Tests were conducted in an attempt to find out how the braking performance and manoeuvrability of small-wheeled bicycles compared with those of more conventional machines when ridden by children. Six bicycles having wheels of different diameter were used and about one hundred children aged between 8 and 11 years rode them. The results of the manoeuvrability tests showed that, although there was little difference in the ability of a given child to manoeuvre the different machines, there were considerable differences in this respect among the children. In the braking tests on a dry surface in which only the rear brake was applied, some differences were observed in the braking performance of the different machines but because there were considerable variations in the individual measurements, these differences were not found to be of practical significance. When the wheels and brakes on the machines were wetted, two of the machines had a much better braking performance than the other four; one of them had a hub brake (protected against the weather) and the other had the smallest diameter wheels. Some minor accidents occurred during these tests and these are described in the appendix, which also includes the results of a questionnaire issued to the children who took part. (Author/publisher)
Abstract