As bike gadgetry proliferates, handlebar space is quickly eaten up by displays, phones, bells and lights. A new device hopes to simplify bicycle electronics by merging all these systems into a single electronic hub based on your smartphone.
COBI, dubbed the “world’s smartest connected bike system” by the company, is a combination of hardware and software that uses the computing power of a smartphone to manage pretty much any electrical device you’d like on your bicycle.
The idea took off. COBI raised an astounding $400,000 during a Kickstarter campaign that just ended, one of the more successful bike-related pushes we’ve seen.
The basic COBI package contains a headlight, charging smartphone dock, thumb controller, remote audio controller, brake light and turn signal.
From this fairly basic setup, the COBI app takes over, ostensibly providing navigation, speed and other feedback through your phone. Data collected by remote Bluetooth sensors such as cadence and heart rate is also displayed through the app.
The basic package sold for $205 on the Kickstarter campaign, which is now complete and far surpassed the company’s goal of $100,000.
Sign up on the company’s website to get on a list and hear about the product release. It should be available in the second quarter of 2015.
