We've seen some bike-centric
GPS devices and
sound systems in the past, but we've never seen a device that actually encourages you to ride around while staring down at a screen -- which is probably the fatal flaw with the Cerevellum bicycle rearview monitor. The prototype unit shown here features a 3.5-inch screen and a 4-hour battery life, along with 32MB of storage for workout data and four USB ports for expansion modules. The Cerevellum is expected to cost some $200 when it goes into production, and the company says it's developing GPS and heart-rate monitor modules to ship soon after -- all far better uses of a handlebar mounted screen than a rearview camera that accomplishes nothing a quick look over the shoulder can't get you, we think.
[Via
Be Sportier]
posted Dec 20th 2007 4:33PM
I think 32 MB is too small for my purposes. To fit even one of my bike rides in memory would require 25 GB for SDTV, for HDTV, at least 100 GB, possibly 200 GB.
A 1 TB drive could record even my longest rides, with room left over to accommodate any edits that my be needed. Another feature worth including is the ability to burn the data on Blu-ray, with the speed, heart rate, and GPS position where the subtitles would normally appear.
hey theres a porshe behind me...splat!
This is a great idea. Many bike accidents are caused by bikers looking back over thier shoulder. If you're not careful you drift in the direction you turn your head, usually right into traffic.
Hey Engadget,
Try riding 100+ miles in a day, and looking over your shoulder every time a car is passing. After a while your neck hurts so much you stop looking, and hope for the best. Not to mention the fact that you are worried about swerving when looking backwards. I was planning on getting a Garmin Edge this year, but now I think I will hold off and see where this device goes...
This is pure briliance
Nilay, perhaps you haven't ridden a bike for awhile. Cranking your head 180 degrees constantly is a, well, pain in the neck. No pun intended.
If that still makes no sense, then why don't we drive our cars, too, by just cranking our heads? Rear view mirrors and back up cameras? Who needs 'em!
When you're out on a bike sharing the road with two and three thousand pound hunks of metal moving 30-50 mph, you're at greater risk than anything else; so who wouldn't want greater awareness of what's going on around them without having to crank their head around constantly, possibly losing their balance while doing so, and completely taking their eyes off of what's in front of them?
No, this thing is/will be one of the most intelligent and useful devices/accessories to come out for a bicyclist in ages. And I'm not one of those guys who rides a bike everywhere or takes day or week long biking trips, but I'd still buy one of these. Definitely a worthwhile investment and something I'd snag in a heartbeat.
I ride a bike a lot. Over 500 miles every month and I'll get this the minute I see it available.
Can they hook it up to one of the generators that attach to your wheel to improve the battery life ?
now, that is genius! well, thought, mister, definitely practical.
Oh no, it's happening. Engadget has become self-aware.
Actually, this is better than looking over the shoulder, as it gives you a better reaction time, and, looking over the shoulder, sometimes causes you to loose balance
What I don't know is if it's worth the $200
It's great for racing!
Sorry mate ;)
Didn't catch your comment :(
So now I have to say what I was thinking so you know why I was thinking it, or something like that :P
I ride a bicycle a bit (A road bike skinny little tires...) and by looking behind it really does increase your chances of losing your balance and of course causing a crash (Could be fatal you know...)
So I can imaging only having to look down vs looking over your shoulder would make a big difference.
Now I wonder if I could mount one of these on my main source of transportation- a Motorcycle...
looking over your shoulder ... causes you ... to lose balance?
@ indysmack
Thanks, english isn't my native language... but I'm slowly learning :-D
It will sell. Would like to see this combined with a gps unit like the new Garmin Edge 605/705's.
Thats the best thing I've heard yet.
This combined with a GPS would rock, if they made it so it will work on a MOTORCYCLE- they would sell a boat load more. In a tuck position behind my windscreen on my bike I can't see my mirrors... this would make freeway-speed lane changes much safer.
Yes! Motorcycle. Make one or not for them, riders will get this and MacGuyver it to work. Depending on your riding gear and mirror placement, sometimes there are HUGE blind spots requiring you to look back, which is much riskier at 75 on wet roads with SUV-tards riding in your blinds.
$200 sounds nice too. I would guess the GPS addon wouldn't come cheaply though, which would be what would make me buy it if I could afford it.
It's a rear view mirror for a bike. Think of how useful it is on your car! If you can't think of it, try taking your rear view mirror off and see how blind you feel when you don't have it.
Excellent invention, and it doesn't stick out the side of your bike like traditional mirrors do.
