Hi - my 5-year-old daughter was born with a (slight) disability which left her fingers on both hands about 2/3rds of the length they would otherwise have been.
It's really not a big deal for her, and she can do the vast majority of things everyone else can no problem. But she can't reach a brake lever and grip the handlebars at the same time.
When she gets a little older, old enough to lose the stabilisers and ride solo, I've been wondering if we can get her a bike with an alternative braking system. Have you ever heard of such a think on a kids bike? A backpedal system, or a systems where you can turn the grips?
Any suggestions welcome - thanks
There are 'coaster brake' rear hubs out there. That sounds like what you are after.
in theory you could use a grip shift.
also back pedal wheels would be a good/safe bet.
When she's bigger will there not be the potential that her hands will be big enough to use conventional brake levers (maybe kids ones) with the span right in?
My Sons CNOC 16 had a coaster bike, worked well but Islabike have change to a standard rear brake now.
I've just sold our one, but you should be able to find secondhand ones about still.
Fixed ... though the temptation when you are a nipper is just to take you feet off the pedals when you come to ride down hills ... which is exactly what i used to do 🙂
Other than coaster brakes, as TT suggests, I'm sure you could bodge something from some old gripshifts, how much braking effort they'd produce is debatable.
The little levers islabikes fit are suitable for small hands, my 2 year old can use his with the reach adjust wound in. Would they be appropriate? How about rigging a thumb shifter cabled to a disc brake- should be possible?