BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Hammerhead Navigation of the US has created a system for cyclists to navigate streets and trails with a handlebar-mounted left/right LED light array. The LEDs provide turn-by-turn directions, including when you’ve reached your destination. The device works with the Hammerhead smartphone app and there are plans to mesh with other navigation apps, such as the free cycle satnav app from Bike Hub.
Once a route is selected, the Hammerhead app communicates via Bluetooth, allowing the smartphone to remain safely stashed away with its screen turned off.
Hammerhead will also work with Strava and MapMyRide, showing speed relative to other riders at any given point in the segment.
The device can be easily clipped on and off city bike rental bikes. Hammerhead also doubles as a bike light for night visibility, incorporating a headlight and two side lights.
Hammerhead founder and CEO Piet Morgan of South Africa said:
"We think there is a huge gap in the biking market, in which we can not only promote safer, more frequent bike riding, but also leverage existing smartphone hardware rather than duplicating it as is done by standalone GPS units.”
Hammerhead sought $145,000 on crowd-funding website Dragon Innovation. Last night the firm broke through the target and has now achieved forward orders of $149,000 from 1191 backers and there’s still five more days to go.
