Jyrobike - Auto Balance Bicycle - Thoughts
Just spotted a video on BBC News for a kid's bike with a gyroscopic front wheel to maintain stability while they learn to ride a bike, and I'm really torn with the concept.
Having gone through the anguish of having one son who seemed to take an age to learn how to ride a bike (but who is now unstoppable), I can see how this wouldprobably help to calm a parent's concerns - but is it creating a very false sense of security around the child's development?
My gut-feel is that, while the gyroscope arrangement helps give the child those first few metres of confidence (adding balance to the bike), does it then limit their natural learning process… and when the gyroscope ultimately gets switched off, do they then take several steps back in that learning process as they re-adapt their cycle skills to a 'normal' bike.
The really exciting area where I do think that this could work wonders is with children and people with compromised motor skills, where the jyrobike could be the perfect alternative to a trike.
Like I say, I'm torn on this idea, but I do hope that it gets off the ground… Their Kickstarter site is at - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/529668138/jyrobike-auto-balance-bic...