Partnership
“I'm one of those people who say putting training wheels on a bike is pointless”
Aurélien Fontenoy is a three-time MTB trials world silver medallist followed by over a million people on YouTube. He was against training wheels. Then he tried Baswil with his 4-year-old son.
The test on video
The Baswil segment: 2:28 – 4:25. The video covers five new bike products; playback starts right at the relevant part.
Video produced in partnership with Baswil. The test was carried out by Aurélien Fontenoy and the words are his own.
In his words
From training-wheel sceptic to convert
I'm one of those people who say putting training wheels on a bike is pointless. It doesn't really help the child, it builds bad habits.
Before the test
2:56It's not like ordinary training wheels, where you sometimes see children pedalling completely lopsided. Here the stabiliser keeps that bit of freedom for the child while keeping them safe.
What changed his mind
3:46After a few days it really unlocked pedalling for my son. We were able to take the wheels off and it worked well.
The result
4:14Quotes transcribed from the video and translated from French. Each timestamp links to the exact moment the words are spoken.
The tester
Who is Aurélien Fontenoy?
1.08M
YouTube subscribers
3×
MTB trials world silver
3×
junior world champion
A French MTB trials rider, Aurélien Fontenoy took world silver three times in the senior category, won three junior world titles and two junior European titles. He has also been seen riding his bike up the steps of the Eiffel Tower.
On YouTube since 2007, he shares gear tests, technical advice and challenges. He is also a father of two — which is how Baswil came in: his 6-year-old daughter could already ride, while his 4-year-old son had mastered the balance bike but was stuck on pedalling.
The product
Baswil in a nutshell
A stabiliser that lets the bike lean instead of holding it flat. The child keeps the balance feedback of a real bike, and the stabiliser only catches them if they lean too far.
Flexible, not rigid
The arm follows the bike through turns instead of holding it upright.
Bikes from 12 to 16 inches
Rear-axle mounting, adjustable height, one spanner.
Designed in Luxembourg
€52 a pair, mounting hardware included.