Tell a story and help develop a new mountain bike product...

[dchaney389]

Hi everyone!

I am a student at Georgia Tech and I am working on a project developing a new, bike-related product.

The project is still in its early stages and I need your help to get it going.

I'm wondering what are some of the most frustrating problems or situations that you have encountered while mountain biking or bikepacking. They might be technical problems, weather, injuries, other trail users... whatever. Anything counts if its biking related and it bothers you or you'd like to see it changed or solved!

People like you, the bikepacking community, are going to be vital to this project and, while I am an avid mountain biker myself, I really need your help. So please, tell me your stories. Any input you offer will be very helpful. So tell me a story...

I can't wait to hear what you've got!

[sherpaxc]

What is the product geared towards?  I'm always skeptical about people who post on forums (especially first posts) asking for help with product development.

[daveB]

Hey, don't worry, I'd bet that the OP is an Industrial Design student.  GTech has that program. 
Ask for carbon fiber or grade 47 Titanium, and ye shall receive.  Projects like this tend not to have a budget component.

I could write something baleful about mud glopped drivetrains, but that would make for some tricky modelmaking (or are we just doing fanciful sketches?)

1) water
Regular biking water bottles are a nuisance on long distance rides, because they are relatively small in volume, so you have to have a lot of bottle cages to carry a large volume of water.  Lots of bottles pack really poorly.  Plenty of mountain bikers like using a Camelbak or other bladder system, but they are impossible to fill in a mountain stream.  I'd like a system that packs easily (preferably on the bike), cleans easily, and is logistically simple to use with some normal method of water treatment.

2) shelter
I love to camp solo, but there aren't great shelter choices out there.  I hate bugs, so a simple tarp isn't great.  I hate drippy claustrophobia, so bivys aren't great.  Tarptents are good for hiking, but they rely on trekking poles, which I'm certainly not carrying on a bike.  The Topeak Bikeamper tries to be cool, and does an admirable job of using the bike as a structural resource, but its wicked heavy by ultralight standards.  I want a bit of breathing room in the shelter (not a lot), light weight, and bug resistance.

Do post a link to your class or personal page so we can see what comes of it.

[chrisx]

The thing I want most is a wider variety of gears.  Not more cogs.  Seven rear cogs is more than enough.  Why can't 7 cogs range from 11 - 36.  Why did I have to pay $300 for a triple crank set, and $80 for a 46 tooth saint ring as replacement for the 44 it came with?  Why can't I buy a 20, 34, 48 crank set?
Less than 1%, (much less), of bicycle rides are races, more than 90% of bicycles are for racers, or pretend racers.  
I want a drive train for people who pedal all over every where.  Not a drive train designed for some racer I never meet, so he can pedal a particular course I've never seen.

A reliable way to recharge batteries would be nice.  Solar panel that could be unrolled and set on a bike bag all day?  Front dyno hub with an attachment for AA battery charger?

Better way to carry plenty of water?

reread #2 in next post up, olive drab is good

[Groundshine]

How about a bike computer that has an odometer that can be "nudged" up or down to match the cue sheet?

( another studiozoic idea!)

[dchaney389]

First of all, thank you all for responding. You really don't know how helpful you are being.

daveB called it right. I am in the ID program, and this is research for a studio project. However, I am also a real-life mountain biker who, among other venues, races on the collegiate circuit. Projects are always more enjoyable when you focus on something that interests you.

The project is fairly open ended. I am simply trying to learn as much about my chosen situation (mountain biking with an emphasis on long distance riding) as possible and identify specific problems or needs which could be addressed by a new product. Thats why I'm asking for as many ideas as you all can give me.

I hope this helps to clarify where I'm coming from.

All that you've mentioned so far has been great, but the more the better so please keep the ideas coming!

P.S. I will definitely post a link at the end of the project, in case anyone is interested in what develops from this.  Thanks!

[donmeredith74]

A lightweight internal gear hub that generates power and pumps filtered water. I'm OK with my male pattern baldness so please don't fix that.

[intheways]

I'm with ChrisX-a dynohub recharged battery system with a really light powerful battery that can power a variety of devices would be great.  I'm not sure what the state of battery technology is, but it seems that major strides are being made.

Can't wait to see what you come up with.

[stevage]

>Tarptents are good for hiking, but they rely on trekking poles, which I'm certainly not carrying on a bike.

