Balance Bike

**clarence1** · 17th October 2011, 09:21 PM

I just finished a balance bike for my granddaughter. I think many balance bike's have forks that could trap young fingers. I designed this one myself with what I think are safe forks. It was my first try drawing plans with CAD software. That’s the good news.

The little girl liked the bike but she has eczema and sensitive skin. The bike hurt her legs. I tried narrowing the frame and the seat twice but the bike still hurt her legs. We could not work out exactly what part of the bike seat area hurt her. I will have to use the wheels for something else for her. Anyway, the steering system forks worked great and with a little light grease it should not creak. The steering is just three blocks with a tube running through them. It is bolted at the top and bottom and pivots through the middle block.

Mike John

**crowie** · 18th October 2011, 08:27 AM

Well done, Mike John.
It looks good enough to be shop bought, top job.
Many happy hours of play ahead.
Cheers, crowie

**mick59wests** · 18th October 2011, 06:19 PM

a beauty - nice to make something they can use

cheers

Mick

**clarence1** · 18th October 2011, 08:33 PM

Thanks for the great comments. Bit of an update. I took the bike to my nieces daughter who is four. She loved the bike and the seat and rode it well. She is still on a bike with training wheels. Looks like it's found a happy home with her. She rode it up the hall, ran into the back door, then turned around and ran into the front door, over and over.

Mike John

**Prime mover** · 19th October 2011, 08:43 AM

G'day Mike,
I had really bad eczema as a kid and not too bad through my teenage years but it might have been the wood or the paint that upset the girl not the bike itself. I would put a pair of pure cotton trousers on her and try again. If you can get it off the other kid that is.
Phil.

**clarence1** · 19th October 2011, 09:47 AM

The girls are cousins and seeing each other on the weekend. We will give it a try. We read it as the girl had made her mind up that it hurt and nothing would change her mind, but we will give that a try. Seeing her cousin on the bike might motivate her - A little competition. Might have to make another one now.

Mike John

**crowie** · 19th October 2011, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by clarence1

The girls are cousins and seeing each other on the weekend. We will give it a try. We read it as the girl had made her mind up that it hurt and nothing would change her mind, but we will give that a try. Seeing her cousin on the bike might motivate her - A little competition. Might have to make another one now.

Mike John

Yes but you might be up for a second bike!!

**clarence1** · 19th October 2011, 10:52 AM

Yep, most likely will be up for a second bike. Their cheap to build when you find the wheels. Dump shops at tips usually have some. It's a fairly quick build - about 10 hours plus waiting for the glue to dry. Did mine in a weekend plus painting during the week.

Mike John

**munruben** · 20th October 2011, 07:13 AM

Nice work on the bike, shame about hurting the little girls legs but seems like you have found a new happy owner. It looks great and very well made.

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