Giant soft toys turned into Ponycycles
Rumpus Room in New Plymouth has just invested in curious contraptions sure to put a smile on the faces of both children and adults.
On Monday July 25 they launch Ponycycles, a large ride-on soft toy animal you make move though a weight distribution motion between the pedal and seat.
‘‘It’s completely eco-friendly; no batteries, no engines, no charging,’’ Rumpus Room owner Helen Griffiths said.
‘‘It operates exclusively by physical effort so it’s really good at working on children’s balance, children’s co-ordination and it’s quite a physical activity so it gives them a good work out as well.
‘‘What happens is you put your feet on the pedals and you sit on the seat.
‘‘With your feet on the pedals you do a vertical motion, so you stand up and you sit down.
‘‘The pressure that you apply to the saddle allows the horse to move forwards.’’
Griffiths discovered the cycles on the internet in January.
The opportunity to incorporate Ponycycles into Rumpus Room came when a lady who ran a business with them in Hamilton wanted to sell up.
‘‘She said, ‘They’re just sat in my shed.’
‘‘I said, ‘Do you know what, I’ll give them a great home and there’ll be lots of people who will have lots of fun with them.’
‘‘It was a serendipity moment.’’ Griffiths now has 10 Ponycycles in the style of either a horse, camel or donkey. They cost her about $1000 each. Ponycycles come in three different sizes to suit everyone; small, medium and adult.
‘‘I had a feeling from the reaction that most of the adults have given us we might have to get a couple more,’’ she laughs.
They went for adult sizes too because Rumpus Room is about family fun.
‘‘It’s a lot more entertaining when the grown-ups can do it too.’’
Initially the plan is to take the cycles out at the weekends to public events like the Kids’ Market, and school galas, Griffiths said.
From Monday, August 25 the Ponycycles will be available in Rumpus Room after school and it will cost people $5 to ride one for 10 minutes.
‘‘To be honest 10 minutes is all you need because it’s quite a work out. You’ll have thighs like nobody’s business,’’ Griffiths said.