Coursework Help

Hey, I'm new on here currently building my dad's old road/touring bike as a single. I was hoping you guys and gals could help me out a little, I'm currently taking a design and technology A-Level, in which I have to design and make a "product". I'd love to make something bike related, so I wondered if there were any problems you've found cycling related eg Handlebars, Bike Racks, Lights etc. Any ideas would be awesome!!
VB has already suggested a storage rack similar to those found on touring bike that don't require the fixings, that track and road bikes don't have, to attach it. This has become my front running idea from its relative simplicity.

so any comments on that idea +ve or -ve or any other ideas would be great!!

John

Argh I remember trying to decide what to make for my product design A level...It was horrible, my mates made:

• A fully working fretless bass guitar from scratch
  
• A fully working model aeroplane, complete with compartment for aerial filming (film of the plane flying several hundred metres above north London was shown at the exhibition)
  
• A fully working acoustic guitar from scratch
  
• A metre long coffee table with an intricate engraving of the London skyline across its surface.
  
  

I made a lamp. From MDF.

Rack sounds like a good idea - I guess part of the challenge is making something strong and reliable that preferably doesn't look like a heap of crap....

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make one of these

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Thats an idea - some sort of clip on device to carry polo mallets.

An intriguing idea indeed.

Well I'm sure you excelled yourself making the MDF lamp daveypants - masterpiece

Bar mounted gun turrets.. Fuck with me now hey?

That'll teach the stupid car driver for cutting you up!!

For my GCSE DT project I wanted to make one of these:

to throw a rugby ball.. My teacher realised that it was a good idea, but that I probably wouldn't bother and so convinced me to just make a giant catapult instead..

Chain tugs for forward facing dropouts?

Make me a CETMA/ Pauls Flatbed style front rack.. That would be shit hot.

don't make a new...

• frame out of bamboo/wood (incl. ply, mdf and chipboard)/paper pulp/other sustainable material
  
• bike rack, in some cool-looking shape that actually isn't very practical
  
• thing (tv/lamp/entire house) that is powered by bike energy
  
  

... cuz i'm bored of those already

re design the handle bar some new radical idea

@ davey pants

and look at what they are doing now !!!! drug addicts inmates and teachers !

probably !

Haha they're actually all studying Architecture funnily enough...

Last autumn it was a bit wet. There was plenty of debate on here about mudguards, along the lines of:
"I don't mind getting a little wet from a shower but don't want a great hoofing stripe up my arse from dirty road spray. Permanent mudguards just don't look cool on a brakeless track bike with deep V's. I'd rather use a cut off gatorade bottle than a whaletail".

How about designing a stowaway clip on stealth mudguard that doesn't wobble like jelly, or rattle like a tin of biscuits and actually keeps the water off?

Hey guys thanks for all the responses,
1) Had considered a wooden bike but thought it was to much work overall.
2) Chain tugs for forward facing dropouts, i will take a look at a design but it would probably end up being quite impracticable both to make and use.
3) Redesigned handlebars, well I'm considering a more ergonomical handlebar with shaped hand grips. if that sounds good, although not radically redesigned.
4) A small easily removable mud/splash guard sounds pretty and ill definitely piece together a few designs.

and tommid you could just buy one you cheapskate!!

if you can build a better mudguard, the world will beat a path to your door.

Ok quick follow up question then.....does everyone's track/fixed/single frame have a brake mount that is drilled??

no

most track frame don't have drilled forks, or chainstay bridges. some do.

YouTube - Racey - Some Girls 1979

ooooooooooooooook then thanks rpm, more helpful thanks chris crash, seemed like a good mounting point to me

you just don't appreciate these things..

I'm lovin the comment

Shitty fucking song performed by a combo of shit sacks. The lead singer Richard Cunt Mouth or whatever the fuck his name is is moronic looking fuckhead.

but, some track bikes don't have drilled seatstay bridges, some do..

I bet he was their groupie who always got overlooked, bitter bitter old man!

still don't quite get the link between the quote and some track bikes not having drilled seatstay bridges though..