But on a car you have seats and other objects in the way... On a bike there is nothing. I'm not sure this is a good idea, cool it is, but practical I think not...
@ Technex:
You obviously have never ridden a bike on the road have you? As other posters have mentioned, it is quite difficult to look behind whilst riding due to the restrictions in movement from posture (unless you are willing to ride one handed at 40kph during rush hour) and gear such as a helmet, bag etc.
Up until now the only safe options were mirrors mounted either on the handlebars or on the helmet. Neither are very cool, and can even be rather impractical as they tend to snag on branches etc.
Admittedly, $2oo is a bit steep, but I for one am interested.
@Twitchy
I used to ride my bike to work everyday 22 miles everyday there and back done in 20 mins each way, unlike most people here I used to ride by bike as a kid non-stop. And that's up hills, xc, etc...
Mongoose Tyax Elite... Google it if you wish.
I have no problem looking over my handle bars, and you shouldn't judge me because your limited skills.
Get a proper bag, then it won't get in your way and/or learn to ride.
@technex
Easy, boy. Calm down.
I laugh when I think about you getting to work after cycling at an average of 60mph...
"Unlike most people here I used to ride by bike as a kid non-stop". What?
Arrogance causes bicycle accidents; and misconceptions about cyclists. This device can only help. Go away
@Jreg
You're one of those idiots that watch your GPS/TV screen when driving correct? I bet you are...
It's called Cross country, not roads, no cars dumbass...
tech, I've been a bicyclist since I was a child, and I have seen a number of people get in bad accidents because of the type of arrogance you're exuding. btw, I want your rocket bike, it sounds hot. 11 miles in 20 minutes? I don't see many 30+mph xc bikes out where I'm at.
btw, I have a Miyata Team Carbon, rolling with a sugino 75 carbon grouppo. one of 20 imported from japan.
I also have a jamus XC and Dakota, and a trek liquid 30, and a fuji police, and a few hand-made italian racers, and so on... I also don't like looking over my shoulder, be it off OR on road. it throws off your center of gravity, and causes you to pull to one side.
"used to ride my bike to work everyday 22 miles everyday there and back done in 20 mins each way"
33 mph on AVERAGE?? Excuse me for doubting that.
@Mike
Whoa nice bike, I would love a carbon but a little to expensive (other hobbies)...
I'm not the kind of rider that gets into accidents, infact the only one I had was when some idiot kid on a BMX rode his bike in front of me... Scratched forks but nothing else luckily...
Yeah I average around 30mph, I am pretty tired when I get to work but it's fun. Just gotta watch out for the cars in a few places. Going back I'm a little slower normally 30mins as it's got some more uphill.
@Jeebus
Believe what you want, I don't really mind. It's not really hard once you've been cycling for a while.
Looking over ones shoulder while biking is never fun. Not only can you not see much, especially when you're wearing a backpack, but you can lose your balance and stray into other lanes. Which means into other cars, in front of other cars, the curb, or, if you're really unlucky, off a bridge. While I'd never buy one myself (I'd end up trying to put on movies and watch those in stead of the road), it may be useful for some hardcore (rich) commuters.
Anecdotal evidence that this could be useful: I've actually hit a parked pickup truck looking over my shoulder to see if it was clear behind me so I could turn. My shoulder was skinned up and my ego was severely bruised - no damage to the truck, and nothing broken.
Granted, I'm no pro rider obviously, but I would rather shell out a little dough than have a reason to find out if my company has long-term disability.
I know carbon fiber bikes are fast and all, but they're not road-legal, are they?
what on earth are you talking about?!
Why wouldn't they? Hell, I've seen cars on the road that aren't street legal. As long as it has front and rear reflectors, it's good to go.
just find it odd that the rear-view of a bike shows a highway... I don't think anyone could keep up that pace long :p
Perfectly street legal. A cyclist has the legal right to use the lane too.
How many years has it been since you were in a bike shop? Carbon fiber is everywhere.
Actually bikes are illegal on alot if not all highways, along with farm implements, mopeds, amish in buggies and a few other slow moving vehicles.
Cycling on the highways is not prohibited everywhere--it's legal in a lot of areas in the rural western US.
Ah. I just have difficulty imagining someone biking along the freeways of New Jersey, which is what the picture made me think of :p
I'm not even sure that's an actual highway on the image. It's weird because it's a double lane, but at the same time it has something that looks like a bike lane on the left part of the image. It could just be a busy road and not a highway.
