We like: Easy to fit. Almost effortless to use. Tough.
We don't like: Grip on one side only. No cleats or clips. Expensive compared to reflectors.

Where to buy: www.pedalite.com

SmartPlanet Judgement: Cyclists will have to decide for themselves whether the Pedalites are an exciting safety innovation or an unnecessary 'pimp my ride' accessory. They work reliably, will be fun for kids, and are better than nothing if you're without traditional lights in an emergency. Serious cyclists, on the other foot, will miss having clips, cleats and grip on both sides of the pedal, and may resent the slightly spongy handling.

Full Review:
The relentless de-clawing of life's hazards continues apace, with these replacement pedals for your pushbike. Out go boring old passive reflector pedals, and in come active, multi-coloured flashing LED pedals. With every revolution, a set of internal gears and some clever electronics siphon off a fraction (supposedly less than 0.5%) of your energy and convert it into electricity to power three LEDs – white at the front, yellow at the side and red at the back.

As you pedal along, you're also powering up a capacitor so the lights continue to flash for up to five minutes while you're stationary. The Pedalites are fully waterproofed and also have the statutory reflector panels, both front and back. Fitting them is pretty easy – simply screw out your current pedals and fit the Pedalites in their place. Left and right pedals are clearly marked, although I found the rotating sleeve to be narrower than my (standard) adjustable spanner, so I wasn't able to secure them as tightly as I wanted.

The pedals themselves are designed to be used in one direction only (with the white LEDs facing forward), so grippy metal studs are found on just the top side. If you flip the pedals accidentally, as often happens when stopping and starting at traffic lights, the underside is slippery smooth and has an awkward bulge housing the electronics – not a safety bonus. Serious cyclists will also raise an eyebrow at the Pedalite's chunky (550g per pair) build, and another at the lack of either toe-clips or cleats.

While the Pedlites do feel slightly 'heavier' in use than normal pedals, they don't generate anything like the drag of a traditional dynamo. The manufacturer claims that the LEDs are visible 1km away, through 360 degrees, although cyclists in crowded, brightly-lit cities might disagree. Viewed from in front or behind, the lights are quite noticeable, but not nearly as intense as standard reflectors to drivers. The real advantage they give is when viewed from the side, especially when the bike is in motion. However very much the same effect could be achieved by simply wearing reflective ankle clips – with the added bonus of keeping your trousers away from the chain.

The Pedalites are manufactured in China, meeting local standards, ISO 9001 and CE certification. They do have some green credentials, using a chemical-free capacitor instead of internal batteries and shipping with all paper and card packaging, some of it recycled. The design life of the product is at least 4000 hours, equating to five years usage for a high-mileage commuter cyclist.

Pedalites are certainly a clever techy gadget but will they make your ride safer? Pedalite quotes RoSPA research that 75% of cycle accidents happen at or near a road junction, where visibility from the side is crucial. That may be true, but it's hard to see how Pedalites beat the low-tech, low-cost option of reflective ankle clips and armbands. You certainly shouldn't allow yourself to feel complacent when using them – or rely on them as a substitute for traditional illumination. The urban environment is an increasingly cluttered space, where merely turning up the visual volume doesn't guarantee that you'll will be seen – or if you're seen, that drivers will modify their behaviour to avoid you.

Rating
Smart Score: 5.75

Quality: 7
Value: 5
Ethically correct: 6
Greenie points: 5