If you have older children I am sure you remember them progressing from tricycles to bicycles with stabilizers and then those more energetic days when you were running alongside the little ones while they learned to ride a bicycle without stabilizers or training wheels. You were the guiding hand. Well all that is about to change.

Two Wheel Biking Made Easier

A San Francisco company Gyrobike has developed and patented the Gyrowheel which replaces a bicycle’s standard front wheel. The Gyrowheel uses gyroscopic technology to keep kids steady on their new bikes. This smart wheel can sense when the rider is starting to lose balance and then re-centres the bike beneath the rider preventing the chid from falling off.

Inside the Gyrowheel is a relatively heavy disc that spins independently of the Gyrowheel, the disc works as a gyroscope. When the spinning disc is turned off course it creates a force that tries to correct the error, the force is known as gyroscopic precession and this stabilizes the bike. The Gyrowheel provides stability at low speeds making it easier and safer to learn to ride on two wheels.

Unlike training wheels or stabilizers the Gyrowheel promotes correct riding techniques helping children change over to two-wheel riding. There are three stability settings that aid the transition from assisted to two wheel biking. As the riders confidence improves the amount of stability provided by the Gyrowheel is reduced.

Currently available is the 12 inch wheel, with a 16 inch Gyrowheel coming out in May 2010, which will be followed by adult wheels and complete kid’s bikes. A 12” Gyrowheel costs around $100.