LONDON CYCLES
JUNE 2020
LONDON CYCLES WAS THE RESPONSE TO MY GRADUATION PROJECT WHILST STUDYING BA PRODUCT DESIGN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH.
COMMUNAL PUBLIC CYCLING, INCLUSIVE TO FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN. PROMOTING THE ENVIRONMENT, PROMOTING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.
THE EXISTING SANTANDER CYCLE SCHEME WAS DESIGNED TO BE 'ONE SIZE FITS ALL', AND AS A RESULT, THE DESIGN ACTUALLY SUITS VERY FEW USERS. THE SCHEME IS GREAT FOR THOSE ADULTS WHO ARE COMFORTABLE IN THEIR OWN ABILITY, HOWEVER TURNS ITS BACK ON COMMUNITIES ISOLATED FROM CYCLING AS A RESULT OF SOCIAL, FINANCIAL, AND PHYSICAL RESTRICTIONS.
I HAVE ADDRESSED SOME OF THE USER GROUPS MISSING OUT AND DESIGNED A CONCEPT THAT ISN'T JUST SUITED TO THIS ONE INDIVIDUAL USER GROUP, BUT MORE CONVENIENT FOR ALL.
TANDEM CONNECTION
TANDEMS ARE PERFECT FOR ENCOURAGING CYCLING, ESPECIALLY WHERE SOMEONE MIGHT LACK THE CONFIDENCE TO CYCLE ON THEIR ON IN URBAN AND BUSY ENVIRONMENTS.
MY MODULAR CONCEPT ALLOWS 2 BIKES TO BE CONNECTED IN THE SAME WAYCHILDREN’S ‘TOW BIKES’ CAN BE AT TCHED AND PULLED BY THEIR PARENTS.
THE CONNECTION PROCESS IS SMOOTH AND SIMPLE WITH THE USE OF 2 ‘SLIDING ARMS. THEY SIMPLY EXTEND BACK, AND LOCK ONTO THE FORK OF THE BIKE THEY ARE TOWING. WHEN NOT IN USE, THE ‘TOWING ARMS’ ARE STORED IN PLACE WITH THE USE OF SPRING LOADED BALL BEARINGS, SIMILAR TO CRUTCHES.
INSPIRATION COMES FROM A SPINNING BIKE. THIS CONCEPT HAS A CHOICE OF 11 SADDLE HEIGHTS, EACH POSITIONS 25MM APART. AN ADJUSTABLE SADDLE CAN BENEFIT MOVEMENT AND RELIEVE PRESSURE FROM THE WAIST AND BELOW.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE HANDLEBARS TO RAISE TO RELIEVE PRESSURE ON THE LOWER BACK. USING SPRING LOADED BALL BEARINGS, THE HANDLEBARS HAVE 3 PRE-SET POSITIONS, EACH SPACED BY 40MM.
A SHALLOW ANGLE OF ATTACK OF A FORK IMPROVES THE BIKE'S AGILITY, MAKING THE BIKE EASIER TO HANDLE IN BUSY URBAN AREAS.
THE STEEP ANGLE OF THE SEAT TUBE WAS INSPIRED BY CRUISER BIKES. IT PROMOTES A MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE POSITION AND RELIEVES STRESS UPON THE SOLDIERS.
IT ALSO WIDENS THE RANGE OF HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT.
PEDALS POSITIONED FURTHER IN FRONT OF THE SADLE MASSIVELY RELIEVES PRESSURE ON THE HIPS AND KNEES, MAKING THE BIKE EASIER TO RIDE FOR ANYONE WITH DEXTERITY ISSUES BELOW THE WAIST.
PROTOTYPE
THE PROTOTYPE WAS PRODUCED FROM HOME DURING THE FIRST COVID-19 LOCKDOWN PERIOD IN 2020. I HAD PLANNED TO PRODUCE A MODEL USING A CNC MILLING MACHINE, HOWEVER RESULTED TO OVER LAYER PAPER OVER A CARD AND 3D PRINTED SKELETON.
