A Bike For Leah

Learning to ride a cool, big-kid bike is always one of the dreams of younger boys and girls. Encouraging the transition to a more sophisticated bike is more of a challenge when a rider doesn't have the ability to operate a standard handlebar brake system. But as obstacles in the path of progress go, an 11-year-old’s physical impairment wasn't about to stop two Ohio State graduate students from engineering a solution that would give a young girl the wheels she desired, or rather the gears, brakes, and grip shifts that she required. 

Leah Xiao-Chan O'Keefe is the young rider who was born with fingers that don't extend past the first knuckle. This impairment made controlling a bike difficult and stopping it (reaching the brake levers) nearly impossible. Kyle Russ, a master’s degree student in mechanical engineering, and Paul Scudieri, a doctoral student in industrial systems engineering, are the graduate students who designed the braking system that allowed Leah to better control her bike. Dr. Blaine Lilly is the faculty advisor for both Russ and Scudieri.

Thrilled to see his daughter ride more safely, Leah's father Robert O'Keefe commented, "After spending a year looking for a bike that Leah might be able to use, we were so lucky to come upon Kyle and Paul. I really, really appreciate all that they have done for Leah." PhD candidate Scudieri responded, "When Kyle and I finally got to see Leah riding the bike we couldn't have been happier; not because the project was a success, but because Leah looked so very happy to finally be riding after months of planning, tests, and just generally putting up with Kyle and me."

Kyle Russ added, "As someone who has a true passion for cycling, it's second nature to want to help someone else share that passion.  I feel like this emotion is felt throughout the cycling community, as the companies we contacted were more than helpful to donate time and resources to get Leah one step closer to riding a bike."