Cycle design project.

[Arch]

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.

How integrated do you need? Dynamo lights are generally wired in and bolted on, and theft of the lights is pretty rare. I have them on my winter hack - albeit with a bottle dynamo, but I plan to upgrade to hub dynamo when I can. That's on a bike built of bits, no special design. My tourer will also eventually have bolted on hub dynamo lights. It's not really new, or all that hard to get hold of.

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.

That's just what we don't need - more complication and an electronic system to go wrong/need a battery. There's a reason cables are virtually universal, they work, they are simple, they are relatively easy to fix. Don't turn a bike into a version of a modern car that can't be fixed without a computer.

Archie is right that it's hard to improve something so simple without just making it needlessly complicated. Andy has it right about the percieved barriers from non-cyclists. Punctures - well, you can get pretty robust tyres these days, if you are prepared to carry the weight, and shaft/belt drive has been done and doesn't quite catch on and will never be as efficient as a chain. Cold and Wet? Design a velomobile that costs 200 quid and doesn't make everyone think (wrongly) of the C5...

 

[HJ]

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.

Oh no, not another one...

 

[Mr Pig]

I saw a film once where they had these cars than could turn onto robots. One of them was a lorry that could turn into a bigger robot so I guess the size is relative.

So maybe if you could adapt this technology to bikes? That way you could have a mountain bike that turned into a road bike, and maybe a DIY work-bench or wheelbarrow as well? It would save a lot of money and space also. And materials, SAVE THE POLAR BEAR!

 

[Will1985]

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

If you could design a motorist who isn't a threat to cyclists, then I'm sure many of us would be grateful.

I personally don't think there is much hardware that could improve my cycling experience.

Ladies road bikes? This is a guess though, you would need to research.

When I look through bikes, I struggle to identify what makes some road bikes women specific....often it is just the colour as the classic low top tube isn't necessary. One example I have seen recently is the Scott Plasma2 and the ladies' Contessa version. The geometry, material and weight are identical for both genders. Personally I like the D4W colours which Specialized uses - I know some females loathe the stereotypical pink on their equipment.

 

[Yellow Fang]

How integrated do you need? Dynamo lights are generally wired in and bolted on, and theft of the lights is pretty rare. I have them on my winter hack - albeit with a bottle dynamo, but I plan to upgrade to hub dynamo when I can. That's on a bike built of bits, no special design. My tourer will also eventually have bolted on hub dynamo lights. It's not really new, or all that hard to get hold of.

Bottle dynamos are not worth the bother IMHO. If they're not wearing out your tyre, they're making your lamps flicker on and off from a bulge in your tyre. The mini-bike I saw on the on-one site had quite a wide top tube with front and rear lamps fitted into each end. I'm not saying it's necessarily better, just new and different. Apart from being less nickable, it might also save on handlebar space.

That's just what we don't need - more complication and an electronic system to go wrong/need a battery. There's a reason cables are virtually universal, they work, they are simple, they are relatively easy to fix. Don't turn a bike into a version of a modern car that can't be fixed without a computer.

I'm not saying it would be better; it would just look cool. I like the look of fixed wheel bikes, and bikes equipped with back brakes which don't require brake and gear cables. One front brake, either disc or calliper, looks cool. I just wondered if it was possible to design a front brake that didn't need a cable. It's probably a non-starter tbh. There are fixed wheel and back brake equipped bikes that don't have any brake levers, but they're not actually legal here.

 

[montage]

Invent some sort of UCI legal road bars which offer a more aerodynamic position. I'm soon to experiment with angling my STI levers inwards towards the stem by 45 degrees and put some elbow pads on the tops of the bars..... could help with long break aways.......

....but that wouldn't sell well.


Look at the market for bikes:

fashion bikes: covered
racing bikes, road, mtb or otherwise: covered
town bikes: covered
hybrids/do it all bikes: covered.

Perhaps look into the security of bikes? Try and step that up a level...whether by using an intigrated lock, or having something which locks the wheels up when you leave the bike...

 

[Yellow Fang]

Actually, apart from the Sachs duomatic, there are a few interesting hubs from bygone years. I remember reading Sturmey Archer once made a two-speed fixed gear hub.

 

[montage]

or reinvent the BSO to try make it something useful

 

[Piemaster]

Montages integrated lock - something like scooters have? And his list pretty much sums the market up, so why bother trying to reinvent any of it. Belt drives look like the next big thing - a frame / drivetrain that does not need splitting to change it?
Or having seen some of the 3D models from designers on the web why actually bother coming up with something practical. A trike that leans like the motorbike thing, front wheel drive, a new take on a cargo bike, a pedal-powered snowmobile. Have some fun with it.

Oooh...did I just have a 'blue-sky thinking' moment in an 'outside the box' manner?

Or was it the wine?

 

[Keith Oates]

I agree with Piemaster that belt drives is an area that could well be worth exploring. Couple that with internal hub gearing and it could be a winner. That would mean no dirty and oily chains and no sprocket wear but research into belt material etc. would be needed so the time spent on the project could be extensive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bazzon]

Thanks for all the replies, very lively and welocming forum you guys run here.

Ive noted down a few thinks, and will but these to my tutors.

Will be back in touch soon.

/Adrian

 

[Cheddar George]

I agree with the belt drive/hub gear now being more feasible, take a look at the Trek Soho as i think they are doing a belt drive version this year.

 

[Spinney]

I know some females loathe the stereotypical pink on their equipment.

+1

 

[wafflycat]

+2.. sort of. It's not that I hate it, I just don't see the apparent necessity of it to prove I'm female.

 

[montage]

whereas I'd like some pink on my bike....


....oh wait I do ..pink bartape on TT handles