What kind of product would you like to see introduced to cycling

pprendeville

I have a college project which involves me bringing a hypothetical product/idea to market and I'm looking for feedback on what type of problems you experience in cycling to give me some ideas on products that could be introduced or alternatively just name a product/idea you would like introduced yourself. Seeing I'm as I'm a cycling addict I'd like to base the project around the sport as it interests me.

So far, I can think of 2. Actually, a friend recommended the first to me. Some sort of warning device to drivers to indicate that a cyclist is within range of the car so it would act like an early warning system so the speak. Not exactly sure of the details but I guess it would have to be some sort of 2 way device that emits a sound/voice within a range of 50m. Also possibility of linking in with a GPS car unit which will show bikers on the GPS screen perhaps and also a warning. A bit far fetched maybe?

Another idea I had was a DIY energy bar. Some people seem to have a a fair bit of interest in making their own bars so why not provide people with a make it yourself kit and include instructions (obviously) with different recipes tailored for different workouts/events. Maybe use recyclable/biodegradable materials. Annoys me when I have to put the plastic wrapper back in my pocket after finishing a bar although I'm not encouraging ditching a biodegradable wrapper, just sometimes they fall so you wouldn't be left feeling too guilty if they did.

bogmanfan

Run flat tyres

ednwireland

bike with a motor - ooooh wait........

Beasty

ednwireland wrote: »

bike with a motor - ooooh wait........

Well he did start this thread on a Friday...

... reversing sensors:D

pprendeville

Beasty wrote: »

Well he did start this thread on a Friday...

... reversing sensors:D

Only for ppl like yourself who go backwards uphill.

Lusk Doyle

Do your own bloody homework!

petethedrummer

Some sort of toe warming device.... and yes I am aware of socks.

pprendeville

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

Do your own bloody homework!

This is what is called "market research" my friend.

Bigus

Beasty wrote: »

Well he did start this thread on a Friday...

... reversing sensors:D

anti theft systems, not just locks,
anti bicycle theft
Systems involving, parking and buildings andgarda/ third party monitoring ,involving electronics and physical barriers to theft.

I have another simple ish idea that would generate recurrig lncome but I'm keeping it to myself ,but pm me if you are interested in j v. Cycle and tourist related ,new to market here.

pprendeville

Bigus wrote: »

anti theft systems, not just locks,
anti bicycle theft
Systems involving, parking and buildings andgarda/ third party monitoring ,involving electronics and physical barriers to they.

I have another simple ish idea that would generate recurrig lncome but I'm keeping it to myself ,but pm me if you are interested in j v. Cycle and tourist related ,new to market here.

Now we're sucking diesel. Bicycle theft is huge isn't it. This is something I'll think about today so. I had a bike robbed a few years back and I was like a raving lunatic after it happened. Luckily it wasn't expensive so I can only imagine what it's like to have an expensive one taken.

fat bloke

Cheap power meters.

Current prices are absolute b0lloxology if you ask me.

piston

A machine gun to deal with impatient/stupid/blind drivers.

Hungrycol

Self cleaning bike.

Hmmzis

Not for a bike as such but a device that would stop a car's engine when its bodywork makes contact with a cyclist/pedestrian. Also it should make the car imovable (locks up brakes). Would make hit n' runs more difficult.

pprendeville

fat bloke wrote: »

Cheap power meters.

Current prices are absolute b0lloxology if you ask me.

A bit too technical me thinks.

Donie75

One real simple one... a plastic or rubber plug to block the big holes under the toe of Shimano shoes. They could be sold with matching cleat covers. I know shoe covers help but it seems mad to have a big hole in the sole of your shoes all the time.

ednwireland

petethedrummer wrote: »

Some sort of toe warming device.... and yes I am aware of socks.

Electric socks
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Outback-Quality-Battery-Heated-Socks/dp/B004X71REY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357899600&sr=8-1

Electric insoles
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Primrose-CF0040-Warmawear-Heated-Insoles/dp/B002Z7T19C/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1357899600&sr=8-4

there ya go (just though of that as my other half bought an electrically heated vest for scuba diving)

kuro_man

Donie75 wrote: »

One real simple one... a plastic or rubber plug to block the big holes under the toe of Shimano shoes. They could be sold with matching cleat covers. I know shoe covers help but it seems mad to have a big hole in the sole of your shoes all the time.

no need, duct tape works perfectly fine, lasts all winter

MB Lacey

A little gps microchip to put under your bike saddle, so if your bike is ever stolen you can log onto your computer and see where the microchip is - resulting in the theif being led away in handcuffs whilst you watch, laughing heartily.

kuro_man

A device that gives car early warning that there is a cyclist around the next bend - lingering smoke maybe
A device that lets you know whether the road will be icy or not before you leave the house

Flandria

A sneering device for lads that cant be bothered to dress properly...;)

kuro_man

non-removeable qr code to identify the owner if a stolen bike is recovered

Ole Rodrigo

Flandria wrote: »

A sneering device for lads that cant be bothered to dress properly

A bell that goes 'Fred, Fred' :pac:

pprendeville

MB Lacey wrote: »

A little gps microchip to put under your bike saddle, so if your bike is ever stolen you can log onto your computer and see where the microchip is - resulting in the theif being led away in handcuffs whilst you watch, laughing heartily.

Very doable I imagine. Thanks. I will get back with what we go with regardless of if its cycling related but hopefully I can persuade the group to go this route.

ednwireland

kuro_man wrote: »

non-removeable qr code to identify the owner if a stolen bike is recovered

http://www.bikeshepherd.org/aboutus.html

kuro_man

clip-on rear full-length close-fit mudguard for road bikes that doesn't constantly rub the tyre

chakattack

Garmin with built in camera...very hard to argue with video and GPS recording of any accidents/near misses. Dedicated bike cameras are a bit dorky but I'd use that if it didn't kill battery life.

