1

Dorm Room Bicycle Rack

Allyson Hurst

2

Design Problem

It’s time to begin thinking about college, and that comes with all sorts of changes. Many schools require

their students to live on campus freshman year, and some for more. There is one main implication of

living in a dorm. Lack of space is a given when it comes to college dorms. Roommates are easily

bothered by extra belongings that are necessities to others.

I’m encountering one such situation. Ideally, I’ll be storing two bikes in my room. Realistically, this is a

ridiculous idea. Most schools offer bike racks outdoors, but that comes with risks. Bike theft is a

prominent issue in most college towns. Weather can lead to many mechanical problems and unwanted

damage. I don’t want my bicycle(s) to be subject to the risks of using those outdoor racks.

As an enthusiastic cyclist, I’d be absolutely heartbroken if I couldn’t take at least one bicycle with me to

college. However, my bikes are important to me. Leaving them outside on the racks that are stationed

outside dorms. There, they would be exposed to wind, rain, and any manner of weather events. Along

with this, the potential of the bikes being stolen is high, even with a lock. I plan to use my mountain bike

to commute to class and around town, but when I want to go on long rides I’ll use my road bike. I need

to bring the road bike since I plan on joining the cycling team of which ever college I end up attending.

Figure 1: Dorm Room. Cool Dorm Room Ideas. Web. 25 Feb. 2016.

3

My mountain bike is rather large and heavy, and is a pain to store in my room. I currently have a stand

that holds the bike upright with a stand on the front wheel. This takes up more space than hanging it

from the ceiling or a rack would. My road bike leans up against a chair that I would prefer not covered in

bike grease. Along with getting my things greasy, it takes up space that hinders me accessing all of my

room.

Design Brief

I’m going to design and build a bike rack that will fit into my college dorm room. Nowadays, it is often

required that students live in on-campus dormitories. These dormitories are quite crowded and each

room has at least two students in it. Filled with furniture, school books, and other essentials, the room

can be rather cluttered.

A compact bike rack will allow students to store their bicycles inside, thus keeping them out of the

elements and not having to worry about theft. The device will hold multiple bicycles in order to allow

roommates to store bicycles also. It will also be easy to assemble to make moving in easy. It will be

narrow as to conveniently fit against a wall or in a tight space.

The rack must be able to store bikes in a way that will not get in the way of the dorm room’s inhabitants

or the furniture in it. In order to do this, the rack must take up a very small amount of floor space. It

must also be durable, and made with materials that can withstand the wear and tear of use by

teenagers. The materials used, while being durable, must also be relatively inexpensive as to keep the

price down for college students.

It must also have a weight capacity that is capable of carrying even unusually heavy or large bikes with

large tires. This could be a problem since readily available, inexpensive materials like wood or PVC pipe

are not always capable of holding more weight.

4

Through my research, I found that the students who owned bicycles would be interested in storing their

bikes indoors due to reasons such as reducing weather damage and general safety.

Market and User Research

Since this is intended to be a dorm room bike rack, the target market will be sporting goods. My

audience will consist of cyclists—namely college students and those who live in apartments. They will be

interested in having the ability to store their bikes indoors compactly due to the cramped nature of their

living spaces. College students will be especially interested in preventing any damage or possible theft

of their bikes, as they will struggle to afford costly repairs or a new bicycle all together.

I researched several designs of indoor bike racks currently available, and evaluated the pros and cons of

each in order to determine what my audience desired in a product.

The first product I evaluated was the Wood Bike Storage unit, available from CB2.com, an affiliate of the

furniture magnate Crate&Barrel. It was aesthetically pleasing, made of wood finished in a chocolatey

brown color and cut with clear lines. The unit also had room for the storage of extra items, such as keys

and wallets. Along with this, it is relatively inexpensive, retailing at US $49.95. However, this rack only

holds one bike, which may not accommodate the multiple bikes and residents of a dorm room.

Figure 2: Wood Bike Storage. CB2. CB2.com. Web. 22 Feb 2016.

5

Next, I looked at the Thule BSTK2 Bike Stacker Rack, manufactured by Thule. This rack takes up a

minimal amount of floor space, and holds two bikes. It is made of steel, allowing for even the heaviest

bikes to be stored. However, it is rather expensive—retailing at US $160—which is more expensive than

some bicycles. Along with this, it’s rather drab, looking more like it belongs in a factory than a residence.

Lastly, I looked at the Art of Storage Single Bike Rack with Tire Tray. This is the cheapest rack I’ve

encountered so far (US $19.99), and is available at Walmart and Target. Along with this, installation of

this product is simple. However, when in use, the bicycle sticks out perpendicular to the wall the rack is

mounted on, which would cause problems in a small dorm room.

