“Bike” extension for evolving FSC wooden balance bike

Once our child has mastered the management of speed, balance and trajectories with his balance bike, this extension will allow him to transform it and make it his first introduction to cycling.

Its positioning on the balance bike is adapted to the child's natural posture and physiology.

This extension offers both the traditional pedal function but also and above all a coaster braking system, which gives our children the possibility of fully managing their speed with their legs.

This intuitive device allows them to concentrate their coordination on the arms for steering and on the legs for speed management. Children under 6 often do not yet have the strength to fully activate the brakes or the ability to reach the brake levers, not to mention the coordination and strength needed to maintain direction while holding the handlebars only. with part of the hand.

In addition, the backpedaling system offers efficient braking in all weather conditions, greater longevity and lower maintenance requirements.

Features

• Light: One of the lightest on the market at 3.3 kg, or around 20% of the average weight of children old enough to use it (standard for adult bikes compared to 50% for most children's bikes/balance bikes) .
• Helps develop your child’s balance, proprioception, coordination of movements and independence.
• Adapted to the child’s physiological and natural posture.
• Support children in learning to ride a bike, at their own pace
• Extreme longevity: tested to go around the world on bumpy roads (40,075 km) - tires to change but frame still like new!
  
• Made from birch wood: a light, impact-resistant wood with a very fine grain and a fairly light color.

Labels LOOVE

• Sustainable management: Finnish birch wood FSC certified ensuring the traceability of the wood as well as the maintenance of biodiversity and respect for communities local.
• European manufacturing: In Latvia.

Technical sheet

• Colors: Natural birch wood.
• Matter :
  • Pedals: Finnish birch plywood and polyamide.
  • Rear wheel: alloy hub, wire tension spokes with alloy rim, inflatable rubber tire.
  • Belt: rubber.
• Treatment: EN71-3 certified varnish.
• Wood: From eco-managed forests, FSC Controlled Wood Certification.
• CE certified and EN 71 compliant: Product meeting European toy safety requirements.
• Rear wheel diameter: 14 inches (35.56 cm).
• Braking system: backpedaling.
• Q factor (external distance between the 2 crank arms): 15.8 cm.
• Saddle height: 42 - 51 cm depending on setting.
• Product weight: 4.9 kg assembled with the balance bike.
• Manufacturer's recommended age: 3 years+.
• Packaging: Cardboard boxes, plastic bag (small parts) and Kraft paper or plastic adhesive tape depending on the weight of the package.
• Manufacturing: Europe (EU), Latvia
• Warranty: 5 years

Interview

• Easy to clean with a damp cloth or soap and water. Wipe dry after cleaning.
• Storing the product in a dry place will ensure its longevity. Never leave it in the rain or snow after playing.

Assemblage

• Assembly manual: Included in the packaging, in French.
• Product to assemble yourself, easily (1 person).
• 30 minutes of assembly.

Security

• To maximize child safety, adult supervision is required when the product is used.
• The bike is not equipped with brakes, use it only on level ground.
• Check the tire pressure regularly and make sure it is at 1.4 bar.
• Regulations prohibit the use of toys on public roads, do not use on the road.
• Wearing a helmet and protection is recommended.

Manufacturing partner

Like many artisanal businesses, Atis relies on a team of experienced carpenters and a family tradition, as well as a love of wood that is passed down from generation to generation.

The attention to detail and the constant quest for innovation instilled by the ingenious work of Atis' father have led this team based in northern Latvia to obtain multiple awards and to today offer products that are both avant-garde careful, focused on the development of the child, respectful of the environment and sustainable, elements which constitute the specifications of each of the articles which leave their workshops - which can be transmitted to following generations.

What is the educational benefit of this product?

Letting the child learn at his own pace is one of the most fundamental concepts that active pedagogies have in common, alongside other major pillars such as free play, the development of autonomy or openness towards exterior and nature in particular. Each of these principles is represented in what this extension offers.

Where it will serve the development of motor skills, it is the discovery of the body through movement, so characteristic of the Pikler-Lóczy pedagogy, which will be engaged.
Learning to hold a heading, turn, gain speed through the alternating and repeated movement of the feet, as well as using them to learn to decelerate and stop, allows the child to learn to control his movements and the coordination of its movements.
The latter, in Montessori pedagogy, is a sensitive period that children go through between approximately 18 months and 4 years.

Children will be able to grow up discovering the world around them, nature, and spending a lot of time outdoors as recommended by the Reggio, Waldorf, Freinet, Mason (at least 6 hours a day outside for the latter, every day until they are 6 years old).
With this extension of the evolving balance bike, the child gropes, practices, makes mistakes, starts again, at his own pace, and follows the learning process described by Célestin Freinet, Maria Montesoriand others.

 

What is the interest from a neuroscience point of view?

• Participation in sensorimotor development (*Through balance, coordination of movements, speed and proprioception).
• Strengthening neural circuits through repetition of movements and experiences.

What is sensorimotor development?

Sensorimotor development is the process by which children develop their senses and learn to perform, control and coordinate their movements.

The senses include the best known ones: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, but also balance (thanks to the vestibular system) and proprioception (position of the body in space, given by the somatosensory system).

These different senses work in concert with each other and with the motor system.

In terms of motor development, we can distinguish two main categories of motor skills:

• gross motor skills, which refers to movements of the whole body or the large limbs and muscles of the body (legs, arms, trunk, head),
• fine motor skills, which refers to the movements of smaller muscles and limbs (fingers, hands, wrists, feet, ankles, toes, lips, tongue).

What age groups is it suitable for?

This extension can be used from the time your child begins to master their balance and speed with their balance bike (around 3-4 years) and until they are ready to move on to a bike intended for driving on the road (approximately 6 years).

What is the point of this product in summary?

• Discover the world around you.
• Develop motor skills, coordination, balance and proprioception.
• Learn to be independent.
• Strengthen his self-confidence.