When I was a child, everyone just jumped on bikes and rode. No helmets, locks for our Raleigh Buster or Chopper, no safety glasses or lights for us. Carefree days which are remembered fondly. Sadly times have changed and so has cycling

Cycling has increased tenfold during lockdown with people using bikes to commute, stay healthy and have fun. A lot of the growth coming due to fewer vehicles on the roads, so people felt safer. Although this was true, a lot of people returning to cycling are ill-equipped for modern times. I tested some of the latest equipment from Swedish firm Bookman for riders and their bikes. Modern technology has allowed for sizes of lights to reduce yet brightness increase, locks to be lighter yet considerably stronger and specialist glasses which protect your eyes while improving visibility in all types of light.

As the annual October changing of the clocks takes place not only do we head into Winter, we lose precious daylight. The outdated concept of altering from British Summer Time to Daylight Saving Time has been discussed for many years, with most of the British public wanting time to stay the same throughout the year. This would mean Autumn and Winter sunset would be around 5pm and not 4pm with the current practice of DST. It doesn’t sound like much of a difference, but when you realise children are leaving schools about 3.30pm as darkness is setting in. An extra hour of daylight would make a massive difference to hundreds of thousands of children and parents returning home more visible to others, particularly road users.

Block Light (front and rear) £17.80

https://bookman.se/collections/all-bookman-bike-products

Based on its classic Bookman Light, the new Block Light is equipped with a micro USB cable, the latest LEDs, and a Lithium ION battery, allowing for up to 25 hours of use and charging times of just 2 hours. It also comes with a sleek lens for even light distribution.

Weighing next-to-nothing, these can be attached to an e-scooter or carried in a rider’s backpack or back pocket. Plus, with its easily adjustable strap, these can be mounted in a matter of seconds.

With its four different modes, this pocket-sized light is perfect for everyone from the casual rider to the dedicated cyclist.

Eclipse

New Green and Beige colourways embargoed until August 20th

£26 each

https://bookman.se/collections/all-bookman-bike-products

Did you know that the risk of being part of an accident is three times as high during dark hours?

That is why, under a new brand concept, Bookman Urban Visibility, the Swedish company released a powerful wearable light clip that is easily attached to a wind jacket, coat, bag, or backpack. And if that were not enough, it is also rechargeable, water-resistant and has a whopping 60-hour runtime! 

Fit for anyone, from new parents with pushchairs to style-conscious urbanites out for an evening stroll, these discreet and easy-to-attach lights offer style, safety, and convenience all in one.

Currently available in Black, White, and Pink.

As I write this article, the Government are discussing legalising the use of e-Scooters which will bring in a mass of new people travelling to and from work, schools, colleges or just leisure. This, in turn, increases the dangers of not being seen in the dark and the Bookman products I have used are superb for fitting to your scooter and clothing, enabling others to see you. The brightness of the Block and Eclipse lights is fantastic offering major safety advantages.

The Bookman Brand

Bookman creates inspiring visibility products with an aesthetic edge for cyclists, runners and pedestrians that need to see and be seen. With heavy focus on the details, quality and safety, the design has one goal: to make everyone visible in traffic and prevent accidents.

“Safety doesn’t have to be boring. We’re on a mission to save lives and make everyone visible in traffic. And to achieve that, our belief is we need to create products that people genuinely love to use.“

Based in Stockholm, Sweden, Bookman draws on the heritage of Swedish safety-conscious brands but also finds inspiration in the traditions of minimalistic, functional Scandinavian design and innovative technology. And, coming from the land of polar nights, with 24 hours of darkness, each product must live up to the highest standards.

The Story of Bookman

Providing free bicycle lights for all students; that was the first incarnation of Bookman. Bookman’s founders, David Axelsson and Victor Kabo first met while studying industrial engineering and management at Linköping University, a mutual passion for entrepreneurship drawing them and a few like minds together.

During long hours discussing business concepts, they realised that the entire college faculty was cycling around campus and town without adequate lights. It was a scenario they themselves were also guilty of, so they decided to do something about it. The solution became a local traffic safety campaign called Studentlyset (the Student’s Light), handing out free bike lights at the University. The campaign soon evolved into a nation-wide visibility awareness drive, giving away over 50,000 lights to students.

Upon finishing their studies, they moved to Stockholm and began working on what would become Bookman, enlisting the help of a product designer. They wanted to create their own bicycle accessories brand focusing on the design and usability of the products. As a natural extension of the work they began in college, their first concept was simple: to make a bike light that wasn’t boring. 

In 2011 Bookman’s first lights launched—colourful, minimalistic and functional, pitched at the urban cyclist and design enthusiasts. Since then, Bookman products have been embraced by the likes of MoMA, Colette, Merci, Selfridges and Paragon Sports, and its portfolio of products has grown to wearable lighting and visibility products for everyday use, not just for the cycling community.

In 2018 Bookman became Bookman Urban Visibility, a reflection of its expanding mission to make sure everyone can be visible and safe without sacrificing their style.

https://bookman.se/collections/all-bookman-bike-products