Long-Distance Cycling

Food & Water Pouch

Final Report
Tish Yount, Lauren McCarthy, Brenden Harris, Madison Lindfelt

Dr. Ben Mertz

EM103-07 - Spring 2020
May 19, 2020

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Executive Summary

Through research, our group identified an opportunity within the long-distance cycling market. Many
long-distance cyclists struggle to find a product that is easily accessible while riding and is able to carry
all the water and nutrition needed for long-distance cycling. These cyclists have also noted a struggle to
properly dispose of waste during a ride. Our group decided to create a product that would solve these
struggles that many long-distance cyclists face. The group interviewed six different professors using a
universally decided set of questions. After discussing the input gained from the interviews, each member
of the group brainstormed one to two designs. Each design was then discussed, and three unique designs
were decided upon. The best parts of each of these three designs were then combined to create the final

Figure 1

design. The final design includes a snack compartment (Figure 5), a detachable waste compartment
(Figure 7), adjustable clamps (Figure 9), and a water bottle holder (Figure 8) as seen in the figure below.
This product will attach to the middle bar of the bicycle (Figure 2).

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 Figure 2

The snack compartment is large enough to hold two full-sized sandwiches or a sandwich and an apple
without squishing any food. The snack compartment will be constructed from a durable and washable
nylon and will have a magnetic lid. One magnet is located inside the flap of the lid and the two others will
be located inside the appropriate walls of the snack compartment to either keep the snack compartment
open or closed. This allows for easy opening and closing of the lid. The detachable waste compartment is
attached with a zipper to the side of the snack compartment and will be constructed from a durable and
washable nylon and mesh material. The opening of the waste compartment will have elastic drawback
strings to close the opening. The clamps can be adjusted by loosing or tightening screws. The clamps will
connect the snack compartment and the water bottle holder. The water bottle holder will be made of a
lightweight aluminum and have an opening with a diameter of 4 inches. This diameter will allow for
water bottles of all sizes too fit into the holder easily and securely. The holder is tilled at an angle at
which water bottles will not fall out. Our group could not test the product due to the COVID-19
pandemic, but our product did meet and exceed all of our target values that were measurable during this
time. During our evaluation of the product, we identified one possible weakness of the design, the weight.
Some of the planned materials could make the product too heavy for some competitive long-distance
cyclists. If this surfaced as a problem during testing, our group would reevaluate the materials and change
them to make the product lighter while keeping the standard of quality we have set.

Table of Content

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s
Executive Summary.....................................................................................................................................2

Problem Scope.............................................................................................................................................5

Opportunity Identification.......................................................................................................................5

Product Needs and Technical Specifications...........................................................................................5

Design Description......................................................................................................................................5

Summary.................................................................................................................................................6

Description..............................................................................................................................................7

Evaluation...................................................................................................................................................9

Quantitative Design Evaluation...............................................................................................................9

Strengths and Weaknesses.......................................................................................................................9

References...................................................................................................................................................9

Appendix...................................................................................................................................................11

Interviews..............................................................................................................................................11

Ethnographic research...........................................................................................................................13

Concept Generation...............................................................................................................................13

Drawing Package...................................................................................................................................15

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Problem Scope

Opportunity Identification
Long distance cyclists need to eat while they ride long distances so that they do not run out of energy
(Yeager, Selene, and Nasm). The problem with this is how to take the food with them and how to easily
access it while riding. Many cyclers have this problem and have inefficient ways of coping with the
problem. That is why we designed our food and water pouch for long-distance cyclists. It solves the
problem of how they are going to bring food with them and how will they access it.

Product Needs and Technical Specifications

Technical Specifications
Rational for Target Values
Product Needs Metric Target Value

The device holds two full The average size of a slice

Minimum internal 5.5 x 5.5 x 3 inches, at
sized sandwiches of bread is 4.5 x 4.5 inches
dimension minimum
and about 5/8 inch thick
Everyone drinks water, but
The device can not all water bottles are the
hold multiple sizes of Can hold bottles with same size, the largest
Size capability of water
water bottles water bottle diameters ranging being 3.58 inches in
bottle holder
from 2.5 to 3.58 inches diameter and some of the
smallest being 2.5 inches in
diameter
The wrapper from a granola
The device has an extra
bar, the bag from
pocket for trash that Size capability of trash Minimum volume of 12
a sandwich and a core of an
is adequately sized compartment cubic inches
apple take up
roughly 12 cubuc inches
We want people to want to
The device is inexpensive
Cost to manufacture Under $20 purchase it and be able to
purchase it
It needs to be able to
The device is durable Materials can withstand withstand wind exposure for
Material durability
winds up to 90 mph when biking or transporting
the bike via car
Table 1

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Design Description

Summary
This design consists of a main food compartment with a detachable trash compartment and a water bottle
carrier that all attaches to the middle bar of a bicycle. The food compartment has a lid that will stay put
whether it is open or closed. The trash compartment can be zippered off to be washed and has an elastic
opening, so it is easy to put trash in it without the trash falling out. The water bottle compartment is made
of lightweight aluminum and can hold small and large water bottles without them falling out.