In order to gather more information on the intended audience and potential users of my product, I

interviewed several individuals about general bicycle use and storage. Their responses are outlined in

the chart below.

Figure 3: Thule Bike Stacker BSTK2. Thule. Thule.com. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.

Figure 4: Leonardo Da Vinci Single Bike Storage Hook & Tray. Delta Cycle.Deltacycle.com. Web. 22 Feb. 2016.

6

Maryann, current college freshman

Emma, senior in high school

Stephen, current college sophomore

Matt, grad student

Do you use a bicycle/plan on using a bicycle regularly?

Yeah, I race with my school’s cycling team and ride recreationally. I’m also using a bike to get to and from classes.

Yes, but only to get to class and run errands. Due to an athletic injury, I can’t ride a bike very often.

No. I have a car that I use to commute since my school’s campus is so spread out. I prefer to exercise at the gym, so I have no need for a bike.

I ride a bike to work every day since gas is so expensive and parking is bad in my neighborhood.

Where do you store/plan on storing your bicycle?

I store my race bike in the team’s shed. The bicycle I use to get to class is outside on a bike rack. However, I’ve had several friends have their bikes stolen, and mine is getting rusty from the rain.

I don’t know how I’m going to store my bike. I guess I’ll have to keep it outside, but then it will probably get stolen since I don’t have a lock.

I won’t be using a bicycle.

I’ve been keeping my bike in my laundry room, but it’s already cramped in there and my apartment building doesn’t have a bike room.

Would you be interested in a product that allows for storage of a bicycle indoors?

Maybe, if it were easy to set up. I don’t want to lug a huge, complex bike rack through my dorm building like an idiot.

Yeah, but only if it’s cheap. I could just buy a good lock for fifty bucks instead.

Not really. It sounds like a cool idea though.

Definitely! Maybe then I’d be able to get to my washing machine. But it can’t take up that much space.

In order to further develop the design, I have put forward a series of marketing and design specifications

based on market research and the above interviews. These will guide the design process and make the

product have a better chance of doing well in the market.

Marketing Specifications

Category Marketing Specification Justification

7

Target Market The design will be marketed in the markets for storage and sporting goods.

The purpose of this rack is to store a bicycle without taking up too much space. Along with this, biking is a popular form of exercise, so the rack can also be marketed as a sporting goods-related product.

Target Audience The design’s target audience will be college and university students along with those who live in small apartments or homes.

College students must live in cramped dorms, so they need a compact way to store their bicycles. Along with dorms, apartments and small homes also create the need for creative storage solutions.

Market Analysis The audience will require the product to be inexpensive, as college students and young people in general have limited incomes.

The product will only be economically viable if the audience can afford the product in order to purchase it. However, the product must not be cheap enough to deter potential customers.

User Need There is a moderate need for a design such as this one.

Not everyone in the target audience rides a bicycle, or wants to store it in their dorm room. Along with this, the design is an accessory. It is not vital to actually storing a bicycle in a dorm room; it merely increases the convenience of doing so.

Competition Competition in the market is high.

The market is highly saturated with indoor bike racks, but none seem to fit the criteria of being inexpensive while using as little space as possible. Due to this fact, this product will likely be able to hold its own in this diverse, fluctuating market constantly.

Design Specifications

8

Category Design Specification Justification

Size Constraints

The design must take up a minimal amount of space.

The fact that the main audience of this product is college students and those who live in apartments makes this an item of the utmost importance due to the space available in dorms and apartments.

The design must be relatively light.

This will allow for easy transport and assembly.

Cost Constraints The design must also be relatively inexpensive.

This will account for the limited income of students and young people living in apartments.

Performance Requirements The design must also be easy to assemble.

College move in days are almost always crowded and hectic, making it nearly impossible to move a fully assembled bike rack through hallways and into a dorm.

The design must be capable of holding weights exceeding 25 pounds.

Bicycles vary greatly in size and weight, so the rack must be capable of accommodating for this characteristic.

Aesthetic Requirements The design must be at least mildly aesthetically pleasing.

This is due to the fact that the design is a piece of furniture that will be prominent in a living space.

Materials Requirements The materials used must be strong.

This will ensure that the product has a longer lifespan and can hold a bicycle.

The materials used must be inexpensive.

This is in order to keep the price of the finished product down to satisfy the target audience.

9

Bike Rack Ideas

A

.

B

.

C

.

D

E

.

F

.

10

Design A

Hook at top to hang bike from.

(How would the wheel hang from

a horizontal hook?)

Also, this design may take up too

much space and use too many

materials to feasibly sell at a

relatively low price.

2 Bottom supports for 360⁰ stability

This design

would

probably need

to be

assembled

after purchase

due to its size.

