The old saying goes that once you learn to ride a bicyle, you never forget. But it’s the initial learning that scares a lot of young kids. The fear of falling even keeps some kids from ever learning to ride a bike, leading them to miss out on one of the simplest pleasures life can offer. The smart cookies at Gyrobike have come up with a simple – yet incredibly effective – way to help kids learn to ride without fear. The Gyrowheel is like training wheels, except that it helps kids quickly learn to ride on their own without the bad habits that training wheels can cause.

The Gyrowheel fits onto any standard kids’ bike and actually looks kind of cool. The gyroscopic disc inside spins independently of the outer wheel, providing a great deal of stability, even at low speeds. When kids are learning to ride, the Gyrowheel helps them balance, eliminating the fear of falling down. When pushed, a bike stays stable without a rider for 10-15 times longer with the Gyrowheel than without.

The Gyrowheel has three speeds of stabilization, allowing parents to turn down the movement as kids get used to riding. The Gyrowheel can then stay on the bike with the stabilization turned off. It looks cool enough that kids won’t be teased for using a “training wheel.” The 12″ Gyrowheel will be available in the U.S. by December 1, 2009, with the 16″ version coming by the following Spring. An adult version is in the works, as well.