Embedded Files
Designed by Nghia (Wilson) Ly, Caleb Mayer, Daria Frame
Related Existing Products
Children's Fisher's-Price bike. This bike has no chain, the pedals are attached directly to the front wheel, and the back wheels are for guidance and stability for new riders. There is no chain involved, so there is no possibility for a child to fall off or face safety risks seen when children are introduced to chain bikes. All edges and corners are rounded off and smooth, so nothing, as well as the non-existent chain, will cut or harm the child.
B. O. (n.d.). Toys. Retrieved September 23, 2016, from
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Fisher-Price-Grow-With-Me-Trike-Boy/17277107
Advanced Children's bike. This Mongoose bike features the normal adult style where there is one front wheel and one back wheel. However, added on, there are training wheels to keep the bike stable for children learning to ride adult bikes. The training wheels can be removed as needed. Many parents choose to take one training wheel off at a time in order to teach balance. It does not have gear-changing capability.
By (n.d.). Mongoose Boys Switch 18" Wheel Bicycle, Black. Retrieved September 23, 2016, from
https://www.amazon.com/Mongoose-Switch-Wheel-Bicycle-Black/dp/B00FQT2JKE/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8
This Nanodrive Chain is a chain system optimization. The current chain system uses 1/2" pitch chain with 3/32" thick sprockets. The optimized version takes up half the space, quite literally, sizing up at 1/4" pitch chain with 3/64" thick sprockets. This allows Rivendell, a bike making company, to use twice as many sprockets on the back wheel for faster speeds. However, this system will make a bike much more expensive because have to use this companies parts only, or the system will not properly function.
Are you still riding on old-fashioned 1/2" pitch chain? It's Time to move up (down!) to Nanodrive. (n.d.). Retrieved September 23, 2016, from
The KMC's X10SL chain design for easy shifting at a light weight at 5.88mm wide works with a 10-speed system. They have "master link" closures that allow one to remove and reinstall them two to three times. The titanium Nitride makes the plates more slippery by allowing the surface to hold lubricants better. On the other hand, if two cassettes are worn out and in need of replacement, the chain will need to be replaced after 600 miles. The product will be able to last longer without maintenance and the cost of the chain will be cheaper.
Reviewed: KMC X10SL Chain. (n.d.). Retrieved September 23, 2016, from
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/learn/kmc-x10sl-chain
Competition
All of the patents we looked at provided some form of fixing or getting around the bike chain problem. For example, patent no.US 20110034280 A1 is not meant to fix the bike chain, but provide a quick-checking system so that a cyclist does not start with a loose chain that could malfunction later in the ride. On the other hand, a derailleur is meant to stabalize the chain and act as a guide for the chain as it jumps from sprocket to sprocket on a gear-changing bike. In relevance to bike chains, there are solutions that are meant to go around the problem and others to somewhat fix it.
Major competition: Fishers-Price Trikes, Schwinn, Diamondback, Radio Flyer, and Mongoose. Chain Manufacture: SPAM, Wipperman, KMC
Do we compete?: We can sell our piece to these brands, who will then apply it to their products. We will only compete on this level, at least initially, so we would not have to worry about competing with store space.
Do we compare?: We are not manufacturing a whole bike, whereas these other brands are selling whole bikes. We also may not be selling to the general public.
Future Competitors: Byk
Barriers to entry: The barriers that we'll face as we enter the market are the wide variety of brands producing bicycles, and, the low price of the bikes. Therefore, price consideration will be a problem.
Price: People would have to pay, if we do not choose to make the cheapest, would be around $50. The Fisher's-Price bike is $25, while the Mongoose is $103. Also, the younger the person riding the bike, the less materials used and the lower the needed price.
Users/Buyers
Possible Market Share
In 2011, the average American household income was $69,821 and in 2014, 84% of Americans over the age of 25 had a college education. The average family starts having kids at the age of 26- there were 48.8 million kids between the ages of 0 and 11 in 2016. Our product targets kids aged 2-10, therefore the adults are predicted to buy their child a form of bike or trike at the age of 28. These parents, especially new ones, will want their children using the safest products and something cheap, because kids are rougher on bikes and do not maintain them. In order to meet the demands of parents, we aim to incorporate higher safety and durability into the design of our bike chain or system. While the purchase of children's bikes declined over 20% between 2000 and 2010, in recent years, children's bike sales per capita have started rising again. Of the total market share for bicycles, 6.1 billion dollars, children's bikes account for 732 million of that.
Final Market Justification
With over 48.8 million kids in the United States looking for a bike, the market is fairly large. Even though the children's bike market has declined in recent years, it has begun to rise again, albeit slowly. By introducing a more durable and safer bike for their children, parents will be more likely to buy bikes, and the children's bike market will expand beyond 732 million dollars. If a successful chain or system is developed, there are several ways we could show our new design to parents. For example, tons of companies and communities have big biking events. Indiana has the Annual Hoosier Science and Engineering Fair. Entering our idea in this competition, and more like it, would get the idea exposure and bring it to the attention of parents and other guests, looking at all of the projects. The idea could also be entered in local markets and fair events so that a wider range of people would see it, and new parents will be exposed to the idea.
How much do Americans earn? What is the average US income and other income figures. Fiscal cliff talks only useful in context of incomes. (n.d.). Retrieved September 23, 2016, from http://www.mybudget360.com/how-much-do-americans-earn-what-is-the-average-us-income/
Surprising facts about birth in the United States. (2015, April). Retrieved September 23, 2016, from http://www.babycenter.com/0_surprising-facts-about-birth-in-the-united-states_1372273.bc?showAll=true
U.S. bicycle industry - market size 2004-2015 | Statistic. (n.d.). Retrieved September 23, 2016, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/255614/size-of-the-bicycle-market-in-the-united-states/
U.S. bicycle sales: Percent share by bike category 2005-2012 | Statistic. (n.d.). Retrieved September 23, 2016, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/215226/percent-share-of-bicycle-sales-by-bike-category-in-the-us/
POP1 Child population: Number of children (in millions) ages 0–17 in the United States by age, 1950–2015 and projected 2016–2050. (n.d.). Retrieved September 23, 2016, from http://www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/tables/pop1.asp
Index of /downloads. (n.d.). Retrieved September 23, 2016, from http://www.gluskintownleygroup.com/downloads
Edmondson, B. (2011). The U.S Bicycle Market A Trend Overview. Retrieved September 23, 2016, from s/The US Bicycle Market - A Trend Overview Report.pdf
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse