When it comes to Gloworm care, the task is simple. This is because our state-of-the-art LED bicycle headlights are built to last, are durable, and are designed specifically with mountain biking in mind.
From withstanding bumpy tracks at speed and moisture from night rides in the rain, Gloworm co-founder Bruce Davey says these factors have to be considered if you want a shot at making the best bike headlights in the industry.
Our Gloworm lights are built for purpose – at the extreme end, this is Winter night riding on rough trails right through to lighting the way for a road commute to work.
SO WHAT MAKES GLOWORM LIGHTS SO DURABLE?
Since the company’s inception in 2010, Gloworm co-owners Bruce Davy and Vaggelis Monogyios have worked hard to continually refine and engineer the product to be one of the best bike headlight kits on the market.
Choosing materials like polycarbonate plastic which is well-known for its impact resistance and strength, as well as resistance to oils and lubricants – Gloworms can stand up to the test of any mountain bike trail.
Gloworm lights are also completely waterproof as well as drop proof from up to four metres.
We use stainless steel fittings, bolts and screws to avoid corrosion – a key factor in producing high functioning sports accessories that are going to be exposed to the elements.
The light unit is made of aluminium which also won’t corrode making it tough, strong and light. The aluminium also serves to reduce heat to the battery. Excess heat is a common side effect of high-powered batteries, similar to the effects of batteries in computers and cars.
To combat this, the shape of our Gloworm is designed with the maximum amount of surface area exposed to the air as possible. Flowing air cools down the battery and as the light is only being used while riding at pace, there is always sufficient air going over the light when it’s needed.
Innovative, self regulating technology
Gloworm care is so easy because the lights are also innovatively designed to take care of themselves and are able to keep their high-powered battery cool, via an in-built cooling method.
“What we’ve programmed inside the light is actually quite cool,” says Bruce.
“If the temperature inside the light gets too hot, the electronics will recognise this and start to dim the light very slowly, until it starts to drop in temperature… then it will start to increase the brightness until it reaches an equilibrium where it can be as bright as possible based on the amount of cooling going on.”
On the very rare occasion where it could overheat, the Gloworm kit comes inbuilt with ‘heat warning lights’ similar to those in cars. The difference is that our Gloworm battery will intelligently adapt and adjust it’s own power if this starts to happen.
Gloworm’s are also the only LED bicycle headlight devices where the battery pack displays the exact amount of charge remaining in increments of 1% – meaning the rider knows exactly how much charge is left – no guessing needed.
The theory behind our cable design
Our cable is made from a high-tech Polyurethane anti-kink cable – which protects the small
wires inside. A USB cable is also used to allow the light to communicate directly with the battery – which tells it how much power it needs, meaning the whole system is much smarter and more efficient.
If need be, the cable can also be individually replaced because we have designed our Gloworm lights separately from the cable. Often what you’ll find with most LED bicycle headlights is that the cable and light are connected, and if the cable breaks or fatigues, it is likely that the whole device will need to be replaced – a costly and frustrating exercise.
GLOWORM CARE – BATTERY
Bruce and Vaggelis are proud of the fact Gloworm lights are designed to need very minimal care.
However, Bruce says that there are two very important steps you should take when storing your Gloworm – specifically the lithium battery – so it lasts for as long as it’s designed to.
Looking after your battery
Lithium-ion battery care is somewhat misunderstood by many Kiwis. Technology has only become more mainstream in recent years, so there is an understandable gap in battery care knowledge.
The nature of Gloworm lights is that they’re used for about four months of the year during the darker winter months and then sit in the cupboard for up to eight months over Spring/Summer before they’re recharged again.
Because of this, the batteries can become drained because of how they’re stored.
Bruce says this is one of the most misunderstood and critical aspects of Gloworm care and correctly storing your battery is vital to its long-term life span.
The two most important parts of Gloworm care:
Storing it at 40-60% charge
Storing it at a cool temperature
If you think about your Gloworm battery as a soda bottle, if its filled to the top and you shake it, it’s going to explode. This same thinking can be applied to the battery percentage of your Gloworm, if you store it at 100% charge over the warm Summer months, the chemical reaction will continue to increase and stress the battery. On the other hand, if you store your Gloworm battery with anything less than 40% then the battery will deplete itself and die.
Interestingly, the best way to store the battery is actually in an “airtight container in the fridge,” says Bruce. The cooler temperate will slow down the natural chemical reaction of the battery.
The below chart shows different temperature and charge scenarios for Lithium-ion battery storage. As you can see, if a battery is stored at 0 degrees celsius at 40% charge then it will have 98% charge after one year versus being left with 65% charge after storing it at 40 degrees celsius on 100% charge.
You can charge your battery whenever you like because our Gloworm batteries will look after themselves and communicate to the charger what power it needs. Check out battery university for more info on charging lithium-ion batteries.
Our Gloworms are fully waterproof, however, Bruce warns to avoid charging the battery if the USB port is wet, as any current passing through a wet port while charging will damage it.
GLOWORM CARE – CLEANING
Gloworm care is hassle-free when it comes to cleaning. Bruce recommends wiping your Gloworm light down with a damp cloth after use to clear away dust particles that could clog up the ports.
He also recommends dielectric/silicon grease to protect from corrosion, which can be sourced from any electronics provider.
GLOWORM REPAIR AS A LAST RESORT
So as you can see, with a few simple storage and cleaning steps you can enjoy illuminated tracks for years to come, and whilst Gloworm lights are designed to last, if a repair is needed, this can easily be done. “We try and make our products as serviceable as possible,” says Bruce.
Gloworms are thoughtfully designed in such a way where if the electronics or LED needed to be replaced, you can order a new part from your nearest distributor and easily install it yourself, saving you hundreds of dollars and the hassle of having to order a whole new kit.
We’ve had customers who have had their Gloworm lights for ten years or more and have contacted us for a repair, that is a true testament to the innovation and design that has gone into making our LED bicycle headlights some of the best on the market.
“We’re not some big box company that is pumping out products that’ll be obsolete in two years, we’re designing products to last for as long as you care for them.”
For further support with your Gloworm care, click here.