So I am pursuing an MBA at UNCC and taking a design thinking and innovation class. Our project is to pick a target market and identify a need in order to create a product or service. My group has chosen cyclist in the Charlotte area. We are supposed to start with interviews and asking basic open ended questions. 

So, If you could take a couple minutes to answer some questions about the sport/pastime/lifestyle we all enjoy I would really appreciate it. Here are the questions I came up with, answer as many as you want, however you want!

1. What types of riding do you do? Commuting/transportation, MTB (Duh!), Road Biking? 

2. What are your favorite aspects of riding? If you were trying to get someone into the sport, what aspects of riding would you describe to convince them to give it a go?

3. What problems or annoyances do you run into while riding now? What did you have difficulty with when you were first getting into the sport?

4. How often on average, do you get to be on your bike in a week?

Thanks again for looking at this! I'm interested to here your responses!

1. What types of riding do you do? 

MTB, some rural road and greenway riding.

2. What are your favorite aspects of riding? If you were trying to get someone into the sport, what aspects of riding would you describe to convince them to give it a go? 

Exercise, nature, fun, mind games with squirrels..

3. What problems or annoyances do you run into while riding now? What did you have difficulty with when you were first getting into the sport?

None worth mentioning. No difficulties, but I was a lot younger then.

4. How often on average, do you get to be on your bike in a week? 

3-5 times a week depending on the weather.

1. What types of riding do you do? Commuting/transportation, MTB (Duh!), Road Biking? 
        MTB exclusively since moving to NC. Road is too dangerous here.

2. What are your favorite aspects of riding? If you were trying to get someone into the sport, what aspects of riding would you describe to convince them to give it a go?
        The ability to "get away" when riding. Have to clear my brain in order to keep upright. Seeing critters. The scenery and fresh air. The fitness factor. The room to push myself as far as I want and further than in the gym. The friends and acquaintances made. The places ridden from coast to coast and in Mexico. 

3. What problems or annoyances do you run into while riding now? What did you have difficulty with when you were first getting into the sport?
          No problems really. The only annoyance is some of the 'racer bois' who do not announce when they come from behind and do not speak when passing. The other is the downhill/slope rider not yielding to the climber.
        When I first started it was my fitness and skill. Fortunately there was a great group of mentors who encouraged and challenged me. I quickly moved through bikes with better wheel sets and forks, and finally frames.  Now as I age through my 60's my fitness and physical limitations again cause difficulty.

4. How often on average, do you get to be on your bike in a week?
      Once or twice a week in the spring, summer and fall. This late fall and winter season I spend more time on trail maintenance.   

5. (from my own list) : I get personal satisfaction from trail work and from working with and for cycling organizations such as IMBA/SORBA to keep places to ride available fro all. 

1. What types of riding do you do? Commuting/transportation, MTB (Duh!), Road Biking? 
    MTB only

2. What are your favorite aspects of riding? If you were trying to get someone into the sport, what aspects of riding would you describe to convince them to give it a go?
    Stress relief and the challenge of riding smoothly and cleanly over a variety of obstacles.  I don't ride to set fast times but rather for the enjoyment and exercise.

3. What problems or annoyances do you run into while riding now? What did you have difficulty with when you were first getting into the sport?  
    Overall fitness level was and is my biggest difficulty.  I'm over 50 so my body doesn't recover as quickly as it did when I was a young buck. 

4. How often on average, do you get to be on your bike in a week?  
     I ride 3-4 days per week

1. What types of riding do you do? Commuting/transportation, MTB (Duh!), Road Biking? MTB, Road, Greenway, Gravel

2. What are your favorite aspects of riding? If you were trying to get someone into the sport, what aspects of riding would you describe to convince them to give it a go? I like the colorful superhero kits you get to wear. Pedaling is easy on my knees, I like riding retro (at least that's what I say because I can't afford to get all of the lastest equivalent. If I was trying to get people into the sport. Talk about how cyclists enjoy good food and drink

3. What problems or annoyances do you run into while riding now? What did you have difficulty with when you were first getting into the sport? Since I don't ride the latest new stuff, folks tend to treat me as if I'm not a serious rider. When I started out and even now, I walk into a bike store, and salesmen seem to want to dumb me down in my choice of equipment

4. How often on average, do you get to be on your bike in a week?In this warmer winter I get about 3 days of trail riding. Even more on the road or Greenways

1. What types of riding do you do? Commuting/transportation, MTB (Duh!), Road Biking?
     60% mtn, 40% road/gravel. I commute to work a few times a month when the weather is nice.

