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Bicycles

Gyrobike training system heads to Europe

By Paul Ridden
August 23, 2012
Gyrobike training system heads to Europe
The Gyrobike is a 3-in-1 training system that takes the user from the first experiments with balance, to gyroscope-assisted riding to unassisted solo biking - and its coming to Europe
The Gyrobike is a 3-in-1 training system that takes the user from the first experiments with balance, to gyroscope-assisted riding to unassisted solo biking - and its coming to Europe
View 7 Images
The Gyrobike is aimed at kids between 3 and 6 years old and comes in red, pink, green and blue
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The Gyrobike is aimed at kids between 3 and 6 years old and comes in red, pink, green and blue
The gyroscopic balance and stability aid is now about to enter the next stage in its evolution with the release of the 3-in-1 Gyrobike in Europe
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The gyroscopic balance and stability aid is now about to enter the next stage in its evolution with the release of the 3-in-1 Gyrobike in Europe
The Gyrobike is a 3-in-1 training system that takes the user from the first experiments with balance, to gyroscope-assisted riding to unassisted solo biking - and its coming to Europe
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The Gyrobike is a 3-in-1 training system that takes the user from the first experiments with balance, to gyroscope-assisted riding to unassisted solo biking - and its coming to Europe
When the learner is confident and skilled, the Gyrowheel can be swapped for a standard wheel and the Gyrobike turns into a normal bike
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When the learner is confident and skilled, the Gyrowheel can be swapped for a standard wheel and the Gyrobike turns into a normal bike
The Gyrowheel features a battery-powered spinning disk where the spokes of a wheel are usually found, and a process known as gyroscopic precession helps keep the bike and rider upright
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The Gyrowheel features a battery-powered spinning disk where the spokes of a wheel are usually found, and a process known as gyroscopic precession helps keep the bike and rider upright
Gyrobike Europe also sells both sizes of the Gyrowheel training wheel
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Gyrobike Europe also sells both sizes of the Gyrowheel training wheel
The Gyrobike offers a helping hand through three critical stages in the learning process
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The Gyrobike offers a helping hand through three critical stages in the learning process
View gallery - 7 images

Training wheels attached to back of a learner's bike frame may well keep the rider upright and in the seat for much of the long journey toward two-wheeled independence, but they can also lead to bad habits and poor form. While re-inventing the wheel often carries negative connotations, the arrival of the Gyrowheel in 2009 put a new positive spin on learning to ride. The gyroscopic balance and stability aid is now about to enter the next stage in its evolution with the release of the 3-in-1 Gyrobike in Europe.

Legend has it that the idea for the 3-in-1 Gyrobike came to Robert Bodill while watching a dad struggle to teach his daughter to ride a bike in a local park. His research led him to the Gyrowheel and onward to the training bike you see here. The Gyrobike offers a helping hand through three critical stages in the learning process.

The Gyrobike offers a helping hand through three critical stages in the learning process
The Gyrobike offers a helping hand through three critical stages in the learning process

The first step in the process is to scoot along on two wheels minus the pedals and chain in a similar fashion to BMW's Kidsbike. Once the learner feels comfortable and confident, it's time to crank it up a notch and get pedaling, having first made sure that the ever watchful parent has slotted a Gyrowheel in the front forks.

As the name suggests, the Gyrowheel features a battery-powered spinning disk where the spokes of a wheel are usually found. A process known as gyroscopic precession helps keep the bike and rider upright without the need for those nasty, noisy training wheels attached to the frame of the would-be bicycle riders of old. The degree of influence that the Gyrowheel has on the stability of the bike can be reduced three times before it's swapped out for the bike's standard wheel when the rider gains enough confidence and skill to go solo.

The Gyrobike is aimed at kids between 3 and 6 years old and comes in red, pink, green and blue. It's currently shown as being available in Europe from August 30 for £229 (US$362).

