Alt Bike Culture - I'm building a recumbent--Any suggestions?

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Gallowglass5
10-14-05, 07:40 PM
I've got two salvaged wal-mart clunkers I'm trying to join together. I'm going to hacksaw the BB from one, leaving the downtube to mount it on the other bike. the thought I'm playing with is no welds -- if I leave the head tube on the down tube, I could put one head tube on top of the other.

My dilemmas:

1. How to connect the head tubes so they won't shift from side to side when pedaling.

2. How to make a longer steerer tube to reach the tope of two headsets.

I'm trying to stick with recycled parts due to budget constraints. Of course, I have an aquaintance with a junkyard if I ccan find time to get over there.

Any suggestions?

jeff-o
10-15-05, 01:05 PM
My suggestion:

Learn how to weld.

That is all.
meb
10-15-05, 02:28 PM
My suggestion:

Learn how to weld.

That is all.

There are several weld free approaches and plans available for building recumbents without welding.
Lugging works, some bolt together approaches work, carbon fiber doesn't even lend itself to welding. No-welding is not a show stopper.

Gallowglass5
10-16-05, 08:31 PM
No-welding is not a show stopper

I'm wanting to try my hand at mechanical approaches first. Then I can learn to weld. (Great uncle is a farmer with welding equipment, father is a welder on the railroad.)

I'm not to worried about looks yet.
steveknight
10-16-05, 09:03 PM
http://www.recycledrecumbent.com/ez1draw.htm
here you go
FlatTop
10-17-05, 10:19 AM
This one looks easy: http://www.motherearthnews.com/library/1999_Febuary_March/The__18_Recumbent_Bicycle
My favorite recumbent idea, the FWD two-wheeler. No six-foot-long chain to keep tensioned and snubbed.
Gallowglass5
10-17-05, 09:08 PM
Steve,
Thanks for the link. I'll use it in the future.

FlatTop,
Thanks. I found that one a couple of weeks ago. The part I don't like about it is that the front triangle moves back and forth when you steer. I'm not sure how well my legs will bend outward. Maybe a rear steering bike in the future??? I did print off Mother's trike plans at http://www.motherearthnews.com/Alternative_Energy/1983_May_June/Mother_s_Cut_Rate_Recumbent_Bike
kwhord
10-17-05, 10:06 PM
uh, grow a beard.... :)
The Wheelist
10-18-05, 01:40 AM
GG,

HAve you seen this site - I've spent hours reading through it and there are some helpful tips...

http://www.wisil.recumbents.com/wisil/whatsup.htm

Cheers. :)
Gallowglass5
10-18-05, 09:30 PM
GG,

HAve you seen this site - I've spent hours reading through it and there are some helpful tips...

http://www.wisil.recumbents.com/wisil/whatsup.htm

Cheers. :)

Excellent site! I've looked through alot of their info.