Finding the Right Balance in a Recumbent Frame

Since new recumbent bicycles are beyond most people's budgets, (most
people's budgets for a standard bicycle being around $0 to $200), I'm
considering building a recumbent of my own. I suspect the first
attempt will be unsuitable, possibly the second attempt also. But a
prototype similar to a Bike-E is probably the best way to begin such a
project.
I would have to use muffler pipe, which would be round instead of
square, but in talking with a few other people, this has the advantage
of being do-able as muffler shops will sell you pipe and bend it the
way you want.
I'm thinking a piece of muffler pipe, approximately 60 inches long and
fashioned into a curve would be a good place to start.
Finding the right balance in a recumbent frame is probably going to be
difficult. I tend to like to assemble what ever pieces I have and then
begin to fashion something like that rather than making a drawing and
then trying to find pieces to match the drawing.
There were a couple of good web pages on do it yourself bicycles that
I saw a few months ago. I'll have to check my favourite bookmarks to
see if I have a link to them.

Erness Wild wrote:
Since new recumbent bicycles are beyond most people's budgets, (most
people's budgets for a standard bicycle being around $0 to $200), I'm
considering building a recumbent of my own. I suspect the first attempt
will be unsuitable, possibly the second attempt also. But a prototype
similar to a Bike-E is probably the best way to begin such a project.
I would have to use muffler pipe, which would be round instead of
square, but in talking with a few other people, this has the advantage
of being do-able as muffler shops will sell you pipe and bend it the way
you want.

Muffler pipe can be used to make a mono-tube bicycle. The O.D. and wall
thickness should be chosen based on your weight. Better to err on the
side of heavy and stiff, since a too flexible tube will lead to poor
handling (especially while pedaling hard) and fatigue failure.

I'm thinking a piece of muffler pipe, approximately 60 inches long and
fashioned into a curve would be a good place to start.
Finding the right balance in a recumbent frame is probably going to be
difficult. I tend to like to assemble what ever pieces I have and then
begin to fashion something like that rather than making a drawing and
then trying to find pieces to match the drawing.

The hardest part is usually the seat. If you can do fiberglass layup and
have access to a beach, you can form the sand to fit your back and bum
at the desired recline, cover with thin sheeting and plaster of Paris,
then use the resulting mold.

There were a couple of good web pages on do it yourself bicycles that I
saw a few months ago. I'll have to check my favourite bookmarks to see
if I have a link to them.


Start here for links: http://www.ihpva.org/building.htm.

--
Tom Sherman - 42.435731,-83.985007
LOCAL CACTUS EATS CYCLIST - datakoll

Thanks.

Tom Sherman wrote:
Erness Wild wrote:
Since new recumbent bicycles are beyond most people's budgets, (most
people's budgets for a standard bicycle being around $0 to $200), I'm
considering building a recumbent of my own. I suspect the first
attempt will be unsuitable, possibly the second attempt also. But a
prototype similar to a Bike-E is probably the best way to begin such a
project.
I would have to use muffler pipe, which would be round instead of
square, but in talking with a few other people, this has the advantage
of being do-able as muffler shops will sell you pipe and bend it the
way you want.

Muffler pipe can be used to make a mono-tube bicycle. The O.D. and wall
thickness should be chosen based on your weight. Better to err on the
side of heavy and stiff, since a too flexible tube will lead to poor
handling (especially while pedaling hard) and fatigue failure.

I'm thinking a piece of muffler pipe, approximately 60 inches long and
fashioned into a curve would be a good place to start.
Finding the right balance in a recumbent frame is probably going to be
difficult. I tend to like to assemble what ever pieces I have and then
begin to fashion something like that rather than making a drawing and
then trying to find pieces to match the drawing.

The hardest part is usually the seat. If you can do fiberglass layup and
have access to a beach, you can form the sand to fit your back and bum
at the desired recline, cover with thin sheeting and plaster of Paris,
then use the resulting mold.

There were a couple of good web pages on do it yourself bicycles that
I saw a few months ago. I'll have to check my favourite bookmarks to
see if I have a link to them.


Start here for links: http://www.ihpva.org/building.htm.