Thats what I was going to say Phil :P
Actually, that's what I said.. but no one gave me high rank :-(
Ifit plays movies, you'd have something to watch on those long boring cycling marathons....perhaps something motivational like "Breaking away" playing on this thing would help improve your time.... Perhaps not.
does it play mp4s?
I would be really worried about this thing being..."liberated" from my bike while it's chained up outside a Starbucks.
If you go to Starbucks you get what you deserve.
Most (if not all) high end stuff for bikes comes with a quick-release clamp so you can toss it in your bag when you hop off.
Now whether the camera will also have a quick release clamp, and furthermore whether it'll be worth the effort, is another story.
You mean expensive shitty coffee?
but seriously, like stillen said, it's a rearview mirror. do you see people being distracted by it?
If they are checking out how good they look, then yes.
I rode my bike 1200 miles across the U.S. this summer and would of killed for one of these when I was on some busy roads.
Anyone who commutes by bike in a city would likely appreciate this. I ride 15Km twice a day through Toronto, and although expensive, it wouldn't be the most expensive part on my bike.
If it's weatherproof and useful at night, I'd buy one for $200.
Oh yeah, no doubt....My saddle cost about half as much as that thing
I feel this is a pretty good invention/product. It will sell, and will be quite useful for those who might not be the best "biker" but still need to see whats going on.
Not only do I think this will sell for bicycles, but I feel it will for motorcycles as well, as on a motorcycle (especially the sport bikes), the rear view mirrors create a good deal of drag, and having the ability to remove those without removing the functionality would mean better acceleration, higher top speed, and better fuel economy.
I think it's a great idea. Approaching cars usually can't be heard until they're right on top of you, as when riding through the countryside, and turning around is actually quite dangerous, moreso than when driving a car.
MTV's new show: Pimp My Bike. Next thing you know, they'll be fitting a Xbox 360 or PS3 to that.
Al you should google Pimp My Bike
I'd buy one if it also records so I can get the license plate number of the guy who hit me.
If it has a quick release so it wouldn't get stolen, sign me up.
As I sit here recovering from surgery in a neck brace after having a 2 level fusion to my cervical spine I can appreciate a device like this.
I get the strange feeling that those of you bashing this idea haven't ridden a bike since your early teens on a quiet suburban street. For the modern urban road cyclist this is a lot safer than constantly checking over your shoulder.
Hmmm, I just have a little rear view mirror I got for like $10 from a bike shop strapped on my handle bar, I see perfectly without having to turn my head around
Killjoy. What are you doing posting to a gadget blog?? I think I hear Mother Earth News calling you...
Not on corners you don't.
I wear glasses that limit my peripheral vision, requiring my head to turn even further than normal to see anything behind me.
I, for one, would pay 200$ for this. BUT seeing as how I like to think of myself as a maker, there has to be an DIY solution.
jps, have you tried eyeglass-mounted mirrors? They work great.
If this will do cadence, and have wireless sensors, and maybe allow for 5 minute record time (record the asshat coming up really close, or the cleavage of that gal drafting you!) then I'm buying two!
Seriously, this was needed years ago. Let's hope its lightweight too.
one could always mount the camera forward, and then stay more aerodynamic with your head tucked... course you could also get your ass kicked for being too much off poser. I like to see someone park their bike for a split second around my neighborhood and not expect the screen to get ripped off... literally!
This'd be a whole lot better if it actually recorded the video. That way when you get nailed by a Ford F150, the cops have to actually cite the guy because there's actual video evidence. Otherwise it's just another hit-and-run.
'We' think the rear view system for a bicycle is a pretty good idea! Down the road, when you're older, you'll come to appreciate things that don't make you have to move more than you must. That quick look over the shoulder is/can be a killer.
Awesome idea, anything that helps you be safe on a bicycle = more people riding bicycles = good for everyone
Its perfect for riding your bike and listening to music. cause you don't always have the auditory capacity to hear the cars.
Riding with headphones is illegal and deadly. If you want to ride with music, get this from iHome:
http://www.ihomeaudio.com/products.asp?product_id=10186&dept_id=1007
for parallel parking?
I like this. I have been biking all my life, and depend on my rear view. Problem with the rear view is it's ugly and it extends out into traffic. So it is not ideal. This setup would give you a no dead zone view. As far as just looking over your shoulder, I agree with the other posters, it sucks. Looking back means that you lose at least 2 or 3 seconds of your forward view, and a lot can happen in 3 seconds like a car pulling out in front or a door opening...
