I’d also vote for Gil! – sticker legend (and singlespeeder iirc)
Not so sure about my name on it (small text please) but liking the brawbike idea. Andrew and coulda to have final say 🙂 There is a nice flat space for a head badge (slightly eliptical 2″ diameter)
Been slightly lazy tonight (weiss beer and tv after kids finally in bed). Frame is still sat behind the sofa – will finish off and test ride tomorrow – must remember to go beg a cardboard bike box from somewhere.
OK – short of pulling this apart and finding a cardboard box I’m done!
Wheels, saddle and post are just dummy ones – Ronan has some nicer stuff waiting for it to land in Edinburgh. Bars and adjustable stem are for initial setup (again – Ronan has some nicer things and the good folks in his LBS have sorted some grips).
Customer specified minimum saddle height of 73cm hit bang on.
Schwalbe tyres fast and surprising grippy (also make a good noise doing skids on sheet ice!)
Just had a scoot around on a very icy road. Ronan’s ideas / sizing seem to be spot on (I’m only 2″ taller than Andrew) – initial learner setup of rear brake only also works well (lots of fun on the ice but very safe). Cable brake is just a stopgap until Magura have time to sort us out.
We’ve decided on the “rushton BRAW” name. I’ve photoshopped the above image to give an idea of what it’ll look like once decaled. Are you ok with this?
And thanks again to Militant_biker(Rick) and Greuller(Giles) from here who helped getting the required Illustrator file setup and TheDts (Daniel?) who has offered to print the decals on Monday.
It was pure luck that I stumbled on Ronan’s original thread about the oversize balance bike (I’ve been with ST since the original gofar website days but I’m generally not a regular forum dweller). So it was a pure fluke I saw his original thread. And then it was a recent chance meeting of another fantastic kid with the same condition as Andrew that helped it catch my eye / made me realise and understand what these kids are capable of.
Then we’ve designed and built this purely on trust – I’ve never met or spoken to Ronan or Andrew!
So the “rushton BRAW” arrived in Edinburgh on schedule, got built up with only one niggle (my donor front wheel had a wobble so borrowed Mrs CSW’s).
It looks fab in the flesh, nice details (all the joins are smooth, hose clips at the correct angles etc) and a really great powder coating. The decals turned up on schedule too and finish it off nicely.
The Magura brakes are on their way but wont arrive til the New Year.
The steerer might get cut down – but I’ll see how Andrew gets on first. I’ll also need to fix (or get) a the rim brake compatible wheel with matching spokes. The current post is cut short (to stop it coming out the bottom) and I’m giving him a longer one for when he’s happy to raise the saddle more.
Andrew loves it. His mum is gobsmacked. He just had a quick scoot on it but we have to get him a helmet today and if the weather improves we should get out for a spin around the yard / lane.
So a big thanks to:
All the folk on the original “ideas” thread which possibly seemed a bit daft but the constructively ideas helped set this in motion (eg Mark of TBC’s trail bike idea).
Mick_r (and his wife and children: I’m sure they missed him of an evening/weekend)
Alasdair – forks
Brad (at TBC) : forks
Chipps from here : contacts
Mark at Schwalbe: tyres, tubes,….
Magura : brakes
Mark at http://www.superiorpowdercoatings.co.uk
martinxyz for the naming input
Militant_biker(Rick) and Greuller(Giles) for the logo Illustrator files.
TheDts (Dan) from http://www.avonmouthsigns.com for the decal printing.
Mick’s lbs – http://www.rideon.co.uk for reaming the headtube
Anne Marie and Andrew – who think I’m totally nuts (especially for riding an mtb in the dark) and put up with a slightly pushy uncle 😉
And – all those that offered us other bits and those that chipped in with comments of support etc.
Thank you all and happy Christmas!
And thanks from Andrew and Anne-Marie. I’ve got a proper hug from him to pass along!