Senior Thesis
Adam Carlson
The Story
Shop Job in High School - First road bike - Shop Skills - Selling Experience
Iowa State - M.E and I.D - Wanted to design bikes at Trek
Ragbrai 2012 - Rode 5 days - 400 miles - Would Recommend
Moab Spring Break 2013 - Mountain bike bug - Awesome trails - Had to get my own bike Trek Bicycles Fall 2013 - Built prototypes - Learned about improvements - Bought Mt bike
The Sports
Cross Country -How it sounds -Distance -Small obstacles -Small suspension -Light bike -Sometimes hardtailSingle track - Race/Ride style - Skinny trail riding - Very common - Versatile -Light - Medium SuspensionEnduro/Technical -Distance - Heavy Obstacles - Technical - Large Suspension - Heavier but still raceable - RuggedDownhill - Most Technical - Dangerous - Heavy and Beefy - Small market size
The Question
“Can one mountain bike be designed to cov-er multiple areas or sports in the market?”
QuestionSketching
Sub QuestionsTechnicalWill the geometry work with a changing suspension set up bike?
MarketWill the market allow for a change in convention?
Aesthetics- What styling should be used and where will that design DNA be found?
User Experience- What can be done to make the bike easier to ride for the user?
Materials- What will the main material that the bike will be made out of?
Methodology Selection
Technical
Market
Aesthetic
User Experience
Materials
Centerline Analysis, Learning suspension
design basics, Engineering Analysis
Gap Analysis, Company Analysis, Current Tech-
nology
Trend Analysis
Survey/Interview, Experience Chart
Technical
Technical Research
Market Analysis
Material Research
Survey/Interview
TrendAnalysis
Determine Market
Verify Needs
Find NeedsDefine User Needs Ideate/Design
Re-Design ConcludePresent
Design Plan
Project Timeline
User Research
Current User Research- Survey- Interview- Lotus Blossom Chart- Experience Chart
MarketResearch
Remedy
Session
Fuel EX
BooneSpeed Concept
Madone
Domane
Spark
Scale
Genius
Anthem
Trance
Glory
RoadEdict
Sing
le S
port
Mul
ti Sp
ort
Cyclox
Virtue
Compulsion
AI
AR
FZ
Mountain
Gap
TrekSanta Cruz
YetiFeltScottSpecialized
TurnerGiant
303 World Cup
SB95
SB95
SB75
Talboy
V10
Nomad
Bronson
Bantam
Epic
Camber
Stumpjumper FS
Enduro Demo
Czar
Flux Sultan
Burner
DHR
Current Market Research- Gap Analysis- Company Analysis- Brand Selection - Trek- Current Solutions- Technology - Trend Analysis
TechnicalResearch
Current Technical Research- Centerline Analysis- Centerline Analysis, - Learning suspension basics - Engineering Analysis- Materials and Processes
Bike Specifications
Technical - 2 seat positions - 4 suspension setups - Light - Shock Design
Market - Gap in Market - Utilize Tech - TrekUser - Water Bottle - Better Fit - Easy to Change
Material - Light vs $ - New Tech - Durable
ConceptsSwingLine
ConceptsSwingLine
ConceptsSwitch
ConceptsSwitch
Conceptsxchange