There is one image on the streets of Copenhagen that is decades old. A parent walks behind a wobbly kid on a bike, holding a broomstick shoved between the back forks under the seat. The kid is learning to ride a bike. It's a wonderful sight and that broomstick idea is cheap, easy and effective.
There is, however, a new generation of bikes for kids learning to ride. Called 'løbecykler' in Danish, or 'running bikes', I guess we could call them scooter bikes.
They are quite cool and they are brilliant at teaching kids the basics of balance and motor skills involved with cycling. No pedals, just their little legs pushing them along and braking, although some makes have hand brakes.
There are literally dozens of makes on the market here in Europe but the ones that seem to be making the biggest skidmarks are the products from Likeabike. Clean design and lovely materials, the German Likeabike looks smart on the sidewalks and playgrounds and is sturdy enough for the wildest kids.
We love the wooden models like the 'Wing' pictured at the top but there are also groovy models for the rowdy rugrats among is, like the 'Jumper' pictured below.
You can slap the kids onto a scooter bike from a very young age and besides having a blast, they'll learn how to ride a bike without even knowing it.
Which is a big thumbs up from us.
Prices start - on the UK site - at £110.
Likeabike's UK site.
Likeabike's US site.
Likeabike's German site.
8 thinking out louds:
Greetings,
It will interest you to know that a LikeABike retailer in the US has co-sponsored an elite bike racing team called
Millwork One Racing
They are called
WeeBIKE.com and they are engaged in direct selling in their local area and they do a better job than most other retailers when it comes to picturing and describing the many models. Thanks.
Check this lovely video from Canadian bike company Norco: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1kN5j5xBVM So simple and great for the child's bike skills.
THis will really be natural to a child. This, I have noticed, is how most kids learn biking. They see a trike, don't really know how it operates, and simply go for a joyride running it while seated. At some point along the way, they'll learn what the pedal is for. Very cool and I like the materials used for design.
Your blog makes me want to move to Copenhagen. Here in Southern California we have the bike-friendliest weather in the world, but it's too dangerous to get on the streets. Shows the importance of local government in taking the lead with policies that make the street safer for bikes.
Likeabikes work great! I bought one when my son was less than 2 years old. This is obviously too young, but by the time he was 3, he loved it. This is the urban bike for kids. He would take it down to the neighbourhood sushi place and for shopping here in Toronto. It sure beats a stroller and much faster for us to get around too. We love it!
Let's see if this gives him a leg up on riding a "normal" bike next summer.
HIGHLY recommended
wonderful to read all the comments! thanks
Nice to see!
LikeABike is perfect for kids.
They ride it in a relaxed way.
Perhaps the historical pedal bicycle is not so efficient as we believe.
Think about our kids when they ride a pedal bike. Why do they enjoy the flat roads but they hate uphill slopes and they prefer walking on them?
Bicycle: relaxion or contraction?
www.lunalander.eu
No pain More gain!
Ciao
thanks for your comment, lunalander!
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