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

[drwelby]

I wonder how much power you could generate off of a small spinning drogue - I could see some sort of fabric propellery thing with a lightweight shaft connected to a small generator that you'd hang out your seat bag on descents. And then in demoralizing headwinds you'd have an excuse to stop and make camp and "charge your batteries".

Yes, I know a dynohub or sidewall generator will be more efficient.

[DoctorRad]

I guess a lightweight, fold-out wind generator for the campsite would be of interest to a lot of people... hmmm...

One thing I would like to see the return (or updating) of is field serviceable bearings. WTB and SunTour had their GreaseGuard system around 20 years ago, but now you have to find NOS components to be able to use that. Some method of regreasing bearings effectively without having to dismantle them would be great.

[Niles]

This probably exists...but I would like to have a device that mounted onto my handlebars that lets me turn my suspension on and off (front or rear). Kind of like a shifting mechanism, but for suspension.

[stevage]

You've not come across remote lock-out suspension? Pretty common for high-end forks, not so common for rear.

[Niles]

I'm talking about something that's more universal.  Something that can be attached to a shock that's not equipped with remote lockout.

[Done]

This probably exists...but I would like to have a device that mounted onto my handlebars that lets me turn my suspension on and off (front or rear). Kind of like a shifting mechanism, but for suspension.

My antiquated 1994 Cannondale hard-tail has a Headshock (front fork) that locks out. I'd consider upgrading to a full-suspension bike sometime if rear lock out was a reasonably priced option.

[stevage]

What about the high-end Specialized XC bikes with "automatic lock-out"? Does it work?

[Done]

What about the high-end Specialized XC bikes with "automatic lock-out"? Does it work?

Dunno, never ridden one. As rear-suspension emerged in the 90's, I did try a few different versions--and I didn't like any of them for technical XC riding. I should try again now that I'm returning to mountain biking after a long hiatus. I'm a little apprehensive though, since I suspect that full suspension is now perfected--and I don't really want to spend the money!

[bruce.b]

   What I'd like is a very high quality, lightweight, efficient, totally reliable 3 speed internally geared hub. I'd also like the spacing between gears to either be adjustable or so I could set up my mountain bike with gears 15 gear inches apart. I'd have a 30 inch climbing gear, 45 inch technical offroad gear and a 60 inch go fast gear. A different cog and I could make the gearing range higher or lower. By limiting it to three ratios it should be possible to make it simple, reliable, lightweight and efficient. I'd have no problems with paying 3 or even 4 hundred USD for the hub. I might even mostly give up singlespeeds for this.

   bruce.b

[stevage]

I was thinking about this thread recently. I'd really like a mechanism for adding and removing equipment faster than allen screws. I find it takes ages to add or remove a rack. So some kind of clip that screws into the allen screw holes would be great.

[Niles]

Whatever happened with this? How did the op's project go?

[jeremy11]

I was thinking about this thread recently. I'd really like a mechanism for adding and removing equipment faster than allen screws. I find it takes ages to add or remove a rack. So some kind of clip that screws into the allen screw holes would be great.

Like a wing-nut or wing-bolt?

[dchaney389]

As the OP I would like to thank you all for all your input! It was extremely helpful in determining what issues to focus on and how to develop my project.

The final product was a system of 2 devices, one of which mounts on the bike, or bikepacking gear and gathers and stores solar energy in a battery which can then be used to charge a small electronic device, like a cell phone, GPS or iPod. The second device was a kinetic generator which mounts on the fork of a bike and, via the constant vibration of the fork, channels energy into the first device's battery.

I will post more details, renderings, and pics of the prototype when I find a good place to upload them

Thanks again for all the help!

[stevage]

Like a wing-nut or wing-bolt?

It's not using the allen key that's slow. It's partly all the screwing (ie, no difference with a wingnut) and partly the difficulty of trying to balance the rack in place while doing up screws. Particularly the fourth screw seems to be the hardest - the rack is under a lot of tension by then.

[KBrooks]

How about this rack?
http://www.bikemania.biz/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=Pletscher_Athlete_QRack_System

It's a Pletscher that has a QR clamp for the seatpost, and "winged" washers at the bolts that allow it to be pivoted and then removed. Tried it recently and it really is fairly easy to remove.

[stevage]

Yeah, that's the kind of idea. Trouble is, I don't want to replace my current rack (Topeak Super Tourist DX). Looks like Pletscher has a very similar range of accessories that are specific to its rack...and of course the two systems aren't compatible.

[KBrooks]

Of course not...