Design Student Wanting To Identify Problems With MTBing

chaimes27
chaimes27 Posts: 10
edited February 2014 in MTB general
Hello,

I'm currently a second year design and engineering student working on a project based around mountain sports. I myself have a background in mountain biking, therefore I have naturally decided to design for the sport I partake in. However I need help to identify issues that I can design around. These can range from difficulty attaching lights to the handle bar to difficulty changing your wheel.
If you would spare a few minutes and fill my survey in (below) I would be hugely grateful. If you leave your name and email and I decide to design around your problem I will of course keep you up to date with my work.

The Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RSMNKRS

Many Thanks,

Christian Haimes

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    yet another poorly thought out questionnaire.

    why dont you think about them rather than make them up after a Saturday night out?

    sorry.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    Way too vague.
    Define 'medium end'.
    What does this actually mean - "Do you experience any problems with the safety of your equipment?" Gets pinched, gets hurt, hurts you?

    But I couldn't do it anyway as I don't do any extreme sports, I just ride a bicycle.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • I'm sorry you do not like the survey. However it has had to be made open enough to allow for anyone who partakes in extreme sport to answer. As I'm sure you will appreciate this is very difficult due to the vast differences in each sport.

    However if you feel that you could think of any more suitable questions I am always open to suggestions and advice.

    Thanks,
    Christian
  • Chunkers1980
    Chunkers1980 Posts: 8,035
    Why do you need to 'partake' in extreme sports? If you want to design for MTB (and your course specifically allows) then a survey will yield better results when being more specific
  • The brief I am working for is to design for extreme sports. I understand that that is a very loose term and is therefor creating some confusion, MTB does sit under this category.

    For the moment I need to create enough evidence to prove that MTBing is a feasible market to design for. Once i have managed to do this, as well as identifying several issues, I can make a much more in depth survey.

    I hope this clears up the confusion,
    Christian
  • Chunkers1980
    Chunkers1980 Posts: 8,035
    Trouble is just riding a bike is not an extreme sport - need to go to the far extremes for it to be, er, extreme.
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    I suppose in a way I do extreme sports, although sport is probably pushing it, and the only extreme is extremely rubbish at it.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • I know it is a far push saying extreme sports, however please understand this is purely me manipulating the brief so that I can design for something I enjoy. Unsurprisingly it makes it much more fun to design for something you do yourself.

    Being totally honest its an excuse to get on the bike again! So any help is appreciated!

    Christian
  • Angus Young
    Angus Young Posts: 3,063
    I was going to fill it in but half way down the survey it just became too vauge. You really need to give some structure/direction to the questions. As it stands you'd need to get into a rambling essay to answer the questions. It does seem rather dashed off rather than thought through. Needs more work.
    All the gear, no idea and loving the smell of jealousy in the morning.
    Kona Process 134 viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=12994607
  • I was going to fill it in but half way down the survey it just became too vauge. You really need to give some structure/direction to the questions. As it stands you'd need to get into a rambling essay to answer the questions. It does seem rather dashed off rather than thought through. Needs more work.

    +1
    Remember Rule #5
  • mcnultycop
    mcnultycop Posts: 2,143
    Wow. That's one of the worst badly thought out questionnaires I've seen in a long while.
  • Angus Young
    Angus Young Posts: 3,063
    Don't get disheartened by the response. One of the best lessons you can learn as a designer is to be able to let go and rethink everything that's gone before if it becomes clear it's not working. And I say that as a designer myself. Digging your heels in and putting energy into trying to justify why something is fine the way it is, despite all evidence to the contrary, will just make your life as a designer a real drag.
    All the gear, no idea and loving the smell of jealousy in the morning.
    Kona Process 134 viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=12994607
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    Don't get disheartened by the response. One of the best lessons you can learn as a designer is to be able to let go and rethink everything that's gone before if it becomes clear it's not working. And I say that as a designer myself. Digging your heels in and putting energy into trying to justify why something is fine the way it is, despite all evidence to the contrary, will just make your life as a designer a real drag.

    Im a mechanical design engineer. Angus is spot on, the most important skill for a designer is to know when to let a design go as a dead end and start something better. Keep a file of dead end ideas, you might find another use for bits of them one day.

    This survey needs rethinking, its one of the most important parts of your project.
  • Kowalski675
    Kowalski675 Posts: 4,412
    chaimes27 wrote:
    The brief I am working for is to design for extreme sports. I understand that that is a very loose term and is therefor creating some confusion, MTB does sit under this category.

