Press Releases
Quality Bicycle Products (QBP) provide Pedalite’s environmentally-friendly lighting safety products to retailers across America
5 February 2009 – Quality Bicycle Products (QBP), ‘the shop behind America’s bicycle shops’, and the number one source of bicycle parts, accessories and apparels for retailers in the USA is now selling and marketing Pedalite’s full suite of award-winning, environmentally-friendly lighting safety products to its network of over 5,000 retailers and dealers.
The portfolio of products includes the award-winning, battery-free 360 degree visibility pedal lights and optional toe clips (included in QBP’s 2009 retail catalogue), as well as Pedalite’s two new solar-powered lighting products, Baglite and Anklelite.
Sold in over 40 countries around the world, Pedal lights are unique, self-powered, battery-free lights for bicycles which make cyclists more visible to motorists from a distance of up to 1km away and from any angle, including the side.
Baglite is a new solar-powered lighting system that is worn over the shoulders and fits over any size backpack or bag, so it is ideal for cyclists, horse riders and for children. It uses a unique 360 degree floodlight module in order to ‘light up’ and charges in sunlight or artificial light. The lights shine out from every angle so people wearing Baglite will be seen clearly by motorists any time day or night from a distance of 1km.
Anklelite is a solar-powered ankle lighting system. It is a weather resistant, light weight adjustable strap which fits people of all sizes. A large unique floodlight module is attached to straps that fit comfortably around the ankle with high visibility reflective strips on both sides as an additional feature. The lights shine brightly from every angle so cyclists, sports people and children wearing Anklelite will be seen clearly by motorists any time day or night. Since their launch in Europe and South America in December, Baglite and Anklelite have become instant best sellers with many thousands of products already sold.
“We are very excited to add Pedalite to our lineup of best-in-class products. Their battery-free safety lighting systems align closely with QBP's commitment to the environment. This partnership will provide dealers with a great opportunity to offer customers a new choice in lighting technology,” said Chris Lottes, QBP buyer.
Simon Theobald, Manager Director of Pedalite International comments; “We are delighted to announce our distribution partnerships with QBP - it is one of the leading distributors of cycling accessories in the World – with tremendous reach across all regions in the USA. We are thrilled that Baglite and Anklelite will be hitting the market at QBP’s “Frostbike” event for dealers.”
“We are 100% confident that QBP is the ideal partner to help us launch these products to consumers in the USA and to replicate the success of our award-winning best selling pedal lights. Thanks to QBP, cycling enthusiasts across the USA will be able to benefit from our environmentally-friendly lighting that requires no maintenance and which could save lives,” he added.
Tony Doyle, twice World Cycling Pursuit Champion, four times European Track Champion and ardent cycling safety campaigner is an ambassador and spokesperson for Pedalite and strongly endorsing the products stating “Pedalite pedal lights were the biggest aid to cycling safety since helmets.”
More product information
Battery Free 360 degree visibility pedal lights
Battery Free 360 degree visibility pedal lights are fitted in place of normal bicycle pedals and are solely powered using kinetic energy, generated by the natural rotation of the spindle while cycling.
The pedals require no batteries and light up as soon as the cyclist starts pedalling. Cyclists using Pedalite pedals are highly visible to motorists and can be seen from up to 1km away and from any angle, including the side.
They uniquely harvest and store a small amount of energy so the 360 degree lights continue to flash for up to 5 minutes so the cyclists can still be seen when freewheeling or a road intersection or stop sign. As 75% of all cycling accidents happen at, or near a road intersection [source RoSPA], where cycles need to be seen from the side, Pedalite’s improves cycling safety and helps to eliminate accidents. The pedal lights also create a virtual cycle lane so bikes with Pedalites fitted seem wider to cars and they tend to give them more space and distance, helping reduce accidents.
As with all Pedalite’s products, the Pedalite pedal lights pay for themselves in just one season because users are not continually purchasing replacement batteries.
