HN Theater @HNTheaterMonth

Good luck - looks really cool.

A friend of mine left IB to found this: http://trotify.com/

⬐ ryguytilidie

Let me be the first to say: I don't get it, why is this a thing and why is there an entire company built around this product? Which apparently requires I screw a coconut to a self made device and then put it on the front of my bike.

Is this just satire of modern startups or are things actually this ridiculous?

⬐ rhplus

I don't understand the 8-week manufacturing time. It's a cute gag gift, but it comes with relatively steep £25/$40 price tag and won't be available for Christmas. That alone makes me think they've missed their one-shot to sell a significant number. Add to that the fact they've basically published the blueprints[1] it seems like the type of person who really wants one of these would maybe just make it themselves.

[1] http://trotify.com/img/flatpack.png

⬐ egypturnash

My guess for the 8-week manufacturing time is "this is our side project, we run these things off on the CNC machine when we have some spare time, and we like being paid American wages for doing it."

⬐ mcantelon

>Is this just satire of modern startups or are things actually this ridiculous?

How do you know there's a company based around this and this isn't some design company's side project? It's a fun idea and the global cycling community definitely has a lot of fun people in it.

⬐ tlrobinson

Because hipsters.

⬐ jlgreco

Because the economy no longer demands that everybody work in fields or factories, and no longer demands that everybody spend their money on essentials.

Basically, things like this are a glimpse into a post-scarcity society, where people make and buy things "just because".

⬐ skeletonjelly

> where people make and buy things "just because".

Because people will buy things "just because".

⬐ jlgreco

Well, true. I doubt most people making these sort of products/companies really place that much importance on "making it" though. If their company fails it is no longer really a big deal, so people can afford to go to market with little product research or other investment (the viability of small production batches helps a lot here). So, to a certain extent at least, I think the "just because" aspect of manufacturing is present.

⬐ ortuna

Have you ever been to Spencers Gifts?

⬐ Trotify

Or say thinkgeek? And this is great for kids!

⬐ Trotify

Toys is a huge industry!

⬐ xijhing

Also you should watch 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'. And then you'll get it

⬐ rhizome

Poe's Law.

⬐ citricsquid

Same reason there's a company that will make you a hand drawn picture of a cat: http://iwanttodrawacatforyou.com/

people love novelties!

⬐ ryguytilidie

Sure, but all that took was someone making a website and the ability to draw on paper. This site is much more involved and they actually CNC'd a real product, so I assume they're somewhat serious about this, which makes it all the more bizarre to me.

⬐ egypturnash

The video made me giggle a lot but whyyyyyy is there not any sound of the device working in it? I mean really. We should have been hearing it after the device was assembled.

Yes there's the little tiny video of a prototype way down on the bottom of the page. That's not enough. That main video needs to have the actual sound of the actual product in it; I want to see a close-up of it doing its thing while hearing sound that seems synchronized to the motion. I want to know that yes, this really does what it's advertised as doing, and claps the coconut halves together in a "horse trotting" pattern.

⬐ cllns

Wow. The video was cute but I wish it convinced me that the product would make a bike sounds like a horse. The music was mixed too high to hear it.

edit: There's another video on the page that does this, but it's tucked away at the bottom behind a button!

⬐ sirn

They "hide" the sound of it in "I want to hear it working!" link at the bottom:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRaFo8pRQSY

⬐ mparlane

Did you manage to find one audio clip that actually made the sound they are selling?

⬐ alainbryden

Agreed. The prototype video got me far more excited about the product than the meme filled promo. It should be featured more prominently.

⬐ Trotify

Great idea! We've defaulted that to be visible on the page. Thanks!

⬐ richcollins

Very ice cream gloveseque: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkuOuxRD1Bc

⬐ Trotify

Thanks for posting this! Glad you like it.

⬐ ianstallings

Is this real? If so, it's dumb and I'll take two.

⬐ alainbryden

Any chance of making the DXF file available for cheap to people with access to their own CNC machines?

Unfortunately, while I am both a geek and a horse-person, I'm not much of a biker. The target audience is small, but hopefully with only 1000 takers needed, you'll meet your goal.