    Not the way I do it. :lol:
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    chaimes27 wrote:
    The brief I am working for is to design for extreme sports. I understand that that is a very loose term and is therefor creating some confusion, MTB does sit under this category.

    Not the way I do it. :lol:

    Extremely bad still counts as extreme
  • Kowalski675
    Kowalski675 Posts: 4,412
    chaimes27 wrote:
    The brief I am working for is to design for extreme sports. I understand that that is a very loose term and is therefor creating some confusion, MTB does sit under this category.

    Not the way I do it. :lol:

    Extremely bad still counts as extreme

    True, but I don't think that was the meaning he had in mind. :lol:
  • Daz555
    Daz555 Posts: 3,976
    I wonder what % of students we get on here actually bother to turn up with a survey which took more than 40 seconds for them to lob together?
    You only need two tools: WD40 and Duck Tape.
    If it doesn't move and should, use the WD40.
    If it shouldn't move and does, use the tape.
  • I've taken a different approach to these shlt surveys we get on here now. I just provide comedy answers in the hope that it encourages the surveyor to re-think it.

    So:
    Q: Which extreme sport/s do you partake in?
    A: Extreme Badger Baiting, Extreme Cake Eating, Extreme Masturbation, Extreme Survey completion

    Q: How many weeks a year do you manage to partake in your sport?
    A: 183

    Q: How easy is it to store and transport your equipment?
    A: Bacon

    Q: Are there any other issues within your sport that you believe we could design for?
    A: Giant Squid Attack
  • cooldad
    cooldad Posts: 32,599
    Trouble is some of the 'surveyors' are so dozy they'll probably take it seriously.

    Although some of the trails are so soggy at the moment a giant squid attack is not beyond the realm of possibility.
    I don't do smileys.

    There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda

    London Calling on Facebook

    Parktools
  • Kowalski675
    Kowalski675 Posts: 4,412
    cooldad wrote:
    Although some of the trails are so soggy at the moment a giant squid attack is not beyond the realm of possibility.

    Especially if you're American.
  • 2nd year design and engineering student? As in 2nd year at university? If so, that survey is really poor. Perhaps something a VI Former might have thrown together.

    Even if we all filled in the survey in good faith (I did not as the questions were meaningless and impossible to answer sensibly or truthfully), the results would tell the OP precisely nothing.
  • CitizenLee
    CitizenLee Posts: 2,227
    Cyclists are the biggest problem in MTB for me. Can't stand em :)
    Current:
    NukeProof Mega FR 2012
    Cube NuRoad 2018
    Previous:
    2015 Genesis CdF 10, 2014 Cube Hyde Race, 2012 NS Traffic, 2007 Specialized SX Trail, 2005 Specialized Demo 8
  • Kowalski675
    Kowalski675 Posts: 4,412
    CitizenLee wrote:
    Cyclists are the biggest problem in MTB for me. Can't stand em :)


    :lol:
  • BigAl
    BigAl Posts: 3,122
    Completed the survey.

    Though I don't think you'll find my responses too helpful. That's what you get if you don't think the survey through.

    I would like a tyre that never punctures, is lightweight, rolls well and works in all conditions including the current squid prone ones.

    Ask a silly question........
  • paulbox
    paulbox Posts: 1,203
    Have done your latest survey, re Q5, I didn't like any of the options so typed something in the 'Other' box. This returned an error as you have to select one of the options. Perhaps you should therefore have 'Other' as one of the options in the list.

    Re the area that you're focusing on, I've never heard of anybody's chain jamming in the cassette. Do you mean between the cassette and spokes?

    Paul.
    XC: Giant Anthem X
    Fun: Yeti SB66
    Road: Litespeed C1, Cannondale Supersix Evo, Cervelo R5
    Trainer: Bianchi via Nirone
    Hack: GT hardtail with Schwalbe City Jets
  • arran77
    arran77 Posts: 9,260
    Likewise tried to answer 'other' to question 5 and it wouldn't let me....I didn't bother after that :roll:
    "Arran, you are like the Tony Benn of smut. You have never diluted your depravity and always stand by your beliefs. You have my respect sir and your wife my pity" :lol:

    seanoconn
  • rockmonkeysc
    rockmonkeysc Posts: 14,774
    arran77 wrote:
    Likewise tried to answer 'other' to question 5 and it wouldn't let me....I didn't bother after that :roll:

    I found the same. I don't care what a tool looks like. It's function is all that matters. It's a tool.