Cobi smart biking system launches at £100 + video

Hi truffy,

Actually with either a battery included, a dynamo connection or an ebike battery connection it should solve the smartphone battery issue for many users.

The Cateye Strada Smart does not help with route finding.

But it's not a challenge to the Garmin (or Mio etc for that matter). GPS will still rely on your smartphone, with all the battery concerns, and there are already solutions out there (e.g. Cateye Strada Smart) if all you want is a gutless head to your phone.

As competition for a Garmin 1000 I would think they would be very worried. Will be seen by many as a game changer.

Kind of like comparing an iPod to HiFi separate components. Those who have invested in and carefully chosen the separate components won't get it. Everyone else will get lots of extra functions and won't notice the specific limitations over dedicated lights/gps etc while also saving a fortune.

"I love biking, but I was so tired of looking down at my handlebars and seeing a whole mess of unintegrated gadgets, one for music, one for speed, another for heart race tracking,”

Oh. Take 'em off then

Seriously, "100 intelligent features"? The mind boggles.

Great idea. Lovely bit of kit. A lot of potential for future add-ons and technical enhancements. I would defo have one - if it was it was around the £50 mark. Unfortunately I don't have a money tree in the garden. Bike clothing, accessories and components are so expensive these days (never mind the bike).

It would work well on a dynamo hub, because what sort of mega-battery would power all those features without needing a nightly recharge?

"I wish I hadn't taken that call from my boss and listened to the Lady Gaga album on the trails, because now my headlight won't come on and I can't even ring my digital bell to console myself."

Looks neat. I could put that on my fixie / commuting bike.

The reason I prefer separate devices is that each knows how to do its own job best & you don't have an issue with battery life. To keep that lot going I suspect you may have to look out your old rusting dynamo & try to get it working or spend £00's on a new hub. Also if it's nicked/broken/starts raining, you've lost the lot !
Don't let me put you off investing tho'

Would i take away what cycling is all about? The feel and sound of the wind in your ears, finding new routes, getting lost in the countryside, leaving for a century not knowing if you are going to get rained on 20 minutes later etc etc these are the pleasures i ride for. Not to 'looked after' by a phone app. I ride to escape my busy life, forget about phones, weather, work and everything else apart from the sound of my gears and tyres on the road. Saying that i think its ok, but i wouldnt have one. OLD SCHOOL all the way for me.

Braking and turn signals? No car driver is looking for those, so you still have to signal turns with your arms.

Headlight? Don't see why you need to control that from a smartphone, they're either on or off.

Everything else can be done on your average smartphone anyway.

Nice technology, but ultimately no better than what's around already IMO.

"One for music"?

Rubber on tarmac sounds good enough to me.

Ok that's pretty cool.