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Tiny Cruiser Trike version 1
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This was made for my oldest grandson in 2002 when he was about 3 years old. The gear ration is about 1-1.5 or close to it. It wasn’t very fast but could be ridden through sand,etc…. He rode it for about a year and a half and wore the front wheel bearings and tires completely out as you can see from the pictures. It was never fixed because he outgrew it. It’s just been sitting by his home for the last couple of years and has starting rusting up a bit. It has been given away to a neighbor that plans to rebuild it. |
 front view |
 rear view |
 top view |
 side view |
 steering view |
 rear wheel |
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This was made for my grand-daughters 3rd birthday in Sept. 2004. She has been trying to ride mine and asking me for one for about a year – I gave in and made her one now that she is finally big enough to actually pedal it. She can pedal it too – no problem. The trike is 24 inches wide and about 30 inches long in the wheelbase. It is set up for her 22 inch pedal length and is adjustable to add up to 4 more inches to length if needed and the back can be adjusted for angle also. I figure she will want a bigger bike in a year or two anyway and a new little brother just arrived yesterday (Sept 26) that will be wanting to ride this one by then. Also children can grow alot between the ages of 3 and 5. The frame is made from recycled tubing cut from two 26 inch road frames and the front forks are from two 24 inch beach cruiser frames that I cut down and rewelded the wheel mounts. It was the only way I could get two forks that would match short of buyng two of the small bikes and I’m working with a tight budget. (I have a collection of used bike parts that have saved from discarded bikes I pick up around the neighborhood on trash days. I cut up the frames and save all usable parts and tubing including the rear triangle and forks of some of them.) The front and rear rims are standard parts from large-mart 12 inch kiddy bikes. I had to buy one of these just to get new pedals and handgrips. Evidently no one sells any replacement parts (except tires and tubes) for that size bike around here. At least I couldn’t find any. The seat is currently fabricated from 3/4 emt,and bits of old handlebars. It is covered with heavy nylon strapping that was sewed and then rivited together to add just a little tough look- you have to know this little girl OK? – Anyway she likes it! The purple paint job was entirely her idea. I was going to use yellow and black and design a bumblebee color motive in the seat but she vetoed that idea right from the start and stated VERY clearly she wanted purple! Like I said this is a 3 year old – acts oh about 9. The steering is mounted directly to the top of the forks as there was not enough room to do any other type of steering. Braking is supplied by the original coaster brake on the rear wheel. This trike will support my 200 lbs without any problem so I hope it will be tough enough for a small child. (I don’t count on it though – this child likes to play with my tools far too much when she is with me and she does know what to do with a wrench!) |