11

Des Design B

Are hooks an

effective way to

hang the bike?

Should the hooks be padded to

prevent damage to the bicycle?

This design is a thin platform that attaches to a wall. If this

were to be implemented, the platform should probably be

attached at wall support beams.

The design would consist of just three parts: a wooden

plank, and two hooks to hang the bicycle on. This would

allow for simple assembly and installation and lower cost

due to fewer materials.

12

Design C

This design would need to be

wide enough to accommodate

the bicycle’s handlebars.

The increased size of this design

would drive up the cost and take

up more space than the other

designs.

Even though there are supports

that provide balance on the

floor, staying upright would be

an issue for this design.

Would the stand have to be

anchored to the floor? (This

would probably be against the

rules in most dorms and

apartments.

Hook for

wheel

Design may have

issues staying upright

as a freestanding

structure.

Outward supports

for balance could

solve this problem,

but this would

cause it to use more

floor space.

This design

would

probably need

to be

assembled

after purchase

due to its size.

13

Design D

Ceiling

contact

point

2 contact points for the bicycle to

hang on. These would be padded

to prevent damage to the bicycle

frame.

How high does this need

to be? (Measure top tube

of bicycle frame for height

and thickness.)

This design would need

to be attached to a

ceiling beam to hold a

bike.

What sort of wood would be used

for this? (It needs to be made of

wood so it can be manipulated

easily.) This would affect the

weight of the design and its color.

(A wood finish or paint could be

used)

Would this be thick enough?

(It would depend on weight

and leverage on bike and

ceiling.)

14

Design E

This design would be leveraged

against a wall. One wheel would be

hooked so that the rest of the bike

would hang against the plank.

The board needs to be several inches

thick to prevent warping and provide

adequate support for the bicycle.

There could be multiple hooks,

although this would make hanging up

the bike more complicated.

Instead of a hook,

could a quick

release clamp be

used to hang the

bicycle? If this

were the case,

where would the

front wheel go?

A quick release clamp requires the removal of the

front wheel to attach the bicycle fork to the clamp.

However, this would leave the front wheel just lying

around. This would not make for convenient storage.

15

Design F

1 inch thick board to increase

handlebar clearance

A crossbar

may not be

necessary

Slight upward curve on

outward edge of arm

section in order to prevent

bicycle from falling off.

This design would be difficult to

build, as the curves in the bars

would be complicated to weld. It

could be cut into pieces and

assembled.

The rack would come out ~6 inches from

the wall in order to allow for handlebar

clearance and room for the pedals.

16

Mate

rials R

equ

iremen

ts

Aesth

etic

Req

uirem

ents

Perfo

rman

ce

Req

uirem

ents

Co

st Co

nstrain

ts

Size Co

nstrain

ts

Design

Specificatio

n

Catego

ry

Design

Wo

od

wo

uld

be u

sed fo

r the

structu

ral part o

f the d

esign,

wh

ich is read

ily accessible b

ut

may b

e expen

sive in a large

qu

antity. H

ardw

are may b

e h

ard to

com

e across to

han

g

the b

ike on

.

The d

esign lo

oks fin

e

aesthetically, an

d a fin

ish

or p

aint w

ou

ld b

e app

lied

to th

e finish

ed p

rod

uct.

The h

eight o

f this d

esign m

ay

requ

ire it to b

e bo

lted d

ow

n,

wh

ich m

ay no

t be allo

wed

in

a do

rm ro

om

or ap

artmen

t.

Assem

bly w

ou

ld b

e mo

re d

ifficult th

an d

esired.

This d

esign w

ou

ld u

se a

significan

t amo

un

t of w

oo

d

and

hard

ware to

be b

uilt,

so th

e price w

ou

ld b

e h

igher th

an in

tend

ed.

This d

esign take

s up

min

imal flo

or sp

ace, bu

t w

ill be several feet tall.

Design

A

On

ly on

e wo

od

plan

k and

several ho

oks w

ou

ld b

e u

sed alo

ng w

ith b

olts fo

r

the w

all. Find

ing stro

ng

eno

ugh

ho

oks m

ay be a

pro

blem

.

The d

esign is p

leasing

and

is aesthetically

min

imalist. P

aint o

r a

wo

od

finish

wo

uld

be

app

lied to

it.

Assem

bly w

ou

ld n

ot b

e

need

ed. Th

e design

w

ou

ld n

eed to

be

bo

lted

to th

e wall.

The d

esign w

ou

ld b

e

very min

imalistic, w

ith

the w

oo

d co

ntrib

utin

g to

the co

st of th

e d

esign.

This d

esign w

ou

ld o

nly

take u

p ab

ou

t two

sq

uare fe

et of w

all

space.

