Noel Joyce on his open-source adaptive mountain bike design

Noel Joyce, an assistant professor at NYU Shanghai, discussed his open-source adaptive quad mountain bike design. After a mountain biking accident left him a wheelchair user for 20 years, Joyce pursued industrial design. He designed a bike to address the limitations of existing adaptive bikes, which often break down and are cost-prohibitive. Joyce's bike is modular, made from machine parts, and open-source, aiming to make adaptive biking more accessible and affordable. He has built bikes globally and is exploring non-profit models to fund builds. Joyce emphasized the importance of inclusivity in design, benefiting both people with disabilities and the broader market.

Introduction and Background of Noel Joyce

Noel shares his background in industrial and product design, teaching design innovation at NYU, and his involvement in the bike project.

Noel's Journey and Initial Inspiration

Noel recounts his 20-year journey as a wheelchair user after a mountain bike accident, which ended his military career.
He studied industrial design at the Institute of Technology in Ireland and later got involved in startup design collaboratives.
Noel discusses the challenges of finding work as a designer with a disability and his experience with small startups.
He describes his work at a hardware startup accelerator in Shenzhen, China, and his work at NYU Shanghai.

Reconnecting with Cycling and Design Challenges

Noel shares his experience of reconnecting with cycling by using an adaptive hand cycle and exploring local trails.
He describes the limitations of his initial adaptive bike, which led to frequent breakdowns and the need for frequent repairs.
Noel decided to design a more robust and capable bike, reaching out to adaptive bike companies for collaboration but facing rejection.
He eventually found a company in Spain to build a carbon fiber adaptive mountain bike with assistive drive and hydraulic disc brakes.

Designing and Building the Adaptive Bike

Noel explains the challenges of using the carbon fiber bike, including frequent breakdowns and high costs of replacement parts.
He decided to design and build his own bike using machine parts that could be easily replaced and modified.
Noel made the design open-source to make it accessible and affordable for others with disabilities.
He emphasizes the importance of user experience and real-life testing in the design process.

Impact and Future Plans for the Adaptive Bike

Noel discusses the impact of the adaptive bike on people with disabilities, allowing them to experience freedom and independence.
He mentions the potential for the bike to be used in the Paralympics and the importance of designing for the entire spectrum of human conditions.
Noel highlights the potential for the bike to open new markets and opportunities for people with disabilities.
He shares his plans to build more bikes with various organizations and the potential for non-profit collaborations to fund bike builds.

Collaborations and Industry Support

Noel talks about the support he received from the cycling manufacturing community, including help from SRAM and Specialized.
He explains the importance of having a tangible product to show potential collaborators and the challenges of getting initial support.
Noel discusses the potential for manufacturers to gain insights into designing for disabilities and the benefits for the broader market.
He mentions the potential for the adaptive bike to influence the design of regular bikes and other products.

Open Source and Community Involvement

Noel emphasizes the importance of making the design open-source to allow more people with disabilities to learn and contribute.
He discusses the potential for the open-source community to design and build adaptive equipment cost-effectively.
Noel highlights the value of involving people with disabilities in the design process to create more inclusive and accessible products.
He encourages the audience to get involved in the project, sponsor bike builds, or participate in events.

Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Noel invites the audience to reach out and get involved in the project, whether through sponsorship, building bikes, or attending events.
He mentions upcoming events in the US, including an adaptive mountain bike ride in Idaho and a bike build in New York.

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/noel-joyce-34019622

https://www.instagram.com/noelrolls?igsh=MTJjNHRzc2F3djRiOA==

https://engineering.nyu.edu/research-innovation/student-research/vertically-integrated-projects/vip-teams/project-mjolnir-gy

https://projectmjolnir.com/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimvinoski/2025/03/21/an-ardent-irishmans-quest-for-a-more-inclusive-mountain-bike/