Take a look at the following video introduction of the 3-in-1 Gyrobike learning system:

Source: Gyrobike Europe

View gallery - 7 images

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BicyclesScooterLearningGyro
7 comments
Paul Ridden
Paul Ridden
While Paul is loath to reveal his age, he will admit to cutting his IT teeth on a TRS-80 (although he won't say which version). An obsessive fascination with computer technology blossomed from hobby into career before hopping over to France for 10 years, where he started work for New Atlas in 2009. Now back in his native Blighty, he serves as Managing Editor in Europe.

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7 comments
Pierre-André Aebischer
Any Girobike kit for learning to speak english in videos without that amazingly pronounced english accent :-) ?
Edgar Castelo
An Idea with Merit, that's irrefutable... But the same can be done, by teaching the Kids to stop looking at the front wheel, look straight ahead, and first hold the back of the kid's seat, while he is pedaling, then leave him to pedal alone.
Works every time...
IF you get off your "I'm too busy" high horse, and bother to CARE.
Rich Brumpton
Edgar, I don't see why you needed to denigrate folks that may indeed care a great deal about their children's development.
I personally learned to ride a bicycle at 5 years old, at which time I was pretty coordinated and learned the same way, I assume, you did. My father and I went through several "learning experiences" that required Bactine and Band-Aid's, but came with a great feeling of accomplishment. My sister came 10 years later and she saw us riding bikes from a very young age and wanted to join us at 3. but she was not ready for a 2-wheeler for a couple years.
So instead she was a terror on her tricycle and then a small bike with training wheels for a couple years until she was coordinated enough (and conscious of the consequences of her actions in a way a 3 year old cannot be) to take on 2-wheels by herself. This allowed her to join in family bicycle rides without riding the in the "Baby Seat" behind my mother, and when she decided that she was ready she came to me to take the training wheels off, it was this desire for independence that made her to ask for them to be removed.
Just because my sister didn't learn to ride the same way I did, and had technological help instead of just "a hand", does not mean that there was a lack of time to spend together, it simply means that she had different needs in learning to ride.
Now I have a small nephew who is going to be 3 in a bit over a year, but he is across the country so a gift that keeps giving like this might be a wonderful idea. My granddaughter is too old for this, or we would be getting one for our house too!
There is one big thing I will agree with, and that is the spending of time with them, which is most precious, especially when they are young. As you look at toys and activities, make sure you find the opportunities to use them to spend MORE time with your children, rather than less. Being present and interested in what they are doing is the biggest gift you can give many children.
The Hoff
Save your money and just take the pedals off the bike and let them sit and push the bike around for a couple of days to teach their brain how to balance. When they are ready put the pedals on and learning to pedal is easy. I did not invent this but I taught my 2 year old and all I did was watch. When they push they are going slow and the pedals are out of the way. On a bike you have to turn left to get the bike ton lean over to the right to make a right turn. That takes a little practice but their brain learns it fast.When I put the pedals on I did so on the short grass at the park. It slows them down and does not leave any scraps. Just remember to tell them how to brake!
Frank van Schie
Push bike. They get to keep their feet on the ground for stability, and will automatically lift their feet when they get enough speed. That's how they learn to balance. And the same balance skills will work once they get a real bike.
My three year old nephew goes like a rocket on his $35 push bike.
Robert Bodill
Hi All,
Great comments. Just wanted to mention that our 3-in-1 Gyrobike starts as a balance bike (we think this is a great kick-off point for learning). Simply add our pedal system and it turns into a fulling functioning kids pedal bicycle. Our Gyrowheel technology provides the third step for building skills & confidence whilst in the training mode. Finally, swap back to a normal front wheel when the rider is rocketing on their own.
Even better news.. WE'VE REDUCED OUR PRICE TO £179.00 (Inc. GST).
For all GIZMAG readers, use this discount code GBIKE3IN1 to get a further 20% off.
Regards, Gyrobike.co
Kat
Hello Everyone, We bought gyrobike for my son and he's been very happy with it. Until now he's been using it as a balance bike, and is ready for the next level - the pedals. However it's impossible to find the pedals anywhere online. They seem to be out of stock on amazon, e bay... and i don't know where else to look. Can anyone please recommend an online shop where i can order the pedals. Thanks