Cycle design project.

[Bazzon]

Hey.


Hopefully will be visiting this site regularly over the next few month, my name is Adrian and im a 4th year design student.
I have signed up because I am about to start a cycling project as part of my 4th year at uni, so im looking for advice/info of cycling enthusiast.
My knowledge isnt to bad, I ride myself when im back home and I used to work for halfords part time, working at the bikehut doing repairs and building.


So to start, the brief is very open. I'm able to design any style of bike within reason.


Currently what is the most affluent bike market? Where is the money? MTB/Road/..........
So where do you guys believe there is a gap in this market?


What technology are you exited about in the next few years? Best places to research this technology?
What is going to push cycling to the next level?


What are the major things that bug you currently about cycling?




Feel free to add any thing you like to this thread, the more info the better.


I will be in contact as much as possible when the project takes of looking for ideas and feedback.


Thanks in advanced


/Adrian


www.adrianbarron.co.uk – level of work I will try to achieve.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

<snip> My knowledge isnt to bad, I ride myself when im back home and I used to work for halfords part time, working at the bikehut doing repairs and building./snip>

Uh oh... this does not bode well!

Seriously though, good luck with your project. Hopefully some on here can help you, although there seem to have been a fair few Design Students doing stuff over the life of the forum so no idea whether this (or very similar) has been asked and answered before.

 

[Haitch]

What is needed is a light, sturdy, three-geared, exceptionally low-maintenance, inexpensive bike with a rack and built-in lights and locks to carry a growing number of people up to ten miles or so to the shops and work.

 

[Haitch]

...but that's not going to win any design prize.

 

[dan_bo]

I'd like a crosser with a six-speed back end and decent STIs please.

 

[joolsybools]

My answers in bold

Hey.


Hopefully will be visiting this site regularly over the next few month, my name is Adrian and im a 4th year design student.
I have signed up because I am about to start a cycling project as part of my 4th year at uni, so im looking for advice/info of cycling enthusiast.
My knowledge isnt to bad, I ride myself when im back home and I used to work for halfords part time, working at the bikehut doing repairs and building.


So to start, the brief is very open. I'm able to design any style of bike within reason.


Currently what is the most affluent bike market? Where is the money? MTB/Road/..........My guess is road
So where do you guys believe there is a gap in this market? Ladies road bikes? This is a guess though, you would need to research.


What technology are you exited about in the next few years? Best places to research this technology? Don't know
What is going to push cycling to the next level? A government that genuinely wants to promote cycling. Further Olympic success. Better bikes for cheaper prices.


What are the major things that bug you currently about cycling? Far too many to mention here! Mostly other peoples attitudes.




Feel free to add any thing you like to this thread, the more info the better.


I will be in contact as much as possible when the project takes of looking for ideas and feedback.


Thanks in advanced


/Adrian


www.adrianbarron.co.uk – level of work I will try to achieve.

 

[Dayvo]

What is needed is a light, sturdy, three-geared, exceptionally low-maintenance, inexpensive bike with a rack and built-in lights and locks to carry a growing number of people up to ten miles or so to the shops and work.

Here it is:

http://www.kronan.com/Inventory/Navision/11623002?category=10,20&menuS=Cykel

 

[Arch]

What is needed is a light, sturdy, three-geared, exceptionally low-maintenance, inexpensive bike with a rack and built-in lights and locks to carry a growing number of people up to ten miles or so to the shops and work.

Yes, that's very sensible, and practical and useful, and as a result, no one will want to spend any money on it, because it's got no gimmicks...

You have of course, more or less described the average Dutch town bike, although they tend to be a bit heavy - which comes with the whole "integrated stuff" aspect. Maybe if there was a way to make such a bike, but make it look cool and sexy...

My tip for desinging something 'new' would be to check out your cycle history, because most things have been done already, and what we have now is pretty much what works - things like more and more gears, STI levers and so on are just add ons that we can frankly manage without...

I could suggest looking at the Velo Vision website, (or even, subscribing to the mag!) for a view of utility cycling and some of the more esoteric side.... But I must declare an interest - I work for it!

