Recumbent - RoadRecumbent - who is going to make 'em?

Hi, I showed you guys this bike when I finished it last year. I've "dialed it in", and have a few videos of it in action now- see them here. http://www.roadrecumbent.com I took it to Specialized HQ in Morgan Hill Ca. 50 miles south last week, just handed out some pics to some workers who were coming and going, left a few with the receptionist. I should have asked to talk with someone officially. Anyway, I'm just trying to get someone to make this bike, because I'm not going to make 'em. I don't have any patents or anything, anyone is free to copy. You, and the world needs 'em. By the way, when you walk though the front door of Specialized, a 3 story building about the size of a football field, there is a chopper bicycle greeting you. Not a "Rockhopper" mountain bike, not a carbon road bike. A chopper. It's like the discontinued Schwinn Stingray OCC with an aluminum frame, an even wider rear tire, and better parts. Who doesn't want a custom chopper? - That would be great, if it it was light and you could ride it up a hill ...(like mine).

Always make an appointment with someone first, either Product Development, R&D, Marketing, or even Purchasing. It doesn't have to be an executive or VP, but at the very least a senior manager.

:)ensen.

ummmmmm.........who would buy 'em? Anyone ask you to build one for them?

ummmmmm.........who would buy 'em? Anyone ask you to build one for them?

Maybe you could get a general idea of how popular it might be by asking people on here if they like it ?

Some sort of poll ?

Good idea: A poll.

Not a pole dance: http://socs.dit.ie/image_upload/patrick_pole_dancing.bmp

My take on it is that by combining a cool chopper bike, a road bike, and a recumbent, you're going to effectively eliminate potential buyers from all three groups. The roadies don't want a chopper look and extra seat/ drag, the cool-chopper-bike guys aren't going to pay big bucks for carbon fiber and high end gear components, etc. Not to say you shouldn't develop it or build it, but do it for you, not because everyone else is going to want one.

Hi, I showed you guys this bike when I finished it last year. I've "dialed it in", and have a few videos of it in action now- see them here. http://www.roadrecumbent.com I took it to Specialized HQ in Morgan Hill Ca. 50 miles south last week, just handed out some pics to some workers who were coming and going, left a few with the receptionist. I should have asked to talk with someone officially. Anyway, I'm just trying to get someone to make this bike, because I'm not going to make 'em. I don't have any patents or anything, anyone is free to copy. You, and the world needs 'em. By the way, when you walk though the front door of Specialized, a 3 story building about the size of a football field, there is a chopper bicycle greeting you. Not a "Rockhopper" mountain bike, not a carbon road bike. A chopper. It's like the discontinued Schwinn Stingray OCC with an aluminum frame, an even wider rear tire, and better parts. Who doesn't want a custom chopper? - That would be great, if it it was light and you could ride it up a hill ...(like mine).

An aluminum frame have to doing heat treatment after welding. And a set of jig alignment to keep the frame measure exactly. Which kind of aluminum you plan to use, 6061 or 7005? I'm from China, maybe i can build it then shipping to you from here.

An aluminum frame have to doing heat treatment after welding. And a set of jig alignment to keep the frame measure exactly. Which kind of aluminum you plan to use, 6061 or 7005? I'm from China, maybe i can build it then shipping to you from here.

IIRC, the prototype was carbon, and making it out of anything else would make it weigh too much. Jig: yes, heat treating: no. I'd have to agree with StephenH. As a homebuilt it is pretty cool, because it reflects the interests of the builder, is funtional, and looks nice. But recumbent riders aren't interested in chopper looks, and the chopper folks will want to spiff it up with chrome, making the carbon an unnecessary expense. The roadie group certainly won't want more frame and a longer chainline, not to mention the recumbent seat. It might be hard to define a target group for this machine.

A couple of observations of my own:
1. The recumbent seat looks uncomfortably upright, but probably necessary due to the long reach to the handlebars and/or the chopper style.
2. I can't tell for sure, but I suspect a folding seat isn't great for stiffness and power transfer. Maybe some of the guys who advocate leaning forward and pulling on the ape hangars of their TourEasys for extra power could comment how stiffness isn't necessary. :innocent:
3. To a recumbent rider, the only possible reason you'd want an upright position would be to stand for climbing hills. Therefore, the seat post and saddle are superfluous. To a 'bent rider, at least.
4. Make it just a little longer and you'd be able to create a hybrid upright/recumbent tandem. Again, I don't know what the market would be. AFAIK there are no carbon recumbent tandems currently being marketed. Uh, did I just identify a new niche?