We have a meeting each month where we take a break from our work and practice brainstorming about ways to improve
everyday items. We thought an appropriate name for this meeting was "Build a better mousetrap," but as it invariably
happens to long titles, we shortened it to "Mousetrap."
This Month's Challenging Topic: Build a Better Bicycle
Tribester Responses
Bikes have been around for almost over two hundred years now and as such have evolved so much it is difficult to think of a way to advance them.
That being said maybe with all the morphing that continues someone could focus on doing away with manually switching gears and work out a way for a bike to sense terrain and pedal speed and get the bike into the right gear automatically.
-- Tony Passero
I think the implementation of some type of Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) would be a huge improvement. Obviously the trick with that is making it simple and compact enough to be practical and reliable. This would allow for infinite gearing in all conditions and terrain.
-- Joe Kaput
I think it would be great if bicycles required licenses, license plates and whatever else is necessary for their operators to be ticketed for moving violations.
-- Andy Owens
I'm not certain that the bike can be improved upon. Cyclers are offered pretty much everything they want in exchange for price point. From baskets and fiberglass flags to hydraulic brake calipers, it's all been done. Sure, advanced technology could always trickle down to lower price brackets.
Now, if there was a way cyclers could be convinced that:
1.) Spandex is optional and not a requirement for all riders.
2.) Unless you are endorsed as a professional racer there is no need to adorn yourself with gratuitous corporate branding.
3.) Roads and trails are marked with yellow and white stripes. Know the difference between the two.
-- Mike Chorvat
Having recently gone on a long bike ride in NC, I would have to say putting more cushion in the seat. Ouch.
-- Carrie Pendergast
Check back soon for my answer!
-- Shannon Kemp
