Your opinions needed! Uni design project

I'm working on a project at uni and need to gather cyclists views on a number of things.

1. What type of lock/ locks (D-lock, chain, cable, other) do you use and do you have a preferred method of locking your bike?

2. What type of light/ lights (LED, constant beam, none, other) do you use?

3. What type of mudguard (full, clip on/off, none, other)

4. When you lock your bike up do you remove any particular parts to avoid theft and if so where do you store them?

5. Have you identified any problems, difficulties or annoyances when it comes to using bike accessories such as locks, lights and mudguards?.

Also why do you use the accessories you use?.... what are the defining factors when you choose these products?

Any other comments regarding bike accessories of any kind are welcome.

Thanks in advance for taking part.

Whats the project?

1. Krypto 3000 d lock through seat tube, rear wheel and street furniture, Krypto mini d through front wheel and downtube or front wheel and street furniture depending on how I feel/what is available to lock to.

2. Blackburn flea on the front, constant beam, blackburn mars 2.0 on the rear flashing.

3. Rear clip on

4. Lights, go in pocket or bag.

5. can't think of anything off the top of my head.

These aren't my opinions, they actually happen and are ratified in fact.

1. Krypto NY d-lock, through the seat tube/back wheel, so something secure
   
2. Cat Eye LEDs, constant
   
3. No mudguards
   
4. Lights, which I store in my bumbag
   
5. Yeah, lights run out of batteries, and my d-lock doesn't fit in my bumbag
   

1. Kryptonite NY 3000 and Kryptonite Evoloution mini

2. Varies from bike to bike... Electron LED set on the mtb and road bike, constant. Simmilar custom, constant on the fixed gear. Rear light is a SmartLED flashing light

3. Wooden on the fixed gear, clip on on the mtb and geared

4. on the geared bike, front wheel comes off and is d-locked to the frame. seatpost/saddle is removed and locked too. Fixed gear, front locked to the frame (left in place) and frame/rear wheel locked to post/rack

5. Good locks are always heavy.

1. Kryptonite NY D lock. Goes through the rear triangle, rear wheel and front wheel.
   
2. Cheapo LED's i got from the Police. Both flashing
   
3. None. I like explaining to people that i had been cycling, and had not just shat myself.
   
4. Lights go in pockets, front wheel goes into the D lock
   
5. Weight of the lock is kinda a bummer but nothing else really.
   

It's called future design for future need. I'm looking at Londons aims to increase the use of bikes and how the proposed growth of cyclists will effect the design of low to mid range cycling accessories. Ideally I want to produce a concept product which will make the cycling experience easier, simpler and less hassle which in turn will make cycling a more attractive prospect to non-cyclists.

1. D-Locks, If I only have one, I lock the front wheel to the frame through something solid.

2. LED Flashers, if I lived in the sticks I'd get a beam.

3. Clip on/off SKS on the track, permanent on the tourer.

4. Lights, mudguards, saddle – stored in backpack, locker if at work.

5. I have identified a problem with universities tackling the 'cycling explosion situation'; They always focus on the problems with locking a bicycle or making a cycle secure– Whilst I realise this is a problem for many cyclists, I think a disproportionate amount of resources has been thrown at it over recent years. Off the top of my head I can think of alternatives to the sheffield stand from; Chelsea College of Art & Design, Central Saint Martins, Goldsmiths, Leeds Metropolitan and the University of Bristol.

Lights that can be locked to the bike would be good, it's just a ball ache clipping-and-unclipping-and-clipping-and-unclipping-and-clipping-and-unclipping-and-clipping-and-unclipping-and-clipping-and-unclipping-and-clipping-and-unclipping them all the time.

But I have to do it coz if they're nicked I'm £60-odd quid out of pocket.

abus waist lock through front wheel and frame.long stays bike comes inside or just dosent get left anywhere.
smart red l.e.d.s x 2 clipped onto clothes or bag for easy removal. front helmet light with battery pack stays on all winter.
crud catcher guards at mo, none for threequarters of year.
all seat posts bolted, fixed s.s bikes nutted, nothing left on bikes.
am I doing it right?

would be nice to see youre work when done, or summary, please use this thread.

