I've invented a new "niche" bike. Now I need a purpose for it, and a name
Giraffoto
Posts: 2,078
Short version: it's a 29er MTB with rigid forks and big (29x2") slicks on it, plus road going dropped handlebars. It's a sort of a road fatbike. Now, how to convince people they need one? Is it for doing the Paris-Roubaix with a 25kph speed limit? Is it for people who want to train back to fitness after bum surgery? Is it yet another Ultimate City Bike? And what should it be called? Is it a fat roader? Is it a road fatty?
The best suggestion gets to choose the name and organize the first World Championship for them.
Long version: We often hear about new types of bikes - adventure bikes, gravel racers and fatbikes have all come along recently - so when I put slick tyres on our MTBs to make it a bit easier going round the Tour de Vale route, it was obvious that I'd just invented a new niche product. With proper handlebars it would be even more comfortable, albeit still fairly slow. Never mind that it doesn't have an obvious purpose - that's for the marketing department to come up with. So, how would you convince the bike buying public that they need a road bike with 30psi balloon tyres? And what would you call it?
The best suggestion gets to choose the name and organize the first World Championship for them.
Long version: We often hear about new types of bikes - adventure bikes, gravel racers and fatbikes have all come along recently - so when I put slick tyres on our MTBs to make it a bit easier going round the Tour de Vale route, it was obvious that I'd just invented a new niche product. With proper handlebars it would be even more comfortable, albeit still fairly slow. Never mind that it doesn't have an obvious purpose - that's for the marketing department to come up with. So, how would you convince the bike buying public that they need a road bike with 30psi balloon tyres? And what would you call it?
Specialized Roubaix Elite 2015
XM-057 rigid 29er
XM-057 rigid 29er
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Comments
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Two things spring to mind. Firstly the short version is nearly as long as the long version. Secondly you'd have to put those weird drops that flare out to make it look even more niche.0
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A fair point :oops: Let's say "slightly shorter" thenVeronese68 wrote:Two things spring to mind. Firstly the short version is nearly as long as the long version.
Of course, because reasons. This is a niche product we're talking about here!Veronese68 wrote:Secondly you'd have to put those weird drops that flare out to make it look even more niche.Specialized Roubaix Elite 2015
XM-057 rigid 29er0 -
Meh. Too slow. I have one already.Open One+ BMC TE29 Seven 622SL On One Scandal Cervelo RS0
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Call it the n+1 and if it is even slightly different from anything else the 'nouveau cyclist' will need one not just want one.0
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You'd better be quick:
http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/news/artic ... ise-47376/0 -
Well, talk about life imitating art etc. . . .
Does a niche bike become a different niche when you change the tyres? The Fat Roadster (or Road Fatster?) had 2" slick tyres.Specialized Roubaix Elite 2015
XM-057 rigid 29er0 -
How many water bottle bosses will it have? We have a right to know!0
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Should it have bottle cages, or should it have cup holders instead?Specialized Roubaix Elite 2015
XM-057 rigid 29er0 -
how about tarmac 'n cheese
or (my personal favourite!)
Big 'macwww.conjunctivitis.com - a site for sore eyes0 -
www.conjunctivitis.com - a site for sore eyes0
