Max Capps, John Peters, Cameron Williams

Current adjustable height seat-post activation levers have design flaws which become cumbersome to the modern day Mountain Biker

The goal was to make a handlebar-mounted lever for adjustable height seat-post that was easy to install and use, clean and did not take-up handlebar realestate. None of the current offerings are able to execute all of these.

•The current lever clutters the handlebars and is difficult to install and adjust

•Combining the brake handle mounting clamp and the lever mounting clamp saved handlebar space and increased ease of installation

The automatic seat-post acts very similar to an office chair: Sit on it and pull the lever, it lowers; Lift your weight off and pull the lever, it rises.

The L1 is designed to function just like the lever on an office chair, except instead of a direct connection, it pulls a cable to activate the valve.

Stock brake mount Preliminary L1 brake mount

Preliminary L1 brake mount Preliminary L1 brake mountand lever stem

Preliminary L1 Prototype utilizing components from stock lever and brake mount

Preliminary L1 brake mountand lever stem

Final L1 brake mount and seat post lever

The L1’s two part mounting design allows for custom optimization by the user

The L1 requires no extra hardware because it uses the cables and screws from the stock lever and brake mount

The GravityDropper currently holds patent # US7,025,522 B2. It covers the way the seat post moves up and down on the fly, but has little to say about the lever itself.

Therefore, the actuation lever is free for adjustments and design revisions as it holds no specific patents.

Current Compatible seat posts include: Maverick’s Speedball, Specialized’s Command Post, and KS’s i900

There are also rumors of two more suspension companies set to come out with adjustable seat posts of their own

The L1 will be packaged in small circular recycled aluminum cans and nested in shredded recycled paper.

Estimated Cost: $0.85 parcel Crinkle paper: $80.00 40lb. box Cans: $.073 ea.

Estimated production cost including manufacturing packaging and shipping:

$14.00 per unit Suggested Retail price: $45.00 per unit

Information based on current cost of manufacturing for Joplin remote kit (stock product)

http://www.crankbrothers.com/seatposts_rkits.php

Just over four-million mountain bikes where sold in 2008 world wide

Subtract ½ for purchases made at “big box stores” (Target, Toys r’ Us)

Subtract ½ again to see the world wide target market of serious enthusiast riders of around a million.

Conservatively a 10% market penetration of 100,000 units

This is an estimated $4,500,000 in sales, $3,100,000 in profit once costs are deducted

This segment of the biking industry is growing very rapidly