 

[Haitch]

Here it is:

http://www.kronan.com/Inventory/Navision/11623002?category=10,20&menuS=Cykel

Yeah, but it's got to look cool and sexy. That's the design challenge.

 

[Haitch]

make it look cool and sexy...

See, Arch understands cool and sexy.

 

[Arch]

See, Arch understands cool and sexy.

I might understand it, but I'm not capable of being it...

I don't know if the OP is set on designing a bike - there are lots of spin offs that are related to bikes of course - luggage systems, lighting, locking racks and storage solutions, clothing... The trick is to spot a 'problem'* to solve.

*Not necessarily a real problem, just one you can tell people they need a solution to (like the ever escalating room fragrancer market - you could just open a window...) Cynical, moi?

Actually, going back to the three speed simple thing, I dunno about elsewhere, but apparently old three speed Raleigh shoppers are popular with teenage lads in York - they can be had for a few quid at car boots and maybe they look enough like BMXs to lok cool from a distance. I don't know if that tells us anything useful though.

 

[Archie_tect]

Hallo Bazzon.
Difficult to pare the bike down to be more efficient as it's about as simple as it can get.
Anything more radical than a simple frame would just create unforeseen problems elsewhere.
Most parts are already lightweight and aerodynamic so no help there.
Using thin skin materials instead of tubes or spokes just creates cross wind instability so no advantage there.
Add on parts are easier to fit and/or upgrade rather than building in so no benefit there.
Allen screw fixings have made connections more efficient so nothing can be improved there.
Lighting has become much better with LED now so no logical progression there.

*Lightbulb moment* How about lightweight security for bikes and parts [especially coupled with ability to protect 'quick release' parts]?

How about lightweight teflon/kevlar 'envelopes' for bikes [which fold up and pack away into a saddle-bag] which can be secured with one padlock to replace inefficient chains and locks that inevitably weigh a ton...

[if you do get this off the ground I'd happily accept 10% as commission on all sales]...

 

[Archie_tect]

Have another idea that I've been keeping to myself though I can't see me having the time or money to develop it though it may have a commercial use... I'll send you a PM!

 

[Yellow Fang]

I was wondering whether it was possible to build a bicycle out of hemp. There's a Belgium bicycle frame that is built from 90% flax, 10% carbon fibre. There are also one or two bikes that have been made out of bamboo, one of which also uses hemp lugs. Hemp is one of the strongest plant fibres out there.

I'd also be interested in a commuter bike with integrated lights, perhaps powered by a hub dynamo. This means you don't ever need to remember to take them off to avoid them being nicked. I saw an interesting mini-bike on the On-One site in which the lights were integrated into top tube/cross-bar. In theory, it should be possible to a hub dynamo behave like an electric motor, for a bit of turbo boost; however I think that would be quite some project.

I also liked Pashley's recent versions of their Guvnor and Moulton TSR which used the Sach duomatic hub. This hub isn't made any more, but it allows you to change gears and brake by back-pedaling; thus removing the need to have cables leading to the rear of the bike. They also used the Schlumpf speed drive, which fits into the bottom bracket to give an extra range of gears. I lived Swobo's Otis bike, which has a three speed rear hub combined with back brake.

I wondered if it was possible to design a bike that had a front brake that didn't require a lead neither. I'm sure it's possible, but I'm not too sure how. Possibly, internal cable routing, electronically activated brakes signalled by a small transmitter, or some sort of regenerative braking.

Mini bikes are very popular in East Asia. I rather liked the Dahon Hammerhead and they seemed to sell like hot cakes. I think there was only a limited run of them.

I've also wondered about perspex fairings to improve aerodynamics. They sometimes have these on recumbents and I've also seen one on a lady's dutch roadster.

 

[andyfromotley]

I think these are the things that non cyclists perceive to be problematic about cycling.

Cold/wet
Mucky chains
Punctures
inability to cover long distances (thier 5 mile drive to work!!)