Bike lights and cameras are two bike safety essentials that can help to keep cyclists safe on the road.
Today, more and more cyclists are choosing to kill two birds with one stone, thanks to bike lights with integrated cameras.
Bike lights with cameras allow cyclists to see and be seen, while holding dangerous drivers to account and even deterring bad driving – all in one nifty piece of kit that prevents cluttered handlebars and does away with the need to charge multiple pieces of equipment.
Here, we’ll cover all you need to know about bike lights with cameras so you can make the right choice for your ride.
Rear bike cameras and lights often come hand in hand, as rear-facing cameras are commonly built into rear bike lights.
Rear-facing cameras are particularly important, as a quarter of fatal cyclist accidents involve a vehicle hitting the rear of the bicycle (according to ROSPA).
Meanwhile, rear bike lights are a legal requirement between the hours of sunset and sunrise, helping to ensure that cyclists can be seen by other road users from behind.
Some of the best rear bike cameras with lights – like the SeeMe Pro 360 – include these features:
You can even get integrated bike cameras with sensors that can detect if you’ve been involved in an accident and protect any related footage.
Although less common than rear-facing ones, it’s also possible to find front bike cameras with lights.
Front bike cameras are a valuable addition to any bicycle as, teamed with a rear bike camera, they’ll ensure you’re capturing footage from all angles.
Plus, they have the added benefit of allowing you to capture dynamic footage of your cycling adventures!
While there are many different types of bike cameras (including action cameras like GoPros), those integrated in bike lights tend to function more similarly to a car dashcam.
Most will automatically record in a loop format and will overlay the date and time over your footage – which is handy if you need to submit it to the police.
The best front bike lights with integrated cameras will also include features such as:
The SeeMe Pro 360 is unique in that it combines HD video with a high-lumen bike light set that offers 360 degree visibility – ensuring that cyclists can be seen by other road users from all angles.
Bike lights with cameras combine all the benefits of bike lights and bike cameras in one nifty piece of kit.
The benefits of bike cameras include being able to…
Meanwhile, bike lights…
But why combine the two? Well, by opting for bike lights with integrated cameras, you’ll be able to …
So, what features should you look for when you’re choosing a bike light with an integrated camera?
Here are some essentials.
A HD (or high definition) camera captures video at a higher resolution than SD (standard definition).
Meanwhile, a UHD (ultra high definition) camera will record in even higher resolution than that.
Essentially, HD – or UHD – cameras record with more pixels, which means the image will be sharper.
As an example:
So, what resolution do you need?
Well, we’ve found that even bike lights with HD cameras aren’t great at recording licence plate details clearly while cycling.
On the other hand, bike lights with UHD cameras are.
With that in mind, we believe a bike light with a UHD camera is essential from a safety point of view.
As a bonus, it’ll also offer a higher level of detail and clarity if you’re hoping to edit and share videos of your bicycle rides or stunts.
The SeeMe Pro 360 bike light set includes an integrated 4K UHD video camera, meaning you’re covered for all your needs!
Aside from definition, you’ll also want to check other features.
For instance, if you ride during hours of darkness, night vision features will be essential.
As an example, the SeeMe Pro 360 offers night colour vision with Infra Red LEDs.
Frames per second (FPS) is another factor to bear in mind when it comes to picture quality.
For most scenarios, 24 FPS is ideal, because the human eye is capable of analysing 24 images per second.
However, if you’re hoping to record in slow motion, you’ll need at least 60 FPS.
If you opt for a bike light with a built-in camera, check whether it includes memory card storage.
HD – and UHD – bike cameras will use up more storage, so a large-capacity SD card can be invaluable.
That said, it’s also useful to be able to view your footage via an app.
SeeMe Pro 360 bike lights are fitted with 5G wi-fi, allowing direct viewing of live footage and download of stored footage via an app on a smartphone.
Footage can also be downloaded by removing the MicroSD card and using a card reader.
Loop recording is a fantastic solution to low memory space and is provided by most bike lights with integrated cameras.
Basically, looping video means your camera will be able to record continuously as, when it starts to run out of memory space, it will overwrite your oldest clips.
This is really handy if you’re hoping to be able to capture unexpected moments – whether that’s an incident on the road or an impressive trick you didn’t think you’d be able to master!
You’ll also never have to manually delete your unneeded footage.
Just make sure that you save any footage you want to keep before it’s overwritten!
Bike lights that record your ride can be your best friend – whether you cycle for your daily commute or you’re more of a weekend adventurer.
If you’re unlucky enough to be involved in an incident – or to be in the vicinity of one – your bike camera can provide crucial evidence.
Having both front and rear bike lights with integrated cameras means you’ll be recording road users both in front and behind you, as well as capturing number plate details!
If you capture any incidents, you can send them directly to the police via the National Dash Cam Safety Portal.
This can hold dangerous drivers to account and help prevent the same driver from putting others in danger in the future.
Bike lights with integrated cameras aren’t as obvious to other road users as helmet cameras.
But if a driver notices they’re being filmed, this could help to deter bad behaviour and therefore keep you safer on the roads.
Trail riders and mountain bikers will also love the fact that a bike light with a camera can help you to immortalise your favourite adventures.
Capture, edit and share footage of your most exciting rides and tricks.
Watch footage of your rides back to evaluate your cycling and identify areas for improvement.
Many bike cameras can also connect to apps or cycling computers to give you extra data on your cycling performance.
Front bike camera with light systems can be just as effective as opting for separate devices.
Just make sure to check the technical specifications to ensure that both the bike light and camera elements are high-performing. For instance, look for:
Most front bike camera and light combinations provide dashcam-style footage (as opposed to more dynamic footage like what you’d expect from an action camera such as GoPro). This makes them ideal for capturing and reporting any incidents you come across on the roads.
That depends on what resolution your bike light camera is capable of shooting.
If your bike light with camera shoots 4K video, we would recommend a minimum of 32Gb as, according to card manufacturers, this will record approximately 168 minutes of 1080p at 30fps.
Each SeeMe Pro 360 bike light comes with a 32Gb MicroSD Card fitted. This can be upgraded to 128Gb by purchasing a card separately.
Yes, as long as you choose a model with a high waterproof rating.
We recommend a minimum rating of IPX4, which will protect your equipment against water splashes from any direction.
However, higher IP ratings will offer even more protection.
Rear bike camera with light systems are normally mounted to your bike’s seat post or luggage rack.
However, different models will attach to your bike in different ways. The most common include clips and clamps, and fixed mounts with quick-release fittings.
Fixed mounts are the most convenient and safest option, as they won’t have to be re-set up each time you remove the bike light for charging.
As you can see, bike lights with integrated cameras can be a fantastic option for cyclists looking to stay safe on the roads.
After all, they combine all the benefits of bike lights and bike cameras in one nifty piece of kit – helping cyclists to see, be seen and hold dangerous drivers accountable, without cluttering your handlebars or giving you too many pieces of equipment to charge and maintain.
In fact, when you opt for a bike light with camera, you’ll know that whenever your bike light is with you, your camera is too.
So, you’ll be perfectly placed to capture any unexpected events on your cycle rides – whether it’s an unfortunate incident or a fantastic trick you finally nailed!
On which note, make sure to check out the SeeMe Pro 360 bike light set.
With an integrated 4K UHD video camera, it’s perfect for capturing high-quality footage on every ride, while ensuring you’re visible to other road users from all angles.
What more could you ask for?!
