Friday, August 27, 2010

Designing for the Beach

It's amazing the change in what's important when you're on a beach vacation...As far as possessions go, all you need for all day is a suit, sandals, towel, sunscreen, a good cooler and a beach cruiser bike.

If I had to design a beach cruiser I'd consider the following:

frame - maybe stainless steel or aluminum to resist corrosion

drivetrain - belt drive to eliminate bike chain rust. not sure how belt drive does with sand. single speed or sealed multiple gear hub.

brakes - coaster brakes at least or standard cantilever brakes.

tires - max traction on sand but able to ride on pavement as well.

cargo - teak lined cargo rack or baskets front and back. Carry coolers and beach bag. Drink holder on handlebars.

pedals - one side of pedal for bare feet, other side with lugs for sandals or shoes.

Beach cooler design - anchor points molded into the plastic to simplify tying down to bike.

Beach Towel Design - accommodates two, stuffs into sewn in sack, maybe corner pockets for accessory storage or to fill with sand to weigh down.