Bicycles

Bike backpack has its own lights, turn signals and alarm

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The Aster's turn indicator in use
Lumos
The Aster's turn indicator in use
Lumos
The Aster zips completely open for easy loading
Lumos
One of the Aster's side LED strips
Lumos
The Aster's front LED strips add visibility
Lumos
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Cycling backpacks with strips of blinking LEDs on the back aren't exactly a rare item these days. Lumos' new Aster pack is a little different, though. It also features turn indicators, a brake light, and will even let you know if your bike is being stolen.

The pack itself offers features such as water-resistant construction, multiple internal compartments (including a detachable shoe bag that can pulled out of the bottom), a helmet holder, a U-lock holder, and a slot for holding an emergency contact info card.

Once the sun sets, however, the more eye-catching features come into play.

One of the Aster's side LED strips
Lumos

These include a 16-LED rear running light, and turn indicators that are activated using a handlebar-mounted Bluetooth remote. That remote also contains an accelerometer, which activates a brake light on the pack when stopping. Additionally, should that accelerometer detect that the bike is being moved after having been left unattended, it will notify you via an iOS/Android app, and sound an alarm.

The app also allows you to do things such as customizing the lights' blinking mode, and checking the charge level of the pack's 4,000-mAh battery pack – one USB charge should be good for 10 to 15 hours of use.

The Aster's front LED strips add visibility
Lumos

Other safety lighting features include two red LED strips along each side, along with white LEDs on the front of the shoulder straps – the latter aren't so much to light your way, as they are to make you more visible to other traffic.

Lumos is currently raising production funds for the Aster, on Indiegogo. A pledge of US$114 will currently get you one, when and if they're ready to go. The pack is demo'd in the video below.

Source: Indiegogo

View gallery - 4 images
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4 comments
LjChandler
I would love to sign up as a beta tester, but I am hesitant to commit money for nothing. Has anyone had any experience with this product?
wle
yeah i really need a backpack and blinker app. one more thing to fiddle with. as if. nah. wle
tomtoys
Yet another joke safety device in fluorescent black to match the clothes and bike.
unklmurray
This is a real joke!! Comes in a color that is hard to see with lights where no one expects them to be, I have NEVER seen lights on a back pack and would not be looking for them. While it is sort of a cool idea......more is better.......Make it in "Day Glow Greenish-Yellow" and have Red LED light bars that stick out to either side for about 18 inches with a large Amber turn arrows that come on when turning,But put them on the back of the bike,People don't expect to see them on the Black Back Pack,because the lights would be moving all over the place because your Butt wiggles all over the place.........