No1 problem for commuters
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 15
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
No1 problem for commuters
If you could change one thing to make your commute run smoother, what would it be?
Whats the biggest pain in the butt on that daily ride?
Im a product designer and a cycling lover, and im looking to design and make a product that can make life easier for us eco warriors.
Any feedback is much appreciated
Whats the biggest pain in the butt on that daily ride?
Im a product designer and a cycling lover, and im looking to design and make a product that can make life easier for us eco warriors.
Any feedback is much appreciated
#2
Collector of Useless Info
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,404
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Fear. Fear of speeding 2-ton chunks of iron with drunken cell-phone users at the controls. If you can solve that with a handy product, I'll buy a dozen. Just today I saw a one-car accident take out a mailbox encased in stone at 40 MPH on a 25 MPH suburban side-street. Stopped to help the drunken kid staunch the bleeding on his forehead. I'm just glad I wasn't there 30 seconds earlier.
#3
Bicycle Commuter
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Springfield, IL
Posts: 726
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
If you could change one thing to make your commute run smoother, what would it be?
Whats the biggest pain in the butt on that daily ride?
Im a product designer and a cycling lover, and im looking to design and make a product that can make life easier for us eco warriors.
Any feedback is much appreciated
Whats the biggest pain in the butt on that daily ride?
Im a product designer and a cycling lover, and im looking to design and make a product that can make life easier for us eco warriors.
Any feedback is much appreciated
As far as a product that would help us with commutes, there is an idea we have discussed here. When the sun is low in the sky, it can be difficult to see the roadway, because most regular bike helmets do not have adequate sun visors. I wear sunglasses, but it is the low sun coming in just over the top of the sunglasses that is the problem. I don't want to add a baseball hat or other hat visor because it is one more thing to make me sweat more. I rigged up a homemade piece of tape that sits atop my sunglasses that blocks out the low sun, but it is an ugly homemade solution. If there were a plastic piece that could clip on to the top of the sunglasses and give just a one inch sun block, and be easily removeable, I would buy a couple immediately. You can do a search for "Sun In My Eyes" for a thread here where we discussed this.
Last edited by Bluish Green; 10-22-12 at 02:58 PM.
#5
Collector of Useless Info
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,404
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Ya know, on second thought, a nice thing to have would be some sort of ear protection so the wind noise is attenuated but you can still hear the cars. There have been a couple of types of these invented -one goes on the helmet strap and interrupts the flow, and the other is just a foam ear cover- the first doesn't work that well and the second is hot and muffles everything. Not my #1 gripe, but would be a handy device.
#6
genec
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: West Coast
Posts: 27,079
Bikes: custom built, sannino, beachbike, giant trance x2
Mentioned: 86 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13658 Post(s)
Liked 4,532 Times
in
3,158 Posts
Fear. Fear of speeding 2-ton chunks of iron with drunken cell-phone users at the controls. If you can solve that with a handy product, I'll buy a dozen. Just today I saw a one-car accident take out a mailbox encased in stone at 40 MPH on a 25 MPH suburban side-street. Stopped to help the drunken kid staunch the bleeding on his forehead. I'm just glad I wasn't there 30 seconds earlier.
There ya go.... figure out how to make drivers avoid cyclists and you can laugh all the way to the bank.
#9
2nd Amendment Cyclist
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 1,036
Bikes: Schwinn 2010 World Street, Handsome Speedy w/ SRAM Apex
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
When marketing whatever it is you decide to market, don't assume that everybody who commutes is an 'eco warrior'. There are a lot of different reasons people commute; eco-warriors just happen to be the most self-righteous and vocal sub-group.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: cherry hill, nj
Posts: 6,144
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 32 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
The biggest recurring pains-in-butt on my daily commute are unnecessary 4-way STOP sign intersections and potholes.
