Cerevellum bike rearview monitor might be a little overkill
By Nilay Patel 
posted December 20th 2007 4:33PM
posted December 20th 2007 4:33PM
[Via Be Sportier]
posted December 20th 2007 4:33PM
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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.