MrInitialMan

I found some trailer springs that were 1-3/4 inches across. I can work with this. I'm thinking of I'm thinking of using one of these for the rear transverse springs, and removing most of the leaves to make it softer and lighter.. I looked up how to soften leaf springs, and apparently removing the shortest leaves will do the trick.

Someone suggested a swing axle setup for the front, and I think I'll go with that. I know these are just asking for trouble at high speed--but I'm not going to be going THAT fast.


There is one other reason I want suspension: Some of the businesses in my town have driveways that meet the road at quite the slope, so either I'd have to make sure I was completely out of the driveway before turning (leaving me way out in traffic) or end up on 2 or 3 wheels momentarily (with major torsion stress to the frame) as I turn out of the parking lot.

UPDATE: The gentleman who built the Nephew of Fantom told me that his ride weights about 83 kilograms, or 182 lbs. That does, however, include an electric assist system, which mine won't have.

UPDATE 2: I'm lengthening the nose and rear by 6 inches each for better aerodynamics. I'll still look at that kayak skin you suggested, squirtdad. I found a video on it, and see how it hardens, and how sturdy it is. Maybe I could even use it for the floor. Can you use Tremclad paint on it? I want to paint this medium blue (I have reasons.)

MrInitialMan

Another design change. I realized that where I have my front wheels would result in EXTREMELY limited turning (the wheels could deflect a maximum of 8 degrees before hitting the body). I was looking around and found inspiration in pictures of hot rods, of all places--there's a type of front transverse suspension called a Bulldog Front End in which the front spring is actually in front of the chassis altogether. Because of my wedge nose, I can get far more angle on my front wheels, so I think I'll go with that.

squirtdad

not familar with trenckad,,,,but I would think you could do the urethane seal and then a color coat

MrInitialMan

Tremclad is a brand my dad used to paint his sheep handling equipment way back in the day--medium blue, to be exact. So, I hope to paint my velo the same colour.

And now that I know how much that velo weighs, I got an idea of how much mine should weigh.

Also, Rhoades Cars apparently weigh in the 100 lbs. vicinity as well.



UPDATE: I think I've hosed myself with buying that rear differential. Are 36-hole rims really niche? because those are the hubs I have.

repechage

For some ideas, google- Don potts my first car
left me gobsmacked as a kid.

squirtdad

may be of interest diy recumbent plans https://www.atomiczombie.com/

check out the

TriCruiser Winter Trike

LodeRunner Utility Trike

StreetFox Tadpole Trike

TimberWolf USS Trike

MrInitialMan

I'll check that out. Thanks.

MrInitialMan

After a few years, an update.

So, I abandoned this project for a while, due to depression and dissatisfaction at how this was going.

*Sighs* I've lost access to the shop I was going to build this in. My dad, who was going to do the welding, cannot weld anymore anyways. I don't think this thing will ever be built.

unterhausen

Thanks for checking back in, even if it's not good news. Sorry about your dad and your shop access.

RB1-luvr

hang in there. Hope you find other, simpler projects to bring you some joy.

Andrew R Stewart 

I also thank you for the update. I hope there will be more follow up as life and karma play out. My passions are hands on metal stuff, been this way since I got my Dad's old Erector Set as a child. When I had my bike shop a lot of this had to be placed on a back burner. I learned to come up with small projects that might only take an hour or three spread over a few weeks to keep my creative juices from completely drying up. Please don't stop trying to make stuff. Andy

MrInitialMan

I've resumed work on the design. My goals have not changed it:

- Weather Shell
- Cargo space (thus the big size)
- Stability (thus the four wheels)
- Comfy ride, including some protection against often rough roads.(thus the suspension)

MrInitialMan

Bit of an update---with what I'm going with, the frame weighs almost 83 lbs thus far. >_<

I know I need to lighten it A LOT, but whenever I think of going with no suspension, I think of that video where the velo frame broke on an icy, bumpy road, and I'm also thinking of how painful a broken tailbone would be.

Oh, I know Fat Tyres exist. They are HORRIBLE for pedalling, in my opinion.

TiHabanero

I think it is the 90's era Corvette that used fibre glass leaf springs. Weight was considerably less than steel. May be a viable option for you provided a live axle design is possible, or is you can design an independent design around the leaf spring design. Older motorcycles had them on the front, BMW comes to mind right away, but there were others.

bulgie 

"Horrible" isn't very specific. Can you say more about what you don't like about them? If you mean rolling resistance, then maybe you haven't seen some of the recent studies on this. I think it's safe to say that a thin tread and supple casing on a wide tire rolls better than a heavily armored narrow tire. Wide tires used to be slow because they were all thick tread and stiff casing. The current best-of-breed in thin/supple fat tires have been used to win races and set records, and are essentially free suspension with little downside.

If by fat tyres you mean the ultra-wide tires on so-called "fat bikes" then yeah, maybe there aren't any on the market that are fast-rolling. I don't know, never got interested in those bikes. I'm talking about tires up to say 60 mm, not twice that.

Mark B

MrInitialMan

I meant the tyres on fat bikes. The rolling resistance was that of a soft tyre multiplied by the increased size.


Also the weight I cited did not include the springs. Those would have been a few more pounds.

guy153

Or if you can find some Moulton rubber cone springs. These are used on Moulton bicycles and are a smaller version of the ones used on the Austin Mini. Very compact and light. I think the bicycle ones are self-damping (the cars have conventional telescopic shock absorbers).

squirtdad

maybe something like this https://ferlafamilybikes.com/product...o-bike-inspire has covers and such https://ferlafamilybikes.com/product...ssories-bundle

I recall you want to be covered, but you can get some really nice rain/cold clothes and inside or not nothing is going to be warm at 40 below (says the montana guy who grew up watching Lethbridge TV, and is always on the lookout for Old Dutch potato chips)