Welcome back to Tech of the Week, a return after last week’s Velofollies action. So, what’s happened this week then? The big headlines were reserved for some rather large job cuts at Canyon and Paris-Roubaix-winning on-the-fly tyre pressure adjustment innovator Gravaa declaring bankruptcy, but we’ll try to keep things a bit more positive here.
After all, Blue Monday is done. January, almost completed. The weekend’s here, so let’s all have a gander at some new cycling tech that caught our eye this week and look forward to a year of sunnier, warmer days and long bike rides
Tech company’s €1.5m launch of AI camera safety system for cyclists, featuring collision and pothole warnings
“Step into any modern car and you are protected by decades of safety innovation. While such Advanced Driver Assistance Systems are now commonplace, at Luna Systems we are on a mission to bring this same level of safety – at scale – to bikes and powered-two-wheelers.”
That’s the sales pitch from Luna Systems, the people who say they’re working towards “the future of two-wheel safety” and have raised €1.5m in funding to launch a new AI camera safety system for cyclists and motorcyclists.
Luna Systems’ CEO Andrew Fleury reckons opening up its tech to consumers will bring “a new category in cycling safety”. But what are we actually talking about here? The brand says it builds on cycling radar products, such as Garmin’s Varia, the Wahoo Trackr and other similar products we’ve seen from brands such as Lezyne, Bryton and Magene.
It’s set to launch later this year, so we don’t have any pricing info or a complete spec just yet, but Luna has said it wants to offer road and commuter cyclists’ confidence with in-ride proximity warnings, collision and pothole warnings, “intelligent evidence recording”, post-ride mapping of incidents and blackspot identification.
As ever, no amount of tech, hi-vis clothing or awareness is going to help if your path crosses with a careless or dangerous driver distracted or driving recklessly, but Luna reckons its system’s features can offer riders “greater situational awareness through detection of blind spots, close passes, and headway distances — delivered via adaptive AI overlays and audio alerts”.
This all appears to be shown to the rider via a smartphone app, as seen in the video below. We’ve not had word on compatibility with other devices, such as cycling computers, although the visual output seen in the clip below appears quite reliant on a handlebar-mounted smartphone.
Luna CEO Andrew Fleury is in no doubt that some of the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems tech seen in cars will “be just as commonplace on bikes and motorbikes in the coming years” too.
“Six in ten people are still too afraid to cycle in their area,” he suggested. “Fear of mixing in traffic is a crucial barrier preventing people from getting on a bike — especially in busy cities. ARAS (advanced rider assistance systems) can help the bike industry capture new segments, particularly commuter cyclists, where the element of fear is highest.
“In most countries, people will wait years for perfect cycling infrastructure. Meanwhile, technology is already here that can play a huge role in bridging that gap, helping everyone feel safer as they move through their city.
“This funding enables us to accelerate our hardware development and push forward with our mission. We are extremely grateful to all of our shareholders and honoured that Fundracer has come on board. Each member of the Fundracer team has made an incredible contribution to the industry, and we are thankful to benefit from their guidance. We are equally appreciative of EIT Urban Mobility and Enterprise Ireland for their continued support and trust.”
Fundracer is the cycling-focused venture capital firm led by big names from across the bike industry, including René Wiertz, Gerard Vroomen and Andy Ording, the founders of 3T, Cervélo and Zipp respectively.
“Luna’s technology and philosophy exactly align with our vision,” Wiertz commented. “To date, high-level innovation has focused significantly on supporting the needs of professional and experienced cyclists, but to support the industry’s growth as a whole, everyone needs to feel safe navigating busy urban environments.
“After our market consultation, we were impressed by Luna’s ambition and technological competence, and feel they are well placed to lead this mission with their solutions. While radar solutions have captured market attention over the past decade, advancements in AI make vision a better choice from our perspective. Vision AI doesn’t just detect — its data capture capabilities help identify risk blackspots resulting from unsuitable cycling infrastructure, empowering cyclists to map safer routes.”
