A-level bike project ideas

Hi,
I am currently studying product design at A level and have been asked to design and make a product as a solution to a problem. I am wanting to do something bike related and was wondering if anyone had any ideas which I could make. They could be parts, accessories , security or anything. Any help would be appreciated.
Cheers

Bond style Ejector seatpost

to keep the theme… fork mounted cannons for commuter duty…. on a more serious note what do YOU think is wrong with a particular bike part/accessory? i guess most of the issues with current bike bits are perceived rather than actual… partly through mass marketing and i suspect mostly through the desire for new toys.

OK here goes.

Commuter:
permanently attached, unsteal-able lights,
secure pannier that keeps the contents safe,

MTB:
guard/screen thing to keep mud off dropper post,
cuff to keep water out of Sealskinz socks,
oiler system to keep fork wipers moist,

HTH,
APF

guard/screen thing to keep mud off dropper post,

This arms like a good one to me, small enough scope to come up with a decent solution, enough variables to keep you in your toes and make it worth doing

A handlebar mounted thing that would hold a portable power supply and at least one USB powered device such as a phone. Must be waterproof and easy to put on/off.

A2 rather than AS? If so innovation plays a very large aspect of the mark scheme. The problem for you is that bikes and bits for bikes have been designed to death and the chances of you manufacturing something that will function better than something already available commercially with the facilities available to you at school/college are slim. Making a slightly crapper version of something you could buy won’t cut it. A DIY dropper post is the ultimate naff A level project imo. Similarly conceiving a bike frame that tweaks the angles by a degree or two will get folk around here moist but is not going to impress the moderator. Finally you need to think ahead and ensure the outcome will use enough tools, materials and manufacturing processes to tick the mark boxes (it’s crap and not what design should be about but this is an academic version of design and you need to be playing the game).

If I was you I’d go for something a little niche for a specific user group. For example a bike adaption for a disability; a turbo trainer style electricity generator for the developing world to give a multifunction to a bike. Or go down the aesthetic route and conceive a piece for an urban flat that is half sculpture, half bike storage. Or a piece of furniture for the same small space that has a domestic use but doubles as a tool box and bike maintenance stand.

How about a new wheel size?

Rack for easily towing a child’s bike to and from school. Not one of the clamping monstrosities which try to be a tag along. Something more elegant please.

Brush guards that double up as bar ends.

massive sharp pole that sticks out from seat post into traffic to reduce close passes.

ok, maybe not sharp but as a safety feature is worth thinking about.

i’d buy the nitromors blasting special edition…

A new standard – headset, bb, axle, wheel size – take your pick.

I like the usb powerpack idea. Some way of keeping it waterproof while on the move – speaking as someone who has just killed a garmin and power pack on a long wet ride (as has a friend it would seem). I’d make the battery part of a garmin mount and some how box it up in one package.

Some sort of modular saddle bag arrangement so that a pump/tool/tube all clip together as one neat package.

I did see one that I would buy which was a bike saddle bag that also doubled as a small bar bag or would go in a bottle cage as a tool bag. One item, multiple uses. It was basically a small cylinder with clever strapping.

Not sure on other inspiration but gravel biking is now popular so something for that market. Commuting is also big but then your options are probably covered there.

I’d be inclined to think about bike maintenance – I’m sure you could develop a tool to do a particular job better than whats around currently.

This has just come out which is pretty cool:

http://ottodesignworks.com

The alternative is to adopt a “problem solvers” approach, and try to develop an adapter that reconciles 2 new standards

Quick(ish) release removable pedals – make transporting the bike much easier inside a car

An expert system (artificial intelligence) to answer the what tyres question, should include tactors like ground/ride type, weather wet vs dry, temperature, plus other random factors. Clearly it shoukd suggest differemt tyres front and back and tips on aligning the logos with the wheels

A bike lock that is unobtrusive i.e. the size of a long pump that fits on lugs under the top-tube.

A box for tools/tube that actually fits under a seat.

Rear lights / pole with flashing indicators?

Rear camera?

Combination lock hub/skewer for front wheel.

Remote control brake actuator to fit to the nippers back brake. So that when little Johnny or Jane is getting too far ahead, too fast, not slowing for a corner, about to mow down a pensioner… attendant parent can bring them to safe stop.

Must be easily retro fittable. And have a fail safe mode so that it doesn’t go out of range, is, activates slowly at preset max range.

Telescopic handlebars to cover both trail and commuting between cars

360 degree camera for commuters. Maybe bung it in the steerer tube pointing upwards with a 360 lens on. 3d print it for bonus points, and make it wipe cleanable so post crash blood just slides off.

As above. First should be what are you graded against? The make sure you have a project that fits all the grading criteria.

I’ve had HNC students do a brilliant project but forgot to do any justification and evaluation at the end in their reports so barley got a pass.
Strangley if your project fails your final report is better as you can go into detail about changes that should be made and how you would do things differently.
A (AS) level might be different but all awarding bodies should have grading criteia in the public domain.

Power brick idea, two large (161874? The longer AA size) Batteries one in each end of the handlebar with wires looping out tight around a radiused bar end under the grips to the centre of the bars.

Anti-thermal imaging motor shroud?

How about a secure, low profile Garmin eTrex mount?
Garmin can’t seem to do one properly.

Here’s something I’d like..
A wall mounted ‘bike stand thing’ that folds pretty flush with the wall, but flips out to stand a bike against it for cleaning and ‘general standing duties’.
It should hold the bike out away from the wall (not parallel) and could come in 1-3 bike sizes. Ideally it would simply hold the rear wheel, and keep the bike upright.

That’s what I’d like please.

DrP

Standardise rear mech hangars to three or four designs.

Every one who rides a bike will instantly love you. And you will go down in history as the guy that was awesome.

Putting a couple of ideas into one here and if you make money off them I want a slice.

Handlebars with built in light / battery. Battery can also charge other devices. Seat post with the same.

Un-nickable lights and USB charging all in the bike.

Some sort of wireless device that warns lorry drivers that there is a bike or bikes in their mirror blind spot. Maybe some form of RFID tag on the bike and corresponding sensors on the vehicle so when a bike is detected a light signals the driver.

Some way of lightening gear teeth to make gearboxes for bikes a lot lighter. maybe a plastic/composite gear with metal teeth fused around the rim?

Kamakazie
How about a secure, low profile Garmin eTrex mount?
Garmin can’t seem to do one properly.

This is what you should do, something similar to this but for oversized bars. You would sell a lot as lots have the Etrex

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:164720

I would like a small zippable waterproof pouch that velco’s round the handlebars to keep my car keys in. Maybe such a thing exists, but ive never seen one.
Not really enough to make a project out of though.

dynamo li-ion battery pack charger to power all those things above and power park should be SWAT-style removable from indside handlebar or steerer tube so you can take it with you to emergency charge your phone