This is Matt.
Matt is an avid cyclist. He usually participates in road races, which typically range from 30 to 60 miles in length. During of which he consumes an average of six Shot Bloks. Shot Bloks, or Clif Bloks, are energy chews consumed to provide calories in a quick, efficient way while training or racing. Consuming these during a race can cause a number of issues.
Problems
I went to my local Kona Bike Shop and talked to two road cyclists that participate in team competitions.
One key take away was to avoid placing anything on the handle bars; there is a risk that it could hinder user flow when the cyclists change hand positions. Cyclist tend to use shirt pockets, but reaching back could ruin their form and become unsafe in certain circumstances. They explained to me that they are so used to reaching for their energy chews from their top tube, so if they could continue that same motion, they "wouldn't even have to think about it".
This insight drove the design.
Insights
Goal
Make it easier, cleaner, and safer for cyclists to take energy chews during their race. The product needs to be as seamless as possible, avoiding multi-step processes.
Concept
Pez inspired energy chew dispenser
The first prototype focused on the intent of the design and how the inner shell would work for easier cleanability. The other two tested whether or not Shot Bloks could slide on plastic materials and if the shape of the case affected the way they were dispensed. The tube shaped container jammed up the blocks, while the square shape worked well. The blocks slide well against flat smooth surfaces.
There was a lot of trial and error in order to make a working prototype - the clips, slider, and size proportional to the spring. A finished prototype was then taken back to the Kona Bike Shop for user feedback. This feedback was then implemented towards the final design.
This energy chew dispenser can be strapped on to the top tube for easy access. When you take a chew from the open cavity, the next one would move forward in place of the first one. This easy one-step interaction builds your proprioception, or muscle memory, for seamless energy chew consumption, allowing you to focus on the main task at hand - racing.
Viewing window allows you to see how many energy chews are left at quick glance. Allowing you to be cautious of how many gummies you eat proportionally throughout a race.
The simple design allows for easy disassembly for washing and being able to replace worn out straps with new ones.