Figure 3

Figure 4

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Description
This design has three main components, the food pouch (Figure 5), trash pouch (Figure 7), and water
bottle container (Figure 8). The food pouch is big enough to hold a full-sized sandwich and some fruit
like an apple or banana without the food getting squished. It is made of durable nylon fabric that is
machine washable and the lid has a magnet to secure it whether it is open or closed by sticking to the
magnets on the front and back of the pouch. That way, when the cyclist is eating their food while biking
they do not have to keep opening the pouch because it keeps closing.

Figure 5

Figure 6

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There is also a detachable trash compartment (Figure 7). The backing of this compartment is made of the
same durable and machine washable nylon and the part that holds the trash is made out of a strong,
elastic, mesh material. It is secured to the main compartment by a zipper that runs along the edge of the
compartment. Because the trash compartment is attached via a zipper, it can be removed to be washed
separately.

Figure 7

Then there is the water bottle holder (Figure 8). It is made out of lightweight aluminum and has a big
enough opening to hold large water bottles such as Nalegenes and Hydroflasks. It sits right below the
middle bar of the bicycle to not get in the way of the cyclist's legs while still being easy to access. It is
also constructed so that the water bottle will sit at an angle so that it does not fall out. This is key so that it
can hold many sizes of water bottles without them falling out when the cyclist goes over rough terrain.

Figure 8

The main food compartment and water bottle holder are attached using adjustable clamps that are screwed
together on the bar (Figure 9). Since they are adjustable, they can fit many different sizes of bars. These
clamps are on the bottom of the main food compartment and the top of the water bottle holder.

Figure 9

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Evaluation
Quantitative Design Evaluation
The design had a step by step design process. We first decided to come up with different designs
on different parts of the bike. The designs were then combined to one central design and one
central location on the bike. The design was set to meet 5.5 x 5.5 x 3 inches, at minimum for the
main compartment, bottle holder Can hold bottles with diameters ranging from 2.5 to 3.58
inches, and the trash compartment to be 12 cubic inches in volume. Each of these specifications
were easily met in the final design. The middle bar was also the best centralized location for the
design. No testing was done under the circumstances.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The final design was able to add all three ideas together to make one centralized location for all
three actions while riding the bike. The design was able to maximize the benefits by making the
size of each part the most reliable for all customers while also making the product affordable.
The trash pouch is made to be easily detached and cleaned out, so no extra hassle is added with
its attachment. One weakness with our design is the added weight that could be added for
professional cyclist. If this would prove to be a problem, we could change the material of our
design to lower the weight of the design.

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References

Global Cycling Network, director. What Should You Eat and Drink When Cycling? 8 May 2016,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq5mlfKBqIY.

Larson, Holly. “5 Snacks for Your Bike Ride.” EatRight,

www.eatright.org/fitness/exercise/exercise-nutrition/5-snacks-for-your-bike-ride.

“Unique Cycling Jerseys, Kits and Apparel.” Online Cycling Gear, onlinecyclinggear.com/?

utm_campaign=cycling_jerseys_research&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search_ca

mpaign&utm_ad=suggested_categories&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7J3jkrqM6QIVysDACh2U

NQP0EAAYASAAEgLizPD_BwE.

Yeager, Selene, and Nasm. “The Quick, Totally Uncomplicated Guide to Fueling Rides of Every

Length.” Bicycling, 14 Mar. 2019, www.bicycling.com/training/a20011394/how-to-fuel-

on-rides-of-every-length/.

