Mastering balancing is only half the challenge of learning to ride a bike. Knowing how and when to apply the brakes is the other half. And like a driver’s ed car that features an extra set of pedals for the front passenger, the MiniBrake gives parents a wireless remote control for the brake on their child’s bike.
The MiniBrake attaches to the back of the seat post on smaller bicycles — whether pedal or push bikes — and raises or lowers a simple friction brake that brings the back wheel to a gentle stop. And its wireless remote has a range of about 50m, so as long as a parent can see their child, they should be able to stop them.
A colour-changing LED indicates the MiniBrake’s battery life. And if it dies while a child is riding, it automatically locks the bike to prevent a situation where the bike couldn’t be stopped if the parent didn’t know the battery was dead.
At the moment the creators are attempting to raise $US75,000 on Indiegogo to put the MiniBrake into production, and a contribution of $US80 will secure you one of the units if and when it ever sees the light of day. At some point a parent teaching a child to ride a bike just has to let the kid go and ride free, but until the basics are mastered, the MiniBrake should help prevent the occasional discouraging accident. [Indiegogo via Gizmag]