Design

B

Wo

od

wo

uld

be u

sed

for

the stru

ctural p

art of th

e

design

, wh

ich is read

ily

accessible b

ut m

ay be

expen

sive in a large

qu

antity. H

ardw

are may b

e h

ard to

com

e across to

han

g the b

ike on

.

The d

esign is stran

ge

loo

king. A

coat o

f pain

t w

ou

ld b

e app

lied to

the fin

ished

pro

du

ct.

The h

eight o

f this d

esign m

ay

requ

ire it to b

e bo

lted d

ow

n,

wh

ich m

ay no

t be allo

wed

in a

do

rm ro

om

or ap

artmen

t. A

ssemb

ly is mo

re com

plicated

than

desired

.

This d

esign w

ou

ld u

se

a significan

t amo

un

t of

wo

od

and

hard

ware to

b

e bu

ilt, so th

e price

wo

uld

be h

igher th

an

inte

nd

ed.

Design

C takes u

p a

significan

t amo

un

t of

space o

n th

e floo

r and

is several feet tall.

Design

C

The w

oo

d w

ou

ld b

e

stron

g and

in

expen

sive, bu

t

find

ing w

oo

d th

at

cou

ld b

e man

ipu

lated

to m

ake the d

esign

wo

uld

be d

ifficult.

The d

esign

is mo

dern

loo

king an

d fin

ish o

r p

aint w

ou

ld b

e

app

lied.

The d

esign w

ou

ld

nee

d to

be b

olted

to

the ceilin

g.

Assem

bly is n

ot

requ

ired.

The co

st may b

e

high

er du

e to th

e te

chn

iqu

es need

ed

to m

anip

ulate th

e w

oo

d in

to th

is

shap

e.

Design

C takes u

p

no

floo

r or w

all sp

ace, as it is hu

ng

from

the ceilin

g. It is fairly co

mp

act.

Design

D

17

Mate

rials wo

uld

be

inexp

ensive d

ue to

the sim

ple

natu

re of th

e design

.

Aesth

etically, the rack w

ou

ld

loo

k fine b

ut n

ot o

utstan

din

g. W

oo

d fin

ish o

r pain

t cou

ld b

e

app

lied.

It wo

uld

be ab

le to su

pp

ort

the w

eight o

f a bike if

mo

un

ted to

the w

all.

It wo

uld

be relatively

inexp

ensive, as th

e design

w

ou

ld co

nsist o

f on

e plan

k an

d o

ne h

oo

k.

Design

E on

ly takes u

p several

squ

are feet of w

all space, b

ut

no

t the least. A

lso th

e way th

e

bike w

ou

ld h

ang o

n it w

ou

ld

take u

p m

ore sp

ace.

Design

E

The m

aterials w

ou

ld b

e relatively in

expen

sive, and

are cap

able o

f ho

ldin

g the

we

ight o

f a bicycle.

This h

as the p

oten

tial to

be fu

rther d

evelop

ed

aesthetically w

ith n

od

s to

bicycle d

esign.

The rack w

ou

ld b

e stron

g en

ou

gh to

ho

ld a b

icycle an

d n

o assem

bly w

ou

ld

be req

uired

.

The d

esign w

ou

ld b

e

mo

derate

ly expen

sive du

e to

the stee

l tub

ing u

sed in

th

e design

. Co

nstru

ction

co

sts cou

ld also

drive th

e

price u

p.

Design

F wo

uld

on

ly take

up

abo

ut tw

o sq

uare fee

t o

f wall sp

ace.

Design

F

Based on my evaluation of the proposed designs against the design specifications, I have decided that

since designs E and F best meet the requirements while being different in structure I will develop them

further.

18

Improving Design E

Assembly and installation of this design is uncomplicated, as

it only entails bolting it to the wall. However, hanging the

bicycle as shown in the original sketch would not work well

due to the structure of hook that would be used. For this

reason, and the fact that the bike could damage the wall by

hanging in the original photo, I decided to attach the hook to

an arm that comes off of the platform. This would increase

stability for the bicycle and lessen the chance of the hook

breaking due to stress.

Hook facing downwards

instead of outwards in order

to decrease stress placed on

the hook and decrease

damage to wall.

19

Improving Design F

In order to make

construction of the

design less

complicated, I

reversed the arm

mechanism so that

it could be mounted

on to the wall more

easily. Along with

this, I made the arm

fold so that when it

is not in use it can

take up less space.

(This will be done by

mounting the arm

section to the base

with hinges.) Along

with this, it has the

potential to be

taken off the wall

and stored easily.

I also decided to use bicycle

handlebar tape to reduce the

likelihood of the bicycle sliding off of

the arm of the rack or being scratched

by it. This will be a nice element

aesthetically as well.

