You can read the story, here.
I built this little balance bike for my daughter. It started as a project to practice my fillet brazing, but soon became something into which I poured a lot of effort. Yes, I'm aware of how silly this little bike is. But, unlike a plastic, seemingly-disposable name-brand strider bike, Mathilda will—hopefully—keep this object indefinitely. Someday she'll appreciate it for what it is; I tell myself that the time I spent making this thing for her was a down payment on a few future conversations. That sounds good to me, at least. If nothing else, she'll remember her first bike and the person who made it for her.
The Brooks saddle was quickly replaced post-photos, but certainly looks nice.
Portland's Sugar Wheel Works helped me build the little, custom wheelset around a pair of Chris King hubs.
Custom fillet-brazed stem/handlebar combo. "Super Grape" wet paint by Black Magic Paint.