Hi,

Say hello to my son Nicholas

He is autistic, and my best achievement by far, although I have to admit the my wife has done a lot of the hard work…

It took Nicholas a long time to be ready to ride any kind of pedal powered bike, as balancing whilst using fine motor skills and maintaining awareness of specific issue in the world at large is a bit of a challenge. I bought him a tricycle on fleabay, as stabilisers were too unstable. Balance bikes seemed impossible as they are just too small for him now, as he’s 8 and quite tall. No manufacturer makes specialist kit for special chaps like Nicholas, which I see as a great pity.

I posted on here a while back and Mike Rushton offered to build a balance bike frame.

We discussed plans and decided for rear brake only and to try and make it able to use 24″ and 26″ front wheels front and back.

The frame was jigged

And juggled

Welded

Changed due to brake mount issue

Painted by the very generous Fastline Coatings in Preston.
http://www.fastlinecoatings.co.uk/

Then Ride-On in Rawtenstall who reamed and faced the head tube did a deal on the (rocking horse sh*t) BMX cruiser forks and headset.
http://www.rideon.co.uk/

So now we have a bright red frame and fork, head set and Mike built it up using his own shed parts to test it

I am sure you agree that it looks BRILLIANT!

I have a set of bars and a stem at home, but I need to find the following:

2 front wheels 20″, at least one with a disc hub.
Same again in 24″.
Skewers
A balance bike saddle, or something that’ll work as well.
A long 27.2 seatpost.
Some tyres.

I’ll pay top dollar, and I hope to have this built up for Nicholas for Christmas, and I’ll happily keep you all updated upon the progress made.

Thank you Mike, Fastline and Ride On. Happy Friday everyone.

Sorry I can’t help with any parts but that looks absolutely fantastic!

Well done all those involved. He’s going to love it.

what he said ^

looks great. On One do some 400mm posts which should work. For skewers I just go down to my lbs and get deore ones for a fiver. They have a box full and there is always some new looking ones in there.

I’ve got this seatpost;

430mm Blackspire 27.2

email me your address and I’ll send it to you.

No parts to offer, but well done to all those involved.

Thanks wwaswas, YGM.

Don’t have any of the other stuff, but have a pair of slx skewers you can have, my email is in my profile if you want to send me your address and I’ll send them later today

That looks absolutely fantastic, can I have one please?

endurogangster YGM, thanks.

i’ve got a pair of qr skewers,
email in profile, send me your address and i’ll post them

Honestly, that is fantastic. Best wishes to you, your son, and all involved.

Drop me an email i’ve got 24in front disc wheel.
cheers
Paul
paul.sal AT btinternet.com

I have two pretty new knobbly 20″ tyres you are more than welcome to. I have a front wheel too, but it’s rim brake and bolt through axle, and I’m guessing you can do better.

Nwgiles, enduro gangster has beaten you to it, but thank you for your offer.

Speshpaul YGM

OUTSTANDING!

Martinhutch, the tyres would be most welcome. thank you.

I’ll keep your wheel offer in the back pocket, so to speak….

I’ve got two 24″ tyres, one 24″ rear wheel ( ss) and a spare set of cruiser forks.

whereabouts are you based?

Thebullheart AT gmail DOT com

Rear wheel is bolt, not skewer. Tyres are ace though; Halo and a bit similar to SmallBlock 8’s.

Bullheart, the frame us designed for using 2front wheels to keep it slim, but the 24″ tyres sound great.

I’ll mail you our address, I’m in Hampshire, near Winchester.

No parts to offer – but that looks like it’ll be great fun, congratulations to all involved

Does anyone have some advice in regards to the saddle. I don’t think a standard spoon would be quite right, due to the difference in support needed. Thoughts?

I cannot help unfortunately but sometimes STW is just absolutely AWESOME

Well done all who have contributes what a lovely and heart-warming story

Hope your son enjoys a balance bike as much as mine did

Can’t offer you any parts but that bike looks superb! Please can you post some pictures of your lad riding it.

This thread has restored my faith in STW being a decent place after some of the recent bouts of silliness.

Good work fellas!

Thanks Junkyard and Harry the Spider, I appreciate the sentiment. I will obviously keep everyone updated upon the progress and riding. Expect a Christmas holidays video….

Looks good mate 😀
You’re welcome to root through the garage for anything useful.
I’ve also got that bright green PDW saddle that’s fairly long and possibly an old SDG Bel-Air.

i am a small bike shop in leicestershire and can do you any parts you need at cost if that helps. email in profile. always happy to help another Nicholas. 🙂

superb looking bike by the way.

cheers
nick

Cheers Nick, I appreciate the offer. I’ll be in touch.

Thanks underthewood, I’ll not say no to rooting through a bike garage/aladin’s cave

I’ve got a brand new Orange stick-up seat post 27.2 in black
I’ll post it foc if you send me your address email in profile
Good job all
EDIT: I can find a pair of skewers as well if you can cut a rear down and re-thread it you’re welcome to them

Beaker2135, sorry I have a seatpost on its way from wwaswas, but thanks for offering.

I’ve got a chunky padded saddle that might do the trick, (oh, and a red anodised skewer if you fancy blinging the front….) email in profile

Scapegoat, you got mail

If your not sorted for skewers let me know… have a set going spare…

Si

Thanks SI, but I might have a few on their way….

Only currently missing wheels and a seat clamp, but I will keep an eye out…..

That looks fantastic.
Hi, I have a set of 20” wheels, choice of tyres and tubes which you can have.
I also have a set of 26” disc wheels (giant), with tyres (conti race king 2.2) and tubes, unfortunately I paid £80 so I’d need to ask for that. ( £60 plus postage) they are unused I think, (wheels not the tyres) I also have a 160 disc you can have.

Oh, and I seem to have saddles kicking around.

Jkomo, I can only use front wheels, and I’d host to split a pair as you’ll get more for them that way.

I’d be interested in the 20″ front if it’s qr?

I’m afraid the 20’s are bolted.
I have a shImano hub (front, disc, qr) if you want to get something built around it. It’s currently on a taco’d wheel.
Happy to post it gratis.

Hello folks / Andy

Wow – no wonder it took a while to do the forum update 🙂

We would also like to thank another STW forum dweller Richard Staines who spotted an earlier post and provided / shipped foc some Kona P2 forks (that I didn’t end up using).

My lads (9 and 11) have decided it is cool and keep taking it for “test” spins round the block – it rolls and handles really well on the 26″ wheels. So looks like it is a hit already! I’ve got a box so will take it into work on Monday ready for easy collection by a courier.

I think sorting the 20″ wheels will be key (but not a clue what it will look or handle like with smaller wheels). Sounds like you are already on the way to 24″ / 26″ wheels (26 only works with max 1.5″ tyres).

Dave at Schwalbe is very helpful and only an email away to ask about tyres…..

Saddle in the photo is a 3/4 size one borrowed from one of the kid’s bikes. I’m slightly worried about the proximity of fully dropped saddle to the 26″ tyre – the boys haven’t had any problems but I might just try and make something to block the gap / act as a back stop. Maybe just need to find a slightly wider saddle that is hard to slide off the back? 20″ wheel obviously leaves a much bigger gap.

Do you want me to send it with the seat clamp collar and the short black seatpost shown in the photos? That way you can swap it with the longer post as required?

Maybe Chipps and Mark will be along soon with access to the STW parts bin?…..

It does seem to be going rather well 😀

Speak soon

Andy

I’ve got a saddle from a Carrerra Subway. Big comfy thing. Might be of use.