20

Based on the developments to each of my designs, I have selected design F to prototype. It takes up less

space than design E, and it can be folded when not in use. Along with this, it uses less materials than E,

which uses a significant amount of wood. Construction of F is fairly simple, while construction of design

E would require more labor. F is more aesthetically pleasing than E, and the bartape used as padding is a

thoughtful nod to classic bicycle design. Design F better fits the design specifications set forward than

design E.

Manufacture of the Prototype

The components of my design are the arm, the base, hinges, and screws or nails to mount the rack. I

have many options for materials that I can use for each component. I will outline these below.

The base or backboard of my rack will need to be strong but light, and allow for easy installation.

Wood is a readily available material that is easy to work with. Pine or maple would be strong and

workable, allowing me to attain a satisfying shape that meets the weight requirements of my design.

Along with this, wood is relatively inexpensive. However, wood is known to warp in harsh conditions or

as a result of overexposure.

Fiberglass is strong in regards to tension and compression, and will be able to compensate for the

weight of a bicycle easily. However, it is hard to work with, especially for the inexperienced like myself.

It’s also rather expensive for this design.

I’ve determined that wood is an appropriate material to use for the base of my bicycle rack. It is strong

enough to compensate for the weight of a bicycle, but light enough to allow for easy installation. Wood

is readily available and relatively aesthetically pleasing. A variety of treatments can also allow for the

wood to gain more color as well. Finishes and paints are very compatible with wood’s’ surface and

adhere to it easily.

21

The arm section of the rack must be relatively light and capable of supporting significant weight.

Steel tubing is readily available at most hardware stores, and it can definitely support the weight of a

bicycle. It is also very inexpensive and can be easily padded as to not scratch the bicycle. I could also

build the arm section out of wood, but the workmanship required for this would consume more time

than it is worth. This would also not be cost effective, as the minimal amount of wood needed is not sold

in stores. Wood comes in larger plank and board sizes, not small pieces. I would have to buy a board and

cut no more than a half of a square foot to use for this section. Meanwhile, construction of the steel arm

component would only require a few cuts and minimal welding.

The arm I will build will be made of steel and incorporate some sort of covering to not scratch the frame

of a bicycle. These will be the least expensive and readily available. They are also sturdier and better

looking than crudely crafted wooden pieces.

The assembly of the rack is vital to its function—unless the arm mechanism is attached properly, the

rack will be unable to fold for storage. The easiest way to manufacture the rack so that it will fold is to

use hinges. These hinges must be small enough to not affect the mobility of the arm, but strong enough

to support the weight of the bicycle. The hinges must be attached to the steel arm portion of the rack,

so a proper joining technique is vital to the integrity of the design. The hinges will attach to the wooden

base using stainless steel screws.

Manufacturing Techniques

In order to successfully build the prototype the proper techniques must be used. This will increase the

quality of the prototype and allow it to accurately represent the design I have selected.

To complete the base section, I will use cutting techniques. The base will consist of a wooden plank, and

it will need to be shaped into the correct dimensions for the design. Cutting the wood with a circular

22

saw will be most convenient as it will only take up a few minutes whereas using an abrasion technique

such as sanding would take up significantly more time. However there is potential for injury using

cutting techniques. Proper safety precautions must be followed when using any power tool, especially

something with the potential to cut you like a circular saw. Safety glasses and gloves must be worn.

In order to complete the arm section of the prototype, I will use cutting, abrading, and fusing

techniques. First I will cut the aluminum tubing to the correct lengths with an angle grinder. Just as with

the circular saw, safety precautions must be taken in order to prevent injury. Safety glasses and gloves

must be worn. Once the tubing is cut, the ends will be sanded in order to remove remaining metal

fragments from and smooth out the edges of the pieces. Then fusing techniques will be used to join the

pieces together. (In order to weld the pieces together, I enlisted the help of a welding technician

affiliated with our school.) When the pieces have been joined and have cooled down, the welds will be

sanded to even them out.

Figure 5: Cutting the steel tubing

for the arm

23

Before the arm and the base are joined, bar tape will be wrapped around the pieces which are to come

into contact with the bicycle. The tape will be attached to the arm using a special adhesive. The hinges

will be attached to the arm section with a metal adhesive and left to dry for several hours. Then, the

hinges will be attached to the base piece with metal fasteners and a power drill. This completes the

manufacturing of the prototype.

24

Final P

rod

uct- A

rm

Section

Weld

Weld

25

Full Fin

ished

Pro

du

ct

26

Manufacturing Plan

The rack can be produced in two days, with the first day consisting of purchasing supplies, making the

required cuts, and welding, and the second day assembling everything. The flowchart below outlines the

process.

