IDEO’s Coasting design

As you probably already know from reading this blog, I am a big fan of new designs that target those who don’t already ride a bike. When Shimano came out with the Coasting group last year, I couldn’t wait to see new designs emerge that were based around the group. I think the Trek Lime was the first one I posted, but Raleigh and Giant have Coasting equipped bikes as well.

Recently, Shimano teamed up with the design consultancy IDEO (a big name in the design world for those of you not familiar with the company) to create a bike around the Coasting group with the casual cyclist in mind. Pretty cool; read about it here.

Thanks to Nadia for the tip.

Edit: I read the article quickly, but I realized as soon as I posted that the information might be incorrect. I think the Raleigh coasting bike is the one pictured in the article. I believe that IDEO designed the Coasting components, but not this bike. Someone correct me if I’m wrong. Either way, read more about the coasting philosophy here.

Posted

March 13, 2007

James

Tags:

Coasting, IDEO, Shimano

Comments

7 responses to “IDEO’s Coasting design”

Fritz

March 13, 2007

Yes, that’s the Raleigh Coasting bike.

Cool article. So, if I understand correctly, Shimano and IDEO worked together to create Coasting?

Reply
Anonymous

March 13, 2007

Shimano and IDEO did the research, Shimano designed the components based on that, and together they pitched it to bike companies using a prototype. But bike companies had to design the bikes themselves..

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John

March 14, 2007

The IDEO and Shimano work is really cool. With all of the emphasis today placed on winning, being the fastest, and having the latest technology, it’s no wonder cycling (and a lot of other things for that matter) are no longer fun to the 99.99999999% of the population that aren’t in the same league as Lance Armstrong.

I reintroduced my wife to cycling 8 years ago when we both bought long wheelbase cruiser bikes just to ride around the neighborhood. The bikes (GT Dyno Roadsters – designed by Industrial Designer Aaron Bethenfalvy) were so much fun that we wound up riding them on local club rides and having a blast. Not only was the pressure of “competition” off, but it was so obvious that we didn’t care about having the latest titanium-carbon-boron-aluminum bikes that we made many times more friends without all of the one-upmanship.

We eventually completed three consecutive MS150 rides on the cruisers and probably met more people than any other cyclists on the event. The funny part is that we both had lightweight Trek road bikes, and a Cannodale aluminum road tandem at home, but we had more fun on the cruisers.

Count me in on putting the “fun” back into cycling.

John

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Fritz

March 14, 2007

I think there are more and more people like John and his wife who are discovering cycling as a casual activity. I’m encouraged to see more ‘casual’ bikes and component groups designed for those kinds of bikes.

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blue squirrel

March 23, 2007

here is some more info and a cool looking design done w/ trek [of all people] at the following address:
http://www.core77.com/

[scroll down to]
Product Strategy Discussion
Friday, March 23

[hope this is new news and not old news for you]

Reply
James

March 26, 2007

Great comments. I am a big fan of these bikes (in case you can’t tell).

Blue Squirrel, I mentioned that Core post a couple of days ago. It is great that Trek is getting so much coverage of the Lime in the non cycling press. Even though I had already seen that one, I always appreciate tips. Keep them coming. Tips from readers are always welcome.

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Yannig

March 1, 2010

Here’s a blog post of mine about the Coasting program :
http://yannigroth.wordpress.com/2009/12/13/shimano-coasting-design-thinking-applied-to-the-cycling-industry/
I think it has a huuuuuge potential

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