2. What are your favorite aspects of riding? If you were trying to get someone into the sport, what aspects of riding would you describe to convince them to give it a go?
     #1 Enjoyment. Its just fun. cleaning a hard climb, bombing down a techy descent. Adrenaline rush when you're hitting jumps, etc. Its just fun.
     #2 Fitness. Its a great and fun way to stay in shape.
     #3 Being outside. You can go to the gym for fitness and do things inside for enjoyment but its great being outside in nature and getting fresh air and experiencing things that you normally wouldnt. Cycling takes you to really cool places. F*** Zwift! haha
     #4 People. There are some cool folks that ride bikes. You can take the sport as far as you want to go and there will be folks to help you along the whole way.      

3. What problems or annoyances do you run into while riding now? What did you have difficulty with when you were first getting into the sport?
     #1 It can be tough to get into the sport now. If you want a "decent" bike nowadays be ready to drop at least $2k. You can get in for $100 if you want, but the quality of the ride is proportional to the quality of your equipment. Stuffs just too expensive 
     #2 Super serious, judgmental riders. Some people take this sport waaay to seriously. I hate to see a rider being an A$$$$$e to another rider just because they may not be as fast (Get outta my way!!) or they dont have the nicest bike or gear (nice cargo jean shorts bro haha). If your lap time is all that justifies your self-worth then you have issues. Slow down and chill. And its never ok to make fun of someone because they dont have the "cool" thing or whatever. Ride your own ride and be kind to others.

4. How often on average, do you get to be on your bike in a week?
     Everyday. I ride a bike everyday even if its 200yds down the street for beer. I ride a trainer if the weather is bad and it sucks. Try to ride everyday even if its a few laps around the cul-de-sac at your house. Your mind, body, and soul will thank you.

Quote:


1.  Some transportation and road but 90% MTB.

2.  Freedom from the day to day grind. Beneficial to my mind and body.  Satisfies my need to explore.  Keeps me safe from cars (MTB).  I wouldn't try to convince them.  I'd tell them to try several times to form their own opinion and find their own passion for cycling if it exists for them.

3.  Poorly designed, laid out, constructed and maintained trail and OTFs (Optional Trail Feature). People skidding on, bypassing and short cutting corners/OTFs.  People dumbing down/modifying the trail to suit their own skill level (up or down).  It's the anal retentive in me.    Had difficulty clearing certain obstacles and riding more than 3 miles.

4.  2-3 times a week.


Just some feedback.  I would number each question separately or make a sub heading for subsequent related questions.  Like an outline.

FREEDOM!!!

Doc00t wrote on 04/10/17 at 3:50pm:


Peer pressure

Here goes ...

1. What types of riding do you do? Commuting/transportation, MTB (Duh!), Road Biking? 

MTB / BMX / Road (rarely, way too dangerous these days)

2. What are your favorite aspects of riding? If you were trying to get someone into the sport, what aspects of riding would you describe to convince them to give it a go?

When I started riding as a kid it was to hang out with friends and jump stuff. Really all about the adventure of the experience. Later it was the sense of freedom cycling offered. As a latch key kid if I wanted to get to the bmx track I had to ride to get there. My bike was my ticket to realize my dreams. As a young adult I got into MTB as it was a cool way to get out into the woods and enjoy nature. It was also cool seeing how the early designers were able to combine the technology of road bikes with the robustness of a BMX bike. Later in life I was fortunate enough to remarry and got a step son as a bonus. I wanted both of us to have an outdoor activity to stay fit and after a few tries with other mainstream sports introduced him to BMX. Over the following 5 years we traveled all over the US going to races and had an amazing time bonding through the experience. Cycling is probabally 80% of why we are so close now. It also gave me an outlet for my competitive urges and allowed me to race some pretty cool events throughout the US, Canada, and Europe. Now a days I pretty much ride MTBs for the opportunity to relax and get work out of my head. Being out on the trail just clears out the stress as you focus on the next 50 feet of trail rushing towards you. It's challenging physically, as well as mentally. 

3. What problems or annoyances do you run into while riding now? What did you have difficulty with when you were first getting into the sport?

Now a days it's mostly the difficulty in finding the time to Ride. I want to get out there and build up the cardio that will allow me to expand my riding for stuff like Pisga or out West but life keeps getting in the way. The start up question wouldn't be relevant for me since I've been at it so long but I can see that the expenses could be a barrier to entry as well as the complexity of today's bikes. While I absolutely love my bikes I can see how a novice could get intimidated by today's technology pretty easily. 

4. How often on average, do you get to be on your bike in a week?  

Generally once or twice a week on the trail and a couple of sessions on the trainer mid week.