Exciting New Changes to SideBuddy

 

 

There are exciting new changes happening with our SideBuddy product!

The launch of our Kickstarter campaign for the SideBuddy in July brought valuable new insight to our team. Although we didn’t succeed in reaching our Kickstarter goal the first time, we read your thoughts and comments about how we could make improvements. Your ideas allowed us to go back to the drawing board and re-design these potential problem areas so that the SideBuddy can make a comeback which will meet all of your expectations!

These upgrades include new:

  1. Handles
  2. Front Wheels
  3. Sliding System
  4. Lock & Handle for the door
  5. Back & Front Lights
  6. Seats

 

1. New Handle

 

Our original handle was foldable, placed near the top of the body and located at the rear of the SideBuddy so that it could be used as a stroller or grocery cart. However, we re-examined the functionality of the design and created a stronger handle. Now it will be longer and begin near the bottom of the body. It can extend upwards or back down again and can lengthen or shorten by pulling up rather than folding.This makes the handle stationary, more stable and can support heavier loads while walking. Another cool development is that the new handle will have a button for a brake lever system that connects to the back wheels to help with going downhill and to control the SideBuddy much easier when walking.

 

New handle produced by: 

 

 2. New Front Wheels

 

 

The main concern we noticed on Kickstarter and our Facebook page was that the front wheel will be bumpy. We took it to the drawing board and redesigned the front wheels to have a coil spring that would make it less bumpy with more cushion. We added a hinge so that it can collapse, essentially creating a soft suspension. Another addition is that where there used to be one wheel, there are now two. We feel that this will make the ride more smooth on bumpy roads after adding a cushioned suspension to the wheels and also by adding the second wheel to absorb the impact.

 

Front wheel produced by:

3. New Sliding System

 

One of the amazing things about SideBuddy that differentiates it from other cargo bikes is that it is collapsible. We decided to build on this already existing function by adding a new railing component/system which would allow it to slide open or closed with more ease. We will also add a locking system to the extended and collapsed function to ensure that it remains safely locked after being set to a position.

Sliding system rail produced by:

 

 

4. New Lock & Handle for the door 

 

Currently, we are working on new ways to enhance the safety features of the door. First, we want to add two new sliding rails for the door to rest on that will work similar to the extending and collapsing feature mentioned above; this will allow for smoother opening and closing of the door. When the trailer is extended, the rail also extends so that the door can adjust to this change.There will be the addition of a new locking system in the damper so that kids can’t open the door while riding inside the SideBuddy. Therefore, the lock will be on the outside of the door though it will be conveniently hidden and not visible to other people from the outside. A handle will be added to the inside and outside of the door as well.

Lock and Handle is produced by:

 

 

 

5. New Back & Front Lights

 


 

We have a new parter for back and front lights: 3ERP. The lights will work with a kinetic system – not with batteries. It will also give off reflections so that it can be visible to pedestrians and cars during the night. Reflectors will be incorporated into the mudgards as well.

Lights produced by:

6. New Seats

There will be an upgrade to the seats. They will be designed to look thinner and slimmer, and will have a material made of compact natural fibers that are more organic called Trifilon. They will also have seat belts made in bioplastic, which lessons their environmental impact.

Material produced by: