Recumbent - University Project Recumbent for a one handed user

Hi

I am studying for a degree in design engineering and my final year project is to design a human powered recumbent vehicle suitable for use by a one handed user. Obviously it most likely going to be a trik for stability reasons.

I realise the majority of people here will have two hands, but the plan is for the vehicle to be suitable for able bodied users too. If you could take the time to answer some or all of these question i would be most greatful:


1. What routes do you like to cycle on? Around town, cycle paths etc.?
2. Do you carry luggage? How much/what kind?
3. Do you travel to places to ride? How would you transport the vehicle? Bike rack, boot?
4. Are you familiar with the operation of conventional bicycles and is it important to you that this vehicle is similar in operation to them?
5. Are there any cycle or parts brands or manufacturers you dislike? Why?
6. Is some form of suspension important to you?
7. Has any harm ever come to you whilst riding?
8. Are there any situations you would feel venerable in whilst riding?
9. Do you prefer any particular style of recumbent? 3 wheels? Frog or Tadpole?
10. Are there any models you currently like?
11. What would you rate as the most important aspect of the vehicle?
12. Do you require any additional needs, a rest for your left arm for example?
13. Where would you store the vehicle?
14. How long would you expect the vehicle last?
15. Are you willing and able to perform maintenance to the vehicle?
16. What kind of tasks would you consider beyond your capabilities?
17. Are you prepared to perform initial assembly?
18. How much would you be prepared to pay for a recumbent vehicle that met your needs?
19. Are you likely to order such a product from a website?


Does anyone have any links to particularly good examples of recumbents? Are any currently available to suit the particular need?

Can ayone suggest any features they wish their recumbent did or didnt have?

Do any manufactures or retailers use ths site who would be willing to answer a few questions specifically on the comercial side of the project?


Thanks,
TomD

Is it that hard to design a tadpole trike with joystick steering?

Try http://www.bentrideronline.com/index.php

One of these may help:

To expand on my previous comment, my advice would be to KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid!) don't re-invent the wheel, just adapt an existing design. Minimizing research and development costs makes for a less expensive product and more profit. Although the old axiom still applies: to make a small fortune in the bicycling business, simply start with a large one. That 2-1 brake lever above is a great example of KISS. They started with a production brake lever and modified it to do the job. It's functional, even elegant.

To expand on my previous comment, my advice would be to KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid!) don't re-invent the wheel, just adapt an existing design.

Couldn't have said it better myself. In fact I know a guy locally who has adapted a trike for one-handed operation because his left arm is paralyzed after a motorbike accident. He has a brake lever as shown above, and also a SRAM dual-drive setup since this allows both shifters to be on the same side. A Rohloff hub would also do the trick, though at a higher cost..

Hi

I am studying for a degree in design engineering and my final year project is to design a human powered recumbent vehicle suitable for use by a one handed user. Obviously it most likely going to be a trik for stability reasons.


Why "obviously"? My Easy Racer bikes are quite easy to ride and control one-handed. I'm well known for starting rides with a 16oz. Starbucks in my left hand, sipping all along the way.

Don Gray lost an arm to cancer, but still managed to put the hurt to roadies on his Easy Racer bike.

1) I tend to avoid cycling through the city or larger towns on my trike. I cycle on dry packed dirt, paved cycle paths, and country roads mostly. Cycling in Sweden is easy.

2) I carry two pod bags that sling over the seat. In those, I keep tools, my camera and cell phone in a water proof bag and a jacket since the weather here can change so quickly. I also have a luggage rack with a pair of small pannier bags. In those I carry two extra water bottles, leash, dog boots (in case he injures his paws), first aid kit, rain gear, a small collapsible water dish for the dog and pretty much every other thing that can turn a hellish ride into something fun or at least tolerable. With my hypoglycemia, I will also bring at least an apple and some nuts if I'm riding for more than 3 hours. I don't bother unpacking it since I have decided it's better to be used to carrying it all the time, then have it be an extra strain when I carry it only when I need it. Training for touring as it were.

3) I generally start my rides out of my home, though this will change at least on a few occasions next year (and following years) as I want to try to cover a 5900 mile (9500 km) route that goes all over Sweden as I start touring. I'll tour for a week or so and meet my husband somewhere to drive me back home. Then when the husband is satisfied that I'm not neglecting him, I'll get him to drop me off where he picked me up to continue where I left off. The trike travels in the back of our SUV.

4) Yes, I'm familiar with with how DF's work and the only reason I might have concerns that my 'bent trike works the same way is so that I can perform maintenance on it.

5) Kenda Kwest Tires. If I made it more than 3 rides without getting a flat it was cause for celebration. I checked the rim and every other possibility that could be giving the flats and still they came. I have since swapped to Marathon Slicks and have been flat free for over 1.5 years.

6) When I could ride road bikes, it never seemed important. My trike has a simple form of suspension and since I've never ridden a 'bent other than my trike, I can't offer an educated opinion in that regard.

7) No. Just one close call when I took a glancing blow to the helmet from a kayak being towed on a low trailer when the driver swerved over about a meter too soon. Worse damage was avoided because I swerved as I saw it coming and took a roll in the ditch. Better the glancing blow and tumble than a solid hit and possibly injuring my neck.

8) Not really, even though my head is at bumper level with most cars. Swedish drivers are very polite and respectful. Possibly my only nervous moments are on the narrow roads with a bus or a semi-truck.

9) I have a tadpole trike. I choose a trike because I didn't trust myself to easily adapt to the learning curve with a two wheeler and the idea of taking even a few tumbles was enough to make my fragile back spasm with warnings. I searched for a model that had at least some folding capabilities _and_ a narrow track since it had to be able to get in and out of whatever room in our small apartment I stored it in. The Trice QNT seemed to be the only model back then that suited those needs.

10) I love my Trice QNT, but again, since I've never ridden any other type of 'bent trike, I can't offer an informed opinion.

11) The fact that no matter how badly my back is acting up, I can still go for a ride. The only restriction I've found with my back and riding the trike is if my back is playing up on me, my husband has to be home to take it out and bring it in. There have been times when I could barely walk with my back, but once my trike was out the door, I could go 30 miles or more if I wanted. The first exercise I can do in spite of my back.

12) Nope, but I would recommend that if you do use a model that is as low to the ground as my Trice QNT that you do consider how low to the ground it is and that it is possible to drag a hand.

13) My trike sits in the dining/kitchen combo of our apartment, shoved back in a corner near the storage closet for the vacuum.

14) My old DF road bike was as old or older than I was before a bad fall warped the frame. I'd like to think my trike is as durable with care.

15) I do maintenance to my trike.

16) None, two hands. If I am restricted from doing anything to my trike, it's more a lack of technical knowledge.

17) I did assemble my trike.

18) Given that I have always loved cycling over distances of 20 miles or more as a child and sorely missed it for the 5 years between being unable to ride a DF and my discovery of 'bents, quite a bit. The Trice QNT might not be the absolute top of the line, but it is a bit on the costly end. 1900 pounds is what it cost in '06 (throwing in a short crank road chain set, wrap around fenders, luggage rack, and head rest).

19) I discovered the Trice QNT via web searches, but since it was to be a gift from my father, he insisted that I had to try it first. So, I wrote the company who produced it to discover there were no dealers in Sweden. My husband and I flew to England, rented a car and explored the whole south western part of England as a road trip. We stopped in at Falmouth in Cornwall and the guys who manufacture the trikes quite happily loaned me and my husband a pair for a couple hours. I was hooked before I made it out of the parking lot. Sorry, it's not a clear answer, but it is how I came to buy my trike.


Inspired Cycle Engineering is the company that produced my trike. They have good web site to display their products and have also expanded their inventory to recumbent bikes as well.

As for features I wish my trike didn't have, my only real concern I guess is the tiny amount of clearance of the derailleur arm and the ground when I run in the harder gears. It's less than an inch if I'm silly and accidentally go to the smallest rear cog while on the smallest chain ring. The current model has been redesigned with a bit more clearance and they've also come out with a variation of my model with a 26" rear wheel, though it removes the folding function of the rear fork.

BTW, my trike is an under the seat steering and handles just fine with one hand. So, with a bit of creative gearing and braking, I could see it working just fine for someone lacking use of hand or arm.

1. I ride on roads around my town, but I avoid dual-carriageways. I will somwtimes use cycle paths, but I am not a big fan of them.

2. I carry shopping when I visit the local market. I use Bike Bins, which are hard plastic panniers, and a Topeak rack bag. These are attached to a rear carrier. Larger items are strapped across the flat tops of the panniers.

3. I start my rides from home, but have carriers to put the trike on the car roof if necessary.

4. I am a fairly good bicycle mechanic with welding equipment and a range of tools and workstands.

5. There are no brands I avoid; most cycle accessories and parts seem to be of sound quality.

6. Not really that important on a trike, although I have rear suspension on my 2-wheeled recumbent.

7. No - fortunately. I recognise that I am playing with fire, and that it is inevitable that I get burned at some stage. I ride with that thought in the front of my mind.

8. Yes, when I am near large vehicles and when passing lines of parked cars.

9. I prefer tadpole trikes.

10. I have no favourite makes/models.

11. The trike enables me to ride although I have osteo-arthritis in my neck and major joints. One shoulder joint has been replaced, and I cannot take any weight through that joint. That arm is also very weak, and there's limited movement with it. The comfort of the riding position is also a huge plus for me.

12. No.

13. The trike is stored in my large garage, on its workstand.

14. I expect it to outlast me; I shall replace it because I find something I like better, not because it is worn out.

15. I do all my own maintenance.

16. Wheelbuilding.

17. I assembled it, without instructions.

18. Somewhere around £2,000

19. I did buy my bike from a website, and would happily use another web-based retailer.

I am glad that you have not received too many rude replies. If nobody was prepared to ever break new ground, I would not have a 'bent trike would I? Here's a message to those who think it is smart to make snide remarks - just because you have limited vision, it does not mean that other people are incapable of innovative ideas.

I wonder if I am assuming too much here.

Is the original poster talking about someone with one arm & two good legs? Or someone with just one arm?

If one arm, I would suggest contacting this gentleman... http://www.bobmortimer.org/
As you can see he has no legs, & only one arm. If you click on "Hope & Courage Across America", you'll see he has pedaled his way, one handed across this country.

~Roger

The OP said one arm, not one limb. You may be right, but I took what he wrote, not what he may have meant. One limb would be a bit more of a problem for design, wouldn't it?

OP could have two arms, but not enough opertional fingers to operate brake/shifting on both hands, therefore in need of brake/shifting operation on single grip.

Might want to check this site- http://www.windcheetah.co.uk/

1. I ride to the grocery store, hardware store, bank and other places. I ride on the sidewalk, riding in 50 mile per hour traffic on the city street is a death wish. I can ride most of the back streets through sub divisions and other neighbor hooks and stay off the high traffic streets.

2. I use to have side saddle baskets on my bike but lots of small things fall through the cracks. Now I have a home built trailer for getting groceries. I just hauled 910 lbs of firewood in the trailer last week 125 lbs at a time.

3. I like to ride on the bikeway and I take my bike on camping trips I have a bike rack that I built it holds 6 bikes on the back of my SUV.

4. I road an upright bike for 50 years. Got my first bike when I was 5 years old. I never liked having a bike seat stuck up my butt after 20 miles I was sore after 30 miles it was torture. Now I have a recumbent and I love all 3 of my recumbent bikes.

5. I refuse to pay $400 for a brand name part when I can buy a none name brand parts for $25. I don't have my nose so high up in the sky that I have to buy name brand stuff. Low price good quality parts are just fine as far as I am concerned.

6. I have never had suspension. I road a bike about 3 weeks ago with suspension, wow, double wow, real nice. It makes me want suspension but I don't need it.

7. Yes. Dogs try to bite me sometimes and I have had several wrecks. In the fall wet tree leaves are slick as ice I was riding very slow trying not to wreck on the wet leaves a few weeks ago and wrecked anyway doing only 5 mph. Mud, sand, and gravel is dangerious too. I use to ride in the snow all the time wrecked real back on the ice once. Once I was riding along at a nice easy 10 mph when all of a sudden the sidewalk went down about 10 steps I didn't see the steps and wrecked. I was riding with a friend once his front wheel stick in a street drain flipped him almost broke his neck.

8. In heavy traffic on a city street and on the highway.

9. I have a tour easy, low racer, P-38. I sold my trike after it flipped me for the 3rd time. 3 wheel bikes won't lean into a curve so you have to go very slow on sharp turn. My tour easy is nice but too long can't haul it on a bike rack or in the back of the SUV.

10. I want a very very short version of the Tour Easy I am working on building one now.

11. If it is a bike I need to ride every day like driving a car then it has to be able to deal with the weather, rain, snow, cold, hot, dust, etc. It will need to be able to haul groceries, and other supplies. And it needs a nice confertable seat. I am building a pickup truck a bicycle like those bikes they ride in china I will be able to haul lumber home from the lumber yard.

12. no not yet. when i get older then maybe.

13. Good question. I don't know. Maybe the back porch. Garage would be nice.
but it is full.

14. If it won't last 15 years I won't buy it.

15. YES as long as repair parts are not over priced.

16. There is nothing beyond my capabilities, I have a lathe, milling machine, welder, grinder, sander, air compressor, I can build, make and repair anything.