⬐ Trotify

Welcome to the long tail :)

⬐ polarcuke

I saw the second video, which shows the sound and that is pretty cool. I don't really understand what the point of this is though. Why exactly would you want to sound like a horse while riding a bike, wouldn't that get very annoying? Also, the main video on the page is seemingly random and does not really display the purpose of the product or give any rational reason for buying one. Another thing that is strange to me is the fact that anyone would ever be inclined to attach one of these to their bike. It seems flimsy and bulky.

All of that said I do think it is a pretty funny, interesting product, and would maybe, maybe, consider buying one for something such as a beach cruiser, if I were to have a bike like that.

⬐ cromulent

A lean creative socially responsible startup like this deserves as much social media capital as they can muster. The coconut husk was ripe for productification and I'm glad they've done it.

⬐ luser001

Pretty cool. But the coconut should be included. IMHO. I can see how a whimsical/retro thing like this might appeal to some.

⬐ biot

Including the coconut for those who live in a temperate zone and don't have a large swallow population to rely on would definitely have been a nice touch.

⬐ Geezer1916

You've got a wondeful, funny product, and I hope you sell a million of them. I want to see my neighborhood filled with happy people making cloppy-clop sounds on their bicycles. If it gives the trolls apoplexy, so much the better. It's a win/win situation. Geezer.

⬐ krapp

This is a complete disruption of the equipercussive human transport space.

⬐ omegant

I don´t get why they don´t sell the coconut too. How am I expected to get a coconut?. The coconut should be included. Or at least post a link to swallow transport company.

⬐ Trotify

Is it very hard to get coconuts where you live? In these parts they sell them in all the supermarkets.

⬐ omegant

No it´s not really a problem ;), it´s just to add on the monthy python´s meme.

⬐ base

If it's for the sound make a gadget made of an mp3 player with speakers, where you can choose any sound. If it works out make a store where you can buy more crazy sounds.

⬐ None

None

⬐ mturmon

This tendency is why UK English had to invent the word "twee".

⬐ DamnYuppie

Only reason to forward this to people who ride bikes is to heap further scorn and ridicule upon them.

⬐ Samuel_Michon

If I see someone riding a bike with one of these things attached to it, I'll call the police. I find it unacceptable for people to make lots of noise for no good reason.

Try doing this at night in a residential neighborhood, you'll find out soon enough what people think of this 'invention'.

⬐ agentultra

I suppose loud cars, motorbikes, garbage trucks, and screaming children are okay?

I'm all for quiet spaces but it seems the world is rife with noise.

For a novelty product I think it is quite clever and hilarious.

⬐ Trotify

Compared to, say, a car, this is very quiet - and makes it much safer for cyclists because you can hear them coming!

⬐ Samuel_Michon

You mean people inside cars can even hear this noise?! That means it's even louder than I imagined.

People who use this device are going to get into trouble. If not cited for disturbing the peace, civilians might damage the device or the bike or even hurt the misguided soul who installed it on his bike.

⬐ Kiro

You seem like a horrible person with a skewed view of your fellow human beings.

⬐ tankbot

What. Are. You. Doing. Here?!?!

⬐ hnriot

Good lord Samuel! Are you for real.

⬐ JimmaDaRustla

I stuck hockey cards in my spokes. In Canada, that's rebellious and cool!

⬐ antihero

Bet you're the life of the party.

⬐ kaens

I think this thing is silly, for sure.

You're definitely correct about this being something that wouldn't fly well in residential neighborhoods. It also doesn't seem like people in residential neighborhoods are their target market. At all.

On the gripping hand, this is the type of thing that someone would attach to their bike for a few weeks or so, and then never put on again.

⬐ shawn-butler

I used to treat comments like these just as some of the other replies do (old, stick in the mud, etc). But then I realized unnecessary noise for what it is: pollution.

Cutesy ideas like this lose any appeal when you understand that you are destroying someone else's environment for the lofty goal of calling attention to yourself.

⬐ jlgreco

"destroying someone else's environment"

Oh for god's sake...

⬐ shawn-butler

I'm pretty sure God doesn't read HN. I guess maybe she might. I wouldn't rely on Him upvoting your comment however.

