I have a new bicycle design I would like to introduce to the market. Who would I best talk to 1st.?

Question

I envision this bike reaching speeds in excess of 50MPH.

Answer 1

Interbike would be the place to be if you want to talk to all the key players in the US bike industry - manufacturers, importers, the big brands, bike shop owners, magazine writers, enthusiasts.

It's in the early fall so you missed it this year but that gives you time to get on Amazon and look for books about making money from your inventions - there are lots of good titles that talk about how to protect your idea, approach and negotiate with manufacturers / partners etc. I strongly suggest you do your research and plan carefully.

Also... understand who your target market is. Even though it looks like a cutting edge, high-tech market, most cyclists who spend $thousands on a bike are very sensitive to fashion and "what's cool". This is the reason that many arguably superior designs - such as faired recumbents for example - are still only niche products.

There are a few trade organizations, but be sure to subscribe to "Bicycle Retailer and Industry News" aka "BRAIN" it's the main business journal for the US bike biz.

Good luck,
Scott

p.s. you are familiar with your competition and what has come before, right? 50+mph bikes have been around for many years.

Answer 2

How about Intelligent Geology where our Designer will replenish our resources so recycling is not needed and that Earth is only 10,000 years old and specifically designed by a creator as no planet could ever form out of random chance Questioner> do you have any other answers to anything or do you just cut+paste that SAME answer everywhere on Y/A?

Answer 3

I would suggest attending a bicycle trade show called Interbike. There are 1 or 2 a year. These are extremely expensive to attend but if you want a real world idea of what your design might do, this is the place to do it.

Answer 4

CAD it out 1st to make sure it would all work , then start by finding a cnc shop and a welder..make the 1st frame out of steel(steel costs less and it can be rewelded if something went wrong) after your sure you proto is 100% ready to ride make a few frames out of a better metal. once you get a few frames out on the street or trails(I'm not sure what type of bike your doing)people will start to ask questions..that is the good thing for up and coming frame makers. Bike riders of any type always love the look of a custom rig..I know I do.
..it takes a while to get going..good luck

Answer 5

you should go to InterBike. its held annually in California (i think) but manufactures from every angle of bike will be there.

another idea may be to directly contact several manufacturers like Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, Bianchi, etc. sounds like you have a road bike. call em up, tell em what you got and see if theyre interested. make sure you do research to make sure no one else has had this idea.

good luck!

Answer 6

First go to the Patent office. And then, try to build some prototypes and decide how you want to sell it. Do you only want to sell a design and have whichever builders use it and pay royalties? Do you want to build the bike and sell it?

Answer 7

i heard of a trick concerning patents and copyrights a long time ago...
you draw up the plans, whatever and
mail a copy to yourself...
the postmark on the envelope is considered proof in court that YOU thought of it 1st.
P.S. don't open it
you only need it in case of theft/ lawsuit
50 mph,
?
i'd be afraid to go that fast on a bike, although i ride motorcycle on expressway...
i can pedal top speed 26 mph, but brakes and tires aren't like on a motorcycle...
i'd love to see your improvement