Orp: Smart light and sound for bicycles

The Orp is a small, but mighty bicycle light equipped with a strobe and a horn with two settings: The first is a polite 76 dB chirrup that’s for use on shared use paths or anywhere else you need to gently remind others of your approach - the second, a far louder 96 dB siren for when you really need to warn another road user of your presence.

The subtle changes in light and temperature as one season ebbs into the next are there for every cyclist to enjoy. The cusp of Autumn is no different: the beautiful colours and earthy smells tempered only by the dark commutes that loom ahead. With less than six weeks until the end of British Summer Time, now is the imte to think about the cycle lights you'll be relying on all too soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADvLrTn79CQ

Win your own Orp smart horn

The Orp costs around £45, but we have one to give away. Leave us a comment at the bottom of this page and we will pick a winner next week.

World’s loudest bicycle horn

Significantly louder than the Orp, but considerably less practical, is The Hornster - a bicycle we built to highlight the challenges facing urban cyclists.

City cyclists who battle to get themselves noticed on the roads can now buy the ultimate deterrent against inattentive truck drivers; a bicycle equipped with a horn that is louder than Concorde.

At close quarters the Hornster bicycle emits a level of sound so powerful that, if used in anger, it could deafen any motorist who veered too close.

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The Hornster bicycle was developed by the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) to highlight the dangers that cyclists face on city roads. Trucks are involved in over half of cyclist fatalities that occur in London. The triple air horn fitted to the bicycle is an Airchime KH3A from an American locomotive, which has been adapted to run off a scuba diving cylinder.

https://youtu.be/XTQSWtK65PE

The Hornster is so powerful that at a distance of 100ft it is far louder than a standard truck horn and more than noisy enough for a cyclist to make themselves heard above the din of the urban jungle.

Environmentally friendly cycle insurance

On the face of it, one cycle insurance policy is much like another, but the devil is the detail. How much excess you will be charged is just one of the things that varies wildly between providers. Another is so called ‘new-for-old’ replacement – many insurers use this term, but if your bicycle is more than a few years old, they devalue it severely. This means you are left out of pocket when you come to replace it.

ETA cycle insurance has a low standard excess of 5% (minimum £25) and offers a new-for-old for life – however old the bike, if it’s stolen you get enough to buy a new model.

For over 25 years we have been providing straightforward, affordable bicycle insurance. Whether you use your bike to commute, shop, race or amble in the park, ETA Cycle Insurance has you covered. We never devalue bikes no matter their age, allow you to buy your replacement bike wherever you like, replace stolen quick release components and handle claims in-house.

The Good Shopping Guide rated us ethical in Britain.

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