DRietz

Where. To. Buy?

FlatTop

Do. It. Yourself.
It doesn't look impossible. Check out the links to three antique versions of that bike:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/2083230...7603527352796/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/2083230...7603527352796/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/2083230...7603527352796/

Good luck, and please show us what you come up with, even just ideas and sketches.

DRietz

I am talking with the person who made that beast. He said that he did it for a college project, and that it cost him under $1,000. I'll let you guys know what I find out.

DRietz

This project is actually gaining momentum. Anybody know how to tig weld?

mastershake916

Whit is a grade-A frame builder, check him out.

https://www.whitworthcycles.com/

DRietz

Thanks for that! We are now in contact!

w00die

Just a few observations, not to dissuade you from your dream but as considerations in over all design. I would suspect that you would be pressed to ride that very far or for very long effectively. The pressure on your ribcage would decrease your breathing efficiency. And there doesn't seem to be much support for your hips and thighs. Overall I think it would be awkward and limiting at best. But Maybe I am being to skeptical.

DRietz

I have observed this as well. I am changing the design of this bike a lot overall.

DRietz

The welding alone is going to cost me $2,000.

mikewille

If it was for me, I'd design some kind of slighly-pivoting hip and shoulder support.
Also, I'm a skilled TIG welder, but you'd have to come to the
Chicago area

I just realized you could puke while riding this bike and not have to stop.

DRietz

The pivots seem like a good idea. Maybe old spindles with stops welded on?

Also, are you telling me that you would weld my frame for less than what I was quoted? Because that would be cool.

StephenH

I'm not a welding expert, but I think the actual welding would be quicker and cheaper. Coping all that tubing just so-so and getting everything jigged into place so it's all plumb and square when you're done is where the problem comes in.

For me, I think that position would be very uncomfortable very quickly. I suspect that the lighter you were, and the better the tone of your abdominal muscles, the better it would work. Also, it seems some of the tubing could be eliminated or moved back into a single plane. The potential advantage of the bike is an aerodynamic position, but the extra tubing interferes with that. It looks like holding your head up like that would get old, but maybe it's not that different from a normal bicycle.

Cosmetically, it requires a time-trial helmet.

One of the disadvantages I read of recumbents is the inability to lighten the wheels going over bumps, and I can see that being an issue here. I'd hate to hit a pothole on that thing.

mikewille

If a blueprint and a box of parts were to be set down in front of me I could do the job for
less than two grand. Engineering and fabricating all the parts from scratch would definitely put it up
at your original estimate (a lot of folks have no idea how long that can take.)

phoebeisis

Heck, why not go whole hog and put a full fairing on it also. The whole point of that position is to decrease frontal area, what not fair it and get a much lower CD also? You could probably adapt a plexiglas motorcycle windscreen-Givi maybe- for the cockpit windshield and use some flexible thin plastic-or even fabric for the rest of the fairing.
Might be a bit tricky in cross winds. Motorcycles with bathtub fairings were said to be tricky in cross winds, and they were just 1/2 enclosed.
Luck,
Charlie

Biopacer

That looks... One word to describe it- Funcomfortable.

DRietz

I see what you're saying about the physical aspect of building a frame, which is why I need someone else to do it. Unless I can get some hook-ups from Kent Eriksen (my uncle worked for him at the original MOOTS) -- which I doubt -- then I'll look locally and see where that leads me.

I shall remember you, Mike.

That was an idea that did in fact cross my mind.

Makai

that looks like a lot of fun to ride. i'd want a safety flag being so low to the ground though

Panthers007

I'll bet Mr. Garrison had something similar in mind.

Bent Ben

face plant!

FlatTop

I couldn't ride that, or a recumbent, in my area because dogs often run free, chase and bite here. Judging by the photo with rider, my whole anatomy, from hock to brisket to tenderloin to shoulder would be spread out like a buffet table.

HatchetHabits

i'm hungry...

FlatTop

Care for a good Chianti?

Artkansas 

Seems like you are supporting most of your weight with the exact parts needed for breathing.

Freewheeler

With a "normal" diamond framed bicycle you can stand on the pedals using body weight to create heavier pedaling forces, on most recumbents you can push against the seat back, with this design you can do neither, only spin the pedals lightly.
Or am I missing something?

mikewille

You'd have to build in stops to brace your shoulders against so you wouldn't push
yourself onto the handlebars if you decided to mash the pedals.