Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by tarikjn 4129 days ago
As a biker, for this style of bike, if I was to buy a bike today I would prefer BMC's AC01 IGH, which albeit more expensive, has parts which are more standard and for which BMC has made a kit of custom fenders and lights (City Kit lighting): http://www.bmc-switzerland.com/int-en/bikes/lifestyle/mounta...

However I think attempting to mass produce a high-quality smart bike is a very commendable endeavor as it is dearly needed on the market. A great city bike with a good setup for lights, theft security (screws, tracker, lock), low maintenance (belt, hub) easily cost more than a cheap used car and you have to curate all the accessories yourself whereas most of these things com built-in on a car/motorcycle.

1 comments

Something I'd like to add, what's greatly missing in the bicycle world to me is a smart bicycle helmet. My current setup involves:

  * Bell Muni helmet
  * with rear and front flea lights
  * front GoPro
  * jawbone which falls all the time
  * Rudy project glasses with chromatic lenses
We're already talking about over $500 and 4 different batteries.

I have seen some attempts at smart bike helmets, but none doing it right.

Also, I second that the rear proximity sensors and haptic feedback are likely to be a gimmick, I would drop the navigational indicators and place a built-in anti-theft tracker instead. Besides they are easily confused with turn signals for a buyer looking at the bike for the first time.

As an experienced San Francisco city rider, rear sensors are a gimmick as you learn to grow eyes on your back and you already see these things, or it is too late. What matters though is a front camera first, rear camera maybe.