17. Yes I will assemble it.

18. I won't pay more for a bike than a good used car. You can buy some really good used vehicles for $2000.

19. I will not buy anything I can not test drive first. What if I buy it and don't like it.......then what? I was shopping for a better used car once they would not let me test drive it so I went down the road to another use cars dealer, test drove a car then later bought it and drove it home.

I am currently building a tadpol trike based off of MK II 26 plan set from http://www.hellbentcycles.com/order_plans.htm. Earlier this year I did a 24hr MTB race and have inflammed my ulnar nerves. So I have to lay off the upright bikes right now and maybe perminently :(. My right arm is much worse then my left so I have been looking at how I can do everything with my left. For braking I plan to use hydraulic discs with an Avid Code lever and juicy calipers. A machined spliter will distribute the fluid to both front brakes. rear brakes are not neccessary but I might put one on anyway. For shifting I have not decided yet but I am thinking of using gripshift for the rear der and barcon for the front. as for steering style, The direct steering is the easiest to impliment plus the hand location might create a more neutral position. But I only want to powder coat the frame once so I am welding in the mount for a joystick/tiller system. The one problem with the joystick is to make getting in and out of the trike easier the joystick has a universal joint which makes it a bit floppy for one handed use. So I was thinking of building a clamp on craddle with a bushing to fix the tiller when riding. Hope this helps.

Wow, thanks for the responses guys!

Yes the end user has had a stroke so has all four limbs but only one arm has any strength.



thanks again,
Tomd

I'm having a hard time imagining a bike/trike that could be powered/operated at any practical speed by a person able to use only one arm (and without use of legs).

I'm having a hard time imagining a bike/trike that could be powered/operated at any practical speed by a person able to use only one arm (and without use of legs).

I'm not sure what you mean by "speed", but in the link I provided above (http://www.bobmortimer.org/), the gentleman made 40 miles a day.

Thanks TomD for clarifying about the end user.

~Roger

I'm not sure what you mean by "speed", but in the link I provided above (http://www.bobmortimer.org/), the gentleman made 40 miles a day.

Thanks TomD for clarifying about the end user.

~Roger

40 miles using a one-armed handcycle is impressive

I manage to ride no-hands for fair distances on mine; that's one of the advantages of putting the pedals and drivetrain on the fork. As for questions..
1. What routes do you like to cycle on? Around town, cycle paths etc.?

Around the city and between towns, mostly on the shoulder of 60mph highways or on 45mph arterials. I prefer to ride on less travelled streets that are at lower speeds, but cul-de-sac subdivision designas it is that never actually happens.

2. Do you carry luggage? How much/what kind?\

Tools, a bag of groceries, books, notebooks, a laptop computer, sometime a hitchhiker if i'm on my freighter.

3. Do you travel to places to ride? How would you transport the vehicle? Bike rack, boot?

Hahaha. No, that would be ridiculous.

4. Are you familiar with the operation of conventional bicycles and is it important to you that this vehicle is similar in operation to them?

Yes, and only so far as the same tools are used. Mine is very standard.

6. Is some form of suspension important to you?

Not particularly. If i'm on a DF, I DISLIKE suspension. My bent has suspension, and it's kind've nice, but not necssary.

7. Has any harm ever come to you whilst riding?

I broke a toenail off riding my uni once.

8. Are there any situations you would feel venerable in whilst riding?

Er, no, riding usually makes me feel young and healthy, not old.

9. Do you prefer any particular style of recumbent? 3 wheels? Frog or Tadpole?

I'm partial to designs which are two wheeled with the same wheelbase as a DF, as that allows use with transit. My freighter is stranded 50 miles away because I can't put it on a bus.

11. What would you rate as the most important aspect of the vehicle?

All weather use and versatility

12. Do you require any additional needs, a rest for your left arm for example?

Not anymore. When I started with my bent, my left hand ws injured and weak, and needed to be moved and mostly not used for constant loads.

13. Where would you store the vehicle?

Mine currently resides in the daughters' bedroom while she's away.

14. How long would you expect the vehicle last?

About five years.

15. Are you willing and able to perform maintenance to the vehicle?

Yes.

16. What kind of tasks would you consider beyond your capabilities?

Anything involving a bike stand. I don't have one.

17. Are you prepared to perform initial assembly?

Within limits.

18. How much would you be prepared to pay for a recumbent vehicle that met your needs?

Mine ended up running me a little less than $1000 after all costs were taken into account. I'd go a bit higher, but I start getting nervous around the $1300 price point (which is likely $1500 real cost)

19. Are you likely to order such a product from a website?

I don't have much choice. I prefer to go through my LBS, but I recognize that he doesn't have that stuff in stock. He can order it, but that doesn't do much for me.