The Citylite Story

Compact bicycle lights without brackets

It’s actually 20 years ago since Lars Beck first got the idea for a compact set of bicycle lights that could snap directly onto the bicycle without requiring a bracket. He approached some of the leading companies within the bicycle industry and ended up selling the design to one of the major players in the bicycle market. Unfortunately the company put the product in the draw. So what do you do if you believe that you have a brilliant idea that you want to see on the market. You take a deep breath and push on. That’s what Lars Beck did anyway and eventually managed to get the product into production and launch it in several countries in Europe. But his troubles were far from over and a competition clause put the adventure on hold. Lars fought hard for several years to keep hold of his patents and that is why Lars now again is on his way out into the world with his bicycle lights – a simple idea that makes life easier and safer for all cyclists and this is at a time when the bicycle is more popular than ever, both at home and around the world.

A brilliant idea and a lump of plasticine

One could write many words about all those years of hard work on Citylite. But if one should mention the key elements in the journey that Lars has travelled, then it started with a lump of plasticine which he rode around with on his handlebar. He knew he had got a brilliant idea, but how could he take it further?

Ups and downs

The right contacts

A brilliant idea is one thing, financing and production is something else. But when you have a passion for something there’s always a solution. Lars began looking for investors for his project and through a number of coincidences brought him to Deloitte and Touche Corporate Finance in Southampton, England. They were so convinced of his idea that they assisted him in writing a business plan and soon Lars was negotiating with some of the largest companies in the bicycle business. The future was looking bright, literally! But then, as it happens all too often with good ideas, it was bought and filed away on strategic grounds. However, that wasn’t much help to Lars, he wanted to see his idea on the market.

Patents and provisions

A brilliant idea can quickly get buried in legalities and economics. In principle, Lars owned the rights to his own product but the company that had bought the rights but never actually produced it objected. Lars spent the next five years fighting to keep his patents in place while taking on a number of different jobs that had nothing to do with design. He always kept a prototype of Citylite in his pocket so that he could remind himself why he was there at times of despair.

Back on his bike and on the road again

A couple of years ago Lars succeeded in finally getting his project back on track with a new and ultimate version called Citylite. Finally the world’s most compact set of bicycle lights will soon be lighting the way for cyclists in cities all over the world. 

It has been a dream for many years but having overcome a number of challenges along the way it began to be a reality again from 2010 and in this connection Lars would like to say thank you to those people who have shown their belief in him and have been willing to support and assist him in realizing his dream come true without any promise of an immediate return. Their support and effort has made all the difference.

The Unending War of Vehicles VS. Bicyclists

Throughout most of the world, cops on the scene of accidents immediately and invariably, assume the cyclist is at fault! Bicycle riders have reason to fear for their lives. In America, The New York Times, in a study of accidents involving a bicycle and a vehicle, asked “Is it O.K. to Kill Cyclists?” Google “cyclist + accident” and you will find that cops on the scene of accidents immediately and invariably, assume the cyclist is at fault! 

Bicycle riders have reason to fear for their lives. 

The Need For Bicycle Lighting So You Can See - And Be Seen! 

For whatever reason, this proven antipathy against bicycle riders by drivers become even more perilous in the dark streets of metropolitan areas, especially noted and reported in New York City since the implementation of their CityBike program. No doubt some of the conflict is caused by bicyclists disregarding traffic laws, but there is a distinct, almost criminal disregard by government to greatly improve bicycle safety by making it mandatory for bicyclists to have a proper lighting system when riding at night.

Citylite: The Ingenious Set of Bicycle Lights That Bath The Cyclist In Dark City Streets! 

World-Class design and industry experts say... 

"Functionality, usability and design are combined in this
compact bicycle light in a highly intelligent way"

“The award “Red Dot” for high design quality, expressing innovation in
form and function in an exemplary manner, is presented to Citylite”
- Red dot jury statements 2012

".....Citylite addresses an important safety topic
and offers bicyclists a novel solution....."
- iF Jury Statement 2013

“...After removal from the bike the lights interlock to form a small, compact package,
whereby the clip holders of the two elements intertwine delightfully with the body
of the lights like ying and yang... Ingenious and simple”
- German Design Award jury statement 2014

Inspiration

Influencer Referral Program. No purchase necessary.

The backer that makes the most referrals to pledge will win the opportunity to design their own handmade bicycle from the exclusive Danish bicycle maker ”Cykelmageren” in Copenhagen worth USD2500 incl. a limited edition Black Citylite with my signature on it. Once the campaign has ended we will contact the winner direct. Please see www.cykelmageren.dk for bicycle details.

Instant installation

Each lamp glides swiftly and easily onto the handlebar and saddle stem.
No brackets! No rubber pads ! No problem!    