As far as a product that would help us with commutes, there is an idea we have discussed here. When the sun is low in the sky, it can be difficult to see the roadway, because most regular bike helmets do not have adequate sun visors. I wear sunglasses, but it is the low sun coming in just over the top of the sunglasses that is the problem. I don't want to add a baseball hat or other hat visor because it is one more thing to make me sweat more. I rigged up a homemade piece of tape that sits atop my sunglasses that blocks out the low sun, but it is an ugly homemade solution. If there were a plastic piece that could clip on to the top of the sunglasses and give just a one inch sun block, and be easily removeable, I would buy a couple immediately. You can do a search for "Sun In My Eyes" for a thread here where we discussed this.
As far as a product that would help us with commutes, there is an idea we have discussed here. When the sun is low in the sky, it can be difficult to see the roadway, because most regular bike helmets do not have adequate sun visors. I wear sunglasses, but it is the low sun coming in just over the top of the sunglasses that is the problem. I don't want to add a baseball hat or other hat visor because it is one more thing to make me sweat more. I rigged up a homemade piece of tape that sits atop my sunglasses that blocks out the low sun, but it is an ugly homemade solution. If there were a plastic piece that could clip on to the top of the sunglasses and give just a one inch sun block, and be easily removeable, I would buy a couple immediately. You can do a search for "Sun In My Eyes" for a thread here where we discussed this.
Like the idea of the clip too.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Layton, UT
Posts: 1,606
Bikes: 2011 Bent TW Elegance 2014 Carbon Strada Velomobile
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 626 Post(s)
Liked 701 Times
in
418 Posts
My biggest problem can't be solved with any kind of item. Good luck, though. If I think anything that isn't already available, I'll post my ideas.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: cherry hill, nj
Posts: 6,144
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 32 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
This is a real tough question. As I try to find a suggest, I am looking at my bike trying to figure it out and thinking about the commute. One thing that I think would be great is more of a bomb proof tire and what I mean by that is a city slick tire that has a lot more rubber on it so it would protect from glass and such.
Just my two cents.
I would also add more of a bomb proof locking system as well.
One more: I own a RoadID and I love the company. I suggested the idea of GPS tracker like device that the buyer can install anywhere on or in their bike. I am not sure how this would work but the idea would be to be able to track your bike anywhere if it got stolen. Again, only a suggestion.
Just my two cents.
I would also add more of a bomb proof locking system as well.
One more: I own a RoadID and I love the company. I suggested the idea of GPS tracker like device that the buyer can install anywhere on or in their bike. I am not sure how this would work but the idea would be to be able to track your bike anywhere if it got stolen. Again, only a suggestion.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Sun Valley, Nevada
Posts: 271
Bikes: 1999 RANS Rocket Saturn V; K2 Attack FS MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My number one issue, unfortunately for you, is road cleanliness. The roadsides in the community I ride primarily have been left to a contract company to sweep, in theory, once every 30 days. I'm going to a council meeting to find out how, or if this is the case. I don't believe it, based on what I see, but then 30 days is a long time to remember when the sweeper last passed. Glass, accident debris, miscellaneous construction debris in the meantime, tough beans, there's no mechanism to clean things off schedule, it's there until the sweeperman get's around to it. This is for all roadsides, bike laned or not.
Adding insult to aggravation, the local bike advocates don't seem to find this an issue worth their time. If it doesn't revolve around bike lanes or bike lane funding, fuggedabowdit.
As for stop sign annoyance, I recommend roundabouts. If your area has them, attend public meetings and speak out in support of them. If not, start talking about them in future public comment opportunities. This also solves the bike triggering traffic signals or no issue.
Adding insult to aggravation, the local bike advocates don't seem to find this an issue worth their time. If it doesn't revolve around bike lanes or bike lane funding, fuggedabowdit.
As for stop sign annoyance, I recommend roundabouts. If your area has them, attend public meetings and speak out in support of them. If not, start talking about them in future public comment opportunities. This also solves the bike triggering traffic signals or no issue.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Sun Valley, Nevada
Posts: 271
Bikes: 1999 RANS Rocket Saturn V; K2 Attack FS MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
May be another horn, as loud or louder than Air Zounds? Not that they have a bad product, but I don't see why we can't have as many loud horn options as we have ringy-dingy bell options.