Also this isn't Reddit. So if you have like nothing to add to a conversation, exercise some restraint and don't post, for the benefit of everyone else.

Noise pollution is a real problem with documented health effects.[0] So either ignore it and contribute to the problem or make yourself aware of it and be a better person. I could care less, to be honest.

[0] http://www.epa.gov/air/noise.html

⬐ jlgreco

If a slightly noisier than usual bicycle of all things "destroys" your environment, then you have some seriously deep-seated issues. I mean, give me a fucking break, where could you possibly live that such a thing could be a notable offender? Otherwise you are just being an obnoxious drama-queen troll.

> I'm pretty sure God...

Are you really, genuinely, unfamiliar with the concept of an idiom? No, I doubt that; you aren't stupid, you are just a troll.

⬐ shawn-butler

Do yourself a favor, if you are honestly interested and not "trolling", then query your favorite scholarly search engine for the effects of noise on plant and animal life and find some information that will be helpful. I can almost guarantee you will find something to read; however I refuse to do it for you. Here is a balanced study that relates the necessary decibels to impact pollination/predation in a controlled study at a level of 12 db[0]. 12 db is significantly less than the energy produced from human conversation at a distance of 3 feet.

The word you are grasping for but missing is "aggregate".

Spare me the rest of your hyperbole. I can't speak for others but I have zero use for your "idioms" as evidence or exasperations as they add nothing to the conversation.

Finally, if you prefer analogies, please consider this one: "It's not like the CO2 the exhaust from my car emits can actually affect global warming since it is only slightly higher than my neighbors". Noise and light pollution are real and growing faster than the rate of human population, sorry to ruin your day.

[0] http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/279/1739/2727...

⬐ jlgreco

>I have zero use for your "idioms" as evidence or exasperations as they add nothing to the conversation.

And I have little use for your deliberate obtuseness. The display of exasperation and disbelieve is me calling you out for obvious general unpleasantness.

But no, you are right. Bicycle coconut clappers have undoubtedly destroyed your environment.

⬐ jlgreco

If you are actually like this in real life, and not merely a troll, then I am sure the police simply love you...

⬐ winsmart

I wouldn't worry about it. They'll stop using it once they get beat up (which is probably inevitable).

⬐ hnriot

I'm sure you must have written that in the satirical mood of the video, because otherwise you're totally nuts :) Can you imagine what the police would say if you called them to report a bicycle passing your house with this device???? They'd likely have you Section 5150'd for wasting their time.

⬐ brudgers

Starting with "Dear Sirs" would have been more on the spirit...

⬐ gokhan

Almost two mins of video without the sound of the product (where the product is the sound generated by the device)?

⬐ scottyallen

There's a video further down the page that shows a prototype working, with accompanied sound. When I saw that, it became clear why the sound of the product isn't in the top video:)

⬐ skeletonjelly

Clear? How so? The product's sole purpose is to make sound. Why would they not put the sound in the advertisement video?

⬐ hnriot

Pretty much everyone on the planet knows what two coconuts sound like being clapped together, so I assume they didn't feel the need to remind people.

The video is awesome, they aren't selling a clapping coconut thing, its the same as a BMW ad, they are selling a lifestyle. This is clearly aimed at the steampunk crowd who watch monty python and think that riding boots are suitable for all and every social occasion.

⬐ Trotify

THIS COMMENT MADE THE WHOLE TEAM PISS THEMSELVES.

WE ARE NOW A LIFESTYLE COMPANY.

THANK YOUUUUU

⬐ dsl

You might want to get that checked out.

⬐ brudgers

Can it make the sound of two bricks being banged together?

⬐ skeletonjelly

Apple marketing 101. Sell the lifestyle. Also I could tell you had a nice single speed bike, but I couldn't tell if it was fixed or not.

⬐ Trotify

Single speed, not fixed :)

⬐ ry0ohki

They have another video on the website https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRaFo8pRQSY&feature=play...

⬐ timdiggerm

I should think that the coconut halves slap together.

⬐ bigtones

I agree. What a waste of time - they're selling a product which has the sole purpose of making a specific noise, and they don't provide a sample of said noise in the video at all. Absolute epic fail.