Alix Griffin

ENGL 4130 - 410

Project Synopsis
8 July 2016
Abstract
Mountain bikes were developed in response to cyclists' desire to leave the road, and their
continued innovation is derived from the need to outcompete other bicycles in ride quality,
technical superiority, and capability. Almost every component of a bike has been completely
redesigned and rethought, and each redesign has brought with it some benefits and downsides.
By looking at how previous innovations came about and the results they produced, it may be
possible to predict areas for future innovation, enabling faster development of future products
that improve the speed and ability of mountain bikers.
Form
The document composed will be in the form of a technical write-up, following most of the
conventions of such a document in the field of mechanical engineering. It will feature a strong
organizational structure designed to lead readers to relevant sections of the text. It will also
feature images, graphs, and other helpful illustrations intended to convey information quickly
and easily.
Organization
The write-up will begin with an introduction to the topic. This will be followed by detailed sections
covering past innovations to bikes. Most of the innovations will be described, pictured, and
analyzed relative to previous versions. After discussion of previous innovations, current
technology will be described, including full analysis of several examples. Based on previous
innovations and current technology, a section on future directions of bike innovation will be
composed. Ideas generated in this section will include current prototypes and possible areas for
development. A general outline will follow as the final page of this document.
Sources
The main form of resources will come in the form of technical documentation of older and
current bike models. Some additional sources may include previously completed analyses and
claims made by manufacturers. As the information contained in this report is not historical in
nature, high-quality sources will not be entirely necessary. Information gained from company
press releases, images, and possibly individually owned websites will be useful, so long as it
can be checked with other sources. Technical specifications released by manufacturers will be
especially useful.

Outline
1) Introduction: The introduction will contain a brief background of the sport of mountain biking.
It will also explain the desire for innovation and the possibility of using old innovations to
inspire new technology.
2) Previous Innovation: Previous bikes will be explored, and the reasons for their designs
questioned. Analysis of each new design will help to verify the usefulness of each change,
and key points from each design will be used to justify innovation later in the report.
a) Suspension
b) Frame geometry
c) Specialization
3) Current Technology: Current technology will be analyzed, and a broad overview of the many
styles of bikes will be provided. This will provide a framework of current limitations of bikes
and directions of innovation.
a) Current top-tier technology
b) Reasoning for various styles
c) Recent Innovation
4) Future Innovation: The future of bike innovation will be predicted. Specific devices or
modifications will not be covered. Instead, general trends will be extrapolated, and areas
needing innovation will be identified.
a) Current prototypes and fringe products
b) General trends
c) Areas needing innovation
5) Conclusion: Likely courses of action will be described in light of current technology.