Interlocking Design

No more stolen bike lights or carrying around two bulky lights in your pocket. The unique design enables you to simply glide the two lights together into a single neat compact unit that fits conveniently in your pocket after use!

Citylite gives you the highest level of safety

The superior optical and lens design gives a clear focused beam of light that spreads out 220°, making you more visible in traffic on your way through the city – also from the side. Other coin battery lights simply don't give you this same level of safety.

Custom designed facet optics and lenses
for ultimate light spread

High Powered beam of light

220 degree side light

Consistent light intensity

Be seen in traffic for longer. With Citylite you no longer have to ride around with lights that only work well during your first couple of rides. Citylite is equipped with two coin cell batteries connected in parallel. This technical detail simply doubles the life span of the batteries making Citylite more economical as well as safer.

Key features

• One single neat compact unit
• Interlocking design – for ultimate storage
• Swift and easy mounting – no brackets needed
• 220° side light – be seen in traffic also from the side
• Parallel connected batteries for 200% battery boost – longer lasting intensity
• 2 high powered low energy LED’s
• Constant and flashing setting
• Mode Select Memory for ease of use / automatically turns on your favorite setting
  
• Patented Dura-Loc Technology
  
• Water Resistant Electronics

A closer look at the perks

Citylite is a truly international team of individuals. Founded in Denmark, our team includes experts in different fields incl. low-energy circuitry, light and optics, tool making, ultra-sonic welding, located in the Germany, Holland, Ireland, United Kingdom and the United States.

Over the years, our team has worked for world-class companies, including HP, Duracell, Samsung, Sony, Procter & Gamble to name just a few. A testimony to the team’s knowhow and abilities. Our team has more than 30 years of experience with consumer product design.

Each team member has a real passion for Citylite and we obviously all enjoy riding our bikes.

Project Status

To produce Citylite I have set up production in Denmark so that I can have full control with the manufacturing process and the quality. Therefore I can proudly say that Citylite is Danish design, engineered, manufactured and assembled in Denmark.

I have successfully completed my pilot run and proved the manufacturing process and I can therefore confidently say that it can be done, that I can do it and that your funds will not be wasted.

Because new product development and mass manufacture is a risky business during the early stages, spending your money before having proved that it can actually be made into a real product, would not be fair. Therefore I have already developed and covered the costs of the initial soft tooling required to prove the design and the ability to manufacture and assemble the product successfully. I developed the initial injection molds in aluminum because this material is considerably cheaper than fully hardened steel that is needed for mass manufacture. The downside is that the aluminum molds can only make a limited number of lights before losing their tolerances.

What you see in the pictures are actual injection molded samples, not prototypes made from 3D printing – this is the real thing!

I am now ready to confidently deliver Citylites to you and as soon as I meet the Indiegogo funding goal I will start production of the exclusive limited editions for all of you.

Funding Budget

I have been working on this Ying & Yang design concept for many years now, but to make Citylite available for everyone around the world at a reasonable price, I need to go into mass production. Citylite is now finally ready and I am therefore seeking to crowd source demand upfront through Indiegogo.

Your contribution will help fund:

• Full hardened steel production tooling for mass manufacture
• Development of a USB chargeable version
• Large component orders
• Global approvals
• Research into different surfaces and materials
• Ultrasonic welding horn in Titanium
• Development of Organic pulsing pattern for the flashing modes

And the winner is... Citylite

During the last 14 months Citylite has been recognized and validated by design and industry experts around the world - Proof of concept and a testimony to its functionality, performance and high design quality.

All together Citylite has won 7 international design and innovation competitions during the last 24 months and has in this connection been evaluated by more than 250 independent jury members from 58 different countries made up of internationally renowned designers, entrepreneurs and academics.

iF Product Design Gold Award 2013 – also known as the Design Oscar - Best of the Best

"With this product, there are many things that come together here that work really well. It addresses an important safety topic and offers bicyclists a novel solution. It is so intelligent that the light comes on automatically and it remembers the users preferred switch mode i.e. on a constant or flashing setting. It knows you are using it so it does what you expect it to do. It immediately explains its function. So many things in design are used beautifully in a single product that I think functionality design-wise absolutely surprised the jury"
- iF Design Award Jury Statement 2013

FAQ

How long does Citylite burn wihin the minimum intensity requirements of the Danish traffic regulations?
Minimum 40 hours in constant mode and minimum 80 hours in flashing mode.

How bright does it shine?
300% brighter than required by the Danish traffic regulations.

How do I change batteries?

Simply pull out lens, no tools required

How much does Citylite weigh?
46 grams in assembled state

What are the dimensions?
65,3x26x34mm in assembled state

CON AMORE

"As much as this project is about exotic object design, it is as much or maybe even more about having dreams and pursuing those through creativity and perseverance. One thing is for sure, to realize our dreams we must do our ultimate best and be prepared to die for what we do."
- Lars Beck personal statement 2013

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