likeAbike = Awesomely simple bike + walking training for kids
I just saw this
incredibly simple but brilliant gadget and had to
mention it here.
It's basically a bike with no pedals, low enough to the ground so that
kids can use their legs to push off and balance. It's not quite a
scooter, not quite training wheels. Like their site says, it's simply
"likeAbike."
I didn't really "get" it until I watched the video, and then I wanted to get one for all of the couples with teeny-tots we know.
From the site:
A LIKEaBIKE has no pedals. When first trying to ride, kids play with their LIKEaBIKE as they would with a hobbyhorse. They become familiar with the saddle first, carefully sitting on it. Soon they start to walk with it, then run. In no time the little rider becomes more confident and by pushing off, picks up speed. If the bike starts to tip, kids instinctively regain their balance with their feet.
My only gripe is the hefty $279 price tag, but I imagine with a larger production run they could bring that down quite a bit. Either that, or they'll be an Ikea version in a few years. (Seeing as likeAbike lays out the prior art right on their site, I imagine this is fairly hard to patent.)
Link lifted from a conversation with Adam, who helped design the site