Naw, you're mistaken. They have optional, cheap, and very lightweight conventional poles. 530g for the sublite tent plus 140g for the poles. Totally the solution for you. Cheap too - about $185 USD with poles iirc.

Now, other problems I've encountered needing a solution:
- a rack that goes on and off really quickly, without wearing out my brazeons.
- magic tyres that behave well on and off road. (maybe something that behaves like a road tyre under high pressure, and a mtb tyre under low)
- second the comments about dynohubs. I want a cheap dynohub+light+charger setup. Current cost of a schmidt dynohub plus wheel build plus light is ridiculous.
- failing that, a lightweight emergency AA charger, whether wind, solar, rim dyno...
- some sort of lightweight protection for arms/legs against scrub rashes, and grazes could work
- for that matter, lightweight face protection for when stuff gets unexpectedly gnarly
- (dreaming) changing tyre pressure without stopping...
- some sort of lightweight theft deterrent. enough to be able to leave a bike outside a supermarket for 30 minutes.

Can't say these are major frustrations for me though. Biggest frustration is lack of free time/leave...

[Rob]

A 20mm thru axle dynohub is what I would be interested in.  Nobody offers that right now as far as I know...

A dedicated frame bag that it in itself was a bladder.  Would offer more more water storage than stuffing a bladder into a frame bag, and would weigh less.  Have a hydration hose that came up to about 5 inches above handlebars for easy access to drink from.

[Pawel]

My thoughts and dreams:
1) I would like to see a battery charging system based on conversion of vibrations created during mountain biking into electrical power. Solar system embedded into helmet with integrated led lamp also would be interesting product.

2) Improvement of watter carrying system as mentioned in previous posts is important

3) My bike have been stolen in spite of protection. I wish I had some kind of gps tracking electronics embedded into frame... This could be used against theft as well as emergency call like spot

4) A lightweight internal gear hub - Rohloff speedhub is great but a little too heavy

[jeremy11]

Electric thermos, like a portable crock-pot that is powered off a dyno hub and/or solar or the vibration generator Pawel suggested.  I'm not sure how much power would be necessary.
It could melt snow, keep hot drinks hot, and even COOK!  Just think, hot soup or stew on the trail without having to stop for a while.
Melting snow while moving would be a huge plus, and a would be great all on its own.

[stevage]

Wow, so far every single person except two have mentioned ways to generate electricity. Mmmm...how about a regenerative (ie, brake-powered) battery charger....

[bmike-vt]

why limit it to braking? a dyno will power you up anytime the wheel is moving... and there are options for chargers coming on line now - some pricey, some not. and some have USB adapters, etc. only time before the prices start dropping...

from what i know a regenerative braking system for a bike would be too heavy to be useful...

[stevage]

>why limit it to braking?

So it doesn't waste effort. Was thinking you might only need a small amount of power over a whole day, and you could get that "for free" if it came from braking.

>from what i know a regenerative braking system for a bike would be too heavy to be useful...

Ah.

[Eric]

a saddle that automatically injects chamois cream when (and where!) you need it.

[DaveC]

This thread is f--ud up.

PS:

A rear derailleur that clear mud better would be handy.

[AZTtripper]

- some sort of lightweight theft deterrent. enough to be able to leave a bike outside a supermarket for 30 minutes.

I have 2 of the seatpost cables (made by Kryptonite just for locking seats) linked together and a tiny Brinks brand lock. It wouldn't stop a determined thief but it will slow them down and at least stops them from being able to just grab and go.

[jonesy792]

- some sort of lightweight theft deterrent. enough to be able to leave a bike outside a supermarket for 30 minutes.

I use a small 1/4" dia. combination cable lock.  It won't stop a determined thief but it is small, lightweight (relatively) and I feel like its enough for a quick stop in a convenience/grocery store

[DoctorRad]

Plenty of mountain bikers like using a Camelbak or other bladder system, but they are impossible to fill in a mountain stream.

Look for a 'Source' bladder which opens along the whole of its top edge, like these:

http://www.proadventure.co.uk/acatalog/Source_Hydration_-_Widepac_-_Hydration_Bladder.html
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?PartnerID=79&ModelID=18445



Hold the opening open underwater, facing upstream, and it will fill quickly. The bite valves are pretty bad though, best replaced with a CamelBak one, or whatever your favourite is.

I first found these bladders at MEC in Canada, supplied with a hydration pack. Not sure if MEC sell them separately though. Deuter use them in their packs too.