I don't know if I'm an eco-warrior. More of a 'hope the oil companies choke on themselves and die' warrior.
I don't know if I'm an eco-warrior. More of a 'hope the oil companies choke on themselves and die' warrior.
#16
Senior Member
This is a real tough question. As I try to find a suggest, I am looking at my bike trying to figure it out and thinking about the commute. One thing that I think would be great is more of a bomb proof tire and what I mean by that is a city slick tire that has a lot more rubber on it so it would protect from glass and such.
.
.
#17
ouate de phoque
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: La Prairie, Qc, Canada
Posts: 1,781
Bikes: Bianchi, Nakamura,Opus
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: cherry hill, nj
Posts: 6,144
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 32 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I love the Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires; never had a flat in all sorts of city riding in two years. https://www.schwalbetires.com/node/1323. I have the 700c x 25 version.
#19
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 15
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Fear. Fear of speeding 2-ton chunks of iron with drunken cell-phone users at the controls. If you can solve that with a handy product, I'll buy a dozen. Just today I saw a one-car accident take out a mailbox encased in stone at 40 MPH on a 25 MPH suburban side-street. Stopped to help the drunken kid staunch the bleeding on his forehead. I'm just glad I wasn't there 30 seconds earlier.
#20
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 15
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
This is a real tough question. As I try to find a suggest, I am looking at my bike trying to figure it out and thinking about the commute. One thing that I think would be great is more of a bomb proof tire and what I mean by that is a city slick tire that has a lot more rubber on it so it would protect from glass and such.
Just my two cents.
I would also add more of a bomb proof locking system as well.
One more: I own a RoadID and I love the company. I suggested the idea of GPS tracker like device that the buyer can install anywhere on or in their bike. I am not sure how this would work but the idea would be to be able to track your bike anywhere if it got stolen. Again, only a suggestion.
Just my two cents.
I would also add more of a bomb proof locking system as well.
One more: I own a RoadID and I love the company. I suggested the idea of GPS tracker like device that the buyer can install anywhere on or in their bike. I am not sure how this would work but the idea would be to be able to track your bike anywhere if it got stolen. Again, only a suggestion.
i am unsure of how efficient they are at recovering bicycles.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 14,742
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 525 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3230 Post(s)
Liked 3,862 Times
in
1,439 Posts
Definitely this. The cars are a pain sometimes, but the wind is more consistently awful.
As for something that's likely fixable, I'd say that my biggest complaint is that my wet clothes don't dry unless I put them on display during the day, and no one wants to see the business side of my chamois when they drop by my cubicle. The office provides lockers, but they have no ventilation.
As for something that's likely fixable, I'd say that my biggest complaint is that my wet clothes don't dry unless I put them on display during the day, and no one wants to see the business side of my chamois when they drop by my cubicle. The office provides lockers, but they have no ventilation.
__________________
My Bikes
My Bikes
#22
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 15
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
the one piece helmet also sounds great. does it have the ability to change lenses too? if you flip them up on a hot day do they fog up faster than if they were resting on your nose? Perhaps the if you use hair products they could ruin the coating on the lenses?
do you guys consider the brand of sunglasses a fashion statement or any pair will do?
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: cherry hill, nj
Posts: 6,144
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 32 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
There has been a miniature gps tracking system that simply slots into the seatpost of your bicycle with plastic tabs to prevent anyone removing it. you register your details with your local police force, and you are "protected".
i am unsure of how efficient they are at recovering bicycles.
i am unsure of how efficient they are at recovering bicycles.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 14,742
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 525 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3230 Post(s)
Liked 3,862 Times
in
1,439 Posts
Anything you can do about wind and fog on my prescription glasses?
__________________
My Bikes
My Bikes