Bicycle accessories

bike-lock-rest helmet-rest-2

I recognized a trio of “thoughtless acts” around bicycles in my home. On top, I tend to store my bike cable by hanging in on my handlebars. In the middle image, handlebars are again used for storage, here by hanging a helmet. And on the bottom, my bike seat is used to store my helmet, keeping it attached to the bike (it’s clipped around the seat-post) and also in the orientation as it would be worm (by propping it on the seat). I presume neither handlebars nor seats were designed as storage spaces , but the same features that make for good grips (here protruding or curved, hand-sized grips) also make for good hooks. And my bicycle seat, designed for sitting, happens also to be of the right proportions to mount my helmet (something going on there in human proportions?).

As far as design solutions, these inspired me to think of other ways to introduce multi-functionality to items designed for hands/seats. Perhaps the doorknob on a closet door could be grooved, encouraging users to hang their most-used items on the knob itself instead of inside the closet, with similar adaptations for drawer or cabinet pulls.

The bike-seat storage seems harder to replicate elsewhere; it works because I only sit on the bike when I am also wearing the helmet (the thing stored on the seat). The same can’t be said for most seats.

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