TREK MOD BIGWHEEL 2007: The MOD project was a great opportunity to do something you would want to do as a 6 year old boy: design your own big wheel. We are not talking about a $29 big wheel at the big box store - we're talking about an aluminum-framed-power-drifting-awesome machine!
Sketch concepts - I did a few quick sizing studies based on current products. The product manager wanted to add a special feature: make it adult-rideable. So the geometry needed to be able to stretch a bit...
We got the first proto back from our vendor (there was still snow on the ground) and did an indoor test with various aged children. We found a few surprises like the brake levers - too far of reach for such little hands! We modified them accordingly. The painted wheels didn't work as planned on polished concrete either...
Unintended user scenario: Travis Pastrana. The man took a MOD and back flipped it (among other stunts) It is rather amazing he did not break his neck, and amazing the MOD held up to the test!
