Customer Comments
Please email us with your LikeaBike stories, we've just received this glowing endorsement from one very happy customer!
I should say at the start that I am a passionate advocate of cycling so this does colour my views somewhat. The bicycle is, I believe, one of the most completely successful pieces of design; it is cheap, sustainable, brings delight to its user and effortlessly fulfils its purpose. Moreover, more than almost any other object, it has contributed to a social revolution across the world by allowing freedom of movement for people irrespective of their wealth thus broadening the gene pool (remember when one could only marry someone from the same parish?) and stimulating economies through the free movement of labour.
But enough of the polemic, what about the Likeabike? Well it is because of my passion for cycling and my advocacy for good design that we bought one. We have two young daughters (2 and 3) and wanted to encourage a shared love of cycling. For the last two years we have towed them around in a trailer either long-distance across Brittany or for a quick trips to the shops but felt that the eldest would benefit from experiencing greater independence.
We hunted around for a suitable bike and tried those belonging to friends but in the end nothing was suitable, they were usually just poorly designed and did not take account of the particular needs of a young child. In order to master cycling a child needs to learn balance, steering, pedalling, braking and awareness of speed; no mean feat and enough to put off most children. Added to that, small children do not have the strength to pedal or brake effectively; this creates an extended "no cycling" period when they are too big for a trailer but too small for a trailer-bike or their own bike. I need not add that most children's bikes look at best like the inside of Barbie's bathroom; this would not be a problem if the same attention had been paid to usability as it had to the paint scheme.
We then chanced upon the Likeabike; a friend over from Germany had brought one with them and their son proudly scooted effortlessly up and down the street outside our house. I was entranced, not only because it suddenly seemed to solve all our problems but also because it was an incredibly satisfying thing to look at. Here was a toy that I wouldn't mind sitting around at home, indeed, I had half a mind to bring it in to work to show off to colleagues. We resolved to buy one from Like-a-bike in Bath who were immensely helpful and it promptly arrived by courier the next day.
To say that it has been a success is a gross understatement. Any parent relishes seeing their child learn and I was amazed at the speed with which our eldest daughter just "got it". Day one, her birthday, she tentatively pushed the bike around the house, not sitting down but straddling the frame and bumping into things. Day two, in the park she got the idea of sitting down and pushing herself along at walking pace. Day three and she was taking extended steps and freewheeling down slopes. Now she is completely at home on it and the look of glee as she whistles around the park counts as one of the proudest moments that I have had as a father.
What I had not anticipated about the Likeabike is the way in which it fosters the child's independence in a safe and manageable way. They suddenly have something which they can master quickly (thus building confidence) and which places them on a par with their parents because they can keep up whilst out walking. It is as though our daughter leapt an entire developmental stage when she started riding. This is of course in addition to the physical skills that our children mastered almost without thinking and certainly without the bangs and scrapes usually associated with learning to ride. Because they are now able to balance, steer and brake with their feet I am confident that they will make the transition to a "proper" bike with great ease; however I am in no hurry to encourage it because the Likeabike works so well.
From the design perspective, it is hard to fault. It is simply lovely to have around and is truly a small-object-of-desire. Without I hope sounding too pompous, it is a wonderful example of user-focussed design. Its simplicity is its greatest strength since there is nothing extraneous to detract from its primary purpose unlike much of the feature-rich rubbish available in the shops; gears, brakes and bells may appeal to an adult buying a bicycle, but not to the child who actually rides it because they are unable to use them. Not only does it do what it sets out to do with great efficiency, it also delights user and observer alike; how many things can you think of which do that?
Yes, a Likeabike is expensive and will always be perceived as a luxury purchase but I cannot over-emphasise the value that our children have got out of it in only a short time. In terms of smiles per pound, this costs very little.
(Mr Scott, London. Nov '05)
