News Release
Revolutionary Bicycle Child Carrier Offers Safe, Shared Ride; Carpenter's invention wins prestigious Manning Innovation Award
Calgary, AB - The Centric-Safe Haven™ bicycle child carrier is a revolutionary design that enhances the safety and cycling enjoyment for both the adult rider and the young passenger. The inventor of this increasingly popular recreational product, professional carpenter Malcolm Jefferson of Ottawa, Ont., has won a prestigious $10,000 Manning Innovation Award.
Jefferson, 52, built his first prototype carrier out of wood 15 years ago in his carpenter's workshop. An avid cyclist, he wanted to enjoy bicycling with his then-toddler son, Devon. But after an upsetting experience with a rear-mounted carrier, young Devon firmly refused to be put back into it.
Jefferson's prototype carrier placed the child securely in front of the rider, between the handlebars and seat. It was an instant hit with everyone, from Devon to a delighted Mountie!
But it took Jefferson years of effort before he was able to mass-produce his patented invention. "The more someone would say, 'You can't do it,' the more I'd do it," Jefferson says. Jefferson has won the $10,000 Manning Innovation Award sponsored by The Edper Foundation. Since 1982, the Manning Awards program has recognized leading Canadian innovators with more than $2.9 million in prize money. This year's four winners will share a total of $145,000.
 Size & Age's
We occasionally get parents keen to buy a WeeRide, who look at the maximum weight guidelines (18 Kilos), look at their child and think the seat will be too small or they'll out-grow it too quickly - they're wrong!
Firstly, it's important to remember that for babies, the first year of life is a time when they grow very rapidly. On average, a 3.2kg baby will end its first year at around 10kg, more than triple its birth weight. Growth slows down in the second year with, on average, two to three kilos added each year until the next major growth 'spurt' at puberty
| | Read more... [Age & Weight Guidelines] |
 If you bought a WeeRide from us and find it doesn't fit your bicycle - return it to us at our cost for a full refund.
We also have a 30-day satisfaction guarantee - if you don't like the WeeRide for any reason, return it to us.
Finally the WeeRide comes with a two-year manufacturers warranty - if any part of the WeeRide breaks during the normal rigours of riding - please let us know and we'll get a spare part out to you.
Please contact us before you do any of the above. |
| Independent Safety Analysis |
 In 2004 M.E.T Ltd were commissioned to evaluate the centre-mounted WeeRide seat. Back then it was known as catchy "Centric Safe-Haven" - anyway they concluded,
"...the child passenger will be more fully and safely served when under the more direct supervision of the adult rider. The overall assesment was that the center mounted carrier system was a significant improvement in safety, ease of use and parent child satisfaction compared with common rear mounted carrier systems"
The authors of this report sit on the ASTM (American Society for Test and Materials ) Bicycle Subcommitte
Full article is here...
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Jefferson's innovation offers several advantages over the conventional rear-mounted child carrier. The child sits protected between the rider's arms and is visible at all times. The rider is not thrown off-balance by sudden movements behind his back. The carrier's design protects the child's arms and legs from reaching the wheels. Most important, the child's needs can be seen, heard and taken care of. Ottawa father Adrian Pierce, who bicycles with his young daughter and son, says his Centric-Safe Haven carrier makes the outings "a shared experience. The kids really enjoy it because they're up front and they can see what's going on. And I love it, because I can actually talk with them as we go along."
The Centric-Safe Haven carrier is an entirely made-in-Canada invention, involving eight different Canadian firms in its manufacture. This year, major retail chains and bicycle dealers in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. carried the product. "Customer response has been great, "says Stefan Bortolussi, Category Analyst for Bicycles at Canadian Tire. "In just one season, Centric-Safe Haven's carrier is the No. 2 best-seller in Canadian Tire stores across Canada, compared with all the traditional carriers."
Centric Safe-Haven is currently negotiating a licensing agreement with a major children's brand, to expand sales internationally in 2003.
The Ernest C. Manning Awards Foundation will announce all four of this year's award recipients, including the $100,000 Manning Principal Award, throughout September prior to the annual awards gala Oct. 4 in Ottawa.
http://www.manningawards.ca/awards/winners/mjefferson-news.shtml
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