We’ll keep a close eye on the official launch, expected later this year, and hopefully get our hands on one to tell you exactly what you need to know as soon as possible.
“Bringing professional sports therapy to every athlete”… but only if you’ve got £780 knocking about
You’ve probably seen the pros using these, Urevo reckoning its recovery boots have the potential to give everyone a taste of professional recovery. Now, there is admittedly a rather large caveat to that statement, these aren’t going to be handed out on every street corner up and down the land. No, they still cost £779.99, but Urevo says its tech has been developed to “match the performance on systems typically costing over €10,000”. Either way, it might be a tricky sell saying that offering recovery boots that cost more than a decent entry-level road bike is “bringing professional sports therapy to every athlete”.
Anyway, it’s another product powered by AI, according to the press release, the boots featuring “Smart Massage technology” and 32 “intelligent recovery modes and pro-level pneumatic compression”. The AI part comes from algorithms that “analyse muscle condition in real time and automatically optimise pressure across the leg, dynamically adapting throughout the session to ensure comfort, effectiveness, and targeted relief”. One for the 2026 money no object Christmas gift guide?
Ridley’s E-Noah wins Design and Innovation Award
Last week, we brought you news from Velofollies of Ridley’s Noah going electric, the Belgian brand having described it as its “first aero e-race bike”, a somewhat puzzling title, but I guess there are races out there for electric bikes. It has a TQ HPR40 system, giving riders 40 Nm of torque and 200W of power, customisable via the TQ app.
The battery is 292Wh (with an optional 160Wh range extender), and Ridley claims the complete bike weight is under 11kg. It’ll set you back £6,399 for a complete build with Shimano 105 Di2 but, as the brand pointed out this week, that’s for a now-award-winning bike, the E-Noah picking up a Design & Innovation Award “just days after launch”.
It was apparently “praised by the jury for its seamless motor integration, aerodynamic efficiency and natural ride feel”.
Restrap’s latest bikepacking storage option — the Switch Rack (and it’s also won a Design and Innovation Award)
The Switch Rack from Topeak officially launches on 26 February, it’s the latest UK-made bikepacking/adventure kit from the brand and just like Ridley’s E-Noah won a Design and Innovation Award. It’s a thru-axle mounted aluminium alloy rack that has 64mm spaced bolting on the rack legs for cages, Restrap Switch Panniers or
any other compatible accessories.
Full details are coming closer to launch date but it will be fully compatible with Restrap’s Switch ecosystem and UDH and Transmission hangers. As we say, more details coming soon, but Restrap tells us it has a “quick flip system” for maximum wheel clearance across all bike sizes, has been tested up to 30kg load, weighs just 395g and will retail at £124.99. Oh, and like the E-Noah, it picked up an award this week too.
Look’s Keo Grip cleats get an upgrade
Look has an updated version of its Keo Grip cleats out. What’s changed? Well, Look says the fore-aft grip zones are enlarged and have been redesigned and widened by 2cm.
In short, Look says they’re safer and more durable than non-grip cleats, featuring a longer lifespan and an “optimised contact patch that ensures rock-solid foot stability”.
The “Silent Float technology” also aims for fewer creaking noises or abrasion, and all round hopes for a “smoother, quieter interface with the pedal blade”. There are three float options and Look has priced the updated Grip Cleats at £19.99.
Have you seen our top road bikes of 2025/26 yet?
Months of testing road bikes from across the price spectrum, it all comes down to this. Which bikes made our top 10 and, of course, which one impressed us so much it just had to be road.cc Recommends Road Bike of the Year 2025/26?
