U-build it...

asprigoftrig ? said:

Hi, everyone...
Where can I find good plans to build my own recumbent? I understand
that one can build a recumbent from an existing conventional bike, but
the bike I saw, transformed in this way, appeared to be uncomfortable
for the rider, as he was in a near fetal position.
Also,can a recumbent be considered SAFER than a conventional bike?

Start here for ideas and links:
<http://www.ihpva.org/Builders/>,
<http://www.wisil.recumbents.com/wisil/whatsup.htm>.

For what its worth, some of us find the most comfortable recumbents to
be those with very reclined seats and the bottom bracket (BB) higher
than the seat, others prefer an upright seat back and low BB, and many
others prefer something in between. It may well require significant
time on each type of recumbent to determine what works best for an
individual.

There is too little data for a definitive answer on relative safety of
recumbents versus upright bicycles. On the downside, the lower seating
position on a recumbent MAY lead to lower visibility to others and can
lead to obstructed views for the rides. There is also some evidence
that recumbent riders may experience more falls than upright riders.

On the positive side, falling on a recumbent should usually be less
damaging than falling on an upright bicycle. Landing on one's face or
head is should also be much less likely when falling on a recumbent
than on an upright. A recumbent with proper weight distribution can
also achieve significantly higher deceleration rates that an upright
can before the rear wheel lifts off the ground.

Trikes have the same issues with low seating positions, but practically
eliminate the potential for falling when operated in a prudent manner.
--
Tom Sherman - Fox River Valley

Who needs plans? Just do an Internet search and take a look at all the
variations around, grab a few old bikes and start cutting. EMT is just
fine for the experimental stage. Save the 4130 for the second one.

My first recumbent was a LWB with under seat steering, looked like
something left over from a Mad Max movie...........and rode just great.
It took me about 2 weeks to really get comfortable and confidant with
it. Just like my trike, the one I built was the first I'd seen or
riden.

As for safety: I took 2 unplanned dismounts, both due to being forced
air-born after hitting large bumps with no rear suspension. I have
since learned how to suck the bike up with me to maintain control.
Neither incident was as bad as they would have been on my "normal"
bike. The low center of gravity and long wheelbase made it, at least
seem, more stable at speed and I never found the reduced turning radius
of the LWB to be a problem.

As for being seen - around here we just assume that the gas burners are
out to kill us all, but they do seem to take a greater notice of the
Recumbent riders (all 3 or 4 of us). So on a whole, IMHO, I consider
the recumbent to be safer.

Having built a few recumbents, my preference is for the LWB USS with
the crank above my hips. This seems to lessen the tendency to slide
out of the seat, as some seem to do on recumbents with low
cranks. All of my recumbents have used hard seats rather than the mesh
type and this may not be as much of a problem with that type of seat.
I like the solid seats but I seem to be in the minority on that
subject.
=====================
Just my opinion...............
Leon McAtee

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Trikes have the same issues with low seating positions, but practically

eliminate the potential for falling when operated in a prudent
manner.<<

True, but I'm having too much fun on my trike to operate in a prudent
maner :-)
=============
Leon McAtee
50 year old kid learning how to lean into the turns...........

try http://www.dutchbikes.nl

SW

"asprigoftrig" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi, everyone...
Where can I find good plans to build my own recumbent? I understand
that one can build a recumbent from an existing conventional bike, but
the bike I saw, transformed in this way, appeared to be uncomfortable
for the rider, as he was in a near fetal position.
Also,can a recumbent be considered SAFER than a conventional bike?

Hi

Just in the latter stages of my first homebuilt. I toyed for as couple of
years with various plans i found on the web. I didnt want to spend alot of
time on something that was unrideable so wanted a proven design.

I was pointed to the hss_one (via this ng i think) and decided that was the
one (it is similar to a challenge mistral). I have been at it since april
(but it really has been half an hour here and there) its great, got it
together a couple of weeeks ago fixed in one gear and just a front brake but
the car park trials were impressive. I am just rebuilding it now with
gears, cable stops etc for a few months test riding to decide on any mods
before paint.

I am going to create a website of my methods when i get round to it.

good luck

Gary
<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Who needs plans? Just do an Internet search and take a look at all the
variations around, grab a few old bikes and start cutting. EMT is just
fine for the experimental stage. Save the 4130 for the second one.

