New Accessory
 

I have designed, prototyped and patented a new accessory that will be used by commuter/recreational type bicycle riders. I am looking for a commuter bicycle dealer/distributor/manufacturer that might be interested in helping me to develop and market this new device.
Any ideas?

contact bicycle dealer/distributor/manufacturers.

Or just cross your fingers and hope some rich commuter wants to give you money for spamming their messageboard.

What is it? Are there really any "new" (completely novel) ideas left for commuter bikes which are an improvement on current designs? Sure, there's new stuff that comes out every year... but so much of it is crap.

Since you've already got your patent, let's see what you've got.

Another option is a grass roots approach. A guy I work with built a new type of kids trailer for himself because he didn't like anything out there. People kept asking him where he got it so he started building them for others. Now he is selling them across the country and even internationally.

If you have no business experience, perhaps contact your local university. Often they have programs where business students work with local entrepeneurs.

Unless your idea is compelling, I think you would need to show market acceptance on some level before a larger company would be interested with terms even remotely favorable to you.

Paul

I'm guessing it's a helmet with a built-in umbrella.

...or a lock with fingerprint ID. I've only been on these forums for about a year, but I swear I've seen that idea proposed 100 times.

+1 on wanting to see it. You will be far more likely to get peoples help (rather than their sarcasm) if you show us what it is you want marketed. Then some of us will have a better idea as to what companies would be likely to manufacture such a thing. We would also be able to give you a better reaction on the product (either good or bad) which could help you gauge just how well received such an invention might be.

This device allows the bike rider to re-position the handlebars safely and easily while in motion. The idea has been around for years but I believe I have a unique mechanical design. After riding with it for 2 years I have found it to relieve muscle tension, improve blood circulation in my hands and lower back and it really comes in handy when riding against a headwind.
I can mass produce it for around $50. I am an engineer with 30 years experience in manufacturing but little in marketing so I am investigating the best way to introduce it to the market place.

Mass produce it for $50 your cost, or would retail for $50?

In my opinion, the thing you have to be very mindful of, if a product like this gains wide acceptance, expect competition from the already established accessory producers. Patents rarely protect you over the long term, so producing the product at a low enough cost so that your competitors don't see large enough retruns to jump into the market is key.

Another approach would be to contact accessory manufacturers with your idea (have non-disclosure agreements ready) and work out a licensing agreement. They produce it, market it, distribute it, you get a royalty check.

While you may have a unique design, there is no safe method for repositioning the handlebar height while the bike is in motion unless you have an electronic lift stem which never disengages any locking mechanisms. (A worm-drive twin parallelogram lift similar to a derailleur cage comes to mind.) Any manual repositioning of the bars would mean that for a moment, the vertical position of the stem is unlocked. Should the rider encounter a surface variation causing a rapid reduction in speed while the bars are unlocked (curb, pothole, etc.) they stand to be pitched forward over the bars as the unlocked stem would buck forward under their weight.
Barring that issue:

The reasons you listed are precisely the reason for using ergonomic drop handlebars. Multiple hand positions (tops, hoods, hooks, drops) give different rider positions to change aerodynamics and allow for variable body position to promote circulation and alleviate numbness.

As a manufacturing engineer, I'm interested to see a design for it; but as a cyclist, I don't see much marketability for it.

I have developed a device that allows the rider to adjust the position of the handlebars while on the move. I call it the EZRIDE SYSTEM. Several of my friends like this device but it is difficult to tell if they are just being nice or if there is real appeal for something like this. I did apply for a patent but now am trying to decide if I should offer this for sell. I came here for an unbiased opinion. It can be seen on YOU TUBE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7AjJQmQkDE
Please give me your opinion.
Is there a market segment that would pay for this device?

I don't know much about rolling products out to market, but I would say that from viewing the youtube video, that is a product (depending on price, ease of installation, etc) that I would be interested in adding to my bike.

bikeguy, there is a potential market in people who are trying to properly fit bikes to themselves or other riders. Current practice is to establish fit and buy the appropriate stem to lock it in position. I myself have no interest in changing stem height and/or length on the fly, but I know lots of people who would like to be able to do it experimentally to figure out what works for them.

It looks pretty interesting. But it's not an accessory; it's a stem. As such, I'd approach anyone that markets stems to the cycling industry as well as the major bicycle brands. The end result would be to sell or license the patent rights.

Good luck

Thanks for the feedback,
I am building up a few, would you be interested in trying one out? No charge of course. It takes about 15 minutes to install. I need feedback from people that are avid riders.

i'll try one...i think it looks pretty cool

It looks interesting, not sure that it would work in my world. I would be hard pressed to get rid of my stem mounted shifters.

I don't quite get how it works.

From the video it looks like you've got some kind of rotating stem but unless the stem lets go of the handlebar while it's being rotated, I don't quite get how the brake levers always seem to point in the same direction.

It looks like the kind of thing I'd certainly show some interest in investigating further but I'd want to know a lot more about how it works before I trusted it with my safety.

Decide on your business model (license the design/patent, manufacture yourself, have someone else manufacture for you) and your pricing. Bring several demos to Interbike and show them to anyone who will listen.

Were you at Interbike this year? If not, you've already got a competitor.

Thats pretty slick! How does it lock and how is the release actuated? Would it work on drop bars? I ride drop bar bike for the hand positions but my main commuter I have the bars way up to ease strain on my back.

There is a shock absorbing stem of a simular design (parrall beams) that I have seen.

As for marketing. I could see this being marketed to people with lower back issues (like myself) that cant take a tuck for extended periods of time but fighting a head wind it would allow them to drop for short distance to cheat the wind hen needed but sit back up to relax their back as needed.

I'd be interested in one if the price were right. if $50 is the market price you are in the range of a medium level stem so you are hitting a good spot.

My first thought, actually, was Crank Brothers and how they have a seatpost that can be dropped with the press of a button on the handlebars. They make it for MTB'ers who want to lower the saddle and get it out of the way for technical terrain:
http://crankbrothers.com/seatposts_joplin4r.php

Think they might be interested in building your stem?

I would say you are allready offering it for sale seeing as a review for you product is on page 23 of Bicycle Retailer and Industry News. Suggested retail 275.00

It is a parallelogram structure with two locking gas springs that lock into position and add a shock absorber feature.