In case you missed it:
- Why Van Rysel’s 100km/h concept bike is good for cycling
- Yours for €950: check out Rudy Project’s new 3D-printed titanium glasses
- A wild concept bike, the next generation of fancy carbon wheels, Ridley’s Noah goes electric, SRAM’s 150mm cranks + more from Velofollies 2026
- A ban on drop bars by the organisers of America’s most famous mountain bike race won’t actually solve any problems
- road.cc Recommends Bikes of the Year 2025/26: the best all-road bikes
- road.cc Recommends Bikes of the Year 2025/26: the best road bikes
11 thoughts on “Is this AI cycling camera really “the future of two-wheel safety”? Plus £780 recovery boots, an award-winning e-bike and more”
“The Switch Rack from Topeak”
“The Switch Rack from Topeak” – errr, that should be Restrap!
“Is AI _____ the answer for _
“Is AI _____ the answer for _______?”
no.
hellarob wrote:
Unless the missing parts are “speculation” and “making a quick buck, if you don’t stay in too long”? Or “in marketing” and “keeping up with everyone else who’s now marketing their toaster as ‘driven by AI’ “?
An AI camera? Really? Just
An AI camera? Really? Just buy a damn mirror.
An AI camera? Really? Just
An AI camera? Really? Just buy a damn mirror
And how do either of them help with offences like these?:
https://upride.cc/incident/mm75kbp_tesla_closepass/
https://upride.cc/incident/kx66ufn_audi_closepass/
https://upride.cc/incident/nj69xha_taxi_closepass/
https://upride.cc/incident/sr17lhv_hilux_closepass/
None of those recordings
None of those recordings resulted in prosecutions. A mirror gives you advance warning, which reduces surprise and stress and gives you an opportunity to pull in if you think the vehicle is going to hit you. Close passes don’t bother me. I regard them as inevitable and tolerable. That state of mind is 100% because of my mirror. Without it I’m nervous and wobbly.
Close passes don’t bother me.
Close passes don’t bother me. I regard them as inevitable and tolerable
You are living in a dream world. Have you ever been on a bike?
https://upride.cc/incident/pe69ooc_clio_closepassspeed/
https://upride.cc/incident/yn67mvj_sainsburys44tonner_closepass/
https://upride.cc/incident/4148vz_travellerschoicecoach_closepass/
nick h. wrote:
I’m afraid many people agree with you and in my opinion that is a huge factor in people who start cycling giving it up very quickly after their first few experiences on the road.
I am not comfortable with close passes and I find them intolerable for the above reason which is why I will continune to run cameras and report poor driving to the police. In Gloucestershire we have progressed fom NFA to advisory letters. Hopefully the next step will be warning letters and finally points and a fine. I may be dead by then though.
Bungle_52 wrote:
I’m afraid many people agree with you and in my opinion that is a huge factor in people who start cycling giving it up very quickly after their first few experiences on the road.— nick h.
Exactly. And that’s leaving aside most people who probably haven’t even considered using a bike to make some journeys.
Hard to argue for (provision for) something where the few who are prepared to give it a go may immediately be handed a bad experience.
And also when the existing transport cyclists are sometimes minimise that because we’re inured to it. Or even see being resilient in the face of this as part of “being a cyclist” ( “seen worse”, “I can so everybody could” – until the one which makes us give up).
Or even see being resilient
Or even see being resilient in the face of this as part of “being a cyclist” ( “seen worse”)
Yes, the trolls keep trotting that out on here. A related attempted put-down is ‘I’m careful to only report genuine cases, so I always incite action from those dedicated fellows, the police’. So far, none of these police apologists has responded to my request to show the online video of the offence and the evidence of the claimed action. The present pretender should show us an example of his ‘inevitable and tolerable’ close passing incidents compared with the ones I have cited below, and tell us how the mirror would have helped.
nick h. wrote:
Does your mirror give you advanced warning of the person who is giving you (just about) enough room and then realises they might get a bit close to the bus coming the other way so swerves across towards you at the last minute? Of the person who misjudges your speed and starts cutting in towards the kerb when they are still alongside you? Thought not. Close passes are not inevitable and they should never be regarded as tolerable, do you really think it’s acceptable to be going about your lawful occasions and then to have to pull off the road because it looks like someone driving illegally is going to hit you? I certainly don’t. There is a reason they are against the law (even if the law is not enforced with sufficient regularity).