TRAVEL GEEKS Tech trave�er ON YER BIKE


With spring in the air, foldable bikes are a great way to get around and, if you’re happy to transport them, can add much to a city break


I recently tried out the latest high- tech offering — the Hummingbird. Starting at around £3,500, these aren’t cheap bikes. They don’t pack down as ‘commuter small’ as some I’ve seen on the morning train either. But, the Hummingbird is very lightweight and takes seconds to assemble or fold away. It’s also really good to ride, with single-speed, multi-speed and electric versions available. These bikes look pretty cool, too; perfect for exploring cities and then packing into a car boot. Another space-saver for some essential safety is the


Morpher Flat-Folding Helmet (£109.99 from thefowndry.com). As the name suggests, it packs down flat for easy storage in a backpack or case and surpasses all relevant safety standards. A nice loud bell is also a good


safety feature. The Nello magnetic bell (€24 [£21] from palomarweb. com) is a neat round device that can be attached to your handlebars via a magnetic strip. Upon a light touch it issues a 90dB alert in three sound options. It can also be snapped off the mount and put in a pocket, doubling up as a personal safety alarm. For night riding, Revolights


Eclipse ($149 [£133] from revolights. com) is the most sci-fi looking lighting rig I’ve ever seen on a bike. Rings of LED lights are mounted on the wheel, with white ones at the front and red at the back. As well as giving you 360-degree visibility, you’ll also be very visible to other road users. And the smart brake light is another useful built-in safety feature. The Eclipse+ has integrated indicators too.


GET THE GADGET Blubel


This bicycle bell uses the cycling community to find the safest routes. Connect it to the related smartphone app, input your destination and the system will find the best route based on community experience. This is determined by users ringing the Blubel on their bikes to log a potential hazard. All that data is analysed by the app to offer a route that avoids known


hotspots. You then follow the flashing lights on the face of the bell; they indicate where and when you should turn and a warning sounds just before so you can keep your eyes on the road. The app even tracks your fitness and remembers where you leave your bike. RRP: £79. blubel.co


@katerussell katerussell.co.uk


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TECHNOLOGY REPORTER FOR @BBCCLICK AND AUTHOR OF WORKING THE CLOUD, KATE RUSSELL PICKS THE LATEST INNOVATIONS


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