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Kokua - The Business Idea Behind LIKEaBIKE
Kokua Holzspielzeug GmbH is the name of the company in Roetgen, Germany that make LIKE-a-BIKEs. The company is run by Rolf and Beate Mertens who came up with the original concept of making a wooden bike without pedals for small children.
They realised that, what we have come to accept as, normal childrens bicycles, with pedals and stabilisers, STOP kids learning to ride. At age two very few children are able to pedal so quickly get disillusioned and often don't touch their bike. Later when they've learned to pedal on a three-wheel trike, they can't balance so need stabilisers which they rapidly come to depend on for their confidence.
LIKE-a-BIKE turns this completely upside down. Take away the pedals and stabilisers and within days the same two year old will have learned to balance, gaining confidence from having feet on the ground. Within no time they are whizzing along, free, mobile, active and above all happy.
Kokua is a Hawai'ian word meaning 'in harmony' - the Mertens could not have chosen a more appropriate name for their business, exactly reflecting the sight of a child on it's LIKE-a-BIKE.
If you'd like to visit the manufacturers website please click here
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LIKE a BIKE Racer - The Original Kids Wooden Bike
Having come up with the original concept, the Mertens went about making the dream come true leading to the first pre-production model for their own child.
Then it happened - something very special and unexpected - within no time they had a child completely in balance, whizzing along, fine-tuning important motor skills, developing confidence whilst blissfully having great fun.
Then it happened again - other people saw this child in perfect harmony with his little wooden bike and demanded one for thier own child. The Mertens set about producing their first production model - the LIKE a BIKE Racer and the business was born!. They now produce 10s of thousands of LIKE a BIKEs every year and sell them all over the world.
To see full details of the Racer click here.
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LIKEaBIKE Safety
LIKE a BIKE wooden bikes are designed with a keen eye to your child's safety, so you'll find they doesn't have sharp edges. The gap between the frame and the fork is filled with felt, so your child's fingers can't get pinched. The felt also prevents the front wheel from making sharp or jack-knife turns, a common cause for mishaps with young riders of normal bikes. The new Jumper has handlebars that turn slightly further than on the wooden bikes but still feature a turning restriction - something you won't find on a normal childrens bike.
It is really important when your child first gets their LIKEaBIKE that you 'shepherd' them until you are sure that they are in control especially on sloping ground. Kids will fall off their bikes but if you take note of the following guidelines the risk should be reduced.
¤ LIKEaBIKE should not be used on public roads.
¤ Do not allow use without parental/adult supervision.
¤ Keep all screws tightly fastened - check regularly.
¤ Take extra care on slopes - teach your child to 'walk' the bike down.
¤ Get your child to practice how to slow down and stop the bike by using his/her feet.
¤ A helmet plus knee and elbow guards will protect your child in the event of a fall. We have a very high quality helemet available - click here for more details.
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LIKEaBIKE - Not The First Bicycle With No Pedals!
It is generally accepted that Kokua were not the first to produce a wooden bicycle with no pedals. That honour goes to another German, Baron Von Drais de Sauerbrunn who introduced The Draisienne to the world in Paris 1817.
This is acknowledged to be the Worlds' first bicycle and became something of a craze in the first few years after its' introduction. They were known as the Hobby Horse in England but soon fell from favour when pedal-powered cycles became the norm some 40 years later and have taken nearly 200 years to make a comeback!
If you would like to visit a good site that shows a concise history of the evolution of the bicycle click here.
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LIKE a BIKE Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What Age Group?
A: LIKE a BIKE is suitable for children from 2-5 years old. Taller kids might be better off with the extended seat post. We have many stories, however, of childrens not wanting to let go of their lovely wooden bike well beyond their 6th birthday!
Q: How Do Children Benefit?
A: Kids feel a great sense of achievement when they learn to ride a LIKE a BIKE. Their balance, co-ordination and confidence all get a boost as an automatic by-product of being active and having lots of fun! Children with reduced motor skills often show improvement after using LIKE a BIKE.
Q: How Does A Child Get Started?
A: A LIKE a BIKE has no pedals. Kids become familiar with the saddle first, carefully sitting on it. Soon they start to walk with it, then run as balance develops. In no time the rider becomes more confident and by pushing off, picks up speed. If the bike starts to tip, kids instinctively use their feet to regain balance. A sense of achievement helps them to use the bike with confidence and become expert within just a few days, encouraging their feelings of freedom and independence.
Q: What's In It For Parents?
A: All of a sudden that tiresome walk in the park becomes a joy as your child not only keeps up but is often in the lead telling you to keep up! The trip to the shops, nursery or pre-school is no longer an extended drag (literally) - children love to go out on their little wooden bike.
Q: Where Are LIKE a BIKEs Made?
A: LIKE a BIKE wooden bikes are manufactured and assembled in Germany, the new Aluminium Jumper model is made in Taiwan. The Racer design was the original and is seen in large numbers throughout Germany and central Europe.
Q: What Materials Are Used To Build a LIKEaBIKE?
A: LIKE a BIKE is hand made from birch plywood, stainless steel, rubber and felt. The frame of the new Jumper model is made using aluminium.
Q: Can The Seat Height Be Adjusted?
A: With the wooden bikes there are four seat positions from 325 to 425mm (13 to 17") or five positions if you choose the extended seat post giving an extra 30mm (1.25") of height. The new Jumper comes with two seat posts which give a seat height range of 345 to 455mm.
Q: What Is The Warranty?
A: Every LIKE a BIKE comes with a 2 year warranty against defects in workmanship - supported very well by the manufacturer. If there is a problem, we will send out the replacement part from our stock.
Q: Is Any Assembly Necessary?
A: 2 Screws and an allen key are included with the wooden LIKE a BIKEs to attach the handlebars to the forks, and if needed, pump up the tyres and the bike will be ready to use in less than 5 minutes. The new Jumper model takes a little longer to add the handlebars, wheels and saddle - around 10 minutes with the tools provided.
Q: What Does It Weigh?
A: A LIKE a BIKE weighs around 3.5 kilos - it's the perfect size to tuck under your arm when your kid runs out of energy! Having no pedals and stabilsers they are remarkably slim and can easily be thrown in the boot. We've had 4 LIKE a BIKEs and a large Weimaraner in our boot at the same time!
Q: Does It Have Brakes?
A: No, a LIKE a BIKE does not have brakes - children use their feet to control their speed.
Q: Does It Have Pedals?
A: LIKE a BIKE does not have pedals - it is foot-propelled.
Q: Which One should you choose?
A: The differences between the models is largely cosmetic - in other words, choose the one you think looks best. The only exception to this is the Racer which has narrow solid rubber tyres that we think are best on smoother hard surfaces, not so good off-road.
Q: Will I be pestered by other Parents:
A: Yes, absolutely. As is likely to have happened to you, when you first see another child on their LIKE a BIKE you immediately 'get it' and want one for your kid. We've even had one customer who saw one whilst driving in Central London, turned around, returned and stopped a mum with three year old on LIKE a BIKE and later that day ordered two bikes!
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LIKEaBIKE - Award Winning Design, Built To Last
Children and parents alike adore LIKEaBIKE's simple, beautiful design. At only 3.5Kg it is very light and like other wooden toys, the LIKEaBIKE is very sturdy and well built, it will easily last long enough to be passed down to a younger sibling.
The LIKEaBIKE has been nominated for several design prizes and has won the “Spiel Gut” Prize, a German award for excellence in toy creation.
If you'd like to know more about the Spiel Gut award you can visit their website by clicking here.
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