Baglite Going to a bike ride? Going to school? Going out? Commuting? Everyone seems to wear a backpack (whether they are walking, riding a bike, driving or catching the bus). With dark evenings and the roads getting more dangerous, suggestions to carry a torch or light - well that's just not "cool"! And, even if you do take a light or a torch, you only find out the batteries ran out about a week after they actually did when you are miles from home!
Slotting over any size bag or rucksack or used without a bag as a light harness, Baglite is a solar powered lighting system that provides super-bright lighting that clearly illuminates people and their bags, with no need for batteries. It uses a new unique 360 degree floodlight module with a single red floodlight at the back and two white floodlights at the front attached to straps that fit to the straps of a backpack. The lights shine out from every angle including the side so people wearing Baglite will be seen clearly by motorists any time day or night and from a distance of 1km. The lights can be turned on and off and set to different modes – flashing, constant or off.
Baglite is recharged when left in artificial (just ordinary house, school or office lighting) or sunlight. and works for about 6 hours in flash mode between charges. Parents are already modifying their "going to School" checklist for their children to be "have you got your schoolbooks, your lunch and your Baglite?" and commuters have found it an essential “be seen” product.
Anklelite
The Anklelite with adjustable straps fits all sizes and can be worn with or without trousers and fits securely over riding boots. It provides super-bright 360 degree lighting without the need for batteries.
A large unique floodlight module is attached to straps that fit comfortably around the ankle with high visibility reflective strips on both sides as an additional feature. The lights shine brightly from every angle so cyclists, sports people and children wearing it will be seen clearly by motorists any time day or night. As with Baglite, the lights can be turned on and off and set to different modes – flashing, constant or off. However, the constant mode is advised for horse riders so as not to startle the horses with the flashing mode.
Its versatility enables it to be also used as an arm light on the upper or lower arm – perfect for jogging, cycling or riding. It is small enough for a commuter or even a child to roll up and put in their coat pocket or rucksack ready for their walk home after work or school.
Like Baglite, Anklelite is an eco-friendly product that charges both in direct sunlight and in artificial light so it is ideal for charging at the office or school or just popping on the windowsill for a few hours at home. It provides over six hours of super-bright light from a full charge. As with all Pedalite’s producsts, the saving on replacement batteries alone means that Anklelite enjoys a cost payback as well as helping save the environment.
Anklelite also doubles as a trouser clip replacement for cyclists and provides 360 degree lighting for those cyclists riding with clipless and all other types of pedals. It also provides essential side lighting which will help reduce accidents in the darker evenings and mornings.
The lightweight Anklelite is weather and impact resistant. Simple to put on and comfortable to wear, Anklelite is maintenance free and ensures that cyclists can ride secure in the confidence that they, and not just their bikes, are clearly visible at all times even from the side.
Editors Notes
About Pedalite International Ltd
Pedalite International Ltd design and make cycling accessory products for Safety, Health and the Environment with Quality built in. The products are available worldwide from all good retailers and the range of unique products continues to expand
Pedalite products are now used by thousands of cyclists in over 33 countries, Pedalite products protect the environment by eliminating highly caustic battery waste.
Tony Doyle MBE, twice World Pursuit Champion and four times European Track Champion is an ambassador and spokesperson for Pedalite International Ltd. Tony will be promoting the Pedalite products at exhibitions, cycling shows and through cycling clubs, retail outlets and in schools throughout the UK, highlighting the part they play in cycling safety. As spokesperson, Tony also plays a key role in helping explain, through the media, the importance to cyclists of using Pedalite products.
About QBP
Based in Bloomington, MN, QBP is a leading distributor to the cycling industry. QBP offers domestic and international retailers a wide array of products and services including a 1,500-page catalog, a robust online ordering system, a renowned custom wheel service, a specialty bike-building program and more. QBP continues to be a vigorous advocate for the cycling industry. For more information, please contact Jo Wright, director of marketing at 952 -941-9391, or visit: www.QBP.com