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 HELP!! Want to have an adult balance trike made
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n/a

1 Posts

Posted - 10/25/2009 :  02:56:58  Show Profile
I'm a 42 year old woman with a severe inner ear disorder and a knee that does NOT like pedaling but I can occasionally move it past the 90 degree range. I would like to continue to be able to walk, but often get vertigo (dizzy) and need to sit down before I fall down. Conventional "rollator" walkers require me to either spin around to sit, or for me to spin the walker around, neither of which is advisable for someone who gets really dizzy.

"Reverse walkers" are made for either little tiny kids, or for people in nursing homes who have limited mobility with 3inch casters (and cost $1600 for PVC), not someone who would like to walk to a bus stop (and take the trike on the bus) and actually have a walking life. I'm a little too heavy to be able to wheel myself up a 30 degree slope in a manual wheelchair using just my arms. The following web sites are what I'm trying to pick and choose the cheapest and easiest way to build an adult balance trike so that I can also sell or give out the plans for others that can't afford the steep prices medical supply places charge for the "reverse walkers".

I'd like to build a grown up "balance trike", but having never been able to ride a bike before, I'm clueless as to what is needed to buy as far as the back axle, bearings, hubs, wheels, etc, and what I need for a front wheel that is steered via a wooden fork and handlebar. I can deal with the wood parts, just not the metal ones.

Can someone give me a list of what I need to buy for a non pedalling wooden trike and a link to how to assemble a trike axle?

http://www.instructables.com/id/Wooden-Bike/

http://www.theportablebaby.com/wishbonebike.html

Rickshaw style seat -
http://www.kidsbikesntrikes.com/Angeles-SilverRider-Rickshaw-Tricycle?sc=11&category=-111

http://www.kidsbikesntrikes.com/balance-bikes?range=46%2C54%2C54

TravisGreen

1 Posts

Posted - 02/06/2010 :  07:35:35  Show Profile
I'm not exactly sure but I've just recently heard about these and they really don't look that safe to me. Especially for someone with a knee problem. What other alternatives are there? I also have a knee problem .



Edited by - Don S on 07/26/2014 11:08:53
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n/a

15 Posts

Posted - 02/07/2010 :  08:08:55  Show Profile
First what are the requirements for such a device?

Perhaps?

1: Easy to construct.
2: Inexpensive to build - parts and labor.
3: Light weight.
4: Portable & foldable - take on bus or taxi?
5: Stable - left and right; fore and aft.
6: Support up to 200 - 250 lbs.?
7: Attractive design - not embarrassing to be seen with in public.
8: Travel surfaces: concrete, gravel, sand, etc?
9: Storage - on porch, deck, in closet?
10: Low maintenance.
11: ?
12: ?



Harry \../

Edited by - n/a on 02/07/2010 08:11:34
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