A 21-YEAR-OLD student from Redcar has designed a new enclosed gearing system for pedal bikes.

Andrew Finkill developed the system as part of his BSc honours degree in product design technology at Northumbria University.

"The system was designed with downhill racing bikes in mind, but it can actually be fitted to any standard bike," he said. "It protects the gears from the elements and from any impact and means the gearing system is more durable and needs less maintenance."

He was inspired to develop the product while working part-time as a bike mechanic.

"Most of the problems I encounter working as a mechanic are associated with the gears," he said. "That's because today's bikes still use traditional gearing systems, which are really based on out-of-date designs.

"The other problem is that people just want to ride their bike and they sometimes don't understand how to look after the gearing systems. This design will be virtually maintenance-free."

Mr Finkill is travelling to Germany in September to spend time with gearbox design company Nicolai Bikes and hopes his prototype gearing will be snapped up by the industry for future development.

The gearing system is one of a number of practical solutions to everyday problems on show at Northumbria University.

An all-in-one cooking and preparation appliance, designed for small kitchens and healthy eating, was inspired by a four-month stay in Hong Kong when student Peter Burns, 23, from Newton Hall, Durham, ran out of room in his Hong Kong kitchen.

"This appliance allows you to cook a meal, using induction heating," he said.

"You can prepare your meat and vegetables on the integrated chopping board, then boil and steam your vegetables, while you grill your meat."

Also on display is a computer mouse which is held like a pen, a cardiovascular machine designed to help footballers overcome lower leg injuries and a one-man gritting machine.

The students are the first to graduate from the new four-year product design technology course, which brings together the expertise of design and engineering at Northumbria University.

The Product Design Technology exhibition is open to the public, 10am-4pm today, Monday and Tuesday.