New type of bicycle makes learning to ride easier, faster

A team of engineers has come up with a new, faster way to teach kids how to ride a bike that allows them to get moving in just a few minutes.

The Jyrobike is a $250 contraption that gets its magic from a gyroscope, hence the name Jyrobike.

Even when the bike is standing still, the flywheel inside the bicycle spins at 1,600 rpm. The force keeps the bike standing up on its own.

"The gyroscopic force feels like a gentle hand correcting the steering, and that gives the child confidence that they're not going to tumble," said Jyrobike engineer Dana Hoffer.

Hoffer says that confidence translates to quicker learning.

"With the Jyrobike, it's fantastic to see children pick up cycling within a half a day," he said.

It's a far cry from how children usually learn how to ride bikes, which involves a scary time when training wheels are completely removed.

Unlike ordinary bicycles, buttons on the Jyrobike allow the 'training wheels' to come off a little at a time. The rider can go from full balancing force down to a middle setting.

As the child gets better with balance, it can be reduced to low, and then the balance can be completely shut off so the child can ride on their own.

Of course, even after the child learns to ride, they may not want to give the bike up.

Nine-year-old Larsen Jordon is excited to get moving.

"I'm gonna see if I can get one in January, right when it comes out," said Jordon.