Shopping List

Kiln-Dried Oak Board, $29.78, Lowes.com

The Hillman Group 3-ft L x -3/4-in W x -3/4-in H Hot-RolLED Weldable Steel Plain Square Tube, $8.46,

Lowes.com

Cinelli Cork Tape, $9.65

2 1.5” Narrow Hinges $2.00

Loctite Super Glue

Total Cost: $48.89

27

Evaluation of the Prototype

Evaluation against Marketing Specifications

Marketing Specification Evaluation- Original specification in bold

Target Market My target market has been established to be

sporting goods in my research, but I think that

another market is storage. Storage seems to be an

appropriate specification, but I don’t think that it

should be in the market for sporting goods. It’s not

used for actual activity, and bicycling is not

considered a sport by many.

Target Audience Along with this, my target audience is mostly

college and university students. Additionally, my

product will be marketable to anyone who is

particularly storage-conscious. The audience will

likely desire that the product is inexpensive, as

college students often live paycheck to paycheck.

The rack is coming out to be fairly inexpensive, so

the prototype fits the price-conscious audience.

The rack is also collapsible and easy to store, so it

will fit the demographic of college and university

students who need to store things in their dorms.

Market Analysis The product must also be widely available in well-

established stores. Students will not go to

artisanal furniture stores to solve a problem that

28

an outdoor bike rack and a tarp can solve with

half the time and effort…. Inexpensiveness, as

mentioned above, is vital to the economic

viability of the product. The market analysis lines

up with the description of the prototype, which is

by no means luxurious. The value of the product

must fit the effort required to acquire it. Due to

this fact, the product must be inexpensive. No

busy student wants to take the time to buy

something that is too much money. Therefore the

product is relatively inexpensive to satisfy this.

User Need The user need for the product is difficult. The

target audience for the prototype is somewhat

niche. While many young people commute by

bicycle, many may not be interested in the storage

alternative presented by the product. My

classmate, Lakyn, offered to test the product.

While she believed it to adequately perform the

task it was designed for, she remarked that “I

probably wouldn’t buy this. I would just use the

outdoor bike rack at my dorm.”

Competition Competition in the market is high. The market is

highly saturated with indoor bike racks, but none

seem to fit the criteria of being inexpensive while

29

Evaluation against Design Specifications

Design Specification Evaluation- Original specifications in bold

Size constraints This design must take up a minimal amount of

space. The fact that the main audience of this

product is college students and those who live in

apartments makes this an item of the utmost

importance. The prototype only takes up about

two cubic feet, and when it is folded for storage,

this number decreases greatly. It adequately

follows this specification.

Cost constraints The design must also be relatively inexpensive,

accommodating the financial situation of most

students. The cost of materials for an individual

unit was about forty dollars, but this cost would go

using as little space as possible. Due to this fact,

this product will likely be able to hold its own in

this diverse, fluctuating market constantly. This is

true, and there are many varieties of bike racks in

the market. However, this product is set apart

from those in that it is so compact and allows for

easy storage.

30

down if materials were bought in bulk. This would

probably leave the price of the rack at about 30$.

Lakyn, my classmate who tested my product, said

that she believed this to be a reasonable price.

Easy assembly The design must also be easy to assemble.

College move in days are almost always crowded

and hectic, making it nearly impossible to move a

fully assembled bike rack through hallways and

into a dorm. Based on the size and complexity of

my product, I believe it will be able to come fully

assembled. This will more than satisfy this design

specification.

Weight bearing ability The design must be capable of holding weights

exceeding 60 pounds, due to the fact that bicycles

vary greatly in size and weight. Another classmate

who also tested the prototype stored her ~40

pound bicycle with this and believed it held it well.

In fact, I have come to the conclusion that sixty

pounds is going above and beyond the maximum

needed strength. This leads me to conclude that

the prototype fits this specification accurately.

Product weight The design must be relatively light, allowing for

easy transport and assembly. The rack weighs in

at 4.2 pounds, allowing it to be easily transported.

31

Along with this, the product will be sold fully

assembled, so this specification is met.

Aesthetic value The design must be at least mildly aesthetically

pleasing, due to the fact that it is a piece of

furniture that will be prominent in a living space.

The design is somewhat aesthetically pleasing. The

use of handlebar tape as padding adds to the

purpose of the product, allowing for a tasteful

integration with a vital part of the bicycle.

However, the steel tubing used for the rack is not

very pleasing to the eye.

Figures 6 & 7: The final product

being tested

32

Revised Specifications

Based on the performance of the prototype against the marketing and design specifications, new

specifications for each have been determined.

Marketing Specifications

The product will fit in to the target market of storage, not sporting goods.

The target audience is still college and university students and those who live in

small apartments; members of this audience are all mindful of storage due to

their living arrangements.

