Security and simplicity are at the heart of Sparse bicycle lights
« Back to Article
The Sparse team spent more than a year testing, refining, and studying not just what went right with the prototypes, but also what was going wrong
CAD rendering of the Spacer Light
The front light has been dubbed the Spacer Light since it's installed just below the handlebar stem, in the stack of spacers
The appropriately-named Tail Light slides onto a seat post and is clamped in place
Four rear-facing, board-mounted red LEDs are flanked by two more at either side for one watt of output (30 to 50 lumens) that's reported to yield a super-wide spill
The Spacer Light is compatible with both threaded and threadless headset setups
The Sparse team says that your lights should not be uglier than your bike
Both lights feature die-cast aluminum outer casings and a double lens that's been IP-4-sealed against moisture
The Tail Light gives off 30 to 50 lumens of light in a super-wide spill
The designers say that the 3-watt white LED gives off between 130 and 220 lumens
Being installed below the handlebar stem means that the light produced always points in the direction of travel
Each light is powered by its own custom Li-pol battery that's charged via micro-USB, just like a smartphone
The Spacer Light and Tail Light from San Francisco's Sparse Lights
The lot of a city cyclist is not an easy one. After successfully dodging and weaving through obstacles like holes, debris and even other road users, surviving being squeezed off the road by aggressive drivers or getting choked by exhaust fumes, even a quick stop at the local coffee shop for a rewarding cuppa before the final push home is not without risk. Sadly, securing your frame to a nearby post is no guarantee that some vital component won't be missing when you return. San Francisco's Sparse Lights has designed some great looking, theft-resistant and durable front and rear LED lights that, once installed, become as much a part of your bike as the brakes, grips and seat.
« Back to Security and simplicity are at the heart of Sparse bicycle lights
Other Images from this Gallery
Related Articles