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Appendix
Interviews
Interview Questions:

1. Could you tell me about the last time you went for a long-distance ride?

2. What was the most challenging/difficulties you faced during this ride?

3. Did you ever have to stop mid-ride?

4. Do you eat snacks while on long-distance rides?

5. What kind of snacks do you eat while on a longer ride?

6. What was most challenging about eating your snack mid-ride?

7. How have you dealt with this challenge so far?

8. Where do you dispose of the waste of the snacks you eat?

9. Do you often cycle in the rain?

Interview 1

Interviewee: Dr. Jones Simon

Interviewer: Tish Yount

Interviewee’s Demographic: male, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, long distance

cycler

Notes from interview:

1) Two or three days ago … whichever day it wasn’t raining

2) Biking into the wind and staying hydrated

3) Yes, I usually have to stop after 30 miles or so for a break

4) Yes, if the ride is over 30 miles I will likely bring a snack

5) I usually bring a granola bar and a peanut-butter and jam sandwich

6) Finding somewhere nice to sit down (i.e. comfortable, shady, bug-free) and carrying the snack for
the ride

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 7) To carry the snack, I generally stuff it into a pocket on my biking jersey, but that limits the amount
I can take

8) I put my trash in the baggie that previously contained my sandwich and carry it home to dispose of

9) Never intentionally

Interview 2

Interviewee: Dr. Kurt Bryan

Interviewer: Brenden Harris

Interviewee’s Demographic: male, math professor

Notes from interview:

Usually rides during April

Carrying the snacks is hard

Bike riding gear has pockets on it

Stick back into your jersey

Does not usually ride in the rain

Interview 3

Interviewee: Dr. Rebecca Bercich

Interviewer: Lauren McCarthy

Interviewee’s Demographic: Female, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Notes from interview:

1. Last ride was two days ago, 15 miles in total

2. Crossing busy streets, small water bottle, passing people

3. Navigation, break for a rest, stopped to have a snack, forgetting to eat

4. Yes, longest is about 30 to 35 miles (possible going for a longer ride this summer)

5. Something portable (granola bars, fruit)

6. Never tried to eat while riding, disposal of waste

7. Look for a trash can, uses a pocket or bag if available

8. Answer above

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 9. Avoid if possible

Interview 4

Interviewees: Dr. Nathan Chenette and Dr. Heather Chenette

Interviewer: Madison Lindfelt

Interviewee’s Demographic: male, CSSE professor, long distance cyclist // female, chemical
engineering professor, long distance cyclist

Notes from interview:

1. 2-day “Hilly Hundred” tandem bike race

2. Rainy weather-having enough cycling rain gear

3. Yes, at rest stops/for a snack-depends on the type of ride

4. Yes, typically around every hour

5. Energy bars, energy gel, packable fruits-high calorie, easy to digest

6. **Where to pack it**, ease of access, disposing of waste

7. Pockets in back of jersey, taping gel to stem of bike for easy access, throwing on small
drawstring/backpack

8. Wait to find a trash can or back into pocket of jersey-drop zones during races

9. Try to avoid for more leisurely rides but sometimes unavoidable for pre-registered races

Ethnographic research
In order to see what a cyclist would really need in a food pouch, we observed long distance cyclists and
their current methods of storing and accessing food and water. We noticed that if the cyclist put their food
into their back pocket, they would struggle to reach it. We also learned that bikers tend to prefer to bring
snacks that can be opened with one hand or their teeth so they can still have the other hand steering.
Cyclers also said that carrying food in their pockets was quite annoying. But for racing, people hand them
food and water so they do not have to worry about the food storage and accessibility problem during a
race. Common foods to bring on a long bike ride consist of energy gel, since it is so convenient, as well as
energy bars for more long or intense rides (Larson, Holly ).

Concept Generation
Our design was originally going to be on the front bars of the bike (Figure 10). The water bottle holder
was going to be a pouch with a draw string closure, but we decided not to go with this design for a few
reasons. One being the location of the front bars would be harder to access than the middle bar and it
would increase the amount of drag that the bike would experience. Another reason being the water bottle
would be hard to access with only one hand. The trash compartment was originally going to be a smaller

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version of the food compartment with the same kind of closures. We eventually ditched the idea in favor
of a more accessible compartment that trash would be less likely to fall out of.

Figure 10

We then decided to change to water bottle pouch to a water bottle ‘cage’ of sorts (Figure 11). This new
design allowed the cyclist to be able to access that water bottle easily while also being able to hold water
bottle of different sizes. We then changed the location to the middle bar of the bike to reduce drag and
increase accessibility. What stayed consistent throughout our concept generation was the size of the food
pouch and how the trash pouch would zipper onto the food pouch. The trash pouch ended up being a
mesh pouch with elastic at the opening similar to a water bottle pouch on the side of a backpack. This
allowed the cyclist to access that trash easily while also preventing trash from falling out. We had
considered going for a tube shape for the main compartments but ended up not so that sandwiches would
fit better and would have less chance of being squished.

Figure 11

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Drawing Package

Figure 12

Figure 13

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Figure 14

Figure 15

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Figure 16

Figure 17

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Figure 18

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