The product will be widely available and inexpensive.

User need is lower than originally expected, so the product must be inexpensive

to increase interest in the product,

The product must be able to withstand the highly competitive market in which it

will be sold.

Design Specifications

The product must take up a minimal amount of space.

The product must be relatively inexpensive, preferably less than 40$.

The product will come preassembled, eliminating the need for tedious

assembly.

The product will be capable of holding bicycles weighing up to 50 pounds, due

to the varying sizes and weights of bicycles.

The product must be light to allow for easy transport.

33

Aesthetically, the product must be moderately pleasing. Preferably, the product

will possess nods to the structure of a modern bicycle.

Possible Improvements

The product is still a little pricey for college students, so cheaper materials should be used to lower the

price of the product if it is to be sold in the market successfully.

The steel tubing used to build the rack is square, but if the tubing used was circular, it could be painted

to look like part of a bicycle frame. Or, recycled parts of bicycle frames could be used to lower the price

of the product and make it more pleasing to the eye. Either of these choices would add to the aesthetic

quality of the rack by making a visual reference to the purpose of the product.

Along with this, the tubing is rather heavy. The product could be made lighter by using a different

material. The steel is unnecessarily strong. The strength is a positive quality, but more strength means

more weight. For this reason, the steel tubing could potentially be replaced by a different kind of tubing,

such as aluminum or PVC.

Finally, the adhesive used to attach the tubing to the hinges was not very strong. It had to be reset

twice, which set back the construction of the prototype. The adhesive will be replaced by a stronger,

higher quality one.

Materials and Components for Commercial Production

The aluminum tubing that was used for manufacturing the prototype was strong yet relatively

lightweight, allowing for easy transportation of the bicycle rack without compromising durability.

However, the tubing is susceptible to rust, which can eventually lead to fractures and even full breaks in

the tubing. This limits the lifetime of the product, which could potentially lower its success in the

market. PVC piping is just as appropriate for the project as the aluminum piping that was originally used,

34

and is much lighter. PVC is not susceptible to rust, giving a rack made with PVC a much longer lifespan.

Along with this, the production of the rack made with aluminum involved welding, which is not

convenient for mass production. PVC piping could be produced in the desired shape through extrusion

and the use of joints to connect them instead of welds. This would cut down on assembly time. For

these reasons, PVC would be used in the version of this product for commercial production.

Example PVC Joints

The fasteners that were used in the prototype were adequate and inexpensive. These would be used in

the product intended for commercial product for this reason, and the fact that it would allow for simple

assembly of the product.

The base in the prototype was made of oak, which was somewhat tedious to shape. Along with this, it is

heavier than I intended. For this reason, the commercially produced rack would have a base made of a

thermoplastic polymer and be shaped through the process of injection moulding. This would be optimal

for mass production and ensure that each base would be identical. This would not be the case for a

wooden base, as natural imperfections in wood are common. For these reasons, a thermoplastic base

would be used in the mass produced version of this design.

To prevent scratching of the bicycle and allow for increased grip on the rack, cork bicycle bar tape was

used. This allows for a nice aesthetic finish and an inexpensive solution for protection of the bicycle

frame. The bar tape is inexpensive, and will increase user satisfaction with the product by preventing

damage to the bicycle that is being stored. Cork bar tape will be used in the mass produced version of

the product.

Manufacturing Techniques for Commercial Production

35

Production of the product would be on a small scale initially, in order to make sure that the product sells

adequately. Several workers would be hired, each performing a specific task. For example, one worker

would assemble the PVC portion of the rack, and the next worker would fasten the PVC to the base.

Then, another would wrap handlebar tape on the product, completing it. A final employee would

inspect each finished product for any errors or abnormalities.

Then, production would be moved to an automated assembly line. The base for the rack would be

produced in house, allowing for a base of adequate dimensions to be produced. As mentioned earlier,

the base would be produced through injection moulding. A thermoplastic polymer would be used to

streamline this process and allow for increased functionality in production. If a thermosetting plastic

were used, the base could not be reshaped in the event of an error, and the bases would not be

recyclable. Along with this, thermoplastics have an aesthetically superior appearance, which would

contribute to the final appearance of the product.

Fasteners would be outsourced to a company that produces them, since they are so small and the

factory the racks were produced in would not be capable of working with metals. Along with this, the

fasteners are such a small part of the product, and spending too much time on them would hinder

production speed and yields.

Along with the fasteners, the cork bar tape would be brought in from another facility. Preferably, it

would be bought in bulk from a company that produces it. This would be more cost effective than

producing it in house, since the production of the tape requires intricate machinery and various

chemicals. The bar tape would come in several colors, allowing for variance in finished products that still

maintains uniform design characteristics.

