http://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/ Engadget Comments for LIKEaBIKE, but just not quite http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/http://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/
you should see young kids zooming around on these, look like they are having lots of fun, see little guy/girl in this picture below

http://www.kinetics-online.co.uk/html/like-a-bike.shtml

just confirming stereortype as compulsively orderly German

cheers]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/http://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/Dec 19th 2005 1:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/http://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/
With the like-a-bike the kid learns to balance as there is nothing for them to bang their legs on. To start with their feet are on the ground most of the time and later they zoom for ages without putting a foot down. Then you stick them on a real bike and they are off like a shot.

If you're trying to teach a kid to cycle, you'll find the best way is to emulate the like-a-bike. Take the pedals off and lower the saddle. Once the kid can coast along for a good distance without putting a foot down, stick the pedals back on and see the instant results.

The next step is to lower the wheel count yet again and get them on a unicycle. :-)
]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/http://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/Dec 19th 2005 1:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/http://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/Dec 19th 2005 1:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/http://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/
... because it works really better than one with training wheels and kids really like it.
In Germany this kind of bikes are just becoming mainstream.

My favourite model is this one :
http://www.raddiscount.de/images/shop/P02945_BILD1GROSS.jpg
;)


So this time good old Europe is a step ahead ;)

Regards,
Markus
]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/http://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/Dec 19th 2005 1:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/http://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/Dec 19th 2005 1:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/http://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/Stefan]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/http://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/Dec 19th 2005 1:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/http://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/http://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/Dec 19th 2005 1:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/http://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/
The bikes also look great, see http://www.helemill.com]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/http://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/Probably the best measure of success is that there are now lots of companies making Like-A-Bike-alikes ;-) A few have cranks that you can fit later to convert them to pedal power, which is ingenious...]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/http://www.engadget.com/2004/09/21/likeabike-but-just-not-quite/Training wheels are DUMB.
Why? Because you can't learn
to ride a bicycle with training
wheels. Why? Because when you
turn a bicycle to the RIGHT, you
must first turn the handlebars
to the LEFT. This does NOT happen with training wheels.

If you want to train a child on a
bicycle, then TAKE THE PEDALS COMPLETELY OFF. Put the seat
all the way down, and let them push on the ground and learn to balance and turn as they coast. When they can do that, then put the pedals back on:
VOILA! They ride with no spills.]]>Dec 19th 2005 1:03AM