A couple of my bicycle builds

[savarin]

Very cool bikes I need one like that so I can lay down and peddle. I see you steer the trike with a brake is that right?

Paul

My first lay down long wheel base had over seat steering and took about 4 hours to learn to ride comfortably as the method of balancing is just that much harder being so close to the ground.
This one with underseat steering took about 3 mins because I already had served an apprenticeship on the previous bike.
Most people cannot ride this one straight away so be prepared for a bit of practice. Falling off though doesnt hurt, its not very far.
I used cables to steer this and they produce a very precise feel but took some experimenting to set up.
The handlebar pivots under the seat with the cables being attached to small pulleys there and at the front forks.
more info in next post.

 

[savarin]

Awesome builds Savarin!

thanks

I am sure you are aware of this website for building custom bikes:

http://www.atomiczombie.com/

Yes Thanks, Brads plans are excellent value for custom bike builders, well worth the money. I used to be pretty active there. It was seeing a picture of Brads Marauder LWB that piqued my interest.
Heres the full build blogs.
the long wheelbase
http://forum.atomiczombie.com/showthread.php/3363-What-now!?highlight=
The green trike
http://forum.atomiczombie.com/showthread.php/1881-starting-my-trike?highlight=
A very short wheelbase trike
http://forum.atomiczombie.com/showthread.php/5191-New-trike-of-indeterminate-origin?highlight=
and the cable steering gotchas
http://forum.atomiczombie.com/showt...mentation-of-cable-steering-part-1?highlight=

I bought one of his books, and have actually hacked up a few Wally World bikes, bending them up into electric bikes. The best part about starting with the cheap bikes is that the head tube and bottom bracket are already installed. Also the cheap steel is much easier to weld to without blowing holes in expensive thin cro moly.

Aluminum, at least the thin kind, requires you to heat treat it in order to have any strength like you would need on a bicycle, without it would require massively over building the frame. Atomic Zombie recommends just using conduit from your local hardware store for frame and fork tubing.

I use 40mm square erw for most of my builds, its easier, the green trike used exhaust tubing

I really like the low long hauler, I heard those can maintain a ridiculous avg speed! I have always been scared of riding at bumper height though...

The engine on my bike is old and totally clapped out but I can maintain about 25kph for as long as I like, not very fast but pretty effortless.
I have found that with something as low and strange as these the traffic gives you quite a wide berth, they wonder what the heck you are. That being said I dont like riding in heavy traffic so give that a miss.

 

[savarin]

Very cool bikes I need one like that so I can lay down and peddle. I see you steer the trike with a brake is that right?

Paul

Sorry Paul I'm a bit late with this reply.
No, the green trike has the handlebars pivoted under the seat and they cross over and connect with two steering rods to a pitman arm on each kingpin.
The length of these and the angles on the pitman arms are a ***** to set up to get correct ackerman steering.
I used http://www.eland.org.uk/steering.html his spreadsheets are the best way to check on this as sometimes only 1mm makes a huge difference in handling.

 

[burnrider]

Very nice

 

[alandarkdale]

The strange thing that I have found with recumbents is that you can't just lean to fix an off-balance situation. Your back is locked into the seat back support. You have to steer the bike back under you to catch a fall.

Turning around to look behind you does not work well either. Rear view mirrors are wonderful.

Dale

 

[savarin]

The strange thing that I have found with recumbents is that you can't just lean to fix an off-balance situation. Your back is locked into the seat back support. You have to steer the bike back under you to catch a fall.

Turning around to look behind you does not work well either. Rear view mirrors are wonderful.

Dale

Yeah, it takes a bit of practice to learn that but it doesnt take long.
I use a mirror on my helmet made from a cheap telescoping inspection mirror.
In Oz we are forced to wear those stupid flimsy bits of styrofoam on our heads

 

[alandarkdale]

I wear a helmet most of my miles. On the 1 Km trip to work I usually skip it but for anything else it tags along.

 

[savarin]

I wear a helmet most of my miles. On the 1 Km trip to work I usually skip it but for anything else it tags along.

At least you have the choice, we dont. All the research has shown that the difference in head injuries in cycling accidents has not changed from before the compulsion laws but the drop in cycling since the helmet laws has been huge. Therefore statistically there are more head injuries since the laws introduction.
(tongue somewhat firmly in cheek)
The helmet mirror is quite handy though on the bent.

 

[7HC]

The green trike looks like it would be very relaxing to ride. All of them are seriously impressive though.

Looking forward to pics of the 'tilt' model when it's built.

With a ride like the one you made for her, it seems pretty harsh she won't release funds for more toys.


M

 

[Alphawolf45]

Those bikes are beautiful..Wow...I aspire to something similar but I cant yet do purty welds on thin round pipe.....I have the welders but havent done enough thin metal..I'd have to make gussets at end of everything.