36

Commercial Production Product Materials List

RAE TH-CC-205-W Granular Thermoplastic

Extrude, White, $104.18

“RAE TH-CC-205-W Granular Thermoplastic

Extrude,White." Rakuten.com. 25 Feb. 2016.

Charlotte Pipe 3/4-in x 10-ft 480-PSI Schedule 40 PVC

Pipe, $3.36

"Charlotte Pipe 3/4-in X 10-ft 480-PSI Schedule 40 PVC

Pipe." Lowes.com. 25 Feb. 2016.

LASCO 3/4-in Dia PVC Sch 40 Cap, $0.32 x2

"LASCO 3/4-in Dia PVC Sch 40 Cap." Lowes.com.

25 Feb. 2016.

Charlotte Pipe 10-Pack 3/4-in Dia 90-Degree PVC Sch

40 Elbows, $3.11

"Charlotte Pipe 10-Pack 3/4-in Dia 90-Degree PVC Sch

40 Elbows."Lowes.com. 25 Feb. 2016.

Cinelli Cork Tape, $9.65

x2 1.5” Narrow Hinges

$2.00

2oz gorilla glue, $4.99

37

Mo

dificatio

ns fo

r Mass P

rod

uctio

n

PV

C Tu

bin

g

38

M

od

ification

s for M

ass Pro

du

ction

Plastic B

ase

Therm

op

lastic

Inste

ad o

f wo

od

, the b

ase wo

uld

be m

ade fro

m in

jection

mo

uld

ing

with

a therm

op

lastic po

lymer to

allow

for ligh

tness an

d an

aesthetically p

leasing fin

ish. A

lon

g with

this, th

e rack can b

e

recycled w

hen

mad

e of p

lastic.

39

Product Marketing

Marketing this product correctly will make it or break it. There are already many similar products to this

one on the market, all with relatively reasonable prices and quality craftsmanship. The qualities that set

this product apart must be emphasized. These are: affordability, aesthetics, quality materials, and ease

of storage. In order to do this, I must find an appropriate sales price for the product. Then, an

advertising strategy will be determined based on the product’s target market and target audience.

Target sales price for my bicycle rack will be determined by two factors. The first factor is the current

prices of similar products already on the market. The second factor is production price of my product.

Taking these factors into account will allow me to maximize units sold, profits, and let the product break

even.

In the market, there are already several similar products that allow for compact bicycle storage. Here

are some examples:

$13.99 $49.95

$24.95

Figure 8: "Elfa Horizontal Bike Hook

Grey." Containerstore.com. Web. 25 Feb.

2016.

Figure 9: "Wood Bike Storage." CB2.com.

25 Feb. 2016.

Figure 10: “Clug Roadie Vertical Bike Clip

Wall Mount White-Orange.” Jet.com. 25

Feb. 2016.

40

$31.49

Along with existing examples from the market, I need to take into account manufacturing prices. I spent

about $50.00 on materials for my prototype, including several items I did not end up using. Mass

production will bring the price of an individual unit down at least several dollars due to the fact that

materials for the product will be bought in bulk. Along with this, the mass produced version of the

product will be made of different material than the prototype, preferably a plastic of some sort.

The existing products on the market are priced from around $10 to around $50. I’m estimating that the

mass produced final product will cost approximately $30 per unit to produce. At a 15% markup, I’ll have

a 13% profit margin. The cost at a 15% markup is $34.50. The markup gives a nice profit and allows for a

monetary cushion in the case of unforeseen costs. This number is also in the middle of the range of

existing product prices, which puts it in a good position to sell nicely. Therefore, I’ll set the price at

$34.50, as this will ensure breaking even and allow my product to enter the market with a relatively

affordable price.

Promotion of my product will be vital to its success in the market, especially since there are already

several similar products on the market. In order to maximize publicity for my product, I will go about

promoting my product in several different ways.

The first way I’ll maximize exposure for my product is to work out distribution deals. Since my target

market is mainly college students and people on a budget, having big box stores such as Wal-Mart and

Figure 11: “Feedback

Sports Velo Wall Rack

– Black.”

BikeAhead.com. 25

Feb. 2016.

41

Target carrying my product will reach them effectively. Hopefully the stores will carry the product both

in store and online in order to allow for convenience for the customer.

I will also put out several internet advertisements. I opted to use only internet advertisements due to

the fact that more people are using internet streaming services to watch TV, therefore a television ad

would only be seen by a fraction of the market. A newspaper ad or mail flyer would be ignored and

thrown out. These ads would be on popular websites, such as Facebook and Tumblr, along with

bicycling related websites such as Velonews. The use of both popular social networks and hobby

websites will allow for advertisements for the product to reach both young people looking for a storage

solution and a niche audience that will also be interested in the product.