Lights that can be locked to the bike would be good, it's just a ball ache clipping-and-unclipping-and-clipping-and-unclipping-and-clipping-and-unclipping-and-clipping-and-unclipping-and-clipping-and-unclipping-and-clipping-and-unclipping them all the time.

But I have to do it coz if they're nicked I'm £60-odd quid out of pocket.

I don't mind the constant clipping/unclipping. It's the fact that when you put them in your bag they always knock against something and turn themselves on, draining your batteries.

I don't mind the constant clipping/unclipping. It's the fact that when you put them in your bag they always knock against something and turn themselves on, draining your batteries.

Tupperware™ FTW!

Great, the clipping-and-unclipping-and-clipping-and-unclipping lights and lights getting turned on in bags/pockets is exactly the kind of annoyance I'm looking at dealing with.

If I continue this project I'll definitely update it here.

Ah great one jaw, knowing how people tackle these problems individually will help immensely.

It's called future design for future need. I'm looking at Londons aims to increase the use of bikes and how the proposed growth of cyclists will effect the design of low to mid range cycling accessories. Ideally I want to produce a concept product which will make the cycling experience easier, simpler and less hassle which in turn will make cycling a more attractive prospect to non-cyclists.

Ice/Car-Melting Death Ray

I'd pay good money for that.

I don't mind the constant clipping/unclipping. It's the fact that when you put them in your bag they always knock against something and turn themselves on, draining your batteries.

Lights that don't work unless they're connected to the clamp to the frame (some circuit runs through through the clamp) - makes nicked ones useless without the tea leaf taking the clamp as well, which could be made to require specific tools and therefore be a pain.

Ice/Car-Melting Death Ray

I'd pay good money for that.

Haha I'll have a go at including one in the final design.

1. Kryptonite Mini D, kryptonite cable through both wheels

2. Knog frogs

3. Full guards

4. Nope

5. Occasional mud guard rattle noise

1. Kryptonite D and an Abus waist chain
   
2. Cateye Loops + some old Cateye LED's, the name of which I forget
   
3. No mudguards
   
4. Remove lights only, stick'em in my pocket
   
5. Locks are feckin heavy/awkward to carry around, Lights get broken, stolen, lost constantly
   

Thought I'd add a question...

why do you use the accessories you use?.... what are the defining factors when you choose these products?

Locks = don't want my bike nicked (price no issue, just get the best there is)
Lights = don't want to be attacked by a car (price, brightness)

Size is a factor for me, as I don't like having to have a massive bag on me all the time.

1. Abus Bordo folding lock through frame, front wheel and secure object.

2. Smart flashing LEDs front and rear.

3. Plastic clip on.

4. Only remove lights/mudguard and put them in a bag.

5. Weight of lock is the main thing.

Some of my thoughts...

Function comes before form although I prefer minimal, understated accessories which don't detract from the over all look of a bike, or as little as possible.

I don't like ugly brackets for lights and locks, bolted all over bikes when they are not being used.

Lock brackets are generally terrible and not worth using but riding with a bulky, heavy lock in your bag is uncomfortable.

Carrying a wet/dirty clip on mudguard when you lock your bike up isn't nice.

I don't mind the constant clipping/unclipping. It's the fact that when you put them in your bag they always knock against something and turn themselves on, draining your batteries.

I started storing mine in a hardshell eyeglass case. When I remember to take them off, that is. I'm lucky they haven't been stolen yet, need to secure that luck with action, though.

1. Kryptonite NY 3000, want a mini Evo D for front wheel, too.

2. knog big wide ones. Don't like 'em, but they're easy to get on/off.

3. don't have one but am in serious need of one!

4. When I remember to do it, I use a hard shell eyeglass case to store my lights.

5. I hate having always to carry a backpack to keep my lock in. Before I went back to the NY3K, I had the Fuhgeddaboutit and it was so heavy it hurt my back in the bag. I don't usually wear belts, so a belt-based lock loop won't work, not to mention none on the market so far fit the 3K, I believe. THey're all built to the Krypto Evo. Knog lights flip out when they're sprayed with water frequently. My front one has gone from 8 options to 3 or 4. Mind you, I prefer that as I am sick of pressing the button 8 times before I get it where I want it to be or off.