With the increase of accidents involving cyclists being given the opportunity to test out a new and innovative light for Lumicycle was an opportunity not to be missed. The Lumicycle Insight uses a series of cree leds to give out 50 lumens during normal riding but when the brakes are applied an internal accelerometer activates all leds giving a brake light of 200 lumens! What better warning could you give to road and trail users behind you.
Before you get to pull the unit out of the box the attention to detail is apparent. Opening the Lumies tin the light and accessories are enveloped within a foam cocoon. The unit itself is a mix of plastic and aluminium is larger than a lot of other brands however its function splits this apart from its contenders.
The unit isn't light compared to most standard rear lights. At 119g it's 3.5 times heavier than my current Moon Crescent light.
The light can be secured to the seat post either horizontally or vertically allowing for seatpost height or saddle bags. Two green bands similar to those used on Magicshine lights hold the light securely might not fit in with everyone's colours scheme but work well all the same. Four alternative fixing clips cater for different sized seat posts. Perhaps after sale accessories such as alternative coloured bands and a seat stay mount may be of appeal to some users especially those with short seatposts and a saddle bag.
Despite its size I had no issues with having the light on the seatpost together with a saddle bag although it was crucial to ensure that the bolt between the unit and the bracket is secure to avoid the light angle slipping. Perhaps in this instance Lumicycle could benefit from a maximum torque measurement to ensure no part of the unit is damaged.
The benefits of the lights are apparent even in daylight. Those, who like me, feel they sometimes experience that close call from traffic would see a benefit to these. I found that other road users were more aware of my actions. A prime example of its safety benefits that I have experienced is approaching a junction from a decent where speed is possibly too high to comfortably start signalling. The sensitivity of the unit warns those behind that I'm slowing giving me some added comfort.
Battery life claims are approximately 24 hours however I have yet to determine what my unit can deliver. I have safely ridden for 10 hours straight without the battery warning indicator coming on which already outperforms my previous lights. That said I still haven't charged it and it's still been going strong on a number of rides since.
As with any product there are always some niggles which a user may experience. I also seem to struggle with longevity with lights with some rear lights only lasting a month before complete failure. As previously mentioned the bolt fixing needs to be tight to the point you have concerns about potentially damaging the unit. Following a 120 mile ride in bleak weather the unit did have condensation in the lower section of the lense however this did clear after a short while of using the unit again. The seat post bracket has a green silicone type backing to protect your seatpost. This has started to distort so perhaps spares would be useful for future replacement.
Just like taking a pump and tube on every ride this smart little unit has become a piece of kit that I will ensure is taken on every ride.
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