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The coating has been developed at the University of Koblenz in Germany and is being trialled by a small-scale German cycle manufacturer, LIPRA-Furst GmbH of Cologne, who will release product next month.
The first products will be a set of suspension forks for a fully-equipped trekking bike as well as a rear mudguard. The bike will be known as the Pulsaron and will retail for Euros850. The microscopic ‘pulses’ – which are spray-painted onto suitable surfaces – are powered by a watch-battery. Whilst not as bright as traditional LED lights, the greater surface area of a standard application means a Pulsaron-coated product is 3-4 times more conspicious than the brightest LEDs on the market, claims Dr. Peter Asprilla of the University of Koblerz.
The coated forks and the rear mudguard will not, at first, be available to the after-market. The Pulsaron will be available only in limited numbers.
However, the ‘innovations-to-market’ section of the University of Koblenz, which specialises in marketing the academic institution’s hi-tech inventions, is planning to license its paint-on LED techology. Three international LED manufacturers are currently in a bidding war to land the first licensing deal.
The first after-market Pulsaron products could be in the shops this time next year.
Oh, no they won’t. This was an April Fool’s article. There was also a great Andy Armstrong/Vic Reeves stunt on http://www.singletrackworld.com
Were there any other flippant sites out there?
