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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. |
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#2
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Finding the Right Balance in a Recumbent Frame
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 |
#3
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Finding the Right Balance in a Recumbent Frame
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. |
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