New eBike Concept for University assignment

[electricbike_student]

Hi all,

My name is Louise and I am a newcomer to this forum and looking forward to many interesting discussions.

I am currently involved in the exciting project of developing a more lightweight and cost effective form of electric bike conversion. After looking at and painfully trying to install the existing types of conversion kits, we have begun creating a product that is much simpler to install, fits on ALL sizes and types of bikes and has at least equal power.

This concept is forming the basis of a university project which is due in only 1 week (typical student I am!) and I'm hoping for some feedback on what you all think of the concept and if it would be of interest.

I have also created a short anonymous survey and I would be eternally grateful to anyone for completing it (my sample size is far too small at present). http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5MQG2FJ

Thanks all, looking forward to hearing from you!

Louise

[cachexian]

More information please.

[CommuRider]

Which university, who is your supervisor or person we contact if we have questions about your research, and where is your university-approved ethics form?

[electricbike_student]

I am studying through Swinburne university via open universities. The subject is New Product Development. My assignment is more about its viability in the market and creating a launch plan for it. A good friend of mine has actually begun working on a prototype for this though which is really exciting.

The concept bike works on a system using small motors and a gearbox which is pedal assisted. The system simply attatches to the seat post and the rear wheel axle and is adjustable so it fits all bikes. Its a whole lot easier to install and remove than current ebike conversion kits and a lot lighter. We're looking into what other functions might be useful on it too eg, headlights and taillights, 12V outlet (like car charger).

Which university, who is your supervisor or person we contact if we have questions about your research, and where is your university-approved ethics form?

The survey is to assess initial market interest in the concept. I wasnt aware I needed an ethics form as I am not collecting any personal information, I will check this out with my lecturer.

[CommuRider]

Swinburne should have a standard human research ethics form. You are collecting info from humans not analyzing ABS numerical data - in which case the latter doesn't require ethics clearance but the former does as you are already interacting with us.

Have a search of other uni student surveys on other threads here and you will see the amount of info they have disclosed on their research in order to collect data for their research. Also it will be useful if you actually state if the results of your research will also be published here or you will be providing a link to the results since intended respondents are providing you theIr time and information for free.

BUT it seems your research is more to test a potential market for your product so it probably falls under a commercial market research survey in which case you probably need clearance from the forum owner on here.

[electricbike_student]

I wasnt aware the process needed to be so formal . This is just for a small assignment (due this Friday) and I am just loking for a few quick responses to initially assess the viability of the concept in the market.

Ethics guidelines from my uni are available online at: http://www.research.swinburne.edu.au/re ... lines.html . I have emailed my lecturer to see if I need to submit an ethics form.
If you think there is something I am breaching from there or by the forum rules then by all means please let me know as I certainly dont intend on this. Rather, I thought this new product may be of interest in the cycling community and I was hoping that out of pure generosity there may be some people out there willing to help me.

I am happy to share the key results of the survey with the forum if this is of interest.

[ColinOldnCranky]

Ethics aside, good luck.

I envision a third cog attached to the seat tube. I assume close to the bottom bracket where it would not provide too much of a bending moment to the tube. Sounds clever. Has anyone else tried the same?

(Or perhaps my vision of yours is totally off, in which case I claim prior art and am headed for royalties rich retirement. Whoo whoo )

[CommuRider]

The forum rules are here:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=45881

The process is pretty straightforward. In most cases, the researchers email the forum owner directly and he approves the survey to be broadcasted. As you may have noticed, the bike forum attracts a lot of surveys.

Rather, I thought this new product may be of interest in the cycling community and I was hoping that out of pure generosity there may be some people out there willing to help me.

Which makes your survey fall more into the market research/commercial potential/attract new customers for said product. From the rules again:

We welcome industry however please use these guidelines:
• Unless you have approval, you can't start a thread or post promotional messages or information about your products or company
• You can answer / respond to member question about your products or similar products. Please answer the question rather than create a promotion or advertisement. If in doubt, ask a moderator.
• Please disclose your relationship or interest with the company.
• You can have a URL (web address) in your signature - though the signature is not for further promotion or advertising
• You can participate as a member, though for topics where there is a vested interest, if you are open and non-pushy, this works best.

But I have a fantastic product / service and I want everyone to know now!
We have advertising opportunities on the Forum and Bicycles Network Australia (main) site from banner advertising to cooperations and sponsorship.

Hence your uni ethics form would have helped you in this regard where there is a blurring of the commercial/promotional line per potential market size for your product. Still, as you said it's a 1st year undergrad assignment so good luck with how the survey goes. Disclosure of who to contact wrt your research is par for the course if your lecturer is worth his/her salt.

I am happy to share the key results of the survey with the forum if this is of interest.

I'm sure most, if not all, respondents would want to see the results since some of them would be potential users of your product.

[ColinOldnCranky]

Completed. There was no personalising info other than age though I have no idea if survey monkey forms can identify my public profile in this forum.

I had difficulty on what you meant in question 7 as we have no info on the product in question.

There is resistance in a marketing sense . On the other hand, and in the context of some of the questions it could also be about "resistance training" aka weights and stretch bands and stuff. I think you are talking about the latter but to person who is not into fitness training or gyms, well...