Element A: PRESENTATION AND JUSTIFICATION OF THE PROBLEM

Problem Statement

A 2015 survey showed that approximately 342,000 people in the U.S. were competitive cyclists. In an effort to reduce weight on the bike and increase aerodynamics, kickstands were removed. When these bicycles are left unattended, they are subject to falls resulting in cosmetic damage.

Problem Background/statistics

This graph shows the recent upward trend in cycling participation from 2006 to 2016, meaning that there was not a large market for bike stands previously.

Validation

To increase speed and reduce weight on bicycles, kickstands were removed. Additionally, kickstands can be a safety hazard. When one is riding on rough terrain, as many mountain bikers do, the kickstand could extend, catch on a nearby object, and disrupt the bike's path. This would not only injure the cyclist, but also damage the bike. The lack of a kickstand leaves cyclists to either lean their bicycles against a nearby object or lay them on the ground when taking a break in their ride. Both of these methods can damage the bicycle. Manufacturers do not recommend using a kickstand as the pressure on the frame can lead to permanent structural damage.

Experts

Joe Dokes

Contact info:

Member of Clinton River Mountain Biking Association

Facebook: @joe.dokes.9

Testimony:

“Stands are purposefully left off of bikes for two main reasons in my opinion. One is that a traditional kickstand could in theory extend in normal operation of the bicycle in rough terrain, thereby becoming a safety hazard. Also, the traditional stand added unwanted weight to the bicycles during the period that there was a race to be the lightest bicycle. There may be a market for a stand that is detachable and easily carried...”

Analysis:

Mr. Dokes highlighted the safety hazards of a faulty stand as well as the cyclist mentality. Cyclists want to ride bikes that are as light and aerodynamic as possible, making kickstands unnecessary.

C.J. brey

Contact Info:

Commercial Director at SwiftWall Solutions

cj@swiftwall.com

(989)500-6001

Testimony:

“Safety, kickstands while Mountain Biking could deploy or come loose. Weight is huge, most serious cyclists try to cut weight wherever possible. Appearance, they’re ugly. Anytime I’ve ever leaned my bike up against a building or object that could scratch paint, like concrete, it’s a risk and bound to happen.”

Analysis:

The response from Mr. Brey further confirmed what Mr. Dokes claimed. Bikes, for serious cyclists, need to be light and as safe as possible. While kickstands do add to the general stability of the bike when not in use, they do not add to the aesthetic of a bike and the odds of a kickstand breaking and getting in the way while riding is fairly high.

Scholarly Articles

Article Title:

Why do Road Bikes Not Have Kickstands?

Excerpt from Article:

“...Lightweight road bikes are easy to knock over. A bike falling sideways onto its derailleur can cause enough damage to immobilize your bike...By all means, a kickstand doesn’t add very much weight to a bike. They even make some out of carbon fiber or lightweight alloy metals. The problem is that they aren’t useful weight...Along with weight, drag is one of the most important things to reduce as a serious cyclist. A little less drag while you ride can make all the difference when you would otherwise be equally matched against someone else…The fear is that, when a kickstand is welded or bolted on, it can reduce the strength of the frame where it is attached.”

Analysis:

This article justified the problem by explaining the reasons why kickstands are removed from bicycles. It stated that kickstands add unnecessary weight, drag, and can compromise the structural integrity of the bicycle.

Article Title:

Synapse Carbon Owner’s Manual Supplement

Excerpt from Article:

“The clamping jaws of an ordinary bike stand can generate a crushing force strong enough to seriously damage and ruin your bike frame.”

Analysis:

Cannondale, a well-known bike manufacturer, claims that the pressure of a kickstand clamp on the frame can cause permanent damage to a bike frame. This statement further validates the claims that a clamp style removable kickstand or bolting permanent kickstand are not usable with modern style bikes.

Consumer Survey

The survey was created using Google Forms to help better define and validate the problem. It was distributed using email, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, and personal contacts.

Question #1:

Analysis: This question was used to determine the most popular method of resting a bike for short periods of time. Time, here, was for ten minutes or less. The results of the survey show that most people lean their bikes against a tree or other solid object. The second most common way of resting a bike was either against a vehicle or on the ground.

Question #2:

Analysis: Of the 428 people that responded to this question, 144 claimed that their bike resting method was difficult or inconvenient. This means that there is a very niche group that experiences problems with resting their bike. Another thing to note is that the majority of the 144 people believe that their current system only works in ideal conditions.

Question #3:

Analysis: This question was designed to determine the integrity of a person’s resting method. Answers show that the majority of people do not have an issue when it comes to leaning their bikes anywhere. However, further analysis shows that of the 383 people who responded that their bike rarely or never falls 284 of them also chose laying their bike on the ground as one of their methods for resting their bike. This leaves 45 people who claim that their bike falls half to most of the time.

Question #4:

Analysis: Just over half of the respondents replied that their bikes had sustained minor or cosmetic damage to their bikes. This is an important point as it demonstrates the perils of leaning a bike against a vehicle and shows that people have experienced some sort of damage.

Question #5:

Analysis: This question was important as it justifies the problem further. The results showed that roughly a third of respondents were frustrated by their bikes falling and an additional 41 people felt that their bike falling was the worst thing ever. Based on these results, the problem continues to be justified.

Citations

Cannondale. (March 2009). Synapse Carbon Owner’s Manual Supplement. Retrieved from https://www.cannondale.com/-/media/files/manual-uploads/manuals/2009_synapse_carbon_owners_manual_supplement_en.pdf.

Whitehouse, Tyler. (2020, August 13) Why do Road Bikes Not Have Kickstands? Road Bike Basics. Retrieved 2020, October 9, from https://roadbikebasics.com/road-bikes-dont-have-kickstands/.

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