Custom Tricycle. For a 5 year old with Down Syndrome.

[katoranger]

My youngest has down syndrome. She is not very coordinated. Also really small.

I want to build her a tricycle that she can ride comfortably. Regular trikes are very tippy.

What I want is something like a big wheel, but is chain driven to the rear tires.

[Weldangrind]

Do you think that a conventional kids' bike with a rear axle and two rear wheels would not be workable? I'm visualizing an adult trike with kid bike proportions. It would speed up the fabrication a bit.

[katoranger]

Here is an option. Front drive, rear steer.

http://www.meijer.com/s/12-inch-mobo-mini-kids-luxury-3-wheel-cruiser-bike/_/R-186340

[katoranger]

Delta style. This is a bit more complicated.
http://www.kmxus.com/k3.html

It needs to freewheel and have a brake. The powered front wheel with rear steer could work. I think I would reverse a regular 12-16" bike. Mount the crank and wheel so that it pedals the right way.

16" front with 12" rear wheels. I would need to find a couple 12" donar bikes.

[katoranger]

Here is crude paint drawing. Top view. To keep it simple I think that a pivot point in the middle of the rear axle behind the seat.

I have alot of thin 1x1 square tubing. Should be able to make it pretty light. I also think that a large crank sprocket with short crank arms. Gear it low.

[cheesy]

The two front wheel trike may be a bit of pain to fabricate, but it is a better trike design. They are much more stable. My co-workers' youngest daughter has balance issues and she has done much better on the low slung delta than a conventional trike.

If you want to simplify the gearing, go with a 3 speed hub. No derailleur to mess with. And can be had with a coaster brake.

Just throwing it out there.

[katoranger]

I am thinking just a single speed for now. I was looking at my drawing and thinking that the delta trike would be better. This has to be simple. Only 3 feet tall and 32lbs.

[Weldangrind]

The two front wheel trike wouldn't be hard to fabricate, because the drive end is already sorted with a donor bike. I suspect that it would be an easier concept to get as a new rider, vs front drive / rear steer.

[katoranger]

The delta trike will require a long chain to the rear. My new garage door opener has an extra chain since I needed to buy the 8' adapter kit.

I think that I need two 12" bikes for this project.

[katoranger]

Elise and a newborn goat. About 2 days old.

[SpudRider]

Did you get a goat, or did you and Elise go to a petting zoo?

[FastDoc]

Looks like he's got the goat!

[katoranger]

Actually we were at the goat farm. We will find out tonight if the bottle goat made it through the night.