This Week In Like-A-Like-A-Bike News -- Daddy Types

June 5, 2008

This Week In Like-A-Like-A-Bike News

The Like-a-Bike knockoff scene is suddenly hopping for some reason. To wit:

A retailer recently commented on the original DT post about the Skuut--the one that busted them for knocking off the Like-A-Bike in China, and the one which called out the so-called toy industry experts at Dr. Toy for giving the Skuut a Best New Ride-on Toy Award of 2006, as if the original Like-A-Bike hadn't been around for almost three years, that post--saying that orders weren't being delivered, calls and emails weren't bein returned. It's not like a Skuut requires a lot of after care from the dealer, but if you're planning on getting one, just make sure your retailer actually has it in stock.

Maybe Skuut's just in China, picking up a new containerload of merch. I got a proposal this week asking if I'd like to go in on a 40' load of walk bikes from the Jolly Arts & Crafts Manufacturing Co. in Ningbo, China. Minimum order's 650, but if we order just 1,300 bikes, the price drops from $19.50 to $19.20 apiece. I'm going to pass, but if you can find 1,298 friends to go in with you, you can beat Skuut at their own two-thirds off game.

Or maybe Skuut just got scared off by Toot Scoot, a new walking bike competitor created by a BMX-riding dad in Wichita, Kansas. While a dad-invented, Made-in-USA walking bike would be a great marketing angle, I suspect that the $80 price tag points back to Ningbo. Either way, Naomi has promised to post a review at Superdumb Supervillain, so stay tuned. [tootscoot.com]

posted June 5, 2008 4:49 PM | add to del.icio.us | digg this

comments

To be fair, Greg, I think that Holz-Hoerz has been making their Pedobike since the early 90s, and so Like-a-Bike is not exactly original itself.

[thanks, the PedoBike-LikeABike rivalry has been discussed on DT before. I just forgot to link to it. PedoBike has all sorts of accessories like ski attachments which trump LAB, that's for sure. It's like the Bobux/Robeez/Everyone else deal. -ed.]

posted by: Adam at June 5, 2008 9:48 PM

OneStepAhead has been carrying a "wooden training bike" for a few months.

http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=534607&cmSource=Search

posted by: Mike at June 5, 2008 10:50 PM

http://www.stridersports.com/

and now another genius AMERICAN dad has invented a balance bike too!

posted by: Nelson at June 5, 2008 10:55 PM

Local Detroit parenting mag mentioned these folks:

http://www.runbikes.com/

Who knew?

(Looks like the OneStepAhead model I mentioned above is the same as the Smart Gear. Interesting: runbikes.com gives the same mailing address in Sylvan Lake, MI, as elitecarseats.com.)

[runbikes.com is part of tiptopturtle.com, which is apparently part of niche retail, who also operates ECS and joggingstroller.com. -ed.]

posted by: Mike at June 6, 2008 8:03 AM

Don't forget that Kettler has been making a foot-to-floor bike called the "Sprint" for a number of years.

http://www.kettlerusa.com/page82.html

posted by: Chris at June 9, 2008 6:03 AM