August 19, 2016

Update #22 - Passing Safety Tests!

Hey everyone, hope all is well!
Big news - We officially passed helmet safety tests! Lumos is officially a bona fide safe to ride bicycle helmet!
We submitted Lumos for testing to two well known, gold standard safety tests: 
(1) CPSC 16 CFR Part 1203 (the standard required for sale in the United States) and
(2) CE EN1078 (the standard required for sale in Europe).
We're really proud to be able to say that the helmets passed with flying colors!
What does it take to pass these safety tests? 
Great question! It takes a lot, and it's not easy. 
The tests are very rigorous. There are many individual tests that the helmet has to pass, and the only way to find out for sure if the helmet is safe, is to literally smash it and see if it is absorbing impact the way it should. 
Here are some of the tests that the helmet goes through: 
This is a rig to test the retention system of the helmet. A weight on the left drops pulling the helmet up from the back, testing that the helmet does not fly off in the event of an impact.
This is one of the main test rigs. Helmets are lifted up and dropped, and the residue impact measured has to be below a certain number in order to pass. Helmets are tested in various environmental configurations and are impacted at multiple locations of the helmet.
I was there to witness the tests myself!
Helmets go through impact testing in 4 environmental conditions:
  1. Ambient (room temperature)
  2. High temperature (127 degrees Fahrenheit / 52 degrees Celsius)
  3. Low temperature ( 1 degree Fahrenheit / - 17 degrees Celsius)
  4. Soaked in water (immersed in water for 24 hours) 

(ie. The lab smashes helmets that have been acclimatized to each of those 4 extreme conditions to ensure that a hot, frozen, and wet helmet is as safe during an impact as a helmet in normal ambient conditions)

The picture above is one of our helmets being immersed in a tank of water in preparation for an impact test (ie. getting smashed).
Note that the lights and electronics would almost certainly fail if you soak the helmet helmet like this - The criteria to pass here is not that the lights and electronics still work, but that the helmet is still safe and absorbs impact even when soaked wet. That being said, the electronics in the helmet IS water resistant, and will easily survive rain and showers, just not water immersion. 
This is a helmet just removed from a deep freezer. Note the frost. 

The purpose of course is to ensure that the helmet is not just safe in normal conditions, but also in fairly extreme conditions.

New product photographs sneak peek

Passing the safety tests means that we have overcome the most significant obstacle to producing helmets at scale and shipping. We’ve also taken new product photographs of the final helmet!
Next Steps

We need to do a few more small batch production dry runs before we can pull the trigger and start producing helmets in the thousands. In the coming weeks we will have final details on color, and we'll also be sending out that final survey. 

In the meantime we were actually able to ship out several units to beta testers. We asked them to compare it with the original beta units they got earlier this year for comparison, and (thankfully!) they have had very positive things to say!

The helmet feels good! I rolled it around in my hands for a minute before putting it on. My thoughts were, "this is a fancy helmet that lights up!" The highlight here is that I would wear this helmet even if it didn't light up. The fit is that good!
 - John W. Burlington VT
 
Just got my helmet! What an improvement! I love the fit which was my biggest compliant of the first helmet. I also like the remote. What I see so far looks really good. 
- Lou P.
 
Outstanding!!! I am so happy for the Lumos team and us (the beta testers) who get to be part of a brand new product from inception to perfection! The helmet fits beautifully... the lights work perfectly... the app is a nice surprise and quite good. THANK YOU for letting me be part of this. I am positive we are all part of, what is going to be, a big success.
- Kent F. - Suffolk County, NY
 
First and foremost, the cosmetic changes you folks made ROCK. I think your finished product is finally ready to be rolled out to the general public. 
I think this is something we can all be proud of and I pray it will save a life someday.
 - Richard O.
 
My helmet arrived! Very psyched to have it in hand, especially before this weekend's rides. Here's my first impressions; overall a HUGE improvement over the original beta. Well done guys!
* The fit! Ohhh, the fit! The original beta took a couple weeks of fidgeting and hacking to get it to the point I could wear it. It was never comfortable, and its effectiveness during a crash was alwasy in the back of my mind. Thsi one fit like a glove right out of the box. WELL DONE!
* The straps feel great and were very easy to setup & adjust.
* Overall the design looks much better than the original beta - the extra attention is apparent. 
 - Chris S.
We've also got an awesome unboxing video from Victor in Germany!

More updates coming very soon!

Eu-wen, Jeff and the entire Lumos Team

============== Products We're Looking At ==================

CityGo Urban, the e-scooter designed for your urban commute.

Our friends at CityGo Urban have designed a sleek e-scooter. It's an awesome compliment to our Lumos helmet!

Made to navigate a city environment, the Citygo Urban offers an advanced e-scooter experience. Its sleek design is a perfect fit for all urban lifestyles, especially working professionals who not only need to get to work on time, but wish to do so in style. Click here to find out more! 

Written by Eu-wen Ding

17 comments

Yay – I am so excited and it’s for my boyfriend! Thanks for the update!

Lucy August 31, 2016

september is just around the corner. cant wait to get my hand on this new helmet. hurry up lads………yohoooooooooooo

felix sabiniano August 25, 2016

I am about to explode with anticipation and the helmet isn’t even for me, it’s a gift for my husband.

Audi August 23, 2016

Can’t wait ton receive my confirmation email I’ve been telling everyone I know about my new helmet to be you guys are doing a great job

Joesph Bryan-Goudie August 22, 2016

Any decisions on a ‘Transparent’ version, as mentioned in Update #20?
Videos of both together would be great. Can’t wait to get my helmet, well done to all of you!!

Mark Armstrong August 21, 2016

i can’t wait to hold and wear Lumos ;-) here in middle east…

ruel moises jaen August 21, 2016

I can’t wait to get mine! Such great news!

Cheryl Caves August 20, 2016

Looking fantastic be so happy when aI receive mine Thank you for the updates

Tracy Waring August 20, 2016

What a great accomplishment and huge milestone. Congrats. Can wait to receive my helmet :-)

lori August 19, 2016

I am extremely pleased by this news, and I could see in the video. I am very excited and can’t wait to receive mine. Congratulations for the work done.

Christophe Pruvost August 19, 2016

Iam so exited reciving soon my helmet . Congrats

Jorge Martínez August 19, 2016

Helmet is looking good can’t wait until I get mine ???

Pete August 19, 2016

I am so excited to hear of the news of first shipments of the helmets can’t hardly wait to receive mine !!!

James Weisenmiller August 19, 2016

Looks Good. Just waiting for mine to arrive.

John C JORDAN August 19, 2016

Before you ship are you offering to change colors?

Pat August 19, 2016

Around the world this unit has been evaluated by various riders. Some with years of experience and others novice riders. As one of the “testers” I can honestly say that the LUMOS team has listened and tweaked the original helmet which we beta tested. Not only did I test this unit in various climatic conditions I took two hard falls (not intentionally) during the testing phase. One was during a major snow storm and the other down a 20’ drop off a mountain. The helmet was intact, wished I could have said the same for my body, and it kept on working. One of the test that I conducted the helmet could be seen from 1.3 miles out. It’s a great product and I hope each of you enjoy it.

The finished product is something you can be proud of.

Ed Kostiuk August 17, 2016

Congratulations! Any product photographs of the final white helmet? Thanks.

Douglas August 17, 2016

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