My only concern would be brightness. I would be very surprised if you could see the screen in bright sun, and at night I assume the camera would not work well. Having all you data like cadence, speed etc right there would be good too, but I assume that that costs extra, one of those "modules" they talk about.
The battery life is totally inadequate as well.
Expensive, yes. Overkill, no. If you have never used a rearview mirror, while cycling you may not appreciate the advantage of having one. Yes, just like car drivers, cyclist need to be able to look behind. Not having to take your eyes off the road, and check behind makes this product excellent. With all the additional features give you a heads-up display. There are many products that have features such as GPS and heart rate monitor, but this is the first that has integrated a rearview monitor into the design. I wish I thought about this product.
Being a cyclist, I live by my handlebar mirror. Without it, cars (usually German, cell phones usually at the wheel, VWs in particular if I'm within 1 mile of a Trader Joes) would have bumped me off long ago. The only thing I can't see are the a-holes coming up behind me in their pickup trucks throwing their garbage at me - mirror is too small and aimed at tires/bumpers. A cam may offer a better view, but all the vibrations on a bike frame may cause the image to be too shaky to see that arm wielding McTrash coming up.
"encourages you to ride around while staring down at a screen"
WTF?
I hope you don't drive your car looking up on your rearview mirror alone. SMF!
Seriously. Nilay Patel, do you ride a bicycle? No one needs to continuously stare at the screen. Why does this device "encourage" anyone to ride and stare at the screen? Do car navigation devices "encourage" drivers to drive and stare at the device? Go ahead and keep doing those "quick looks over the shoulder" while I use my eyeglass mounted mirror or perhaps this camera display in the future.
To those of you who claim you can ride "just fine" with a standard mirror: Try that again while going 40+ mph on the edge of a highway with a sharp gravel shoulder to your right and a semi truck passing you on your left. Let me know how it goes.
The killer for me is the 4-hour battery life. That makes it fine for commutes, but not for racing or long recreational rides.
Also, I have to add: Very nice, but will it play Doom?
Last summer, while riding my my 1200/R I was rear-ended, my bike was totaled and I was hospitalized.
The thing to remember is, although a motorcycle has two mirrors, directly behind the rider is a blind spot.
So if they make a version for motorcycles, count me in!
As a cyclist, I have to agree with the "real" riders. Seems most of the negative comments are coming from people who haven't spent much time on a bike.
As for motorcycle use- the stronger gyro forces of heavier wheels and rims make it a little less sensitive to change in posture.
I'd pay $200, but I expect price to come down a little.
Is that a carbon fiber bike???
This actually could come in useful when speeding down hills. The wind in your ears keeps you from hearing cars approaching from behind, and a turn of the head can cause many problems. On the other hand a rear view mirror also works.
Impractical?
I don't think so. This is way better than looking behind. And I think this can also be installed on a motorcycle or even a car :)
"Cerevellum bike rearview monitor might be a little overkill"
Ya think?
Beware of death over shoulder "or" spare 200!
Actually if it has a wide enough field of view and a large enough screen I would like the rear view. I can not see out of my left eye so I have a VERY limited field of view and its very very hard for me to turn around and see behind me and stay right side up (because I have to turn ALL the way around)
It should record. That way if a driver hits or "buzzes" a cyclist they can be found. A few million of those incidents reported to the police with evidence might help drivers get into the habit of leaving a safety cushion between their car and the cyclists they pass.
The 32 MB capacity seems rather skimpy. If it has a 100 GB+ capacity and records 1080i, I would get it. Perhaps have an anti-theft feature that can be used to track the bike when it is stolen.
Something like this on my motorbike would be great.
I wonder if the image from the camera is flipped left to right. Otherwise you'll see a car coming up behind you on one side (and your brain will expect it to pass you on the same side... whether you know it to be true or not) and the car will go past on the other side.
If the image isn't flipped it won't be like a true mirror, and could actually be quite confusing in busy traffic
it's a great idea though.
Hate to be a killjoy, but why not one of these:
http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/500/37-6642-NCL-FRONT.jpg
They're cheap, they work and they've been around for years.
And how do you expect that to be useful under my helmet?
http://www.gusmanmoto.com/img/gallery/prodotti-641-362.jpg
If you're using that helmet on a bicycle, then I think a rear-view would be the least of your problems ;-)
I've got a Blackburn rear-view mirror that attaches to the end of the handle bar, and it works perfectly fine for $20.
Why not just buy a side view mirror for your bike? I'll bet a side view mirror only costs about $15 and it does the same exact thing as this new gadget.
I'm guessing you don't ride a motorcycle.