RIMPAD Top tube pad for bicycle

Last crawled date: 1 year, 10 months ago

The RIMPAD

Intro:

Yes it's a Top tube pad, yes they are around already and no matter what side of the fence you sit on you probably already have an opinion about them.

But, let me point out there is a point of difference with this one and I will get to that shortly, but I want to dispel a few of the myths about why people use them.

Myths:
1. It's just Fixie fashion set by hipsters to show off their bicycle.

Well yes and no, some may have been put on a bicycle to attract more attention with extreme neon colours and graffiti style, but actually many hipsters among with regular bicycle enthusiasts have nice rides and want to protect the top tube.

2. It's just to protect Fixie riders nether regions from when they are performing stunts they shouldn't be performing in public in the first place.

Well this theory is less likely, most Fixie stunts don't require too much launching into the air and landing on the top tube, what is much more likely is a Fixie rider hitting an obstacle in front of them whilst not concentrating and flying over the top tube and handlebars and hitting their head(thank god for helmets and those smart enough to wear them) . However top tube pads did come around in the mid 1980's to serve as a bit of a knee protection to BMX riders.

Design problem:

So what's the point of the top tube pad for the modern bicycle?

Did you know on some steel bikes that the thinnest wall section of tube can be as thin as 0.4mm! for comparison the average beer cans wall thickness is 0.1mm thin.

Being the owner of a beautiful Italian steel tube bicycle and it being my daily ride, I was getting frustrated with the constant dings and scrapes daily life offered my bike.

How my dings and scratches would happen:
-Locking my bike up
-Leaning my bike against objects
-The occasional toppling over
-Storing my bicycle by suspending the bike horizontally by the top tube.

Current solutions:

I own a top tube pad, but it is ugly as hell, piece of pipe insulation wrapped in nylon fabric Velcro'ed together looking much like a overstuffed burrito. The overall wall thickness of the top tube pad was 10mm it looks bulky and untidy. Google top tube pad in photos to see what I mean.

Myself and others want another option, a more elegant and refined option to match an elegant bicycle.

The RIMPAD the new solution:

The RIMPAD will be an elegant one piece design made simply and cost effectively,

The process:
-RIMPAD is a one process design, so its cost effective. Using Reaction injection molding (RIM) a simple mold is made, the mold is much cheaper than regular injection molding. Using a mold can have the advantage of texturing or embedding the logo into the product.

Material:
-Through the material selection a rigid to semi-rigid self skinning polyurethane foam will be chosen.
-Since its self skinning (Closed Cell) its already waterproof.
- A slim wall thickness can be achieved as little as 5-7mm depending on material rigidity and considerations for brake cables
-An array of colours is possible through this process, but I'm sure at first the Velodroom red from the logo will be ample.

Design properties:
-The outside skin formed during the RIM process can have a feel something like sticky leather to hard but malleable plastic depending on the rigidity and the type of foam used.
-The form will be able to hold its shape well once set so once its applied over a top tube it will be snug. If needed can add Velcro straps to the design to keep its shape when covering the brake cables.

Thank you for reading I hope due to all the above consideration you'll consider my design.