we were achieving (not everyone stares at their Garmin in the dark even if they have one). 

Avatar
Must be Mad | 8 years ago
0 likes

Like the idea of a brake light - but I am lost why my speed needs to be flased up behind me. It is so small, might as well flash 'If you can read this, you are too close'

Avatar
psling replied to Must be Mad | 8 years ago
0 likes
Must be Mad wrote:

Like the idea of a brake light - but I am lost why my speed needs to be flased up behind me. It is so small, might as well flash 'If you can read this, you are too close'

 

It'll advise the driver behind if you're riding over 10mph so that they know they aren't allowed to overtake you on a solid white line or dangerous bend/brow. Yeah, right...

Also it may give the driver behind a clue that you are riding faster than they think you are when they overtake you and immediately turn left across you.

On the other hand, it'll probably just provide another distraction but at least they are looking at you.

Avatar
StraelGuy | 8 years ago
0 likes

1 to 2 seconds to detect braking and start flashing?! I've got a see.sense rear light that uses a G sensor like a smartphone does and, despite other short-comings, the brake brightens and flashes the instant you touch the brakes.

Avatar
edinburghbike replied to StraelGuy | 8 years ago
1 like
guyrwood wrote:

1 to 2 seconds to detect braking and start flashing?! I've got a see.sense rear light that uses a G sensor like a smartphone does and, despite other short-comings, the brake brightens and flashes the instant you touch the brakes.

Not entirely sure how the reviewer determined this as  it works using an accelerometer (independent of the numbers) so it is based on momentum (just like the see sense).  I think the reviewer is referring to the numbers changing not the brightness.  As the bike slows the wheel sensor picks up less frequent updates and adjust the speed reading accordingly (just like a cycle computer)  He mentions that the speed is less accurate than his computer, in fact the wheel sensor is using the same ant + signal as his computer so it cant be ...unless his computer is only using GPS in whch case the light is probaby more accurate as it doesn tneed to reach a satellite and bounce back....

 

 

Avatar
CygnusX1 replied to edinburghbike | 8 years ago
2 likes
edinburghbike wrote:

unless his computer is only using GPS in whch case the light is probaby more accurate as it doesn tneed to reach a satellite and bounce back....

That's not how GPS works. Nothing is bounced up to a satellite and back.

 Nerd mode activated 

The satellites transmit a signal with the current time and their position and course, and your GPS receiver (cycle computer, mobile phone) works out how long it took to reach it and since the signal travels at speed of light, it can  determine the distance from the satellite.

This basically puts you somewhere on the edge of a circle.  It does this for 3 different satellites at once and works out your position as where the three circles intersect.

Since the time taken for the signal to arrive is important, the satellites all have synchronised atomic clocks, but your GPS receiver doesn't (unless you have a very expensive one) but there's a clever sequence of codes that allows it to synch up.

To calculate your speed, the GPS receiver works out your position now, compares that to where you were a moment ago and the distance between those two points divided by the time is your speed. So if you have moved 5.5 metres in one second then you are moving at 20km/h.

  Nerd mode de-activated 

Avatar
mike the bike replied to CygnusX1 | 8 years ago
3 likes
CygnusX1 wrote:
edinburghbike wrote:

unless his computer is only using GPS in whch case the light is probaby more accurate as it doesn tneed to reach a satellite and bounce back....

That's not how GPS works. Nothing is bounced up to a satellite and back.

 Nerd mode activated 

The satellites transmit a signal with the current time and their position and course, and your GPS receiver (cycle computer, mobile phone) works out how long it took to reach it and since the signal travels at speed of light, it can  determine the distance from the satellite.

This basically puts you somewhere on the edge of a circle.  It does this for 3 different satellites at once and works out your position as where the three circles intersect.

Since the time taken for the signal to arrive is important, the satellites all have synchronised atomic clocks, but your GPS receiver doesn't (unless you have a very expensive one) but there's a clever sequence of codes that allows it to synch up.

To calculate your speed, the GPS receiver works out your position now, compares that to where you were a moment ago and the distance between those two points divided by the time is your speed. So if you have moved 5.5 metres in one second then you are moving at 20km/h.

  Nerd mode de-activated 

 

I think you've got that wrong Mr Cygnus.  My understanding is that your GPS unit sends a radio signal, very close to the Radio 2 frequency, to the International Space Station.  The Russian chap on board listens carefully - it's usually 'Power of Love' by Frankie Goes to Hollywood - and, depending on the level of distortion, he can figure out pretty accurately where you are.  Obviously people in the South have a clear, strong signal while those unfortunates who live further North tend to fade in and out.  The Russky then transmits a morse code version of your position to your handlebars, which act as a very efficient antenna, and from there it goes to your Apple Watch.

What's that you say?  You don't have an Apple Watch?  In that case nobody wants to know where you are, or even if you are coming back.  GPS is not for you sir! 

Avatar
mike the bike | 8 years ago
0 likes

Another of the annoying things that initially look attractive but soon lose their novelty.  But hey,   it's your money.

Avatar
seven | 8 years ago
0 likes
Quote:

After a successful 2014 Kickstarter campaign

Correction: the Kickstarter failed but they went ahead anyway.

Avatar
velodinho | 8 years ago
0 likes

Nope. Don't really see the need for it. Good luck though.

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