Recumbent - Anyone made a 2X4 recumbent?

I've seen a few posts from people considering making recumbents out of 2X4s, like the one that James Robinson sells plans for. Has anyone here actually completed one and if so, what did you think of it?

I like the look of his design. I had an ez1 lite but didn't care for the LWB. It was also not recumbent enough for my liking. I only ask because I have several spare bikes to scavenge parts from and wood is cheap around here.

So how about it? Anyone made one? Did you like it? Wish you hadn't bothered?

Might be able to track down some feedback from the people on this website and related linked websites.

http://www.manytracks.com/recumbent.htm

The only reason I can think of to actually build one would be the novelty of it. With that in mind, a wooden conventional bike would be just as novel. (Other options: Make whatever parts possible out of concrete. Or use actual plumbing pipe, with threaded ells and all, to make the whole frame. Either option would be possible, and give you a very unique but heavy bike).

I've seen a few wooden trikes, and they were BEAUTIFUL. If you enjoy woodworking I'd think it'd be a perfect meld of two hobbies. It was a nice bikr to ride.

Sam Bennett makes a really nice series of wooden recubents. He laminates sheets of birch for the main board. These are called "buckboards" but it is really hard to find info on them:
http://www.recumbents.com/WISIL/whpsc2006/images/krause/IMG_1445.jpg
http://www.recumbents.com/WISIL/whpsc2006/images/krause/IMG_1444.jpg

What an interesting pair of photos.

The next step is get some prepreg carbon or West System epoxy and vacuum bag carbon fiber to the top and bottom. Then add some forward on the sides as needed to stiffen the boom when pedaling hard. You could even hollow out the inside as is sometimes done for a wooden sailboat mast and run cables internally.

I'm guessing he stays on the flats. Single ring in front isn't getting him up those mountains in the distance. nice looking design though.

Sam Bennett makes a really nice series of wooden recubents. He laminates sheets of birch for the main board. These are called "buckboards" but it is really hard to find info on them:
http://www.recumbents.com/WISIL/whpsc2006/images/krause/IMG_1445.jpg

That is sharp! Laminated sheets of birch, huh? It never crossed my mind to go that route. Now I've got a whole new direction to go with this. I can think of several different bikes I could make with that method!

you can also make recumbents out of plywood
http://www.blids.nl/gallery/Plywood-Recumbent-Building-workshop-2003
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/8080/plywoodfs5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

141526i made the james robison 2x4 bike it rides fine

I built the Robinson 2x4 LWB. I have put 4,317 miles on it the past couple years. I like it. It is my first recumbent bike, so I cannot compare it to another recumbent bike. Mine weighs 35# empty. I still needed a welder and a machine shop (just for a couple small jobs) to make it work. I have two suggestions for anybody planning to build this bike. (1) Pick a clear section of 2x4 (knot free) for the main frame beam. You needn't be so particular with the other wooden parts. (2) If you live in a flat place like Florida, you can use any old bike gears you have on hand. If, on the other hand, you live in a hilly area, or one with mountains, use the same Shimano gears and deraillers that an expensive well-made bike like the Longbikes Slipstream has. You won't be sorry.

I'm guessing he stays on the flats. Single ring in front isn't getting him up those mountains in the distance. nice looking design though.

If I had to guess, it appears he's running around 48 on the front and a wide range in the back... maybe 34-11. That gives him a GI range of 28 to 88. That gives him the same range as the typical MTB. That's plenty low for most climbing on most roads, including mountains and enough speed that he doesn't spin out except on the steepest descents.

:)ensen.