My first recumbent was a LWB with under seat steering, looked like
something left over from a Mad Max movie...........and rode just great.
It took me about 2 weeks to really get comfortable and confidant with
it. Just like my trike, the one I built was the first I'd seen or
riden.

As for safety: I took 2 unplanned dismounts, both due to being forced
air-born after hitting large bumps with no rear suspension. I have
since learned how to suck the bike up with me to maintain control.
Neither incident was as bad as they would have been on my "normal"
bike. The low center of gravity and long wheelbase made it, at least
seem, more stable at speed and I never found the reduced turning radius
of the LWB to be a problem.

As for being seen - around here we just assume that the gas burners are
out to kill us all, but they do seem to take a greater notice of the
Recumbent riders (all 3 or 4 of us). So on a whole, IMHO, I consider
the recumbent to be safer.

Having built a few recumbents, my preference is for the LWB USS with
the crank above my hips. This seems to lessen the tendency to slide
out of the seat, as some seem to do on recumbents with low
cranks. All of my recumbents have used hard seats rather than the mesh
type and this may not be as much of a problem with that type of seat.
I like the solid seats but I seem to be in the minority on that
subject.
=====================
Just my opinion...............
Leon McAtee

If you have the cajones to build it yourself, you have the cajones to
design it yourself. Look at lots of photos, decide on the type of
thing you like, start gathering parts and making measurements, make a
few drawings and go!

I designed and built a fully suspended, 20/20, CF, SWB bike over the
summer and have been riding it to school everyday. It's a blast! The
rear end has about 6" of travel- I can ride off curbs without thinking
twice about it, even with about 20 lbs of books loaded on the back.

I had never made anything using CF/epoxy before this bike. I never
designed a bike before, either.

In article <[email hidden]>, <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

If you have the cajones to build it yourself, you have the cajones to
design it yourself. Look at lots of photos, decide on the type of
thing you like, start gathering parts and making measurements, make a
few drawings and go!

I designed and built a fully suspended, 20/20, CF, SWB bike over the
summer and have been riding it to school everyday. It's a blast! The
rear end has about 6" of travel- I can ride off curbs without thinking
twice about it, even with about 20 lbs of books loaded on the back.

I had never made anything using CF/epoxy before this bike. I never
designed a bike before, either.

Pix?

-j

Quoted message said:

Pix?

You can see some here:
http://tinyurl.com/bnst3

I've been riding the bike daily for about 2 months and it just keeps
working. The only problems I have had is with a rear fender (not
mounted in the photos) that likes to pop loose and rattle when I go
over bumps. It has been fixed and everything is working great now.

In article <[email hidden]>, <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Pix?

You can see some here:
http://tinyurl.com/bnst3

I've been riding the bike daily for about 2 months and it just keeps
working. The only problems I have had is with a rear fender (not
mounted in the photos) that likes to pop loose and rattle when I go
over bumps. It has been fixed and everything is working great now.

Good going!
Looks like a sensible commuter design.
How much does it weigh?
Where did you get the seat and seat foam?

luck,
-j

Quoted message said:

Good going!
Looks like a sensible commuter design.
How much does it weigh?
Where did you get the seat and seat foam?

It weighs about 34 lbs. I attribute a few pounds of that to the extra
hardware involved in suspension and mid-drive with gear shifting.
There is still a pound or two of foam inside the frame that I may
remove over winter.

I ride it to school everyday (about 10 miles RT), carrying up to 20
lbs of books and haven't had any problems other than a couple bad
inner tubes blowing out.

I ride off curbs without thinking twice. I haven't tried riding up
one yet. I'm no fool!

The seat is a carbon fiber M5 seat that I purchased used for $150
including the foam pad. The pad is a dual layer thing- about 3/8"
closed cell foam against the seat and about 1" of open cell "filter"
foam that breathes. I got a deal on that stuff! I think the new
price is about $400 for the seat and pad.

Since I have full suspension, I may be able to reduce the padding on
the seat a bit. I am thinking of trying a foam camping mattress cut
to fit. It will probably be too sweaty, though. As it is, when the
bike gets rained on the seat pad fills up with water. I need to make
a cover or carry a garbage bag for when it is parked.