Electronic groupset linked to computer by Ant+ to shift gear to maintain X cadence at Y power.

How far to the top of this hill 'ometer

studiorat

Bionic body parts; heart, lungs, legs etc.

dermo1990

Going back to the theft issue, perhaps an anti-lock tampering system? In the event that the lock spontaneously is under strain or vibration consistent with forced entry (by someone who isn't the owner), it would trigger an alarm.

It probably could be expanded to include a GSM and GPS chip whereby the lock would text its position and thats it has been tampered with to a specific phone number(s)....sort of an eircom phonewatch for bikes.

colm_gti

MB Lacey wrote: »

A little gps microchip to put under your bike saddle, so if your bike is ever stolen you can log onto your computer and see where the microchip is - resulting in the theif being led away in handcuffs whilst you watch, laughing heartily.

99% sure such a thing already exists.

chakattack wrote: »

Electronic groupset linked to computer by Ant+ to shift gear to maintain X cadence at Y power.

Pretty sure this exists too, but more a case of shifting gear automatically to maintain a specific cadence.

chakattack wrote: »

How far to the top of this hill 'ometer

Can you not set your garmin to tell you how far to the top of the climb? I had a Bryton Rider 35 and one of the data fields you could choose was distance to the top of the climb, never used it so don't know how accurate it was, or if the garmin can do the same...

Ole Rodrigo

MB Lacey wrote: »

A little gps microchip to put under your bike saddle, so if your bike is ever stolen you can log onto your computer and see where the microchip is - resulting in the theif being led away in handcuffs whilst you watch, laughing heartily.

There are a couple of similar products already;

http://www.integratedtrackers.com/GPSTrack/

kenmc

Donie75 wrote: »

One real simple one... a plastic or rubber plug to block the big holes under the toe of Shimano shoes. They could be sold with matching cleat covers. I know shoe covers help but it seems mad to have a big hole in the sole of your shoes all the time.

That's already been done..

07Lapierre

Heated road surface to prevent Ice/snow forming.
Also... Tarmac that glows in the dark?

Chips Lovell

MB Lacey wrote: »

A little gps microchip to put under your bike saddle, so if your bike is ever stolen you can log onto your computer and see where the microchip is - resulting in the theif being led away in handcuffs whilst you watch, laughing heartily.

Question is how do you keep it powered? I've been mulling over a similar thing with an idea of a pet collar that can track your dog if he runs away.

kuro_man

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

Question is how do you keep it powered? I've been mulling over a similar thing with an idea of a pet collar that can track your dog if he runs away.

solar panel on the helmet? Does your dog wear a helmet?

Lawrence1895

Some sort of device, which you can put over your glasses, to prevent them from getting steamed or wet, when it rains

colm_gti

Lars1916 wrote: »

Some sort of device, which you can put over your glasses, to prevent them from getting steamed or wet, when it rains

RainX

Lawrence1895

colm_gti wrote: »

RainX

Thanks. I'll try to get that stuff

lennymc

Lars1916 wrote: »

Some sort of device, which you can put over your glasses, to prevent them from getting steamed or wet, when it rains

when i rode motorbikes I used to wipe the insdie of the visor with a bit of washing up liquid, rub it in real good until it dried in, which prevented them steaming up.

kenmc

Lars1916 wrote: »

Some sort of device, which you can put over your glasses, to prevent them from getting steamed or wet, when it rains

Umbrellahat.

dvntie

Magnetic spoke
One per wheel so ya don't have to mess about with those screw on ones that break
Would also help keeping wheels balanced if they were the same weight as normal spokes

AIR-AUSSIE

chakattack wrote: »

Electronic groupset linked to computer by Ant+ to shift gear to maintain X cadence at Y power.

colm_gti wrote: »

Pretty sure this exists too, but more a case of shifting gear automatically to maintain a specific cadence.

In prototype form at the moment:
http://www.gizmag.com/automatic-gear-shifting-bicycles/24956/

rp

coffee machine running off a hub dynamo, with pumped tube leading to mouth.

Donelson

a simple speedo that tell you what speed you need to match the traffic light sequence around town.

petethedrummer

Bicycle Anemometer

An anemometer mounted on the handlebars and connected to your computer to give a true wind adjusted speed.

Myksyk

A Bike Wash ... i.e. same idea as a car wash which would be placed in service stations or the like and mean simply clicking in your bike and having it moved through a bike-friendly wash cycle. Small scale item to make it feasible. I know they have recently introduced this idea for motorbikes in the States.

Icyseanfitz

fat bloke wrote: »

Cheap power meters.

Current prices are absolute b0lloxology if you ask me.

beat me too it, for the life of me i cant figure out why a sram powermeter chainset will set you back 2500 euro, where the hell do they get those costs from, same with the hubs

Ole Rodrigo

What about an app that gives info on cafes, bike shops and other services in the local area ? Could even include cyclists wanting to meet up for a spin..

+1 on the bike wash. It could work as a manual cleaning machine supplied by you and hosted at petrol stations. You could work out a profit share with them.

mloc123

fat bloke wrote: »

Cheap power meters.

Current prices are absolute b0lloxology if you ask me.

Bull****. You can pick up a PM for 600e

marketty

An anti theft device that fires a spike up from the seat post and into the gooch.


Or run flats. Yeah that might be more feasible.

Lumen

mloc123 wrote: »

Bull****. You can pick up a PM for 600e

600 euros is not cheap.