At a glance A welcome high-viz addition to any commuting bike, but they are slightly heavier than normal pedals and create a very slight but noticeable resistance
Tested by
Claire Maxted
Performance
Pedalite's strapline is "Making Cycling Safer", and with the Pedal Lights, they definitely achieve this. These 360 degree light spilling pedals scream, "Give me space I'm on a biiiiike!" through the night. When using these fearsomely bright pedals, cars gave me more space than usual on my daily commute to work, which in winter takes place entirely under the cover of darkness. These eco-friendly light up pedals are powered by, you guessed it, pedal power, as fast or as slow as you like. There are no parts to maintain and they are easily fitted in place of your normal flats and although much more chunky-looking (9.5cmx9.5cmx2.5cm) and heavier at 520g per pair, they only create slightly more resistance.
I especially like the way that after you have been pedalling for about 5 minutes, the Pedal Lights don't plunge you straight into darkness when you stop. They keep flashing their red, orange and white LEDs (which are visible up to 1km away) on every side for at least five minutes while you scan the dark road for traffic. This is great for waiting at road junctions because 75% of cycling accidents happen at or near them [source RoSPA] as cyclists fail to be seen from the side. The grip the Pedal Lights provide is good, however it is easy to start cycling with them upside down, which turns the LED combination into white at the back and red at the front. They are also not compatible with clip-in shoes which may put off more experienced riders, but you can get optional toe clips. It is also important to remember that these lights are relatively low to the ground compared to cars and buses, so they are an addition to rather than a substitute for high-viz clothing and regular bike lights.
Buy from www.pedalite.com
Pedalite says:
Pedalite Pedals are the unique battery-free peal lights for bicycles that have been designed to make cyclists more visible to motorists day and night, from a distance of upto1km away and from any angle, including the side. As soon as you start pedalling the Pedalite pedals uniquely harvest and store a small amount of energy so the lights continue to flash when the cyclist is freewheeling or has stopped at a road junction.
- Flashes front, back & sides when pedalling starts for 360° visibility
- Keeps flashing even when pedalling stops (up to 5 mins.)
- Visible 1 km (over half a mile) away
- Very simple, standard fit on all adult & child bikes
- No batteries, no maintenance: fit & forget!
- Tough & durable with a full 1 year warranty
- Non slip surface and super grip studs
- Compatible with the Pedalite toe clip
- Making cycling safer worldwide; award winning
Find out more www.pedalite.com
